10 Things to Do in Boracay

Welcome to Paradise. The picturesque island of Boracay has spectacular beaches, emerald-green waters, brilliant sunshine, and dreamy white sand. Other than reveling in the splendor of the beaches, there are a number of other fun activities on the island too. Below is a list of ten fun things to do in Boracay. Enjoy.

Also read: 10 Places to Eat in Boracay

This article is part of our FREE and FANTASTIC Boracay Travel Guide. Why spend days researching when all your holiday information is simply a click away?

1. Stroll along White Beach

The brilliant sunshine, stark white sand, and knock-out views of the beautiful sea make Boracay’s White Beach one of the best beaches in the world. As we stroll along the beach, it almost feels like our feet will sink into the unbelievably soft white sand. The sea is a gentle emerald-green near the coastline, and it blends into a beautiful azure blue towards the horizon. White Beach is the perfect place to take a leisurely stroll, suntan or just set up a deck chair and chill.

2. Sunset Paraw Sailing

A Paraw is a traditional Philippino sailboat with two outriggers. If you visit Boracay, it is essential that you take a ride on one of these cool native sailboats. In addition to being a rich cultural experience, it is extremely fun and enjoyable too.

We decide to engage the famous Red Pirates for our paraw sailing tour (PHP 1000 for two persons). We choose this crew for two reasons. Firstly, we had read online that it is a reputable company. There were many touters along the beach who tried to sell us paraw sailing tours with random agencies. However, we had heard of horror stories where the paraws capsized in the middle of the sea due to the irresponsible/ inexperienced crew, and we did not want to take the risk of going with an unreliable agency. Secondly, the prices for the Red Pirates tours are very reasonable. We choose the Sunset Paraw Sailing tour because we had heard that the paraw provides a splendid vantage point for breathtaking views of the beautiful Boracay sunset.

We are feeling wonderfully relaxed as the paraw sails out to the azure sea and the cooling sea breeze blows gently against our faces. As the paraw sails further away from the island, we get to see the entire beautiful coastline of Boracay. The boat crew controls the sails skillfully and we feel safe knowing that we are in good hands. As the sun begins to set, it paints the sky and wispy clouds with a warm orange glow. The sea gleams in the last rays of the fading sun and we see the silhouettes of other sailboats on the horizon turning to sail back to shore before it gets dark. We are glad we went on this paraw sailing trip.

Splendid sunset view from the Red Pirates Paraw

Red Pirates
Angol Road, Station 3 South. Phone: +63 36 288 5767
https://www.facebook.com/RedPiratesPub

Directions: The Red Pirates pub is located towards the extreme south end of station three. If you are staying at station three you can just walk there, or you can catch one of the Boracay tricycle taxis. It is a short three minutes ride from D Mall (a popular shopping/ restaurant area on Boracay).

3. Watch the Glorious Sunsets

No trip to Boracay would be complete without watching its beautiful sunsets. On one evening, we stand on the beach at Station 3 to wait for the sun to set. We are duly rewarded for our patience. For a moment, time seems to slow down as the sky turns into a magnificent canvas painted with brilliant hues of red, crimson, lavender, and orange.

The last rays of the sun pierce through the clouds, tinting the sea with streaks of vermillion. I hold Raevian’s hand as we stand in silence for ten minutes to revel in the beauty of this glorious sunset.

4. Kayaking

In Boracay, you get the chance to kayak around one of the most beautiful islands in the world. Kayaking is a cheap but fun activity on Boracay and you should definitely try it if you have time. Raevian and I book a double kayak through our resort. As we kayak over the clear emerald-green sea, we can literally see the beautiful corals and rich marine life beneath us.

5. Snorkeling

It would be a waste if you did not snorkel at one of the most beautiful marine destinations in the world. The waters of Boracay are clear enough that you do not have to visit offshore islands for good snorkeling spots. As I swim outwards towards the sea from my resort, I can see beautiful corals and marine life beneath me. During our island hopping tour, I snorkel at a popular snorkeling spot near Crocodile Island and it is beautiful as well.

Italian Food at Aria Restaurant

6. Food Hunting

In addition to the splendor of its beaches, Boracay is also famous for its amazing variety of restaurants. From Chinese to Japanese to Thai to Indian to Mediterranean to Italian to Mexican, there is definitely something that will satisfy your tastebuds.

A popular tourist area with lots of good food is Boracay’s D’mall, which is located roughly between station one and two. This is not an actual shopping mall but it is a vibrant area with lots of restaurants and stalls. There is also a supermarket (Budget Mart) where you can stock up on your mineral water and tidbits.

Yummylicious Beer Battered Fish & Chips at Tilapia ‘N Chips

We go for lunch at Aria Restaurant as it has pretty good reviews online. It is located at D Mall and serves decent Italian food including pasta and wood fire pizza. The pizza is pretty big for two persons but luckily we are big eaters and we are famished after our island hopping tour. Our favourite restaurant on Boracay is “Tilapia ‘N Chips”. It serves up kickass beer battered fish & chips which are absolutely delicious. The delectable dish consists of large succulent fish fillets with tartar sauce to go along, chunky fries, and coleslaw. It tastes so good that we squeeze in a second trip to the restaurant during our short stay on Boracay. Tilapia ‘N Chips is located at D mall. Click here for directions.

A great place for seafood is the D’Talipapa Market. This is essentially a seafood market where you can purchase fresh seafood and request for the restaurants to cook them for you in your favourite style (steamed, grilled, fried, etc). D’Talipapa is located at station 2 and is a four minutes taxi ride from D mall. It is near Boracay Courtyard Beach Resort. If you are unsure of the directions, you can just ask the friendly locals.

