Boracay

A beautiful island that I am so happy to have visited! Has a lot of infrastructure (malls, resorts, restaurants), but still has a bit of island charm, especially when you look at the sunset.

Just got back from a 6 day visit. I thought it may be overrated but it was not. It is really a nice place to visit. So far the best island I’ve been to in the Philippines. Lots to do, great beaches and good restaurants. It was just at the end of algae season but the algae wasn’t bad in Station 1. I stayed in station 2 at the Boracay Uptown. Good hotel. Getting to and from the island is time consuming. Suggest using Southwest Tours for transportation. Cost a bit more but very convenient and easy. Worth the extra money. All in all I was very pleased with Boracay and plan to return.

Boracay Island is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. The beach is very clean, with soft white sand and clear water. There are many fun things to do—like swimming, island hopping, and watching the sunset. There are also lots of good restaurants, bars, and places to relax. The people are friendly and helpful. I had a great time and would love to visit again!

Boracay was by far the most beautiful island for me 🏝 😍 💙 You can do lots of fun activities, such as scuba diving, kite surfing, parasailing, and many more! February was the superb month cause the temperature was mild, not too hot, and not too cloudy, rainy. I made the most of it! The prices are reasonable, nothing serious to complain about. 🏝🇵🇭✨️🔥💙🌴🤿✈️📸🧘🏻‍♂️🏆🌊

So beautiful!! And there's a lot of activities like UFO banana boat cycling and more! Recommended And the ocean is so beautiful the water is so blue!

Great place for holidays, sea and beach are simply stunning. The island is surrounded by good vibes, people are nice and friendly. The sunset here is wonderful! Nightlife is good too! It looks like it rains often in December but people don't seem to be concerned

Cinematographer Here! This place is just perfect for capturing moments worth alot! There are ALOT! of places to choose and eat from! There are also very luxurious and fancy resorts around •Station 2-3. There's nothing much to say rather than a pleasant and wonderful stay in Boracay! 10+ points. Total points earned from my review. 10/10! Brilliant!

Finally had the chance to visit Boracay for the first time. The 8 hours of land travel is all worth it. There are a lot of tourists especially at night. Everything may be pricey but the visit was all worth it. Finally tried their crystal kayak. The locals are very nice as well.

I must confess that for me, there is nothing that comes close to a beach vacation on a pristine island. Yes, there are the big international cities and their iconic landmarks, but if there is no beach, I feel alone. Therefore, I have vacationed at more than 25 different islands (and counting) all over the world. In this context, I also find that it is very difficult to rank or choose one island over the other. They are all breathtaking gifts from mother nature, in all its splendor and unmatched beauty. One of these islands is Boracay, one of the vast archipelago of more than 7100 Philippine islands. It is a stunning destination with pristine beaches and turquoise water so clear that you want to drink it. The legendary white beach area is divided into 3 stations (1, 2, 3) and now, station zero. Each station has its places to stay , beach, shops, restaurants, bars and nightlife. Some more and some less than the others. This was my second visit here and the first matter I attend to is to go diving on my first full day in Boracay. Sadly, this time visibility was poor and I hardly saw any fish. It was mostly coral, different types of course, if you are into it. For a resort, my favorite (and many others I know), is the Crimson in station zero. It is in a private enclave with its own beach and facilities. For restaurants, I liked RICH (Royal Indian Curry House), and have reviewed it separately on this platform. For nightlife, Epic is the place to see and be seen, and I have reviewed that business too separately on this platform. If you desire a one stop place, a visit to D'Mall in station 2 is a must. There are stores to shop, restaurants to eat at, and bars to haunt. Take a Paraw (fishing boat) ride, either with sails or motorized. You'll have an unforgettable ride and view of all stations from the water. My ride was almost two hours, and it was the boat rider and me only. You need to negotiate if you desire a good price. After some haggling, I was able to bring it down to $30 US dollars. Later, I was complimented by friends for my bargaining skills. There is ample availability of numerous water sports. Transportation within the island is conveniently accomplished by tricycle. Be ready for a bumpy ride. Visit Boracay on your next beach vacation. When you wake up on your fist morning there, you will think that you have died and gone to heaven.

I mean... it's a whole island city. I'd feel like a complete jerk if I didn't give the Boracayans (?) five stars. Having said that, the resort was really cush and the drive into D'Mall (the main drag) was a bit of a bummer. There is quite a bit of poverty butted right up next to the resorts. People watching was on point. Pack SPF 1,000. It's so hot that you'll get a tan in the shade. Filipinos are very kind and welcoming. Everyone spoke English but I still dropped the five or six Tagalog phrases I knew to get genuine smiles from a few folks. ShangriLa hotel was killer.

