Remote even by Philippines standards, Boracay Island rewards those who seek it out with gorgeous beaches and an old-school charm that is getting harder to find in Asia. The western side of the island is basically one huge beach that is lined with small hotels and guesthouses. The other side of the island is a short walk away and home to some of Asia’s best windsurfing.
Boracay (pronounced bora-KYE) Island is the Philippines’ most popular beach destination and once you are there it’s still quite cheap by international standards. White Beach along the west coast is home to about 90% of Boracay’s hotels and it’s a lovely place although quite crowded in season.
| Population | 12,000 |
| Area | 12,000 |
| Timezone | UTC+8 |
| Currency | Philippine peso |
| Airports | Caticlan Airport (MPH), Kalibo International Airport (KLO) |
Compared to elsewhere in Asia such as Phuket or Goa or Bali, Boracay Island is more of a mid-range destination for costs. Demand in season is high so even basic hotels charge US$30 and up, and there is only one hostel which isn’t too cheap anyway. So Boracay is better for a splurge or a solid middle-class beach stay than for the backpacker set. Boat Station 3 is cheapest while Boat Station 1 is mostly 4-star resorts.
Like so many other beach areas in the tropics, Boracay Island has its peak season around Christmas and its general high season from January through March. Prices come down by April and starting in May it’s the low season until mid December again. Many hotels close in the off season so deals aren’t quite so easy to find.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 15.00 - 30.00 |
| 19.00 - 76.00 |
| 21.00 - 96.00 |
| 60.00 - 123.00 |
| 300.00 - 390.00 |
Hannah Hotel Doubles from US$45/night | |
This family-run hotel a bit off the beach is a very popular choice in the budget category and the rate includes breakfast. | |
Turtle Inn Resort Doubles from US$54/night | |
Just a few steps from White Beach, this modern hotel is nicely located in the more relaxing part of the island, though still close to everything. | |
Nigi Nigi Too Beach Resort Doubles from US$120/night | |
With a perfect beachfront location in a central area, this boutique resort fills up early because of its great service and facilities. |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 9.00 - 15.00 |
Frendz Resort Beds from US$11/night | |
Located just 2 minutes from the sand of White Beach, the Frendz Resort is by far the best place in Boracay for inexpensive bunks. |
Relaxing on the beach is the number one activity on Boracay Island. There is good snorkeling and scuba diving and water sports here as well, so there is no shortage of things to do if you get tired of relaxing.
Boracay Island is so small that you can tour it on foot in half a day or so, but they do have boat tours that take you to nearby reefs and other beaches and islands.
| Location | Description | Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-hour massage on the beach | There are massage stations almost the entire length of White Beach and most are quite cheap and very popular. | Cheap Mid-range | 4.23 9.31 |
| 2-hour boat trip | Dozens of tour companies offer snorkeling, fishing, and island hopping trips from their boats. | Cheap Mid-range | 6.77 12.70 |
There are fast-food restaurants and many Filipino places where all the locals eat that are quite cheap, but once you sit down at a restaurant on or near the beach the price goes up. However, competition is high so you can even get an all-you-can-eat buffet on the beach for a modest cost if you look around.
For drinking there are fruit juice stands everywhere and many cheap bars where San Miguel bottles can be very cheap on all-day happy hour deals.
| Food Type | Description | Price(USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Budget breakfast | Most restaurants on the beach charge more than this, but fast-food places and those inland are cheap. | 2.37 - 3.73 |
| Budget lunch | Those on a budget should stick to local food at local restaurants, but some cheap lunch options are available on the beach. | 3.56 - 5.76 |
| Budget dinner | Sitting down at beach restaurants can still be cheap if you are careful. Most buffets are within this price range. | 5.93 - 8.47 |
| Beer (.33liter bottle) | San Miguel Pale Lager is everywhere and quite cheap if you look around. | 1.19 - 2.20 |
| Rum and coke or gin and soda | Cocktails using the local cheap rum or gin can be very cheap but of course imports cost much, much more. | 1.10 - 2.20 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Caticlan Port to Station 1 | 0.42 |
| Caticlan to Boracay ferry (foreigners) | 2.54 |
| Tuk-tuk around town | 0.41 - 1.02 |
Getting to Boracay Island is a bit complicated. Godofredo P. Ramos Airport (MPH) is the closest airport, but the runway isn’t long enough for larger jets.
Kalibo International Airport (KLO) is farther away and is large enough for most planes. In either case, you’ll land and then take a shuttle or taxi to the ferry terminal, which will take you the short ride to Boracay.
White Beach along the west coast is where nearly everyone stays and you can walk from either end to the outdoor mall and restaurant complex in the center pretty easily.
Tricycle tuk-tuks are available for those who prefer not to walk. They are fairly cheap, but the few roads on the island aren’t in great shape or very scenic.
| Month | High F | Low F | Precip (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 82 | 73 | 3.7 |
| February | 82 | 74 | 1.8 |
| March | 86 | 76 | 1.8 |
| April | 88 | 77 | 2.4 |
| May | 90 | 77 | 4.0 |
| June | 88 | 77 | 8.4 |
| July | 86 | 76 | 9.9 |
| August | 86 | 77 | 8.6 |
| September | 86 | 75 | 10.0 |
| October | 86 | 75 | 12.8 |
| November | 84 | 75 | 8.9 |
| December | 82 | 75 | 7.1 |
Being deep in the tropics, Boracay has warm and almost constant temperatures all year round, but the area has two separate monsoon seasons that together run from mid May through early December. Rain and wind can be harsh at times during that period, but there are many wonderful days mixed in. The weather is coolest and driest from January through March.
| 21 Mar | 5:58am | 6:09pm |
| 21 Jun | 5:30am | 6:26pm |
| 21 Sep | 5:47am | 5:51pm |
| 21 Dec | 6:13am | 5:35pm |