Palawan's Most Ethical Small-Group Tours
Swim with wild whale sharks by speedboat in Puerto Princesa. Island hop through Port Barton's hidden reefs. Small groups, all-inclusive, no hidden fees.
Two bucket-list experiences. One operator you can trust. Swim with wild whale sharks by speedboat — or spend the day island hopping through Port Barton's hidden reefs. Small groups. All-inclusive. No hidden fees.
Free cancellation 24h before departure · 2-in-1 Wildlife Guarantee
Two Ways to Experience Palawan
Different destinations, same promise — small groups, ethical practices, and experiences you can't find anywhere else.
Whale Shark & Wild Dolphin Tour
Puerto Princesa's only 2-in-1 ethical marine expedition. Our 30ft speedboat reaches the wildlife zone in 20 minutes while bangkas are still travelling. Swim with wild whale sharks and watch spinner dolphins — drone video included.
Port Barton Island Hopping
Six named stops through Palawan's best-kept secret. Turtle Point, Twin Reef, Starfish Island, Paradise Island and more — all visited in the opposite direction to every other tour, so you arrive first and stay longer.
Whale sharks in the morning → van to Port Barton → island hopping the next day. The perfect 2-day Palawan itinerary.
What Makes Us Different
Every tour operator in Palawan says "small group" and "ethical." Here is specifically what that means at Tour Z.
Genuinely Small Groups
Maximum 12 guests on the whale shark speedboat. Maximum 18 guests on the Port Barton bangka. Not 25. Not 30+. Our caps are enforced every single departure — never oversold for revenue.
The Only Refund Guarantee
Our 2-in-1 Success Guarantee is unique in Puerto Princesa: if we only find one species, you get a 25% refund. No wildlife at all? 50% refund. We only charge full price when we deliver the full experience.
The Speedboat Advantage
Our 30ft precision speedboat reaches the whale shark zone in 20 minutes. Standard bangkas take 60–90 minutes and arrive to find it already crowded. We beat the crowd every day, by design.
Free Drone Video — Every Trip
Every whale shark tour includes a professional drone and GoPro package. Our guide films, edits a highlight reel, and sends it to your phone as soon as it's ready. No extra charge. Ever.
Book in 3 Simple Steps
Real-time availability in the booking calendar. If a date is bookable, a spot is open. Simple as that.
Free cancellation 24 hours before departure
Where Our Tours Take Place
Palawan is consistently ranked among the world's best islands. Here's what makes our two destinations extraordinary — and why smaller operators like Tour Z can show you what the big buses never reach.
Puerto Princesa
Gateway city · Whale shark capitalPuerto Princesa is Palawan's capital and main entry point. Most travellers fly in, spend one or two nights, and continue to El Nido or Port Barton. Those who take the time to explore the open ocean discover a marine wilderness unlike anything in the more touristed north.
The waters off Puerto Princesa host seasonal whale shark migrations (May–September) and year-round resident dolphin pods. Because access requires a speedboat and specialist knowledge, these encounters remain genuinely wild and uncrowded — even in peak season.
Port Barton
2–3 hrs from Puerto Princesa · Hidden gemPort Barton is the quiet alternative to El Nido — the same turquoise water, pristine coral reefs, and white sand beaches, with a fraction of the visitors. It sits on Palawan's west coast, a 2–3 hour van ride from Puerto Princesa, and remains one of Southeast Asia's most genuinely undiscovered destinations.
The marine life here — sea turtles, chocolate chip starfish, reef fish, and fan corals — thrives precisely because Port Barton sees fewer boats. Tour Z's counter-clockwise island hopping route takes you to 6 named stops before the few other operators who do visit even arrive.
What Guests Say
The most common thing guests tell us
The speedboat made all the difference — we arrived before any other group and swam with three whale sharks with almost no one else around. The drone video sent to my phone was something I'll treasure forever. Worth every single peso.
Port Barton was incredible. We had Turtle Point almost to ourselves and the guide clearly cared about the animals. Nothing felt rushed. This is what Palawan is supposed to feel like.
Did both tours back to back. Whale sharks in the morning, van to Port Barton, island hopping the next day. Perfect combination. Small groups, ethical guides, no rush. This is how Palawan should be experienced.
Common Questions
Two tours: the Whale Shark & Dolphin Tour in Puerto Princesa (₱3,500 per person, max 12 guests, by 30ft speedboat with drone video included) and the Port Barton Island Hopping Tour (₱1,500 per person, max 18 guests, 6 named stops including Turtle Point and Paradise Island). Both are all-inclusive with no hidden fees.
Yes — this is the most popular combination. The whale shark tour departs at 7:00 AM and returns by 1:00 PM, leaving the same afternoon free for the shared van to Port Barton (2–3 hours, ₱400–600). You then do the island hopping tour the following morning. Two days, two completely different ecosystems — the ideal Palawan itinerary.
Three things stand out: (1) Group size — we cap at 12 or 18 guests, enforced every departure. (2) The 2-in-1 Wildlife Guarantee — the only operator in Puerto Princesa with an automatic refund policy if wildlife isn't found. (3) Inclusions — free professional drone footage on the whale shark tour, and a counter-clockwise island hopping route in Port Barton that arrives at every stop before other boats.
Yes on both tours. Life vests are provided and optional throughout. Non-swimmers can observe from the boat or stay with the guide in shallow water. On the Port Barton tour, stops like Starfish Island are knee-deep sandbar walks — no swimming needed. On the whale shark tour, the boat is stable and guests can stay on board for any water entry they prefer not to join. Our small group size means guides can give individual attention to every guest.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure — no questions asked. On the whale shark tour, the 2-in-1 Success Guarantee also applies: 25% refund if only one species is encountered, 50% refund if neither is found. If we cancel due to weather or sea conditions, a full refund or free rescheduling is offered.
Puerto Princesa Airport (PPS) has direct flights from Manila, Cebu, and Clark on Cebu Pacific, AirAsia, and Philippine Airlines. For Port Barton: shared van transfers run daily from Puerto Princesa (2–3 hours, ₱400–600) and from El Nido (3 hours, ₱600–700). See our Palawan Travel Guide for full logistics including accommodation recommendations.
Palawan Travel Guide
Full logistics: how to get here, where to stay, what to pack, and how to plan Puerto Princesa + Port Barton in one trip.
Read Guide →Ask a Question
Not sure which tour to pick, or want to plan a custom itinerary? Message us directly on WhatsApp or email.
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Prefer email? Reach us at goodshepherdvoyages@gmail.com — we respond within a few hours during operating hours.
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