I have a love hate relationship with Boracay. It's one of the tourist destinations of the Philippines. Meaning craziness between the Caticlan port and Boracay. I got mad at this lady that cut lines. It's not OK. Wait your turn. So many people rushing to get to the boat. We are all going to the same place. There are way too many fees and windows. Just sell all in the same window. Plus handing a ticket to someone gets confusing because most of the time they won't say anything and expect you to know. I was handing them my ticket and she didn't say anything then when I was trying to walk away she wanted a different ticket. SAY SOMETHING LADY! White Beach is where everything is happening. Station 2 is the most popular. Lots of people asking you to do activities every single step you take. Can I just walk here and not be bothered? Even while you are swimming someone goes up to you to ask if you want to paddle board or if you are sitting down they ask if you want a massage. No no no! Go away! You can't really come here and relax. The only reason I come is to go to restaurants, shopping for Filipino pasalubong, get a yummy mango shake, and to get my starbucks fix when I am in the province for a long time. The sand at White beach is very fine and not hot to walk on. So soft and cool. It's nice to lay down there. The green moss is annoying at this beach. I slip on the green moss when it's low tide. There is a lot during summer months. It's nice to get into the water during a hot day. If you stay on the other side of the island it gets annoying coming to white beach where everything is. The prices are fairly them same. You need to search for nice hotels at a decent price. I prefer coming on non-summer months. Less people. I do like Puka Beach. It's not as crowded as White Beach so it's more relaxing. Lots of water activities to do here. The coral is all dead so be prepared to see that when you go snorkeling. It's sad. Jet ski and banana boat are fun activities. Night life is also cool. There are some performers at some places so it's cool to sit and enjoy the music. I grew up loving Boracay but then it turned into a crazy tourist destination. Not my favorite place to go in the Philippines but it's an OK option.

If you're looking for white sandy beach and blue skies with clear water, Boracay Island is for you. This is a vacation spot that attracts both the locals as well as tourists all over the world. But before you go, here are a few tips I suggest based on my personal experience to save you time and money so you can enjoy the islands best kept secrets! BARGAIN TRAVEL Best time to travel here is around March or a week before Easter. NOTE: This is summertime in the Philippines so it is very, very hot. Weather usually is around in the high 90s with 100% humidity. Just keep that in mind however, you will save a ton of money especially if you are traveling with a big group like me. You will also get tons of bargains and you will most likely have excellent service since it is still "off season." BOOKINGS If you have to book from your homeland (USA, Europe, Australia and so on) keep a budget in mind like say under $300 per person including airfare from Manila to Boracay Island and complimentary hotel breakfasts. Unless you want to travel in luxury and have surplus amount of money, then this does not apply to you. More power to you though.... hahahah!! I know planning is important, but if you can, try to book when you land in Manila. It's much cheaper booking at the local tours since it will be in Pesos versus Dollars. The last time I was there I used Mango Tours, but there are plenty of other tour companies. Be careful though as there are also fake tour companies that will take your money and run away. So use common sense and street smarts! EXTRA FEES (excursion) I'm going to also give you a heads up so you will not get a sticker shock because you will be required to pay environmental preservation fees. Yes, fees!! Fees like if you want to go snorkeling with the turtles, go deep sea diving, you will have to pay fees. These fees help the upkeep preserve wildlife and keeping natural habitats untouched. Some of these fees can be as low as $10 USD and can run up to well over $50 USD per person, per excursion. For some of you, this could be a deal breaker so talk to a tour group that will have all of these fees included in your tour so you can just hand your voucher. TRAVEL WITH THE LOCALS If you are a back packer like me, just know that you have to upfront these fees as well if you decide to go on your own. This experience you will have the opportunity to taste the local flavor and learn how the locals live (this is my favorite). If you're unsure how to book this use the internet source like Yelp, Google or talk to a tour group in Manila and lay this all out. That way they can connect you with a local tour guide in Boracay who will provide you an awesome experience. BORACAY (divided by stations) Boracay Island is broken down into stations There are three (3) stations. Station 1 is where all the nightlife action is at. If you like Karaoke, bars, dancing, dating, Station 1 is for you. Station 2 is more luxurious hotel and have nice scenic views. Station 3 is new and not as busy as the other two stations but it's up and coming. You can still get a good bargain staying at Station 3 which is my preference when I'm traveling with my cousins. Once you get to Boracay Island (puddle jumper plane), all you have to remember is to chill, relax and enjoy your time. The people there are very laid back and very welcoming!! Enjoy and I hope this helps you out!! PS - don't forget to have dinner at least one night at D'TALIPAPA Market in Boracay Island. Also, wear comfy shoes. For the ladies, don't wear heels when you travel as the plane does not land directly onto Boracay Island. You will take a small boat to the island and you will be walking on and off the boat on a wooden board. Oh and travel light if you can!! :p Cheers!

