Boracay is the most popular vacation island in the Philippines and one of the most beautiful islands in the world. The main beach and tourist place of the island is White Beach, for many years it is included in the Top-10 beautiful beaches of the whole world. The reason Boracay is attractive for tourists is not only its amazing nature, but the fact that the island has everything for rich in emotions and bright vacation.
Those who prefer to spend vacation on Boracay relaxing on the beach will enjoy the most beautiful wild beaches or beaches with developed infrastructure, and those who prefer activities, will not be bored on Boracay too:
- Kitesurfing
- Windsurfing
- Diving
- Snorkeling
- ATV Riding
- Parasailing
- Horseback riding
All these and much more tourists can go in for to make their vacation on Boracay interesting and exciting. Ideal conditions for kitesurfing made Boracay popular among fans of this sport, and world-class competitions on kitesurfing are held on Boracay on Bulabog beach.
Boracay is also the most popular island for package tours in the Philippines. Many agencies offer different kinds of Boracay vacation packages with airfare, some of them are only flight and hotel packages, some include activities. It’s up to you to decide what to choose if you don’t want to have a self-planned vacation on Boracay. The cheapest Boracay packages with airfare is easier to find in low season.
We visited Boracay and want to share the vacation review with those who are going on a trip to the most popular island of the Philippines.
Our article will help you in planning your Boracay vacation – the best place to spend holidays in South-East Asia. After reading our tips, you will know what to expect from the famous Philippine island and how to spend unforgettable days here.
What will you find in this article?
- Transport tips — we describe how to get to Boracay – the most popular island in the Philippines
- Budget tips — we show the approximate prices for accommodation, food and entertainment on the island
- Leisure tips — we describe all the entertainments on Boracay island, so that everyone can think in advance what he would like to do on vacation
- Vacation rentals tips — we not only describe the areas of the island and give advice on where it’s better to rent accommodation on Boracay, but give a detailed description of the best beaches of Boracay with the best hotels and apartments on different room rates nearby
- Food tips — we share our impressions of the cafes and restaurants we visited on Boracay
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TABLE OF CONTENTS:
🚀 Boracay Island, Philippines — How to Get There
🎯 Boracay Weather by Months — When Is the Best Time to Go to a Popular Island
🏠 Vacation on Boracay 2019 – What’s New on the Island?
🌞 Vacation Rentals on Boracay Near the Best Beaches of the Island
- 1 Station, White Beach
- 2 station, White Beach
- 3 station, White Beach
- Diniwid Beach
- Bulabog Beach
- Ilig-Iligan Beach
- Puka Shell Beach
- Punta Bunga Beach
- Balinghai Beach
🔭 Boracay, Philippines on Google Maps
🏊 Boracay Island: Things to Do and Places to See
⛵ Transport on Boracay – How to Travel Around the Island?
🍷Local and International Cuisine Restaurants on Boracay + Reviews
- Dos Mestizos
- Monterey Cafe
- Veranda Restaurant
- Mama’s Fish House
- Epic Boracay
- Puka Grande
- Willy’s Rock Bar & Restaurant
🎬 Philippines Travel Video: Boracay – The World’s Best Beaches On A Paradise Island
⭐ Vacation on Boracay – Our Review
💬 Do You Still Have Questions? Ask Them in the Comments!
Boracay Island, Philippines — How to Get There
By Air + By Water
Mostly all Philippines tourists fly through the capital of the country – Manila. And then to get to Boracay they fly from Manila almost always by budget airlines ( CebuPacific, AirAsia, JetStar).
As there are no direct flights to the Philippines from many countries – you have to fly with a stop, from some cities of a stop (for example, Hong Kong or Seoul) you can fly directly to Calibo – one of the two closest to Boracay airports. It is convenient if you don’t include Manila in the itinerary of your trip to the Philippines, and you fly only to Boracay or start your journey from this island.
In case you travel to Boracay from other Philippine islands — there are dozens of Cebu Pacific, Air Asia, etc. daily flights from other islands and Manila, all you need is to choose the flight time.
There is actually no airport on Boracay, Philippines. That’s why to reach the island you should fly to the airports of the neighboring Panay island.
The closest to Boracay airports of Panay Island, Philippines
- Caticlan (airport code MPH) — the closest to Boracay Island airport, which is just 1 km from the ferry terminal, from where ferries leave to Boracay
- Kalibo (airport code KLO) — an international airport, located 70 km away from Boracay island. It takes no less than an hour and a half to get from Kalibo to ferry terminal, from where ferries leave to Boracay, therefore it is better to expect a longer transfer time
It’s up to you to decide whether to choose Kalibo or Caticlan. Caticlan is a small airport, and mostly small aircrafts fly there.
If you travel through Caticlan – keep in mind that flights here are often delayed, it happens that they may be canceled and changed to Kalibo — remember it when planning a trip to Boracay, it’s better to have more time between the flights, otherwise your plans may be spoiled.
Tickets for flights to Caticlan are usually more expensive, but you save on time and your energy, because the road to Kalibo is not a simple one.
After arriving at the airport, you need to get to Boracay island. If you buy transfer to Boracay, it usually includes a meeting at the airport, a trip on a minivan to the ferry terminal, a 15 minutes boat trip to the island, and then a minivan trip to the hotel.
You can order both group and individual transfers. There is also an option to get from the airport to Boracay by helicopter (the cost from Caticlan is about 5000 PHP — $100 per person).
Regular transfer can be organized in several ways
- Buy a transfer on board the plane when flying to Boracay
- Order transfer in your hotel — for example in our hotel Fairways and Bluewater Newcoast Boracay we were offered a one-way transfer at a price of 1800 PHP per person ($36)
- Buy a transfer right at the exit from Kalibo or Caticlan airport — you will be persistently offered a transfer at the exit from the airport, assuring that this is the most advantageous offer — priced 500 — 800 PHP per person ($10-16)
- Get to Boracay island by yourself for 200 PHP ($4), we did it that way, and I describe it in details below
To spend the final part of our trip around the Philippines on Boracay, we flew to Caticlan Airport from Cebu Island. At the exit from the airport, we were immediately surrounded by locals who offered us to buy a transfer to our hotel. We didn’t have to much luggage with us, so we decided to get to Boracay island on our own.
