Boracay
Boracay's famous 2018 closure-and-clean-up worked: White Beach — four kilometres of sand so fine it squeaks underfoot — is calmer and cleaner than its old party reputation suggests, and rooms a street back from the front still go for backpacker money.
- Best forBeach lovers · Nightlife · Groups of friends
- In December28°C · 29 rainy days · sea 29°C
- Ideal stay3–4 nights
- Approx. flying time~14h 40m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyPHPPhilippine peso
- LanguageFilipino and English
- Local time18:157h ahead of the UK
- PlugsType A / B / CBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+63
Why go
A small island shaped by one long west-facing beach of very fine white sand, backed by a strip of hotels, bars and restaurants closed to vehicles for most of its length. Sunset is the daily event, with paraw sailboats crossing the bay in silhouette. Away from White Beach the island quietens quickly, with rougher coves, kitesurfing on the east side and a few low hills.
Rules introduced after the 2018 closure changed the place for the better: no building on the sand, no drinking or smoking on the beach itself, and a cap on visitor numbers. Three or four nights is typical, often bolted onto Palawan or Cebu. The amihan season from around November to May brings calm water on the west coast; the habagat months reverse the winds.
- Ideal stay
- 3–4 nights
- The vibe
- Sociable, sandy, sunset-driven
From our guides
White Beach performs the gentlest handover in the business: paraw sailboats crossing a tangerine sunset, then fire dancers, then a four-kilometre string of barefoot bars serving rum from coconuts on the sand. The island's famous 2018 clean-up left it greener and saner — parties now end at the bar line rather than in the sea, which everyone agrees is progress. Station 2 is the epicentre; arrive for happy hour around 5pm and order a calamansi mojito.
Featured in Ten affordable tropical escapes that won't empty your savings and Ten beach party destinations that go from sunset to sunrise
Things to do
-
White Beach
Four kilometres of powder-fine sand divided into three stations, walkable end to end in under an hour and busiest around the middle of Station 2.
-
Puka Shell Beach
The northern beach, with coarser sand, far fewer people, a rougher sea and a scattering of stalls selling grilled food and cold drinks.
-
Paraw sailing at sunset
Outrigger sailboats take passengers out for an hour as the light goes, tacking along the front of the beach. Expect to be comprehensively splashed.
-
Mount Luho viewpoint
The island's high point, with a view over the interior and both coasts at once. Reached by tricycle from the main road or a short climb.
-
Bulabog Beach
The windward side of the island, and the centre of kitesurfing and windsurfing from roughly November to April when the amihan blows steadily.
-
D'Mall and the food stalls
The main pedestrian hub behind the beach, good for grilled seafood, calamansi drinks and eating cheaply a street back from the front.
Getting there
-
Fly to
Caticlan (MPH)
Nearest airport to Boracay, about 6km away as the crow flies.
-
Then
To Boracay (White Beach)
From Caticlan (MPH) it is a few minutes to the jetty and then a 15 minute ferry to Boracay, with a shuttle on to White Beach. Allow an hour door to door.
-
On the ground
Getting around
White Beach is walked end to end in under an hour. E trikes run the main road for the longer hops to Puka Shell Beach and Bulabog.
Public transport: Electric tricycles cover the island cheaply and constantly; no car is wanted or needed.
Flights
Los Angeles Boracay, Philippines
Fly from anywhere — search 4,000+ airports worldwide.
Roughly 14h 40m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
Check dates and prices
Pick your departure date, then your return.
Search flightsNot sure when? Compare fares across a whole month.
Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.
When to go
Daytime highs run from about 27°C in January to 29°C in May. Driest in March and April; wettest in July, with rain on about 30 days. The sea is warmest in June at around 31°C, coolest at 27°C.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
December28° · rain 29 days · sea 29°Warm and often wet.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Beachfront resorts on White Beach, guesthouses and hostels a street back, and a growing number of condominium rentals. Development is capped, so the island stays low-rise.
-
Best base overall
White Beach Station 2
The middle of the strip, closest to D'Mall and the restaurants, with everything walkable along the sand. It is also the busiest and loudest section, particularly around sunset.
Find stays in White Beach Station 2 -
Best for couples
White Beach Station 1
The wider, quieter end of the beach with the smarter hotels and the best stretch of sand. You pay for the address and it is a long walk to the cheap eating.
Find stays in White Beach Station 1 -
Best value
Bulabog Beach
The windward side, five minutes across the island, where rooms cost noticeably less and kitesurfers gather. The beach itself is not for swimming during the windy months.
Find stays in Bulabog Beach -
Quietest
Diniwid and Puka Shell Beach
Small coves north of the main strip, with a calmer crowd and better sunset views from the cliffs. Fewer restaurants, and you will take tricycles to get anywhere.
Find stays in Diniwid and Puka Shell Beach
Worth knowing before you book: An environmental fee is charged on arrival and some accommodation must be accredited for you to enter, so book a registered property. Christmas and Easter sell out months early.
Search everything else in Boracay (White Beach) by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Beach rules
- Drinking, smoking and eating on the beach itself are restricted. Bars and restaurants serve behind the setback line instead.
- Arrival fees
- A terminal and environmental fee is collected on arrival at Caticlan. Keep small peso notes to hand for it.
- Getting there
- Fly to Caticlan or Kalibo, then take the short ferry crossing. Caticlan is far closer, while Kalibo is usually cheaper.
- Seaweed
- Around the middle of the year seaweed can wash up along White Beach. It is entirely natural and cleared daily.
- Cash or card
- Cards work in hotels and larger restaurants, but tricycles, market stalls and boats all want pesos in cash.
Similar places
Further afield
Related articles
Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Boracay?
Daytime highs run from about 27°C in January to 29°C in May. Driest in March and April; wettest in July, with rain on about 30 days. The sea is warmest in June at around 31°C, coolest at 27°C.
How long should I spend in Boracay?
Our suggestion: 3–4 nights.
How do I get to Boracay?
From Caticlan (MPH) it is a few minutes to the jetty and then a 15 minute ferry to Boracay, with a shuttle on to White Beach. Allow an hour door to door.
Do I need a car in Boracay?
No. Electric tricycles cover the island cheaply and constantly; no car is wanted or needed.
What currency and language are used in Boracay?
Currency: Philippine peso (PHP). Language: Filipino and English. Plugs: type A and B and C.
Who is Boracay best for?
Best for beach lovers, nightlife and groups of friends. In a phrase: sociable, sandy, sunset-driven.