Boracay Travel Guide

Boracay is a small island located in the Philippines. With its spectacular beaches, emerald-green waters, brilliant sunshine and dreamy white sand, Boracay is considered to be one of the best island getaways in the world. Below is a useful guide that should cover all aspects of planning a trip to Boracay. Enjoy!

Boracay Travel Guide

1. Getting to Boracay
2. Best Time to Visit Boracay
3. Things to Do in Boracay
4. Things to Eat in Boracay
5. Where to Stay in Boracay
6. Amazing Boracay Travel Video

1. Getting to Boracay

Boracay is a small island located 2km from the mainland of Caticlan, Philippines. See this map to get a clearer idea. Below are three simple steps to get to Boracay.

Step 1A. Caticlan Airport to Caticlan Port. Take a direct flight to Caticlan Airport (airport code: MPH). Due to the small runways, propeller planes are used in this airport. Currently, only Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific offer direct flights to Caticlan Airport. From Caticlan Airport, take a five-minutes motor tricycle to the Caticlan Jetty Port. The trip will cost around 50php.

Step 1B. Kalibo Airport to Caticlan Port. Alternatively, instead of flying to Caticlan Airport, you can fly to Kalibo Airport (airport code: KLO) instead. ZestAir, Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, Tiger Airways, SilkAir and AirAsia offer direct flights to this airport. From here, it is a 90 minutes bus/van ride to the Caticlan Jetty Port. Click here to see the route.  The cost of a one-way trip to the jetty ranges from 200 to 300php. You can buy tickets at the airport itself.

However, I would recommend making travel arrangements in advance with Southwest Tours Boracay Inc, which is a reputable bus company that has many good reviews online. They even have packages which will bring you directly to your resort in Boracay. The prices are very reasonable. Check out their website at http://southwesttoursboracay.com/ for more details.

Step 2. Caticlan Port to Boracay Port. From the Caticlan Port, catch a Bangka pump boat to Boracay. The trip costs 30 PhP, but foreigners have to pay an additional 75php environmental fee and a 100 php terminal fee. The trip will take about ten minutes. Porters are available to assist you with your luggage at 20php per item.

Step 3. Boracay Port to Your Resort. Depending on the season, you will arrive at either Cagban Port or Tambisaan Port on Boracay. From the port, you can catch a motor tricycle to your resort. If your resort is located near White Beach (roughly between Station one and two), the trip should cost about 100php (per tricycle). Remember to bargain!

2. Best Time to Visit Boracay

High Season (October to May) – The best time to visit Boracay is during the high season, which starts in October and ends in May. During this period, there is brilliant sunshine, little to no rainfall, humid weather, and temperatures range from 25-32°C (78-90°F).

Low Season (May to October) – The low season starts in May and ends in October. During this period, rainfall is frequent and there are less tourists. On the positive side, prices of accommodations are usually lower during this period.

3. Things to Do in Boracay

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. For more details, you can check out this article where we write about our fantastic experience of these ten activities: http://www.eatandtravelwithus.com/2014/07/10-things-to-do-in-boracay/

1. Stroll along White Beach
2. Sunset Paraw Sailing
3. Watch the Glorious Sunsets
4. Kayaking
5. Snorkeling
6. Food Hunting
7. Island Hopping
8. Parasailing
9. Sea Walking
10. Stay at Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort & Spa

4. Things to Eat in Boracay

If there is one thing in Boracay that can compete with the splendor of its beaches, it is the amazing variety of restaurants on the island. From Chinese to Japanese to Thai to Indian to Mediterranean to Italian to Mexican, there is definitely something that will satisfy your tastebuds.

Check out our full review of the places to eat in Boracay:
http://www.eatandtravelwithus.com/2014/08/10-places-to-eat-in-boracay/

5. Where to Stay in Boracay

Shangri-La Boracay Resorts and Spa

A. White Beach
Most tourists visiting Boracay will stay near the 3.5km long White Beach. The beach is divided into three parts: Station 1, 2, and 3.

Station 1 – This station houses upscale luxury resorts and has a decent nightlife scene. It is slightly quieter than Station 2. This stretch of White Beach has the best and finest sand.

Station 2 – If you prefer to stay in a lively area with lots of restaurants, shops, and a vibrant nightlife, Station 2 is for you. The famous D’Mall (a small tourist area with many popular restaurants and shops) is located here as well.

Station 3 – This is the station for budget travellers. Most of the island’s budget resorts are located here. Compared to Station 2 and 3, this is the quietest area as it has fewer restaurants and shops. At night, it is very peaceful because the nightlife scene is mainly in Station 1 and 2.

B. Other Areas in Boracay
Apart from White Beach, you can also stay on other areas such as Diniwid Beach, Lapuz-Lapuz Beach and Punta Bunga Beach, which will be more peaceful than the popular areas of White Beach. See this map. We stayed at Shangri-La Boracay Resorts and Spa near Punta Bunga, and the only people on the beach were the hotel guests. It was a serene place for a relaxing getaway.

6. Amazing Boracay Travel Video

You can also check out the videologue of our Boracay trip. In the video, you will see footages of the ten activities mentioned above and it will give you a clearer idea of how much fun we had in Boracay. We captured some amazing footages.. you will love it!

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