So, to get to Boracay
- We left Caticlan airport and walked to the ferry terminal on foot, the distance is short – only about 500m; and surprisingly, near the ferry terminal we were at the same time with the passengers of our aircraft, who got there on transfer minivan
- Before entering the ferry terminal, we bought tickets for the boat and paid tourist fees — it’s rather difficult to dismiss the ticket windows — there is always a line; it’s necessary to buy the tickets in both ticket windows — in the first one you should pay fee (175 PHP = $3,5), in the second one — ticket for the boat (25 PHP = $0,5). So, the total cost of the way to Boracay is 200 PHP per person ($4)
- Immediately after buying the tickets we entered the ferry terminal, where we were led to a small boat for about 30 persons; boats leave at a small interval, so within 10 minutes we left Panay island to Boracay. The distance between the islands is insignificant, and so after the next 15 minutes we were on Boracay
After arrival to Boracay all tourists can take a map of Boracay and Boracay Guide in the ferry terminal, and of course there is a large number of tricycles nearby. We rented a tricycle to the 2 station of White Beach for 200 PHP ($4), where we had dinner in one of the restaurants on the beach and enjoyed the sunset. And only after the sunset we went to our hotel Fairways and Bluewater Newcoast Boracay, paying again only 150 PHP for a tricycle ($3).
As a result, the transfer from Caticlan Airport to Fairways and Bluewater Hotel Newcoast Boracay cost us less than 300 PHP per person ($6) (boat + tricycles), which is less than buying an organized transfer. Yes, instead of a minivan, we went on a tricycle and from the airport to the ferry terminal we walked on foot, but the distances were quite insignificant distances, so it was not a problem.
The scheme of a self-transfer from Kalibo airport to Boracay is the same, but the distance from the airport to the ferry terminal of Caticlan is 70 km, which you can make on a minivan for 250 PHP per person ($5) or a taxi – for 2500 PHP ($50).
The prices for an organized group transfer from Kalibo airport to Boracay start from 1250 PHP ($ 25) per person.
By Bus + By Ferry
At first, this way to get to Boracay from Manila can seem cheaper than to go by air, but do not forget that the flight takes about 1 hour, while the bus + the ferry usually takes about 9-12 hours and quite a lot of your energy.
The way from Manila to Boracay is:
- Manila (Buendia Terminal) — Batangas by bus
- Batangas — Puerto Galera (Muelle Puerto Galera Pier) by ferry
- Puerto Galera — Roxas by bus
- Roxas — Caticlan by ferry
- Caticlan — Boracay by ferry
The cost of getting to Boracay this way is about 1800 PHP ($ 36) per person. For such a price you can sometimes find cheap flights from Manila to Boracay, Caticlan. And my personal opinion is that getting from Manila to Boracay by buses and ferries is irrational and just incredibly tedious.
So if you are thinking about how to go to Boracay – the fastest and least tiring option is by air.
A minimum of time – and you are on Boracay!
Boracay Weather by Months — When Is the Best Time to Go to a Popular Island
As elsewhere in the Philippines, Boracay has a fairly comfortable climate.Year-round summer is divided into seasons, each with its own features.
Twice a year, the direction of the wind changes on Boracay, and with the wind changing the climate and appearance of the island changes too (what is important to keep in mind if you want to make colorful and attractive photos of Boracay island).
Habagat – is “wet season”, it usually lasts on Boracay from June to October, when the wet warm wind brings rains and typhoons. The rainy season does not mean it rains day and night, but at this time the weather is changeable, sometimes it changes up to several times a day.
During the wet season it’s windy on White Beach, the sea is often muddy and the shore may be dirty from seaweed and small garbage. At the same time the sea on Puka Beach and Bulabog during the wet season is pretty calm.
The rainy season has its great advantage – vacation on Boracay at this time is much cheaper. Prices for flights to Boracay, accommodation and even entertainment during the wet season are lower.
Amihan – is “dry season”, it lasts on Boracay from October to May. The dry season differs from the rainy season completely. During this time the climate on Boracay is more comfortable and dry.
October and November on Boracay are often a transitional period to the dry season, and the weather on Boracay in these months is unpredictable and unstable, only by December the weather becomes dry.
In January Boracay usually has a temperature a few degrees lower, which is considered a Philippine winter (25-26 С or 77-80 F).
February and March are the driest and most sunny months on Boracay. While during April and May on Boracay there is a Philippine summer ( day temperatures are about 30-32°С or 86-90°F), these months are very popular for vacation on the island.
When planning a holiday on Boracay you should remember that during the dry season there is also a “high season”— from December to March. At this time the demand for flights, vacation rentals and entertainment on Boracay rises, and with demand the prices for it rise too.
Peak of the season are Christmas, New Year, Chinese New Year, Catholic Easter and May holidays.
We visited Boracay in the offseason – in the middle of October. Usually at this time the wind and the climate are changeable. But the weather on Boracay was comfortable, it rained occasionally, and the rains were short. Mostly all the time of our stay the weather was sunny, and only on the day of our departure there was a heavy rain.
The main thing that we realized during our vacation on Boracay – it’s useless to trust the weather forecast before arrival and even while staying on Boracay, in reality the weather often differs from the forecast a lot.
Vacation on Boracay 2019 – What’s New on the Island?
It is no secret that after the closure of the island from April to November 2018 and the ongoing renovation, Boracay has changed a lot. Now this is no more the always noisy and the most party island of the Philippines. Below we describe what exactly has changed on the island and what a new Boracay is.
It was decided to close Boracay for tourists due to the environmental threat to the island. The amount of garbage on the tiny Boracay reached unimaginable proportions, and the authorities decided to clean up the most popular vacation island in the Philippines.
However, the changes on Boracay concerned not only the garbage removal and cleaning the beaches, but also the rules of spending vacation on the island.
