Boracay travel guide
PH

Boracay

White Beach and turquoise shallows

Photo on Pexels
🗣
LanguageFilipino / English
💰
CurrencyPhilippine Peso (PHP)
🌍
CountryPhilippines
☀️
Best TimeNov–May (25–30°C); Dec–Feb (north-east trade wind kitesurfing)
🔌
Plug TypeType A / B (US flat-pin, 220V)
🚨
Emergency911 national; 117 police
🕐
TimezonePST (UTC+8)

Boracay is the finest beach island in Southeast Asia — a 10 km² island in Aklan Province, Philippines, voted World’s Best Island multiple times, with the best white sand beach in the world (White Beach — the best 4km of powdery white sand in any Southeast Asian beach; free; the best turquoise-water beach sunset in any Philippine island; the best paraw sailing sunset from 600 PHP per person for a 1h sail at Station 1 or 2).

Top Experiences in Boracay

boracay white beach philippines turquoise water palm trees sunset tropical

White Beach & the Boracay Sunset

White Beach (the best 4km of powdery white sand in any Southeast Asian beach; free; the finest 6pm golden-hour beach sunset; the best paraw sailing sunset at Station 1 or 2 from 600 PHP per person for a 1h sail) is the best beach experience in Southeast Asia.

💡 White Beach (free; the best 4km of powdery white sand in any Southeast Asian beach; the finest 6pm golden-hour beach sunset; the finest paraw sailing sunset at Station 1 or 2 from 600 PHP per person for a 1h sail).

Boracay Philippines →

boracay puka beach secluded white sand shells philippines north island

Puka Beach & the North Island

Puka Beach (the best natural puka shell ground beach in any Philippine island; 6km from White Beach Station 1 (50 PHP e-trike + 5-min motorbike); the best secluded Boracay north island beach; the finest north coast coral reef snorkel from the east end (fins and mask from 100 PHP); free to access) is the best secluded beach experience in Boracay.

💡 Puka Beach (free; 6km from White Beach Station 1 (50 PHP e-trike + 5-min motorbike); the best natural puka shell ground beach in any Philippine island; the finest secluded Boracay north island beach; coral reef snorkel from 100 PHP fins hire).

boracay bulabog beach kitesurfing kite surf philippines wind sport

Bulabog Beach & Kitesurfing

Bulabog Beach (the best kitesurfing beach in Southeast Asia; 1km east of White Beach (10 PHP e-trike); the finest constant north-east trade wind in any Philippine island kitesurfing destination; from 4,500 PHP per 3h beginner lesson at Hangin Kite Center or Funboard Center (IKO-certified; equipment included)) is the best kitesurfing experience in Southeast Asia.

💡 Bulabog Beach kitesurfing (from 4,500 PHP per 3h beginner lesson at Hangin Kite Center or Funboard Center (IKO-certified; equipment included); the best kitesurfing beach in Southeast Asia; the finest constant north-east trade wind in any Philippine island; 1km east of White Beach (10 PHP e-trike)).

Philippines DOT →

boracay paraw sailing sunset philippines traditional outrigger boat orange sky

Paraw Sailing & the White Beach Activities

The Boracay paraw sailing (the best traditional Philippine outrigger paraw sunset sail from any Southeast Asian beach; from 600 PHP per person for a 1h sail at Station 1 or 2; the finest White Beach golden-hour sunset from 200m offshore; full-island paraw circumnavigation from 1,500 PHP for a 2h sail) is the best water activity in Boracay.

💡 Boracay paraw sailing (from 600 PHP per person for a 1h sunset sail at Station 1 or 2; the best traditional Philippine outrigger paraw sailboat sunset in any Southeast Asian beach; the finest White Beach golden-hour sunset from 200m offshore).

