Boracay, a tropical paradise in the Philippines, is renowned for its pristine white-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters. What makes Boracay unique is its blend of laid-back island vibes with thrilling activities like watersports, all set against a backdrop of coconut trees and stunning sunsets. Divided into different “stations,” Boracay offers something for every traveller, whether you want to relax on the beach or seek out adventure.
TLDR 🫣
Boracay: A tropical paradise with white-sand beaches, clear waters, and a mix of relaxation and adventure, accessible by flying into Caticlan or Kalibo and multiple transport options.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival, beach relaxation, crystal kayak, paragliding, and local food.
Day 2: Beach bliss, water sports, and exploring the island’s beauty.
Day 3: Full Day Island-hopping tour with snorkeling, beach stops, and cove exploration.
Pro Tips:
- Book your transfers to/from the airport in Boracay via Klook for convenience and cost efficiency (We actually did the math and it's not that much cheaper to DIY)!
- Stay hydrated during tours and be ready for extra fees (e.g., eco-fees for snorkeling, entry to Crystal Cove).
Top Awards:
- Best experience: Island-hopping tour with Klook.
- Best foods: Grilled chicken at Mang Inasal and mango ice cream from HaloMango.
- Best e-SIM: Airalo (You can use our referral code "CELINA4205" to save $4.50 CAD OFF your first purchase. Heads up: We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase.)
If you’re planning to visit Philippines, check out our blog, How to Spend 2 Weeks in Philippines (coming soon)! Just a heads up: Some of the links are affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase.
AWARDS
Best Experiences: Island-hopping tour with Klook.
Best Eats: Grilled chicken at Mang Inasal and mango ice cream from HaloMango.
Best “Bang for your Buck” Hotels/Accommodation: We stayed at an Airbnb that provided free snorkel rentals! We make no commission off of this place – we just really liked it 🙂 The host was so lovely and let us check out much later than expected for free because of the nearby construction (and noise) that was occurring in nearby building (and of course, they didn’t have any one else checking in on the same day).
Best e-SIM: Airalo (You can use our referral code “CELINA4205” to save $4.50 CAD OFF your first purchase)
HOW TO GET TO BORACAY
You will likely be flying out of Manila to get to Boracay, but getting to the actual island of Boracay is an adventure in itself, as it doesn’t have its own airport. Instead, you’ll fly into either Caticlan Airport (Godofredo P. Ramos Airport) or Kalibo International Airport which is on a neighbouring island. Pro Tip: Caticlan is closer and more convenient, so try to get your flights to land in this airport. Flights from Manila to Caticlan are frequent, with a flight time of about one hour.
From Caticlan, you’ll need to take multiple modes of transportation to reach your accommodations on Boracay. This usually involves a tricycle ride to the port, a pump boat across to the island, and then an e-trike to your destination. We did it ourselves as we wanted to save money, but was it worth? This was one of those situations where it was NOT worth it, and we’d recommend booking your transfers altogether with Klook. Let’s break down the costs…
Here is the BREAKDOWN OF COSTS FOR 2 PEOPLE AS OF MAY 2024:
– Leave the airport and hail a Tricycle to the port: ₱150.00 per tricycle (fits 2 people)
– Arrive at the port, where you’ll see multiple booths, and pay your Environmental fees: ₱600.00
– And your Terminal fees: ₱300.00
– And your Pump boat tickets: ₱100.00
– When you get off your pump boat, you will hail to get an Tricycle or E-Trike to your hotel/airbnb (fits 2-4 people): ₱150.00
You’ll repeat a similar process when you leave Boracay:
– Leave your hotel/airbnb and hail an E-trike to the port: ₱200.00 (strangely, this was a bit more expensive than coming here by ~50 pesos)
– Once you get to the port, you’ll need to pay another Terminal fee: ₱300.00
– At the port, we also bought a combo ticket which included the Boat ride with tricycle transfer to airport: ₱320.00
TOTAL COST FOR 2 PEOPLE ROUND TRIP AS OF MAY 2024: ₱2,120
For simplicity, we recommend booking your transfers through Klook. At around ₱1,480 per person (₱2,960 or $71 CAD for two people), this package covers all ROUND TRIP fees, including port and traveller fees, and saves the hassle of coordinating multiple transfers yourself. When we calculated how much we spent doing it ourselves, we only saved ₱840 which is about $20 CAD total, so the convenience of Klook would have been worth it. You can even book one-way trips on Klook if you don’t want to pre-book a round-trip package. Heads Up: Try to ensure your flight is in the morning or afternoon as there are extra fees for night transfers. There are extra fees for porter/luggage services too.
HOW TO GET AROUND BORACAY
Once you’re on Boracay, the island is easy to navigate. E-trikes are the most common way to get around, and they are eco-friendly and relatively inexpensive. You can also walk along the beachfront path, which connects many hotels, restaurants, and activities, particularly between the popular Station 1, Station 2, and Station 3. We mostly walked everywhere.
THE DIFFERENT STATIONS OF BORACAY
Boracay is divided into three main areas called “stations.” Each offers a different vibe and caters to various preferences when it comes to accommodation.
– Station 1: Known for its luxury resorts, this is the quietest and most serene part of Boracay. It’s where the beachfront is widest and most picturesque.
– Station 2: The heart of Boracay, where the island’s nightlife, shopping, and dining are centered. It’s ideal if you want to be close to the action, but it can be crowded.
– Station 3: This area is more laid-back and budget-friendly. If you want a more relaxed atmosphere with fewer tourists but still easy access to the beach, this is a great choice.
We stayed in Balabag, right across from Station 2!
ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival and Beach Fun
Day 2: Beach Bliss and Water Sports
Day 3: Island Hopping Adventure (Tour with Klook)
Day 1: Arrival and Beach Fun
After landing in Caticlan, take your transfer from the airport, including a tricycle, pump boat, and e-trike ride, and check into your Airbnb or hotel. If you’ve booked through Klook, all transportation is coordinated for you, making the trip smooth and stress-free.
Lunch: Start your trip by grabbing a hearty lunch from Nonie’s Brunch House. This cozy spot offers great coffee, fulling meals, and a relaxing atmosphere, perfect for unwinding after your journey. We ordered two healthy smoothies with chia seeds, pandan pancakes, and eggs benny with beef brisket for about $18 CAD total.
Afternoon: Head straight to the beach and bask in the beauty of Boracay’s crystal-clear waters. Borrow snorkeling gear from a nearby dive center and explore the underwater world just off the shore.
Optional Activities: Rent a Crystal Kayak, a transparent kayak that allows you to see the marine life beneath you as you paddle along the shore. It’s an incredible way to appreciate the island’s vibrant marine ecosystem. For those seeking more adventure, why not try paragliding? Experience a bird’s-eye view of Boracay’s coastline as you soar above the ocean. Did you know Boracay is named one of the best places in the world to paraglide?!
Dinner: End your day with a hearty meal at Jollibee, a Filipino fast-food chain known for its fried chicken. It’s a no-frills, affordable dining option that offers a true taste of local cuisine. Two combos cost us ~$12 CAD. Next, grab the most delicious mango ice cream from HaloMango! This small size dessert cost us ~$4 CAD.
Day 2: Beach Bliss and Water Sports
We started with brunch at House Brew Cafe. A mango smoothie, lemon juice, sandwich with chips, and an eggs benny with salad set us back about $25CAD.
Now that you’ve got a taste of Boracay, it’s finally time to fully explore the island – both on land and at sea! Today should be all about soaking in the island’s natural beauty – after all, that’s the best part of Boracay. Personally, this was the most beautiful beach we’ve ever visited. Cuba is a close second!
Activity: If you’re feeling adventurous, try your hand at freediving. Boracay’s waters are clear and teeming with marine life, making it a perfect spot for diving enthusiasts.
Spend the rest of the day enjoying the beach—whether you prefer lounging under a palm tree with a good book or taking one last swim in the crystal-clear water.
We couldn’t get enough of the sunset. Boracay, you are beautiful!
Dinner: After watching the sunset, we started getting hungry. This time, we tried a different fast-food staple in the Philippines: Mang Inasal. This chain is known for their grilled chicken or “chicken inasal,” which is marinated in a blend of vinegar, calamansi (a local citrus), garlic, and spices. This was the first time we ever had calamansi and we LOVED IT! Move over lemon, calamansi is here! A signature feature of the restaurant is its unlimited rice offering, where diners can request as much rice as they want with their meal. Mang Inasal also serves traditional Filipino dishes like pork barbecue, halo-halo (a popular Filipino dessert), and pork sisig. This entire dinner set us back only $12 CAD!
Day 3: Island Hopping Adventure (Tour with Klook)
Now the best way to see the neighbouring islands and to enjoy a snorkel experience is with a full-day island-hopping tour! You can book your trip through Klook for about ₱900 per person. We found this tour on Klook to be more affordable than the prices we were quoted in person on the island for the exact same experience.
This tour will take you to nearby islands and scenic spots like Puka Beach, Crystal Cove (₱300 extra per person), and Coral Garden, with stops for snorkeling and swimming along the way. Keep in mind that snorkelling is also an extra cost (₱100 per person), regardless if you bring your own equipment. It’s more like an eco-fee for swimming.
Our first snorkel stop was Coral Garden! We saw a man kayaking with a bunch of coconuts and thought, why not? We bought one for about $1 CAD, which was cheaper than the coconuts we’ve bought on land!
The next stop was Crystal Cove island (₱300 extra per person), where we hiked around and inside coves! Definitely worth the extra fee in our opinion!
After Crystal Cove, we had a lunch break on Tambisaan Beach – buffet style! Lunch was included in the price
We then sailed to Puka Beach, where we all had free time to just relax on the beautiful white sand beaches.
All in all, we felt like this full-day excursion was worth the cost! It was a really nice tour, including 4 stopovers (5-6 hours total) and lunch for about $60 CAD for two people. Pro Tip: Bring plenty of water as it is not included in the tour!
Dinner: We were actually quite full from lunch, so we shared a delicious small meal (chicken adobo and spring rolls) from the Boracay food truck for about $13 CAD and a coconut icecream from Coco Mama for about $5 CAD. Spoiler Alert: We enjoyed the mango icecream from HaloMango more than this one from Coco Mama.
I think if you’re searching for a relaxing vacation, you could definitely tack on another day to just chill on the beautiful white sand beaches and eat delicious Filipino food. I know we wish we did! However, if you have just 3 days (or better yet, 3 nights like us), this is the perfect amount of time to see everything that Boracay has to offer!
TOTAL COST for 3 Full Days in Boracay (Approximate, CAD for 2 people):
Accommodations for 3 nights: $163
Activities (and associated fees): $60
Food: $126
Transportation (and associated fees) including the flight from Manila to Boracay: $184
TOTAL: $533 (Roughly $89 per person, per day)
FINAL THOUGHTS
Boracay is a true tropical paradise, offering the perfect balance of adventure and relaxation. Whether you’re kayaking in clear waters, flying high while paragliding, or simply enjoying the white sand between your toes, this island promises an unforgettable experience. With just three days (or better yet, 3 nights), you can explore the best Boracay has to offer—so book that flight, pack your sunscreen, and get ready for an island adventure like no other!
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