One of the most significant innovations is that now there can be no more than 18 thousand tourists at a time on Boracay, and no more than 6 thousand tourists a day can arrive on the island. To stay on Boracay during vacation, tourists should book hotels and apartments from the list of accredited accommodation establishments. When booking accredited accommodation, tourists get a legal permission for staying on Boracay. Yes, you can book apartments with no accreditation, but this can lead to troubles.
At first, the reservation of accommodation can be checked when entering Boracay, and secondly, the island itself is often checked: representatives of regulatory authorities visit vacation rentals with no accreditation, seal it and oblige guests to move out. In this case, tourists have to book new accommodation on Boracay, while in high season and during the holidays accredited accommodation is in high demand. Verifications on the island happen quite often, given the very small size of Boracay, it is not difficult at all to control tourist accommodation facilities here. Therefore, in order to avoid problems with finding new accommodation, we recommend to book a hotel or apartments on Boracay only from the accredited list. The full list of accredited accommodation establishments on Boracay you can find here.
After putting in order and reducing the number of legal accommodation on the island, many argue that the cost of accommodation rental on Boracay has increased. The estimated cost of a daily room rental in Boracay hotels in September 2019 is:
- Budget hotels – 50$-80$
- 3 stars – 80$-120$
- 4 stars – 120$-220$
- 5 stars – from 220$
During the time Boracay was closed, illegally erected buildings, including mini-hotels, were dismantled on the island. In reality, renovation and construction on the island is still continued. One of the main construction projects at this moment is the road. As a result, in the surrounding areas it is always noisy and dusty, but remember that the size of the island is small (Boracay is only 7 km in length) and it takes minimum of time to get to any beach. The full opening of the updated Boracay is planned by the end of 2019.
However, there are already new rules on Boracay, which will be unusual for those who have visited the island before. And here are some of them:
- Ban on the noisy parties which Boracay was famous for
- Ban on smoking and drinking alcohol in public places of the island
- Ban on eating on the beaches except the territory of cafes and restaurants
- There are no more massagists and sellers of glasses and on the beaches of Boracay, as well as those who arranged fire shows and built sand figures
- The island has a tourist police force that monitors the implementation of new Boracay rules. Examples of fines that can be charged: $20 for smoking and $10 for litter left on the beach
Changes of the island are unusual for those who visited Boracay before its closure. However, the innovations benefited the island, and from a noisy, party and, let’s not hide, dirty Boracay, it turns into a cozy island for a family vacation, and local residents and tourists here care about the ecology and the environment.
Vacation Rentals on Boracay Near the Best Beaches of the Island
Best Boracay Hotels and Resorts With Tourists Reviews
Boracay is the island where absolutely every tourist can find accommodation he can afford. Here, as it often happens in the Philippines, vacation rentals vary a lot – the island is small, and next to expensive luxury hotels and resorts with a private territory there are houses of the locals, where tourists can rent simple rooms at low price.
Most of the hotels, all inclusive resorts, villas and apartments for rent on Boracay island are concentrated in the White Beach area — the longest and most popular beach, which is the main attraction of the island.
For many years, White Beach is included in the TOP-10 world beaches, due to the fact that White Beach is 4 km of fine white sand, framed by a row of palms and shallow waves of the purest emerald water.
White Beach is the most popular tourist place on Boracay, it occupies the western part of the island, where Boracay is washed by the Sulu sea. White Beach is always a busy place, but it is especially crowded during the sunset, when tourists from all over the island gather on White Beach to see the famous Philippine sunsets.
Along White Beach there are a lot of restaurants, volleyball and frisbee playgrounds and a lot of entertainment – everyone will find here something he would like to enjoy. Although many prefer just to walk along the beach, thanks to the length of White Beach and its beauty it will never get boring.
White Beach is divided into 3 boat stations: 1 and 3 stations are more quiet in comparison with the 2nd station, where it is always noisy and crowded. Most of the restaurants, shops, souvenir shops and tourist offices of Boracay are located on 2 station of White Beach.
On the beach at 1 and 3 stations, if you are tired of the crowd, it is quite possible to find secluded beach areas, especially at the end of 3 station of White Beach.
Vacation Rentals on White Beach
Vacation rentals at 1 station of White Beach are more expensive and luxurious, while accomodation in the area of 2 and 3 stations are usually cheaper. The rental price on 2 and 3 stations of White Beach is almost the same.
Of course renting accomodation on the first line directly on White Beach will cost more than on the second line, although the distance to the beach is quite insignificant – just over 100m.
If you do not like crowds of people and want a more or less secluded vacation on Boracay – renting a room on 2 station of White Beach is definitely not worth it, especially on holidays!
At the end of the 3rd station of White Beach the first-line hotels are smoothly changed by private houses of the locals, where tourists can rent a room with a balcony and the possibility to use a shared kitchen.
You can use the accommodation search or check the options we recommend at each of the beaches below.
