Boracay Travel Guide

In a nutshell

Boracay is a tiny island that draws tourists from all over the world. Its beautiful coastline, powdery-white sandy beaches, and overall eclectic island vibe draws locals and foreigners alike. These are some of the reasons why Boracay nabbed the 2016 Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards, aside from many others.

Why go to Boracay

Boracay has earned a special spot in our heart because it really feels like a place perfect for everybody and anybody.

Partyphile? Party hard from sunset to sunrise in the many beach parties and live concerts held here.

Traveling with family and small kids? The warm and sparkling water is a good spot to frolic and bring back home some wonderful memories. Or, build your sand castles in the fine white sand of Boracay.

Out with your older kids? Looking for something exhilarating? Experience the many water activities like windsurfing, parasailing, helmet diving, and many more. Or go ride an ATV buggy to explore the other parts of this exotic island.

On a vacation with your Gramps? No sweat, go on an island-hopping tour or check out the various international food renditions that Stations one, two, and three has to offer!

Want to relax? What better way to enjoy the sun, sand, sea, surf, and the tropical view as you sip your ice-cold daiquiri? You can even get a good massage with a good view of the beachline. What else can you ask for? Boracay is the place to BE!

When to go to Boracay

Despite being surrounded by some bigger islands in the Philippines, Boracay isn’t spared from weather disturbances particularly during the typhoon and the monsoon season. Boracay thus is an almost year-round destination except during the typhoon season. Typhoon season in the whole country usually begins late June and ends by October.

Where to stay on Boracay

Accommodation options in Boracay come mainly in the form of hotel resorts though there are budget solutions, too – despair not if you are on a shoestring! All types of travellers are well catered for, including those travelling with young children.

The main concentration of the hotels in Boracay is found around White Beach. White Beach is divided into three stations – Stations 1, 2 and 3 – named after the old boat stations of the island. Station 1 is where luxury hotels and inns are located as well as pricey bars and clubs. Station 3 is perfect for the budget conscious travellers.

We also recommend to consider staying in Barangay Yapak, a 10-minute ride away from White Beach. It is a secluded cove with a handful of hotels that line the beach, what means you can enjoy a relaxing vacation. And whenever you want to party like there’s no tomorrow, just hop on a tricycle and you’re there! You get to enjoy the best of both worlds.

Where to Eat in Boracay

Well, as you would expect from an island, Boracay is famous for its fresh seafood. When you are here do not miss the chance to enjoy the fresh catch of the day! If you are fond of seafood, then head to the D’Talipapa. You can pick your fresh seafood and have it cooked as you like – choose your style or agree on what the chefs recommend. Seafood is normally never cheap, but there you can get it at relatively bargain prices.

You can also head directly to the D’mall strip and find a lot of restaurants that offer various dishes at reasonable prices. Aside from Filipino dishes, you can also find restaurants that serve Korean, Japanese, Italian, Moroccan, French and many other cuisines. If you have an adventurous palate, then the D’mall is the place to be.

If you want value for money, try the many and varied buffet dinners and lunches that line the beach from stations 1 to 3—these should definitely be in your list!

How to get around Boracay

Boracay island may be small but getting around the island can be a bit tricky. Unfortunately, there are no taxis on the island as the roads are too narrow. The main mode of transportation around the island is via motorized tricycles or trikes. These serve as the island’s taxicab. One tricycle can seat as much as 6 passengers.

There are also other touristy transportation options to help you discover the local beauties of the island’s scenery. You can rent a scooter or a mountain bike to explore the inner parts of the island. Enjoy sailing on the native sailboat called paraw or an outrigger to visit the many beaches around the island. Rev up your vacation with an exhilarating ATV ride.

How to get to and from Boracay

There is more than one way to get to the island of Boracay. The gateway to the island, the town of Malay, can be reached from two different airports – the Godofredo P. Ramos Airport (aka Caticlan Airport) and the Kalibo International Airport.

The Caticlan Airport sits close to the jetty port and a tricycle ride to the jetty port is fixed – PHP10 per passenger. The port is just 10 minutes away from the airport if you choose to walk.

This is the domestic airport only – no international flights land there. Approximate one-way airfares to Caticlan from either from Manila or Cebu varies considerably, with the best deals found at about PHP3,000 and up to whooping PHP10,000. The flight to and from Malina takes just under one hour.

Another option is to fly in through the Kalibo International Airport, which is an 80-minute ride from the Caticlan Jetty Port. This airport accepts larger aircrafts and has direct international flights to and from Taipei, Seoul, Shanghai, and other destinations throughout the region.

Locally, you can connect to the three big cities in the Philippines from the Kalibo Airport, namely Clark, Manila, and Cebu. These hubs are all a handy jumping off point for your next destination in the Philippine or Asia.

Flying from Kalibo to Manila takes approximately 55 minutes and can cost between PHP600 to as high as PHP7,000.

Once you arrive at the Kalibo International Airport, you can then take a bus or a minivan to Caticlan Jetty Port. We do recommend you buying packaged solutions which should include bus transport, jetty transfers, and inland transfer to your Boracay hotel in advance your arrival to enhance your travel experience and avoid any hassle at the airport.

Remember, your destination is not just the Cagban port in Boracay – you will need onward transportation from the port to your hotel, too.

The outrigger boat tickets from Caticlan port to Boracay cost around PHP25 per passenger, the terminal and environmental fees excluded. During peak tourist season, the wait times can be very long. That’s why getting a joint transfer from the airport to your hotel is a stress-free way to go.

At the Caticlan Jetty Port you will also have to pay extra fees, which are the environmental fee (PHP75) and the terminal fee (PHP100). Both of them are paid prior to acquiring your ferry ticket and – yes! – you will have to pass though two different queues to pay them. The third queue you will have to survive is the one for the ferry ticket itself. Ugh!

Is Boracay a safe place to visit?

Boracay is a tourist Mecca. And just like any other tourist hot spot, the island is not immune to crimes – particularly petty crimes like pickpockets and credit card fraud.

Minor road accidents are also likely to happen, since the roads are very narrow and in poor condition.

Aggressive crimes, fortunately, are virtually non-existent in the island though tourists are still advised to be careful when exploring remote areas of the island.