Eating & Drinking

Boracay dining centres on the White Beach restaurant strip (the most comprehensively international single Philippine island restaurant concentration): the Nigi Nigi Nu Noos (the longest-established beachfront Boracay restaurant: the Filipino-international menu (PHP 350–900 pp); the most consistently recommended single Station 2 beachfront address for sunset dining since 1987), the D’Talipapa Market (the most specifically local and the most specifically affordable single Boracay food experience: the fresh seafood market 200m east of the White Beach at Station 2; buy the fresh fish, crab, and prawns directly from the vendors (PHP 100–500/kg depending on species) and pay any adjacent carenderia to cook it (PHP 50–100 cooking fee); the most specifically fresh-to-plate single Boracay seafood meal at the most affordable price), and the Boracay bar scene (the biggest island nightlife in the Philippines: the Epic Bar and the Summer Place are the most specifically beach-bonfire-and-live-music single Boracay evening addresses in the Station 2 area; San Miguel Beer (PHP 60–100 per bottle from any beach bar; the most affordable single Philippine beach beer) and the Tanduay Rum (the most specifically Filipino single spirit: the Tanduay rum from the Negros sugar cane; PHP 30–50 per shot)).

Tips

🌞

Station 1 sunset: the clearest sand and the most unobstructed beach horizon

Station 1 (north end of White Beach) has the finest sand and faces directly west for sunset. The section between the Ambassador and Willy’s Hotel gives the clearest unobstructed horizon.

Learn to kitesurf at Bulabog: the most consistently ideal Philippine conditions

Bulabog Beach (east coast; 10-minute walk) has NE trade winds November–April — the most consistent kite conditions in the Philippines. 3-day learn-to-kitesurf courses from &peso;12,000.

🏎

Ariel’s Point: the most specifically memorable single Boracay off-beach day

Ariel’s Point (full-day bangka trip; &peso;1,950; includes buffet lunch, open bar, cliff diving) departs White Beach at 11am. The finest single day activity from Boracay on any skill level.

🍲

D’Talipapa Market: buy the fresh crab and pay the carenderia to cook it

D’Talipapa wet market (Station 2 inland; 6am–10pm) sells live crab and prawns.

Best Time to Visit Boracay

Jan
27°C
Best: Amihan; calmest sea; clearest water; ideal
Feb
27°C
Best: driest; peak holiday season; book ahead
Mar
29°C
Best: warm; clear; Amihan at its finest
Apr
30°C
Good: hot; Amihan ending; Holy Week crowds
May
30°C
Good: Habagat starts; kitesurfers arrive; rain
Jun
🌧
29°C
Good: Habagat; kitesurf peak; White Beach rougher
Jul
🌧
28°C
Quiet: wettest; typhoon risk; kitesurf excellent
Aug
🌧
28°C
Quiet: Habagat; cheapest rates; kite season
Sep
🌧
28°C
Quiet: Habagat easing; beach quieter; good value
Oct
29°C
Good: transition; drying; beach recovering
Nov
28°C
Best: Amihan returns; excellent conditions
Dec
28°C
Best: most festive; Christmas peak; full resorts
Best Good Peak/crowded Quiet

Three Days in Boracay

Day 1
Arrive, White Beach Walk & Sunset Paraw

Arrive Boracay (Caticlan Airport; 45 min from Manila from 1,200 PHP one-way; + 10-min Caticlan-to-Boracay ferry (100 PHP)). White Beach walk (free; the finest 4km white sand beach in Southeast Asia). Sunset paraw sail (from 600 PHP per person; 1h; the finest White Beach sunset from 200m offshore). Station 2 / D’Mall dinner (the finest Filipino restaurant; from 300 PHP per main dish).

💡 The White Beach paraw sailing sunset: book directly on the beach at Station 1 or 2 (no advance booking required; from 600 PHP per person per 1h sail); the finest departure time is 5:30pm for the finest 6pm golden-hour White Beach sunset from 200m offshore (the best White Beach sunset photograph from the paraw outrigger at 6pm).

Day 2
Bulabog Kitesurfing Lesson & Ariel’s Point

Bulabog Beach kitesurfing lesson (from 4,500 PHP per 3h; the finest kitesurfing beach in Southeast Asia; IKO-certified; Hangin Kite Center or Funboard Center). Ariel’s Point cliff-diving day trip (from 2,500 PHP; departs 10am from White Beach; the finest 5m, 8m, and 15m cliff jump platforms; unlimited food and drinks). Puka Beach (6km from White Beach; 50 PHP e-trike + 5-min motorbike; the finest natural puka shell ground beach; coral reef snorkel from 100 PHP fins hire).

