2019 • 06 • 25
Everyone’s excited to revisit the country’s ultimate beach destination Boracay. Who wouldn’t? With all the unbelievable photos and videos of how pristine Boracay is after its major makeover in 2018, everyone’s still scrambling to step foot on the island again. Well, we can say from the footage that the six-month lock-down on the Philippines’ most famous and most visited white beach is what the island needed after being battered by tourists for decades. We can only hope that this new Boracay will be able to retain its new face and environment.
The island reopened its doors last Oct 26, 2018 to tourists. If you’ve been to Boracay before, there are certain new rules to follow after its lock-down to keep the cleanliness of Puka Beach – the long stretch of white sand named as such because of the abundance of puka shells on its shores. So, we recommend doing research on the dos and don’ts of the new Boracay before your trip.
WHAT'S IN THIS GUIDE?
How to Get to Boracay
From Kalibo or Caticlan
Boracay has two major entry points: Caticlan and Kalibo.
- Kalibo is farther and requires two hours of land travel and around 30 minutes of boat transfer, but fares are relatively cheaper.
- Caticlan is closer, around 15 minutes travel time from the airport, but you can expect fares to be much higher.
With the new regulations set by the government on visiting Boracay, getting to the famed beach is not as easy as before. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has issued a statement that in the future, they may require access cards for tourists before entering the island to keep track of the number of people. This was announced back in 2018, but they’ve yet to make good on this.
Whether you’re coming from Caticlan or Kalibo Airport, you have to take a boat or ferry at Caticlan Jetty Port to enter the island.
- From Kalibo Airport, ride a bus or van to Caticlan Jetty Port. Fare: P200. If you’re traveling with your family or friends, you may consider renting a private van. The price for a one-way trip is P1,900 or P190 per person (10 pax).
- After arriving at the jetty port, go straight to the registration area set up in the tents outside the terminal building.
- After you register your name, proceed to the verification area and present your proof of accommodations or hotel booking. If you’re spending at least one night in Boracay, a hotel booking is required.
- Proceed to the payment windows and pay the Terminal Fee (P150), Environmental Fee (P150), and Boat Fare (Pumpboat P50). You will be given a queuing number for the boat.
- After settling all the fees, go inside the Port Building and proceed to the Passenger Waiting Area, and wait until it is time for boarding.
- Board the boat or ferry to the island.
- The boat will dock at either Cagban or Tambisaan Port. There are tricycles waiting there that can bring you to your hotel. Tricycles charge around P150 per ride. If you’re arriving from Caticlan airport, you can also ride a tricycle to the jetty port. Or if you’re up for it, you can walk for around 10 minutes to get to the port.
Where to Stay in Boracay
During my first visit to Boracay, my friends and I were on a steep budget so we stayed in a hostel in town. We needed to take a tricycle every time we wanted to go to the beach and it was a bit inconvenient especially during nights when we had drinks and partied all night long. So on my next visit with my family, we decided to book a beachfront hotel and for me, it was the best option since we are a big group, and we were there to relax and unwind and not to party. Haha!
Hostels cost P400-1000 per night for a single bed in a dormitory. Budget hotels and guesthouses usually cost around P1800-2500 per room. Beachfront hotels range from P5000 up to as much as P10000 per room/night.
Here’s a list of some of the best resorts in Boracay as rated by Agoda users.
- Coast Boracay Island. ✅ CHECK RATES & AVAILABILITY
- Henann Lagoon Resort. ✅ CHECK RATES & AVAILABILITY
- Shangri-la’s Boracay Resort and Spa. ✅ CHECK RATES & AVAILABILITY
- Discovery Shores Boracay. ✅ CHECK RATES & AVAILABILITY
For more options, search here: Boracay Hotels
Updates Log
2019.04.23 – First Uploaded
2024.04.03 – Updated information
Related Article: 10 Best Budget Hotels & Resorts in Boracay 2024
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