ATTENTION! Due to the renovation of Boracay and the new rules of spending vacation on the island, tourists are advised to book accommodation only from an accredited list. The process of accommodation accreditation is not a quick one, and many owners neglect to receive accreditation. However, inspections on the island happen quite often, and if during the inspection it turns out that tourists live in a non-accredited accommodation facility, it is sealed up, and guests need to find new accommodation on Boracay. To avoid additional problems, make sure that the property is accredited before booking accommodation on Boracay. A full list of accredited accommodation on Boracay 2019 can be found here
Best Hotels at 1 Station, White Beach by Tourists Reviews
- From 39$ per night – Bluewaves Beach House, with rating of 9,1 points
- From 39$ per night – JayJays Club, with rating of 8,0 points
- From 40$ per night – The Boracay Beach, with rating of 7,9 points
- From 48$ per night – Casita Isla, with rating of 8,2 points
- From 67$ per night – True Home, with rating of 8,0 points
- From 77$ per night – Willy’s Beach Hotel, with rating of 8,0 points
- From 82$ per night – Sea Wind, with rating of 8,5 points
- From 113$ per night – Two Seasons, with rating of 8,4 points
- From 125$ per night – Fridays Boracay Beach Resort, with rating of 8,1 points
- From 137$ per night – Astoria, with rating of 8,3 points
Best Hotels at 2 station, White Beach by Tourists Reviews
- From 37$ per night – Isla Gecko Resort, with rating of 7,9 points
- From 39$ per night – Deparis Beach Resort, with rating of 7,2 points
- From 7$ per night – The Piccolo Hotel, with rating of 8,5 points
- From 62$ per night – Luxx Boutique, with rating of 8,2 points
- From 69$ per night – Nigi Nigi Nu Noos, with rating of 8,4 points
- From 75$ per night – Aloha Boracay Hotel, with rating of 8,5 points
- From From 83$ per night – The Tides Hotel, with rating of 7,5 points
- From 109$ per night – Mandarin Hotel, with rating of 7,8 points
- From 111$ per night – Coast, with rating of 9,5 points
- From 156$ per night – The District, with rating of 8,8 points
Best Hotels at 3 station, White Beach by Tourists Reviews
- From 30$ per night – Dave’s Straw Hat Inn, with rating of 9,1 points
- From 40$ per night – Blue Coral Resort, with rating of 7,8 points
- From 52$ per night – Anahaw Studio Suites, with rating of 8,8 points
- From 58$ per night – Greenyard Inn, with rating of 9,2 points
- From 62$ per night – Cocoloco, with rating of 8,5 points
- From 72$ per night – 357, with rating of 9,1 points
- From 74$ per night – Ocean Club, with rating of 7,7 points
- From 75$ per night – Astoria Current, with rating of 8,9 points
- From 84$ per night – Villa Caemilla Beach Hotel, with rating of 9,1 points
- From 95$ per night – Sands Hotel, with rating of 8,2 points
- From 268$ per night – Asya Premier Suites, with rating of 8,7 points
On the island there are also small cozy beaches with a few hotels nearby. For example, Diniwid beach. It is one of our favorite beaches on Boracay. Diniwid is a very small beach, without crowds of tourists.
At the entrance to the beach there is a cafe where you can order drinks, and in the right corner of the beach, near the recently burnt Nami Resort – Mama’s Fish House restaurant, which is famous for its fish dishes, we were here for dinner and were totally satisfied.
It is good to stay on Diniwid beach for the sunset, the view from the beach is breathtaking, the same as on Boracay’s White Beach, but there are no crowds of people around you.
If you want to get from Diniwid beach to White Beach, you can do it quickly: between the beaches there is a path along the shore close to the rocks. A few minutes – and you are at the very beginning of 1 station, White Beach.
If you want to stay on Boracay island near Diniwid beach – you can choose one of the hotels located right on the beach, such as Microtel by Wyndham Boracay or Sunset Cottages
The hotels located on the cliffs have a breathtaking view from the rooms.
The hotel Nami Resort until recently had a popular restaurant on top of a cliff near Diniwid Beach, and the restaurant had a breathtaking view, but during the fire in January 2018 the restaurant, elevator to it and the rooms burned out.
It is still unknown, how soon the hotel will be rebuilt.
Best Vacation Rentals on Boracay Near Diniwid Beach by Tourists Reviews
- From 16$ per night – Sinagpa Backpackers, with rating of 7,5 points
- From 39$ per night – Chillax Flashpackers, with rating of 9,2 points
- From 48$ per night – Sulu Sea Boutique Hotel, with rating of 8,6 points
- From 56$ per night – Sur Beach Resort, with rating of 8,7 points
- From 78$ per night – Artista Beach Villa, with rating of 8,6 points
- From 88$ per night – Microtel by Wyndham, with rating of 8,2 points
- From 106$ per night – Sunset Cottages, with rating of 7,8 points
- From 138$ per night – Tropicana Ocean Villas, with rating of 8,0 points
- From 190$ per night – Diniview Villas, with rating of 8,4 points
- From 214$ per night – The Lind, with rating of 9,2 points
- From 400$ per night – Villa Ananda, with rating of 8,9 points
If the main reason of your stay on Boracay is kitesurfing, you should pay attention to apartments near Bulabog beach — a favorite kitesurfers’ place. There are not so many vacation rentals as on White Beach, but, however, there is a great choice of them.
What about Bulabog beach — it is suitable only for sports: kitesurfing, windsurfing, parasailing, water skiing. You can hardly lie down and relax on white sand and swim in turquoise water on Bulabog beach. Nevertheless, Bulabog is one of the best beaches in Asia for kitesurfing.
There are many schools where you can learn kitesurfing near Bulabog beach. The wind blows on Bulabog from November to April, and amateurs from all over the world come here to enjoy surfing.
Bulabog beach is not good for swimming – it is not deep, there are many algae, corals and sea urchins. Bulabog is located on the east coast of the island, where Boracay is washed by Sibuyan sea. Depending on the season Bulabog may look not very attractive.
During our trip to Boracay in October it was exactly that way – when we came to Bulabog, we saw a huge number of boats, which brought tourists who prefer water activities, the whole beach was in algae and we couldn’t make a step – the locals insistently offered us a ride on water skiing or a banana.
All these lead to the fact that after a short time we caught a tricycle to leave Bulabog. I do not deny that we just were not lucky, and we got to Bulabog at an unsuccessful moment, because I saw quite attractive images and photos of other tourists from this Boracay beach.
In good weather, you can come to Bulabog to admire the colorful kites rising above the water. This beach exactly has a special atmosphere.
There are houses of locals between Bulabog beach and White Beach. Rooms, apartments or villas here are rent mostly by kitesurfers or those who come to the Philippines and rent accommodation on Boracay for a long term. In this area of the island there are both small houses and large villas for families or companies for rent.
10 Best Hotels on Boracay Near Bulabog Beach by Tourists Reviews
- From 20$ per night – Niu Ohana Hotel Bulabog, with rating of 8,1 points
- From 23$ per night – Lazy Dog Bed & Breakfast, with rating of 8,0 points
- From 36$ per night – Gems Boutique Resort, with rating of 8,4 points
- From 40$ per night – Levantin, with rating of 8,5 points
- From 48$ per night – Pahuwayan Suites, with rating of 8,4 points
- From 62$ per night – Club Boracay Apartelle, with rating of 8,5 points
- From 70$ per night – Palassa Private Residences, with rating of 8,0 points
- From 99$ per night – Apartments at 7 Stones, with rating of 8,8 points
- From 200$ per night – Ventosos Penthouse, with rating of 8,8 points
- From 294$ per night – Den Pasar Boracay Villa, with rating of 9,1 points [for 8 peoples]
Lapuz lapuz beach belongs to Fairways and Bluewater Newcoast Boracay Hotel.
