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To answer quickly, yes, it is safe to visit Balabac. The coastguard is very active in monitoring the tours and the sea. We published previously a blogpost about safety in Balabac entitled “Is Balabac Safe?” to give the best explanation to people asking the question. Here’s some additional details.
Is Balabac still safe? We encounter more and more people ask this question since they saw news about children being eaten by crocodiles. The answer to your Balabac safety concerns lies with this question: where in Balabac are you going?
Balabac has 32 islands! Click here to see more about its location. The biggest one is mainland Balabac where the main town is. This is where most of the crocodile incidents are sited. So go look at google maps and see which destinations are around mainland: Melville Lighthouse and Timbayan Rock formation (a crocodile was spotted here according to one of the boatman locals). This is the very reason why we don’t bring our guests to mainland.
Meanwhile, other destinations close to the mainland (Ramos Island where you can find the rock formation), Sicsican Island and Candaraman Island) have only sightings but no attacks. We have brought hundreds of people and to be honest, even the most adventurous ones who wanted to see a crocodile saw none. But this does not disregard the fact that even the owners/caretakers of these islands have seen crocodiles.
Dengue mosquitoes (aedes aegypti mosquito) prefers to feed off of humans and thrives more around human settlements (towns and cities) than in unpopulated islands. They can only be carrying the virus if they bit a human with dengue already. The risk here is in the mainland where the population is.
While there is mosquito in other islands and in our campsite, we never had cases of dengue fever in the destinations where we are visiting. Just bring an insect repellent against itchy bites from mosquitoes and sand flies.
It was only in the past that Malaria was a problem in Balabac but only in the mainland, where the mountainous area is. There is no need to get Malaria shots when doing your tour with us.
There has never been an incident of kidnapping or tourist assault in Balabac, even years before when the Coast Guard was not active in patrolling Balabac. Starting 2022, the the Coast Guard has been roving in Balabac waters to make sure that safety is provided to both locals and guests.
So, you know how to answer the question.
If you are going to the mainland Balabac, there is higher risk. But if you are just visiting the undeveloped islands like Onok, Punta Sebaring and Candaraman and the sandbars, then you can ease your mind from the worry.
EXCELLENT213 reviews onVerified
Saulė ŠviečiaJanuary 23, 2025Very happy I really like the Wander Walkers agency. They organize and communicate very well. They send all the information before the travel what you need to bring for the tour. I liked the tour gide and boat crew. Everybody was very friendly and helpful. Definitely recommend.Verified
Jemimah SJanuary 8, 2025Unforgettable Experience! The Balabac Tour by the Wanderwalkers was well organized! I got a hold of them through Facebook and booked a private tour for my family. I had absolutely no problem communicating with the company, they were very helpful and friendly. Yes, we did have to separately book and pay for our flights to get to Puerto Princesa and accommodation for one night. We stayed at Hostel Privado, which is a budget friendly option, but the hosts were very friendly and welcoming. It is also located on a strip full of restaurants and convenience stores, which is great if you needed to pick up last minute things before the trip. The van picked us up early at 4am in the morning the next day, and everything after that was provided for and coordinated by the tour company (i.e. meals, transportation, accommodations). The tour was not a luxurious experience, it's really more like camping on an island. But trust me, the experience is worth it! I also strongly recommend upgrading to a teepee hut if you can. The people at the basecamp were great! We definitely enjoyed the food! Our tour guide and boat crew were amazing companions throughout our entire trip. They really went above and beyond to ensure that our island hopping experience was to the fullest! You can also purchase wifi at the camp if you really needed it, but the reception is only strong by the dining hall. But I recommend staying offline to really enjoy the island life. And, of course, the views, the islands, the ocean, the white sand were unlike any other! This tour is truly one of those hidden gems that you must see at least once before the place gets even more developed and overcrowded with tourists. Be warned though, the boat rides are long (average 1 to 2 hours) and the motors are loud. So I recommend bringing earphones or earplugs for the trip. The boat seats aren't very comfortable, so your butt will get sore after sitting a long time, but they had extra life jackets that you could sit on, which helped a bit. Lastly, bring bug spray (You can also purchase some at the basecamp)!! There are sand mites at the basecamp. While they're completely harmless, the afterbites are incredibly itchy. I got bitten quite a bit, but I think it depends on each person because my dad was barely bit. Anyways, we hope to come back someday!Verified
