A travel mate of mine who I met in Bali asked me for some details about the Philippines, Boracay specifically. I figured I would make a little travel inspiration post to get us dreaming of paradise! I didn’t edit any of the photos included, just so you know. Yes, it’s really that gorgeous there!
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HELPFUL GENERAL TRAVEL TIPS
- Flights: Find a cheap flight using Skyscanner or Momondo. I like these two booking sites because they both search all websites and airlines around the globe including budget airlines.
- Accommodations: I use Booking.com or Tripadvisor to find the best rates on hotels. Hotels.com offers a free night after booking 10 nights
- Get up to $40 off your first Air Bnb stay by using this code!
- Travel Insurance: Having gotten sick on my travels in the past, I never travel without being insured. You never know when something may happen. For my round the world trip and extended long-term travel, I use World Nomads. For other trips, I have used Roam Right and they cover activities like extreme sports.
Updated May 2019
Click here to jump straight to my Boracay tips
Boracay is a little tiny island in the Philippines located south of Manila in the Visayas province. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Its white sand beach known as White Beach has consistently landed in the best beaches in the world lists and I have to agree with the ratings.
Although Boracay is too touristy for my tastes these days, it is still a stunning beach. The sand on the beaches is as white as icing sugar and just as fine. Unlike many beaches in Asia, you cannot smoke on the beach and there are fines for littering. They recently stopped tourism for 6 months to revive the health of the coral and water in the area.
It truly is a beautiful place. When I went there I really didn’t do a lot. I laid on the beach, tanned, swam, snorkeled, went cliff jumping at Ariel’s Point, went to some nightclubs, and drank a lot of San Miguel Lights and Tanduay Rum. The best part though are the locals. Filipinos are some of the friendliest folks you’ll ever meet while you travel.
Need a hotel? Booking.com has the best prices and great cancellation policy!
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Now for some Boracay photos!
Paradise sky
Paraw boats
White Beach
Take a tricycle to Mount Luho, a lookout point
Heading to Ariel’s Point to go cliff jumping
Puka Beach
More Puka Beach
Look how clear the water is!!
The bangka boats waiting to take you on an adventure
Sailing towards Ariel’s Point
Ariel’s Point Cliff Jumping
Helpful Boracay Tips:
- **Please note as of late 2018, the government of the Philippines has enforced limitations and rules about travel to and on Boracay. Please plan and book accordingly.**
- In order to get to Boracay, you must take a smaller plane with very light luggage (strict weight rules) to Caticlan airport from Manila or to Kalibo Airport, which is a few hours away and then take a bus or van.
- From Caticlan, take a pump boat to Boracay.
- From the dock hire an e-tricycle (the Philippine version of a tuk-tuk) to take you to your accommodation.
- It’s a bit of a crazy gong show just to get there but once you get there, it’s worth it. Just get a San Miguel Light or a Tanduay rum with Coke and absorb paradise.
- Boracay is only about 1 km wide by 7 km long
- Boracay is divided into 3 stations. Station 1 is high-end accommodations, Station 2 is mid-range, and Station 3 is budget accommodations
- I suggest hiring an e-tricycle and spending the day at Puka Beach which is on a different part of the island. My friends and I picked up snacks and brought our backpacks, cameras, cover-ups, iPods, and books/magazines for the day. It cost us about 150 PHP or $3 for an e-tricycle there. The beach is quieter. The sand is not as fine, it’s actually really grainy from all of the puka shells but it’s amazing. We went in the morning, swam, some snorkelled and then we would grab food at one of the three restaurants at the beach. The beer here was cheaper than at White Beach.
- Watch the sunset every night. I have as well as others I know have seen some of the best sunsets ever on Boracay.
- There is no smoking and a fine for doing so on White Beach which is amazing. It keeps the beach clean and free of cigarette butts. There is also a fine for littering.
- I stayed in a cheap guesthouse when I was there for my RTW trip. I probably wouldn’t stay there again in the future but if you’re a solo traveller, it’s a great place to meet people. Everyone congregates in the foyer and you all end up hanging out together to eat, explore and party.
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