We stayed on Boracay at this hotel and visited the beach every day, mostly early in the morning from 8 to 10 am, when other guests of the hotel had breakfast, and we could enjoy the almost empty beach.
The beach is divided into two parts by a rock. At low tide you can easily walk along the sea near the rock from one part of the beach to another.
During the tide, you can swim, or you’ll have to go around the hill on the territory of the hotel. As for Lapu Lapu beach, its territory is well-groomed, every morning the beach is cleaned of garbage, at the entrance to the beach there is a bar where you can order drinks and snacks.
There can be good snorkeling on the Lapu-Lapu, but as a result there is a slight inconvenience – the bottom of the shore is covered with broken corals, so it’s better to walk along the beach in coral shoes. On Lapu Lapu in the mornings you can see a large number of starfish and sea urchins.
In general, Lapu Lapu is a nice pleasant beach, which is surrounded on both sides by cliffs. You can have a good time on the beach, but rather in the morning, while there are not many hotel guests.
Fairways and Bluewater Newcoast Boracay Hotel Review.
For staying on Boracay we chose Fairways and Bluewater Newcoast hotel.
It is a hotel with a huge territory, most of which is occupied by golf fields. And as a result, around the territory of the hotel you can move only on transfer minivans.
Some guests complained that it took them a long time to wait for the transfer, but we never waited for more than 10 minutes. According to the timetable there is a transfer to D’Mall from the hotel and back – to the shopping center with a lot of restaurants at 2 station of White Beach, which is quite convenient.
What about transfer back from D’Mall to Fairways and Bluewater Newcoast, every evening there was a huge queue of hotel guests awaiting for transfer, and in order not to waste our time, we returned to the hotel on the tricycle.
Fairways and Bluewater Newcoast Boracay hotel has its own beach – Lapuz lapuz, where we spent every morning almost alone.
In the evening you can dine at the beach cafe, here they also organize animation. There are several different swimming pools in Fairways and Bluewater Newcoast Boracay, some of them are out of date, but there are also fresh ones – for example, the favorite of all guests Infinity Pool or Laguna Pool.
Buildings of the hotel are divided into zones, each of them has its own name. We stayed at Monterey.
Nearby Monterey there is the above-mentioned Laguna Pool, on the first floor of Monterey there is a restaurant, where breakfast for all guests is served in the mornings. For breakfast there is a separate menu, in addition to the selected dishes they serve fruit, juice and tea or coffee.
The menu for breakfast is wide and everyone can choose what he likes: from light ones like granola, muesli or pancakes to carbonara, fish pies or something with meat.
The rooms in Monterey contain two queen-size beds, a balcony, TV set.
There is a supermarket across the street from the hotel.
In Fairways and Bluewater Newcoast you can organize activities, such as horseback riding, water sports and zip-line, which can help you to enjoy attractions of Boracay from height (at an altitude of 100 meters, the length of the descent is 650 meters).
In general, while staying at Fairways and Bluewater Newcoast Boracay we did not have any negative moments. The hotel matches its price.
Yes, you need to lose time moving around the territory of the hotel, but at the same time you have a lot of opportunities to spend your leisure time — on the beach or at different pools, and in the evening you can visit several restaurants in various hotel complexes, which is especially good in rainy weather – you do not need to go to the center of the island.
Another advantage for us was that Fairways and Bluewater Newcoast Boracay Hotel was close to the beaches we loved – Puka Beach and Diniwid Beach.
- From 100$ per night – Fairways and Bluewater Newcoast Boracay, with rating of 8,3 points
If during your stay on Boracay you want to play golf – you can do it in Fairways and Bluewater Newcoast even if you are not a guest of a hotel. The prices are on the hotel’s Website.
Another popular beach on Boracay is Ilig iligan, which is located on the eastern shore of the island between Puka and Bulabog beaches. Compared with White Beach, Ilig – Iligan is a secluded beach where you can relax from the crowds of tourists in a calm atmosphere. There is no developed infrastructure, but this is the place where you can fully enjoy the beauty of Boracay’s nature.
Best Vacation Rentals on Boracay Near Ilig-Iligan Beach
- From 48$ per night – The Rose Pike, with rating of 7,5 points
- From 56$ per night – Zoe Mei Resort, with rating of 7,3 points
- From 58$ per night – Oasis Resort and Spa, with rating of 8,9 points
- From 104$ per night – Oceanway Residences, with rating of 8,6 points
Our favorite beach, located in the north of Boracay, was Puka Shell beach.
To get to the beach it is better to rent a tricycle. The cost of the route approximately from the centre of the island is 150-200 PHP ($3-4). At the entrance to the beach there are souvenir shops offering tourists crafts made of shells. And also just – УБРАТЬ To the right directly at the entrance there is the only good cafe on Puka Beach – Puka Grande. We especially liked the grilled fish here.
Puka Beach is a huge beach with the water of an incredible rich turquoise color.
There are places where you can play beach volleyball on Puka beach. An interesting and enjoyable activity is to walk along the beach – to the cliffs where Puka Beach ends.
But 100m to the end of the beach there are security guards, who do not let anyone go further, and most likely the guards are watching that no one is trying to get onto the territory of a nearby luxury hotel Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort and Spa.
We agreed that we will quickly walk along the sea, make a couple of shots and quickly return. This part at the end of Puka Beach is one of the most picturesque.
Other picturesque parts of Puka beach are on the right side of the main entrance to Puka Beach. Here the beach is divided into small areas under the rocks, surrounded by cliffs. When the waves are not strong, it’s not difficult to go between the cliffs to the distant parts of Puka beach, and if possible, you should definitely do it.