LAuditeurDecember 17, 2024Unforgettable Expedition ! I joined the 4D/3N Balabac expedition this December 2024 with Wander Walkers. Despite the 1st day being a rainy one, the crew went above and beyond to please us and ensure we have a great time. The other 2 days were sunny and we saw some of the most beautiful landscapes on earth. I will always cherish the memories created during this trip thanks to our guide Jeremy, our boat crew and the entire Wander Walkers staff who all were helpful, friendly and always available to make our trip a memorable one. Highly recommend them as THE experts in the matter in Balabac !Verified
Yokki ADecember 17, 2024Wonderful time in Balabac I had a wonderful time in Balabac thanks to the Punta Sebaring team. Everything was perfectly organized, and the natural beauty of the islands is breathtaking. The hospitality and attentiveness of the team made this experience even more memorable.I highly recommend Punta Sebaring to anyone looking to explore this beautiful region. Thank you again to the entire team, and I hope to have the chance to return someday!Verified
Raphael KDecember 17, 2024Fun island hopping trip I just returned from this 4 day 3 night tour. Was very beautiful trip seeing the different islands, especially on day 2. Jeremy was an excellent tour guide. He was able to communicate everything in English which was very helpful. He also was able to answer all my questions about the different islands and various other things about balabac. This was my second attempt after my first trip was cancelled in January because of coast guards travel advisory. They gave me a year to rebook for another trip with no extra charge. It was raining the first day, but we were still able to go. Day 2 and 3 had perfect weather so the trip was worth it. They provided 3 meals plus a snack each day. Options were for each meal had meat (beef/chicken/or pork), seafood (crabs or fish) , and vegetables dish. I personally didn’t really enjoy the food because I don’t eat seafood. They do have snacks on the island day trips but I would recommend also bringing extra. They also sell beer and other alcoholic beverages, as well as coke at the campsite. Recommend also bringing bug repellent for the mosquitoes and sand flies at the campsite. Overall this was 5 star trip. I had fun and Jeremy did a great job. I will probably go again in the future.Verified
Christine ADecember 2, 2024Balabac Survivor!🙏🏼💪🏼 Spent 4D3N in Punta Sebaring, Balabac. Met amazing and coolest people (our group, boat crew, kitchen crew, locals and our guide - Sir Jeremy).We got lucky, we got the island for a night.We also experienced sunny, rainy, splashy Balabac😂 and enjoyed it. Our captain was just sitting chill and brought us to each island and back home safe. (Thank you, Captain!) If you guys want to experience a real island life, disconnect for a while and reconnect with nature, I highly recommend them. You’ll have a slow morning, waiting for the sun to rise, appreciate the beauty of the island.Actually they exceeded my expectation. Will definitely be back!👍🏼Verified
Abigail VNovember 26, 2024Best experience ever! I am so fortunate to have stumbled across WanderWalkers! I booked with them pre-Covid and had to cancel. I was pleasantly surprised that they refunded me. So I made a pact with myself that I would definitely rebook with them, and I finally did for my birthday.The tour guide Jeremy, boat crew and staff were all friendly and accommodating. They all made sure everyone was having a good time. Food was epic! The crabs, shrimps, fish and calamari! I had to ask Ate Tess for the recipes!My hut was more than what I expected. Can fit 2 to 3. It had a white and lacy mosquito net, and a ceiling fan - made me feel like an island princess. 😊And Balabac did not disappoint. I have never seen water that clear, the colors range from aquamarine to turquoise to deep blue. And the sand was so fine! I will try my best to go back... and next time, with friends and family.Verified
Mika BNovember 21, 2024Lithuanian couple A unique experience! A million impressions, a thousand smiles and indelible memories. I sincerely thank the whole team! You are unreal!
[…] is the best time to visit Balabac? This is another tricky question we get asked a lot next to “Is Balabac safe?”. Straight out, the answer is during the Summer months of March, April, and May. However, not all […]