Also read: 10 Places to Eat in Boracay

7. Island Hopping

One activity to consider in Boracay is traveling to the nearby offshore islands (PHP 1500 for two persons). These are basically small pristine islands where tourists can snorkel, have a beach barbeque, or enjoy the peace away from the crowds on the main island. We join one tour which brings us to three destinations: Crocodile Island, Crystal Cove Island, and Puka Beach. It feels wonderful to sit on the boat and enjoy the sea breeze and spectacular view of the beautiful Boracay sea.

Sailing on the gorgeous Boracay sea during our Island Hopping Tour

Puka Beach

On Puka Beach, we stroll on the serene beach and take a photo with the big iconic “Puka Beach” letters strung with the rare “Puka” shells. These are naturally occurring shells which come from cone snails. If you are interested, you can buy Puka shells jewelries from the locals who gather the shells to make beautiful accessories.

8. Parasailing

The highlight of our trip to Boracay has got to be Parasailing (PHP 900 per pax). For this activity, we go with Diamond Water Sports because we had read online that it is one of the more reputable sea sports companies on the island. We are not disappointed. The boat crew is friendly and constantly conducts safety checks to ensure that everything is ok before we parasail. Apart from the two of us, there are only two other couples on the boat so it is not crowded at all.

Magnificent view while parasailing

The really cool thing about this activity is that two people can parasail at the same time using the same parachute! After we get strapped in, the pulley system slowly releases us into the sky. As we reach the maximum height, we are blown away by the breathtaking view around us. We see the entire island of Boracay beneath us and it is absolutely amazing. We enjoy the magnificent paranomic view for a good fifteen to twenty minutes. It feels surreal to parasail over one of the most beautiful islands in the world and this is definitely a bucket-list-worthy item.

Diamond Water Sports Boracay Island
Station 1, Balabag Boracay Island, 5608 Kalibo, Aklan
Phone: +63 36 288 6621

Directions: You can walk to the Diamond Water Sports centre or you can simply catch one of the Boracay tricycle taxis. It is a short three minutes ride from D Mall. The company also has small booths set up along the beaches and you can spot them from their signboards and crew wearing the Diamond Water Sports uniforms.

9. Sea Walking

One fun activity available in Boracay is Sea Walking (PHP 500 per pax). We book this activity through Diamond Water Sports as well (it is easier to bargain if you book multiple activities). Basically, this is like scuba-diving with a tube connected to the surface, and you breathe through a big transparent helmet over your head. No diving certification is required.

For some reason, I can’t stop smiling as I walk among the beautiful corals. I’m feeling really relaxed and happy and it’s probably because the sea is teeming with underwater life and it’s pretty fun to feed the multitude of fishes swimming around us.

10. Stay at Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort & Spa

Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort and Spa is rated as the best hotel on Boracay and it is not difficult to see why. With its impeccable service, luxurious rooms, and exclusive private beach, this hotel is truly a dream come true for tourists.

Shangri-La Boracay Luxurious Waiting Lounge at its private jetty

We arrive at Caticlan airport and are feeling a little lost. Luckily, the friendly Shangri-La staff finds us and we are whisked off in a van to the private Shangri-La lounge at the jetty. The trip takes just five minutes. The luxurious lounge is air-conditioned and we are served with cold scented towels and refreshing cocktails while waiting for the Shangri-La motorboat to transfer us to the island of Boracay. There is even free wifi here too! Shangri-La Boracay Resort and Spa has its own private jetty so we do not have to worry about jostling with other tourists. As far as first impressions go, Shangri-La definitely nails it.

Breathtaking View from our Loft Villa’s Infinity Pool

We stay at the two-level Loft Villa, which offers spectacular views of the gorgeous sea right outside our windows. It feels surreal to wake up every morning to a beautiful azure sea with water so clear that you can see through it to the corals beneath.

Staying at the Loft Villa entitles us to the hotel’s butler service, and we are even given a mobile phone with a personal line to our private butler. I’m feeling a little nervous as I make my first call. I punch in the number and our butler picks up the call in about two seconds.

“Good afternoon Mr Tang! How can I help you?”
“Erm, we are at the pool. Can you send a buggy to fetch us to our villa?” (the resort is pretty big)
“Sure Mr Tang! It will be coming in five minutes.”

Pretty cool.

Shangri La Boracay Resort and Spa Private Beach

On top of the first-rate service and premium rooms, Shangri-La Boracay has its very own private beach. Therefore, we do not have to worry about the beach being overcrowded with tourists and touters. Shangri-La Boracay’s idyllic beach is laid with comfortable beach chairs and plush sofas, and the resort provides free snorkeling gear as well. There is also a live band so you can listen to soothing music as you chill out on the beach. We manage to catch another beautiful sunset on Shangri-La Boracay’s private beach.

Beautiful sunset from Shangri La Boracay’s private beach

Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort & Spa
Barangay Yapak, Boracay Island, Malay Aklan 5608, Philippines
Phone:+63 36 288 4988
http://www.shangri-la.com/boracay/boracayresort/

And that’s it! Thanks for reading. If you have any other questions about Boracay, please feel free to leave your questions in the comments section below. Make sure you check out our Boracay Travel Guide too!

Boracay Photos Galore
Kayaking at Shangri La Boracay Resort and Spa

Our motor paraw for the island hopping tour

Dreamy Sunset

Sunset from Shangri-La Boracay Resort and Spa Private Beach