This part of Puka Beach is always not crowded, there are usually mostly locals, when we were there – only local teenagers at the beach were drinking rum.
On different days we managed to see Puka beach in different weather. And these were 2 completely different beaches. In sunny weather Puka beach was absolutely calm, while on a cloudy day the waves knocked us down and it was necessary to make an effort to go in and out of the sea.
We fell in love with Puka Beach in any weather, it is always beautiful, and you can always find secluded areas without people on Puka beach.
There are no hotels on Puka beach. But this is temporary, during our stay there was a construction right near the entrance to the beach, so soon a new hotel will probably appear here and the number of holidaymakers in secluded areas of Puka Beach will increase.
If you want to rent apartments near Puka Beach you should consider options in Yapak area, which is located in the north of Boracay island. Every time to get to the center of the island you’ll need to take a tricycle, but at the same time you will live near a good beach, not as crowded as White Beach.
Best Vacation Rentals on Boracay Near Puka Shell Beach
- From 40$ per night – Ecovillage Resort, with rating of 7,3 points
- From 48$ per night – Kiera 208 Alta Vista, with rating of 7,6 points
- From 54$ per night – Alta Vista de Boracay by David, with rating of 9,5 points
To the South from Puka Beach on the west side of the island there is a small cozy Banyugan Beach. There’s the only way to get to the beach — be the guest of Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort and Spa.
- From 374$ per night – Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort and Spa, with rating of 9,2 points
Also to the south from Puka Shell Beach on the west coast of Boracay there is Punta Bunga Beach. This is a private beach for guests of the nearest luxury all inclusive resorts on Boracay.
The beach itself is municipal, but the roads, leading to it, belong to resorts, and so not being a guest of nearby hotels on Boracay island you can not get to Punta Bunga beach.
According to reviews this is a perfect beach, another in luxury hotels on Boracay is simply impossible. Punta Bunga is fine white sand and the purest turquoise water. A small island, covered with greenery, located near the shore, makes Punta Bunge more picturesque.
Best Luxury Resorts on Boracay Near Punta Bunga beach
- From 154$ per night – Movenpick Resort & Spa, with rating of 8,6 points
- From 250$ per night – Crimson Resort and Spa, with rating of 8,9 points
Between the hard-to-reach Punta Bunga beach and Diniwid beach there is Balinghai beach. It is a small pretty picturesque beach, located in a bay. Balinghai beach is not an ideal one for relaxation, there are many stones and the beach area is not well-groomed. But if you have enough time, you want to visit a new beach and relax from the crowd of tourists – Balinghai is a good idea.
Nearby there is Balinghai Beach Resort with a private fenced small well-maintained beach. You can get there for 500 PHP ($ 10) per person. On the beach, owned by the hotel, there are sun loungers and a restaurant (drinks and food there you can order at the expense of a deposit for visiting the beach).
The private beach Balinghai offers good snorkeling and usually it’s not crowded, so it is definitely worth visiting. Note that to get to the beach you will have to go down a hundred steps from the Balinghai Beach Resort, and return the same path.
Best Hotels on Boracay Near Balinghai Beach
- From 51$ per night – Shambala Terraces, with rating of 8,3 points
- From 78$ per night – Hotel Soffia, with rating of 7,8 points
- From 85$ per night – West Cove, with rating of 7,7 points
- From 116$ per night – Austrian Sunset Apartment, with rating of 7,9 points
Boracay, Philippines on Google Maps
For your convenience we put all the important places of the island, which we describe in the article, on the map of Boracay. Upon arrival at the port of the island, everyone can take a printed map & guide of Boracay, where absolutely all the locations on the island are marked.
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Boracay Island: Things to Do and Places to See
Boracay is ideal not only for beach vacation, if you have a desire and enough money you can organize interesting and exciting entertainment on the island. Along White Beach mostly at 2 station you can easily find a large number of agencies offering excursions, island hopping, tours and entertainment on Boracay.
Here you can get advice on what to see + what to visit and do on Boracay.
If during your trip to the Philippines you go only to Boracay, of course you should enrich your beach vacation
- Boat trip along the island — 900 PHP ($18) or around the island — 2,000 PHP ($40)
If you choose a boat trip around Boracay, pay attention to the weather — during a strong wind it is difficult and dangerous to go around the island by boat due to big waves. That’s why in windy weather, the high risk is that the boat will pass only along the island.
You’ll have exciting time on Boracay with
- Excursion in a boat with a transparent bottom from 400 PHP ($8)
- Sailing in sunset time — 2,500 PHP ($50) for 1 to 5 persons
Sunsets on Boracay as everywhere in the Philippines are fantastic, sunset images made on Boracay will remind you of this pure beauty a long time. On Boracay you can rent a luxury private yacht.
- The cost of renting a yacht per person for 5 hours is 7,000 PHP ($140) from 10 am to 3 pm or 7,500 PHP ($150) from 1.30 pm to 6.30 pm
The price includes lunch and drinks. There is also a shorter option for renting a yacht
- The cost of renting a yacht for 2 hours during the sunset from 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm is 4,800 PHP ($96) per person
The time spent on snorkeling or diving from the boat on Boracay will be fascinating too (Snorkeling costs 1,400 PHP per person ($28), Diving — 3,000 PHP per person ($60)). There are no places for diving directly near the coast of Boracay, so tourists are taken by boat to diving spots.
Fans of water sports on Bulabog beach can enjoy riding a water motorcycle (2,500 PHP for a 30-minutes rent), kitesurfing (from 3,400 PHP for 1,5-hour lesson for beginners), windsurfing (course for beginners costs 2,700 PHP for 5 lessons for 1 hour each).
If water sports are not your story, you can brighten up your holiday on Boracay by parasailing (2,000 PHP ($40)), riding on a “banana” (300 PHP ($6)) or try your hand at the sup board (1,000 PHP for 1 hour rent).
Among the offers of a variety of activities there are also options for horseback riding on Boracay (1,000 PHP ($20)), ATV (1,250 PHP ($25)) or segway (2,300 PHP ($46)). The route, where they ride on ATVs, runs along the Luho mountain, you can also get there on a tricycle, passing from Bulabog beach to Diniwid beach. At the top of Luho mountain there is a view deck where you can stop and watch the attractions of Boracay from height.