Boracay is beautiful, it is small island that you can walk from one side to the other in about and less than 2 hours if you stay away from the mountains. it has several beaches, public and private resorts beaches too. But White Beach at Station 2 is by far the biggest and most popular beach in Boracay of the all the beaches and it's almost 3 miles long. Clean clear warn waters and that is flat with no hard waves. you have to walk over 100 feet before the water gets over your head . The sand fine and clean no shells, or seaweed and is re-clean nighty. The beach walk is wall to wall restaurants, and shops, hotels up to Luxury ones line up the beach with their own pools. And many activities to keep you busy and also a nightlife. I did parasailing. helicopter ride, zip-line, sail boated, stand up paddle board, etc. and there were still things I didn't get to do like island hopping, horseback riding, and water activities like scuba diving and jet ski. I would also say this is now a family destination were a few years ago it was more beach party people, so bring the kids if they like water. The locals where all nice and English is the second language of the Philippines Sunset is beautiful on the beach or on the small sailboats and always after 6, or 7 PM. You can get a sailboat ride for of one hour at the cost $10 US person, that are everywhere. You can book one on the beach and at many of the shops sell tour activities where you walk to or they pick you up. There is shops in town and off the beach a section called the "D Mall" which is a concentration on winding streets instead of beach front. There are a few real good restaurants, and you can get buffets at most of the hotels. The foods are a cross between Asian, Italian, Filipino. The cost outside of the hotel is more than the mainland but still less than what you expect to pay in the States for the same meal. The airport is really on the larger neighboring island and there are two of them. I went to Catican, so you have to take a car that's like a 5 minute ride and then a 15 boat ride and then another 5 minute car ride each way. The other airport Kalibo is more distant and the boat ride is an hour, you can take a 20 passenger boat or a big ferry boat , it's up to you. And you can buy online an all-inclusive transportation package or get your own way when you get there. I only problem I ran into was on some nights there are too many tourist on the beach walk, which is between the shops and palm trees after the main beach area and can feel like Tines Square. And there is on the ends of the island and the center of the island re-constitution of roads, piping, lighting. The Philippine Government in intent on turning this place to a major world tourist destination and they are spending the money to do it. I want to go back for sure.

I am a beach lover and I came here to see what the hype is all about. This Island was voted as the most beautiful Island in 2012 by Travel and Leisure, best Island in the World in 2014, and Best destination in 2016 by Conde Nast Traveler. People say it is even more beautiful after a six month closure for major renovation. I just had to see for myself. I was not disappointed. It exceeded all my expectation. It's the best beach I have ever stepped foot into. Amazing powdery sand that is cool the the feet, and the sea is amazing and enticing with its turquoise to deep blue hue. The sandy bottom was so nice to your feet, and there were no rocks or sea urchins. The entire beach front is lined with hotel resorts, shopping centers, and restaurants, and a lot of people distributing flyers for massages, land and inter-island tours, and sports activities. They have a big D'Mall, an outdoor shopping plaza with restaurants, cafes, bars and gift shops. Korean tourists outnumber all other foreign visitors. I felt safe walking around even at night. I love Boracay. The hype is real.

