Boracay
Despite its small size, two of Boracay’s beaches – White Beach and Yapak – were listed among TripAdvisor’s Top 25 Beaches in Asia in 2020.
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BORACAY
Boracay covers only 10km², including farming land and preserved forest. Its main White and Bulabog beaches are on opposite sides of the island’s central area, the narrowest point of which measures just 1km.
Once well-known as a party island, this is now a laidback getaway destination perfect for everyone from couples to families.
WHY IT’S MORE FUN IN BORACAY
Water sports lead the way for the active in Boracay, although the likes of zip-lining, hiking and golf will lure you inland. For more relaxing interludes, award-winning beaches beckon, as do island-hopping trips and cultural pursuits ranging from beach meditation sessions and yoga to local cookery lessons.
CULTURE & FOOD
Since its reopening, Boracay has become much more tranquil, with a cap on visitor numbers and wild beach parties in favour of low-key activities and events. Dining is casual too – focused on the latest catch, often simply grilled. Think ‘diwal’ (angel-wings clam), lobster, oysters, prawns and tuna in both Asian and globally inspired dishes.
TOP EVENTS & FESTIVALS
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Ati-atihan Festival – January
The island’s own colourful Santo Niño celebration.
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Boracay International Funboard Cup – January
A leg of the Asian Windsurfing Tour. -
Boracay Dive Olympics – March and April.
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Love Boracay – May
A weeklong celebration of local rehabilitation efforts.
CLIMATE
Tropical, without pronounced dry and wet seasons in the western and southern areas and no dry season in the eastern and northern areas. The average temperature throughout the year ranges from about 27°C to 30°C. Minimum monthly rainfall occurs from March to May.
TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN BORACAY
1. SNORKEL AND SCUBA
Snorkel or scuba dive – boats can take you out to walls, wrecks and drift dives.
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2. KITEBOARDING AND WINDSURFING
Try eco-friendly, non-motorised water sports including kiteboarding and windsurfing.
3. HIKING
Go hiking in Boracay’s hills.
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4. PARASAILING
Take to the air with a spot of parasailing.
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5. HELICOPTER TOUR
Alternatively, see Boracay from the sky with a helicopter beach tour.
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6. LUXURY SUNSET YACHT CRUISE
Go island-hopping around Boracay. Indulge in a luxury sunset yacht cruise.
7. CLIFF DIVING AND KAYAKING
Head to the island of Ariel’s Point, with more cliff diving plus kayaking and bamboo rafts.
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8. PLAY GOLF
Play golf on the 18-hole, par 72 Graham Marsh designed fairway.
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9. EXPLORE KALIBO, ILOILO OR BACOLOD
Take an extension trip to experience the beauty and food culture of Kalibo, Iloilo, as well as Bacolod, specially during the Masskara Festival during the last week of October.
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10. SPA AND WELLNESS
Treat yourself to a massage in one of the spas, wellness centres or beach huts.
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WHERE TO STAY IN BORACAY
White Beach: Most resorts, hotels and other forms of accommodation are congregated around White Beach, which is divided into Boat Stations 1 (the most upmarket and relaxing), 2 (the most lively) and 3 (popular with budget travellers). The Stations names hark back to the existence of boat stations at which visitors arrived from the mainland.
Diniwid Beach: Other places to stay are Diniwid Beach just north of White Beach – a quieter option with calm, shallow waters flanked by cliffs and hence ideal for those travelling with children. It also has viewing platforms down over the beach, lined by restaurants. Meanwhile, many couples opt for off-the-beaten-track Puka Shell Beach (Yapak Beach) at the island’s northern tip – quieter and with deeper water ideal for swimming, snorkelling and paddle-boarding (paddle-boarding is best at the White Beach front area).
Bulabog: The island’s water sports capital, popular with kiteboarders and wind-surfers, Bulabog is the most popular area for budget travellers while being just a 10-min stroll from all the attractions of White Beach. Lastly, there’s the undeveloped Tambisaan Beach with its coral reefs, offering homely and authentic places to stay along with lots of great street food.
GETTING THERE & AWAY
AIR
Travelling to and from Boracay has never been easier and ferries have largely been superseded by the countless flights which connect Caticlan (and further afield Kalibo) with Manila everyday, while many head to and from Cebu. Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines and Air Asia each have upwards of flights from Manila and now international flights from neighbouring South East Asia countries that fly direct to Kalibo.
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SEA
There is a ferry-bus-ferry-bus route to and from Manila via Roxas on Mindoro and Batangas with much cheaper rates but takes about 12 hours travel time for the truly parsimonious. From Mindoro there are the regular Montenegro, Starlite and Supershuttle ferries from Roxas to Caticlan which take around four hours and cost much less. For Romblon there are local small boats, called bangkas from Caticlan to Looc and Santa Fe on Tablas.
An adventurous but more leisurely and romantic way to travel to Boracay is to travel in style by sea from Batangas Port to Caticlan Jetty Port. 2GoTravel sails to Boracay daily, which sails mostly on the evenings of about 21:00hr and arrives the next day at 07:00hr.
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