Fans of height can agree to a helicopter ride over Boracay island (from 5,200 PHP ($104) per person).
One of interesting facts about Boracay – the locals adore basketball. If you like it too, you can watch the games every evening not far from D’Mall shopping center. A popular basketball team is called Boracay Rum Waves.
As follows from the above, you can always find something to do on Boracay, vacation on this island can be really interesting and full of emotions. As for the prices for entertainment and activities on Boracay – they are slightly higher than on other islands in the Philippines, which is quite expected, because the island is the most popular resort in the Philippines.
We came to Boracay after such islands as
- Busuanga and Coron — where we rented a boat to visit the attractions of Coron and Malcapuya islands, snorkeled in coral gardens in the lagoons and lakes of Coron island
- Palawan — where we spent unforgettable days in El Nido marine park
- Cebu — where we snorkeled at the famous “home” reef in Moalboal, swam with turtles and sardines and also went to canyoneering on the Kawasan waterfall
Boracay was the final island on our trip to the Philippines. We dedicated our days on the island to beach vacation, because on the previous islands we didn’t sit still and had quite an active time, which of course was fascinating, but rather tedious.
And if you go only to Boracay or another 1-2 islands in the Philippines, then, again, it is worth paying attention to entertainment and tours on Boracay. It will make your holidays in the Philippines more exciting, interesting and memorable.
There is an opportunity to book activities on Boracay in advance and not to worry about it on vacation. You can have a look of the list of all Boracay activities, tours and excursions with prices and book them Here.
Transport on Boracay – How to Travel Around the Island?
Speaking about transport on Boracay, Philippines it should be mentioned once again that this is a small island only about 7 km length with an area of 10 km2. There are few cars, mostly they belong to the hotels, and the main kind of transport is a tricycle. There are both classic tricycles and new ones – electric tricycles, which are quiet and are designed for up to 8 passengers.
The import of cars and motorbikes is subject to a large tax to keep the ecology of Boracay island. It is not difficult to move on a tricycle due to the small size of the island, besides, you can catch a tricycle 24 hours a day.
You can also rent a motorbike to travel around the island on your own. But motorbike rental is not popular and cheap on Boracay. The main reason for it again is that motorbikes are hard to import on Boracay.
For one-day motorbike rental on Boracay you will have to pay 1500 — 2000 PHP ($30 — $40).
Anyway, any point of the island can be reached by tricycle. Prices for a trip on a tricycle from one end of Boracay to another one are about 350 PHP ($7).
Local and International Cuisine Restaurants on Boracay + Reviews
The question of where to go for a snack or a good lunch/dinner on Boracay does not cause a problem, unlike other islands in the Philippines, where we traveled before. Boracay is an over popular place to relax in the Philippines and the cuisine of different countries is represented in the restaurants on the island.
Prices in the cafes and restaurants of Boracay also vary – here you can either eat cheap or have a dinner in expensive restaurant. Most of the cafes and restaurants are concentrated in the area of 2 station, White Beach. The network has many articles with tips on where to eat on Boracay. Below I will describe exactly the places we visited and our personal impressions.
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Dos Mestizos
Nice cozy Spanish restaurant on Boracay, with good reviews from tourists on Tripadvisor. We visited this restaurant on Boracay for dinner. There is live music in the evenings. Among the visitors there are mostly europeans, holidaymakers in the Philippines.
The menu offers a wide selection of wines, sangria, tapas, paella, seafood and meat dishes. We were satisfied with both the restaurant and the food, and the evening at Dos Mestizos reminds us of pleasant time on Boracay.
Approximate prices in the Spanish restaurant Dos Mestizos
- Sangria — 500 PHP ($10) per 2-4 persons
- Paella — 820 PHP ($16) per 2-3 persons
- Paella — 1425 PHP ($29) per 3-5 persons
- Soups — from 210 to 320 PHP ($6)
- Tapas — from 120 to 355 PHP ($2-7)
You can find detailed information about the restaurant on the Dos Mestizos restaurant’s website.
Monterey Cafe
One of the places where the Fairways and Bluewater Newcoast Boracay serves breakfast until 10am. In the rest of the time, if you do not want to leave the hotel, you can have a good snack here, at lunch there is a discount for some menu items.
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Veranda Restaurant
A restaurant with italian cuisine on the territory of Fairways and Bluewater Newcoast Boracay. Here we had dinner on a rainy evening, when due to the rain we did not want to go outside the hotel.
Veranda is a good restaurant with a pleasant atmosphere and interior, but for food – nothing special. Veranda — is a place where you can have a good dinner without expecting anything extraordinary.
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Mama’s Fish House
A wonderful place on Boracay with good reviews, which is on Diniwid Beach. The restaurant offers tables right on the beach, where you can have a romantic dinner with a view of the bay, and in case of a strong wind it is better to move inside to the territory of Mama’s Fish House.
The restaurant is famous for its fish dishes, we especially liked marlin steaks, shrimps and salad with tuna and mango.
Approximate Prices in Mama’s Fish House
- Tuna steak — 390 PHP ($8)
- Fish and chips — 340 PHP ($7)
- Seafood Paella — 420 PHP ($8)
- Chicken Paella — 380 PHP ($7)
- Mahi-mahi grilled fish — 420 PHP ($8)
- Grilled shrimps — 550 PHP ($11)
- Blue marlin steak — 550 PHP ($11)
Epic Boracay
The first place on Boracay, Philippines, where (according to the Tripadvisor) we went from the port immediately upon arrival to the island. Epic Boracay is located on the 2 station of White Beach, among a great number of restaurants near D’Mall shopping center, so at sunset time, this is an ideal place to dine with a view of the breathtaking Philippine sunset.
Of course, if you are not confused by the large number of people around. What about food – according to reviews this is a very popular Boracay restaurant, but we were not impressed by the food. We had dinner there and we didn’t have a wish to return to Epic once again.