Wuuuut - it's only #10 on Lost LeBlanc's PI list. Originally I was going with 4 stars but no other destination can match its convenience and versatility - so 5 pho sho! Couples, party-squads, families, thrill seekers / adventurers / backpackers, and yellow fever bachelors young and dad-bod old all can enjoy an island escape here. The least happy group are the food lovers. Restaurants are decent but nothing amazing. FYI: Koreans compromise the largest group of tourists. Getting here takes some work. Domestic flight to Caticlan (best) or Kalibo (add in a bus ride). Then a shuttle/taxi/bus to the ferry terminal (and pay tourist fees), jump on a boat, then taxi/shuttle to your hotel. Investment money is pouring in and things have been changing rapidly. There's plenty of construction going on and the main street bustles with activity. I met a few og regulars who waxed poetic about the pre-boom times. Station 2 was described as boisterous and rowdy. I thought it was fairly mild, but maybe just the week I was there. Station 2 gets hospitality! Throughout the day it transforms to suit the vacationers' needs all at the beach side. Morning: Venues prep breakfast a short distance from the beach. Daytime: Rental beach umbrella & chairs, massage tents, water activities, or other island tours. Evening: Sunset cruises, dinner / live entertainment on the beach, and hookah + drinks ofc. Nightlife: Restaurants convert into clubby-lounges. Plenty of spots to do some serious hopping. Beach: Weekend crush will pack the beaches. But weekdays weren't too busy. Many travel bloggers complain how it's obnoxiously crowded. If you like bustle you'll be fine. And most Asians (from Asia) don't swim anyhow so you can still enjoy the water despite the crowds. The water isn't clear nor the beaches the whitest of white - but still good. Internet - Mobile: SMS worked fine on T-Mobile included international coverage. The free 2G data was unusable. I've used local sims in Manila/Cebu before and that works a whole lot better and cheaper as long as you're not a huge data consumer. Every venue has a wifi spot - just ask for a password. I noticed Korean travelers were on their phones constantly - so I'm assuming their international coverage worked good enough. Tips: Get your currency converted to pesos here! ~49-50 peso per dollar at many locations all over. I got 46 peso per dollar in LA. Some people curse the packs of pushy street vendors. But you'll appreciate their hustle when you want a poncho when the rains start. And the beach chair guys will keep an eye on your stuff if you want to go for a long swim. You can haggle a bit - if you sense their prices are on the higher side. Get a feel for the prices from several vendors and then haggle as needed. Others have complained about panhandlers in the past. But I didn't deal with any. I think the boom has really lifted their economy and perhaps some gentrification as well. Tricycle taxis are everywhere. Just be mindful they may gouge you slightly. Typically this happened at night when they suspect you been drinking. The island is small enough to walk. The taxis might be hard to come by on the East side (Bulabog Beach) of the island. Check the weather reports and book your kite / wind surfing day. For short visits, you may have a tight window to get this done.

How can it be that this INCREDIBLE beach destination only has 5 reviews so far? I'm an avid traveler. I've been to Hawaii, Costa Rica, Panama, all over Mexico and of course, all over Vietnam being a native Viet, I have to say Boracay ranks in the top 3 fav destinations of all times !!!!

Beautiful white sand beach and crystal clear water. A lot of excursions to do - like Island hopping, helmet diving, and stand up paddle boarding to name a few. There's also a ton of beachside spas offering massages and foot scrubs. There are a lot of pan-handlers with a variety of things they are trying to sell. Most are polite and leave after you say no thank you. The strip of sand to walk on is a bit uneven - so watch your step. There are a lot of outdoor restaurants with entertainment all for reasonable prices. Beautiful place to relax and enjoy the beach!

Incredible sunset, activities galore, tons of cheap hotels and a gazillion helpful vendors ready to sell you anything from phone covers to dry bag to real estate. Boracay is a mixed bag of old and new, the traditional and the modern, and all charm !!!!

Trust me, I wanted to give Boracay a 5 stars SOOOO bad. However, it has changed so much since I last visited which was a little over ten yers ago. Let's just say, if you want a nice, quiet, relaxing beach, this is not the beach for you. (I was told Palawan beaches are for relaxation and quietness) First off, as expected, the trip to get to the island was just so much. You have to take a bus here, take a boat there, take a jeepney here, take a tricycle there. It was just too much and there were too many people rushing to get to the same place. Our hotel gets a 5-star but the overall island is going to have to settle for a 3-star. The beach was nice and clear, however, there were just so many boats crowded around (all for water sports activities) which left little room to enjoy and swim around in the water. The water temperature felt amazing though. The water activities were fun though, like parasailing, helmet diving, island hopping, and many more. In that case, the island is very family friendly. It was saddening, because we weren't able to fully enjoy our trip without people coming up to us every two minutes asking if we wanted to do this or buy that. To be honest, it got quite annoying. I understand and admire their hustle, but at one point, it just got overbearing. Also, there are no public bathrooms or even trashcans around the island so you would literally have to walk all the way back to your hotel to throw something away or use the bathroom. The night life was nice though, still people constantly coming up to us, but majority of the bars had drink specials. Other than that, it wasn't the worst trip but it wasn't the best.