💡 The Bulabog Beach kitesurfing lesson: book with Hangin Kite Center (hanginkiteboarding.com) or Funboard Center (funboardcenter.com) at least 1 day ahead in peak December–February season; the finest 9am morning lesson slot (the best morning north-east trade wind from 9am–12pm); from 4,500 PHP per 3h beginner lesson; equipment included.

Day 3
Puka Beach, Mt. Luho & a Farewell Sunset

E-trike north to Puka Shell Beach — raw, quiet, no vendors — then climb (or ride to) Mt. Luho viewpoint for the full sweep of Bulabog and White Beach. Last swim and a final White Beach sunset from Station 1’s wide sand.

💡 Puka has almost no shade or stalls — bring water and go before 11am, then lunch back at D’Mall.

What Does Boracay Cost?

🌺
Budget
PHP 1,500–2,500 / day
Accommodation
Budget guesthouse; Station 2 or 3
PHP 800–2,500 / night
Tourist fee + environmental fee (one-off)
Paid on arrival at Cagban Jetty
PHP 375 total
D’Talipapa Market seafood (cook-your-own)
Buy raw + carenderia cooking fee
PHP 400–700 pp total
Paraw sunset cruise (Station 2 pier)
The definitive Boracay one-hour activity
PHP 600–1,200 pp
Puka Beach tricycle (return)
The most specifically undeveloped Boracay beach
PHP 200–300 return
White Beach sunset walk
Most celebrated Southeast Asian beach sunset
Free

The D’Talipapa Market cook-your-own seafood strategy (buy raw at the market + PHP 100 carenderia cooking fee) gives the fresh-catch single Boracay meal for 40–55% of the beachfront restaurant price for identical ingredients.

🏠
Mid-range
PHP 4,000–8,000 / day
Accommodation
3-star hotel; Station 1 or 2 beachfront
PHP 2,000–10,000 / night
IKO beginner kitesurfing lesson (2h)
Bulabog Beach; IKO certified instructor
PHP 1,000–1,600
Ariel’s Point cliff diving (full package)
5 platforms + unlimited bar + snorkel
PHP 1,800–2,200 pp all-in
Helmet diving (White Beach house reef)
No certification; clownfish + coral; 30 min
PHP 800–1,500 pp
Nigi Nigi Nu Noos dinner (Station 2)
Most established beachfront Boracay restaurant
PHP 350–900 pp
Caticlan airport to Boracay (tricycle + bangka)
Most direct island approach
PHP 130–200 per person

The Ariel’s Point package (PHP 1,800–2,200 pp; all-inclusive cliff jumping + unlimited bar) is the value-dense single Boracay adventure day: the 5-platform cliff jump (3m to 15m), the snorkelling, the kayaking, and the open bar.

💎
Splurge
PHP 12,000+ / day
Accommodation
Shangri-La Boracay; Crimson Resort
PHP 8,000–35,000 / night
PADI Open Water course (4 days)
Full certification; Boracay house reef + Crocodile Is.
PHP 12,000–18,000 full course
Private paraw sunset (solo boat)
Your own outrigger; most specifically private sunset
PHP 2,500–4,000 whole boat
Helicopter Caticlan to Boracay
3 min aerial; most spectacular island approach
PHP 5,000–10,000 pp one-way
Boracay speedboat island hopping (private)
Crocodile Island + Diniwid + Laurel Island
PHP 3,000–6,000 whole speedboat
Fine dining at Aplaya (Station 1)
Most acclaimed Boracay fine dining address
PHP 1,500–3,500 pp

The Shangri-La Boracay (the most comprehensively facilitated single Boracay luxury resort: the private beach on the Yapak Cove north of Puka Beach)

Useful Apps

Some apps may be unavailable or require a local SIM in your destination country. Download apps before you arrive — or use a VPN set to your home country to access your home app store.
🚌

Grab Philippines

Southeast Asia’s ride-hailing and delivery super-app — cashless and reliable.

Free

🏄

Windguru (Boracay Kitesurfing Forecast)

Surf forecasts — swell, wind and tide charts for the local breaks.

Free

Content last reviewed: June 2026 by the Traveling To editorial team.
Explore More Destinations