Starfish Island
Starfish Island is less an island than a low sandbar in the middle of Port Barton bay, a short way north of the village. The shallows around it are dotted with chocolate chip sea stars, the tan ones with dark knobs on top, and the water is clear and knee to waist deep for a long way out.
It is a stop on the standard shared island hopping tour, often the first or last of the day, so expect three or four other boats around midday. Because it is so close to town you can also paddle out on your own in a rented kayak and have it quieter early in the morning.
Look but do not lift the starfish out of the water. They die from stress and suffocation when handled, and the guides here will tell you so.
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Get to Port Barton by van from Puerto Princesa (about three hours) or from El Nido (four to five hours).
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Rent a kayak on Itaytay Beach, the village beach, for about P100 an hour or P500 for the day.
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Paddle north across the bay for 20 to 30 minutes to the sandbar. Keep to calm mornings, as the wind picks up in the afternoon.
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Or book the shared Tour A island hopping trip, which stops here along with Twin Reef, for around P1,500 to P1,800 per person.
| Item | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Kayak rental | P100 | Per hour, or about P500 per day, from the village beach. |
| Shared island hopping tour | P1,500-1,800 | Per person with lunch and snorkel gear. Starfish Island is a regular Tour A stop. |
| Environmental fee | P200 | Per person, valid about 10 days. Some operators include it in the tour price, others collect it separately. |
Prices in Philippine Pesos. Use the currency selector in the nav to see approximate conversions.
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