Epic — a very popular place, because in the late evening it turns into one of the nightlife places of Boracay.
Approximate prices in Epic Boracay
Puka Grande
Restaurant at the entrance to Puka Shell Beach. Puka Grande is perfect if you spend quite a lot of time on Puka beach, it is the best place to have lunch. Fish and fresh shrimps are well prepared here. Puka Grande is popular among the Japanese tourists.
Approximate prices in Puka Grande
- Rice with garlic — 40 PHP ($1)
- Grilled shrimps — 250 PHP ($5)
- Grilled chicken — 200 PHP ($4)
- Noodles — 175 PHP ($3)
- Grilled fish — there are no fixed prices, you are told what kind of fish is available + the price depends on its size
Willy’s Rock Bar & Restaurant
We got to Willy’s Rock Bar & Restaurant accidently. During the time spent on White Beach, we decided to have lunch and went to the first place we saw on the 1 station of White Beach. After we had a look at the menu, we chose a marlin steak and a cheese soup. Willy’s Rock Bar & Restaurant is a great place to have a lunch, and then spend time on the beach.
Even the service at Willy’s Rock Bar & Restaurant seemed to us to be fast. Besides the delicious food, the advantage of the restaurant is its location — right opposite the Willy’s Rock at 1 Station of White Beach. Willy’s Rock is one of the attractions of Boracay, so a magnificent panorama opens in front of you while you are sitting at Willy’s Rock Bar & Restaurant.
A good idea is to have dinner at Willy’s Rock Bar & Restaurant at sunset.
In the evening, while walking on White Beach, there are many bars, where you can spend time with a cocktail and a light snack. One evening we decided to walk along White Beach, and ordered the cocktails at the bars that seemed attractive to us.
Unfortunately, I don’t remember the names of all the bars, but one of them was Aplaya the Beach Bar & Italian Restaurant. We liked this place, which by the way is quite popular, there were quite a lot of visitors, although it was only the beginning of the evening.
Philippines Travel Video: Boracay – The World’s Best Beaches On A Paradise Island
Vacation on Boracay – Our Review
Boracay is really a paradise island in the Philippines. When I say paradise, I mean its nature. At the same time, many people remain dissatisfied with the fact that after reading about the beauty of sandy beaches, emerald water and palm trees descending to fine clean sand, then they come to the island and see not only such a beautiful picture.
I mean the life of local people. On Boracay close to luxury hotels there are houses of the locals, who are very poor. In addition to it, you can always see rubbish and thin sick animals on the streets of Boracay.
But after all, Boracay is Philippines, and most people are really poor there. Most of the adult population abuses alcohol, and not only adults. And although all this is not very pleasant – in other islands we visited, the situation is much worse.
And if we compare – then on Boracay due to a great number of tourists, the situation for locas is even better. Many come to Boracay to work, because there is no work on their islands.
But from a huge number of tourists there are obvious disadvantages – unbelievable amounts of garbage. If you get on Luho mountain on the road from Bulabog to Diniwid – you will pass by a huge garbage dump, already exceeding its high fencing. Given the high temperature of the air, one can imagine the aromas above this part of the island and it is better not to imagine the negative consequences from this size of the dump on a very small island.
Before Boracay was closed, the island had an environmental problem because of the enormous amount of garbage. During the months of renovation of Boracay, the situation improved, a large amount of garbage was removed from the island. The beaches of Boracay were also cleaned. Also, the sewage system was rebuilt, which favorably affected the quality of water in coastal areas. Despite the fact that the renovation of Boracay is still ongoing, the island has become much cleaner and more pleasant.
Boracay is really good for spending a vacation. In addition to its incredible nature, the island is really developed for tourists (if to compare Boracay for example with Busuanga/Coron or even El Nido), and vacation on Boracay can be interesting and rich in impressions.
Below I will give the main disadvantages and advantages of spending vacation on Boracay.
The main disadvantages of Boracay are
- Huge number of tourists — such a feeling that all South-East Asia spend holidays on Boracay, especially during the holidays
- Poverty of the locals — not everyone likes to look at the poor houses of Boracay locals in the neighborhood of good hotels
- Long road to Boracay — the road in one direction usually takes about a day
The main advantages of Boracay are
- There are really incredible beaches on Boracay
- At the same time, the island is ideal not only for beach vacation, but also for practicing water sports, because thanks to the wind, Boracay is attractive for kitesurfers and windsurfers, for beginners on the island there are schools where they teach kinds of surfing
- And if you are not a fan of water sports – there are many more options to make your beach vacation more interesting: sightseeing, snorkeling, diving, sailing
- Boracay island in the Philippines is suitable for vacation for tourists with different tastes and opportunities – the accommodation represented on the island is at absolutely any price category, and a wide choice of cafes and restaurants with cuisines of different nations will satisfy every tourist
- In comparison with other islands in the Philippines, Boracay has more ATMs, as well as places where you can pay by card; but it is always better to have cash with you
- The every evening opportunity to watch the beautiful Philippine sunsets, when the sky, reflected in the sea, is painted in pink-orange tones, and a feature of the sunset are the sailboats on the horizon
We wish you an unforgettable self-planned vacation in the Philippines! Nastia & Andrei
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Cherrie says
Wow these are very good tips! What a comprehensive blog post. I really hope this will make it easier for people to go. I love Boracay. We got married there an dit was the perfect setting!
Karletta says
So many gorgeous shots. Especially the sail boats silhouettes. I don’t have any plans to go to the Phillipines this year – but when I do, I’ve book marked your site for reference. Thx You!
Ava says
What an amazingly thorough post and stunning photos! Sitting in the sand is not my thing anymore but I would definitely enjoy a cruise – especially on one of those clear-bottomed boats.
bye:myself says
Wow, it’s amazing how many pictures you’ve posted – now I know exactly what Boracay looks like; and I know that I’d love to visit. Those beaches look amazing!
CARMEN | Wellington World Travels says
This is amazing. Very helpful. When we went to Boracay (it was before the government rehabilitated the place), I think we stayed at Station 2. Station 1 was just too crowded. Definitely enjoyed our stay!