If one thing we really know about when we heard Philippines is the beautiful long and white sand beach "Boracay Island". After 6 month of rehabilitation, the island was now open in public. We are so happy that we're going to witness the new Boracay this October 2019, where you will see the major changes especially in the beach area. Before packing your bags and book a flight to this island, there are important rules you need to know to keep yourself out of trouble:
Entry Limitations:
- Only 19,000 tourists are welcome to stay on the island at any given time.
- Only 6,405 tourists per day are allowed to enter the island.
- Availability of hotel rooms will be reduced from 12,000 to 6,000-9,000.
- Tourists may be required to present hotel reservations before entering the island.
- You can only book from Department of Tourism-accredited hotels. You can find the list here.
Beach activities:
- No smoking and alcoholic beverages along White Beach (main beach area of Boracay).
- Dining on the beach is prohibited.
- Beachfront parties are now banned.
- Sand castles (a big attraction in Boracay) will be regulated.
- Shops and hawkers/peddlers are banned from peddling their goods on the beach.
- Fire dancing with kerosene lamps are prohibited.
- Casinos are banned on the island.
Another thing is if you want to use a drone, you need a permit for that and you're going to pay a Php1,000 for permit.
As you may know that before entering the island, you need to have a confirmed booking if you're going to stay more than one day to the island. You need to present it in Caticlan Jetty Port before booking a ferry going to the white beach. But in our experience, they didn't ask us for our confirmed accommodation. They only gave us a form that we need to fill up and then after that we already proceed for booking a ferry. Don't expect that this will be same as yours, please still bring your confirmed accommodation to prevent you in trouble😉
How to get there?
1. Book a flight first going to Caticlan or Kalibo.
Via Caticlan:
I preferred for you to book Caticlan as it is more near in Jetty Port unlike in Kalibo that you need to take a van going to the port. We booked our ticket in a cheapest price at Discover the World. Less hassle as they will accommodate you up to check in process plus very convenient because I only booked through messenger only.😊 Follow them on their fb page for you to be updated in airline promos.
Travel duration is only 1 hour.
Via Kalibo:
Flying to Kalibo is more affordable than Caticlan but you need to take a van going to Caticlan for 2 hours. Upon arrival there are many van operators that offer a package transportation deal of van and boat. Fare is Php250 minimum. Kalibo airport also had a direct flight to Malaysia and Korea if you need to connect to an international flight
✅We depart from Clark International Airport, another tip for you is departing from Clark is much cheaper than Manila😉
How to get in CIA(Clark International Airport)?
- From North - You need to go in Dau Terminal, many buses from north always stop over at the terminal unless your bus is a deluxe type that has no stop over. So choose the bus that you know that they will drop you at Dau terminal. We're from Bataan so we took a UV express going to Dau Terminal. Fare is Php140/head
*DAU/SM Clark Terminal at Balanga Bataan*
- From Manila/South - If you're from South,of course you need to get in Manila first to take a bus going to Dau terminal. Take a bus that is going to North like Baguio. Pangasinan, Tarlac etc., these location had a stop over at Dau Terminal. Fare is Php120/head.
- At Dau Terminal, you'll see this Airport Lounge Area. This is the only terminal going to the airport. It is a Jeep Type but air conditioned. Fare is Php100/head.
Take note that the jeep is need to be filled up before departing to the airport.
2. At the arrival area, there's a lot of locals outside that is going to offer you a ride in UV with a boat ride. Don't negotiate with them if you're in a budget type because it will costs you more but if you want a less hassle, you can take this offer. There's a tricycle nearby across the road, you'll see a lot of people going to that area. You need to have a ticket first before taking a tricycle. Fare is Php35/each if you're 3 people and up but unlike us that we're only a couple the fare is Php100/ride. Travel duration is only 10 minutes maximum.
3. In Caticlan Jetty Port, you need to sign up first in their attendance sheet before giving you a form. If you're in a group of people, one form is enough. After you filled up they will ask you your confirmed booking, soft copy and hard copy is acceptable. If your hotel is included in their accredited hotel list they will let you to proceed in the next step. If you don't have yet an accommodation they will give you a list of available hotels and you need to book first before you proceed that's why booking ahead first is important. But in our experience they didn't ask us our accommodation. Airbnb is not allowed in Boracay. Check the list of accredited hotels here.
*Oyster Ferry*
*Pump Boat*
You need to pay a Environmental Fee - Php75/head, Terminal Fee - Php100/head. Two choices for a ferry type one is Pump Boat more cheaper, it cost Php40/head only and Oyster Ferry(air conditioned type) the expensive one, fare is Php40/head for local and Php75/head for tourist. We chose the Oyster Ferry. And you're going to sign up again before boarding. Travel duration is only 15 minutes.
4. Arrival at the island. You need to take a tricycle going to your hotel destination. Fare is depend on what station you are. Our hotel is located in Station 2, fare is Php120/ride. Travel duration is 15 minutes.
*Reception area of Frendz Hostel*
Where we stayed?We booked our accommodation at Agoda, we stayed at Frendz Hostel Boracay for 5 days. This is the cheaper for a couple like us who want to stay at Station 2 and near in D'mall. More cheaper hotel and inn can be found at Station 3, the five star hotels are located at Station 1 and mid-range hotels at Station 2.
More info of our accommodation here => https://bit.ly/2BPQ4mc
What's the best month to visit the island?
The best month should of course the summer season in the Philippines - January to May, but expect that all prices in the island and airfare is more expensive as many people are planning to get there especially the month of April also expect that all hotels are already fully booked so book early your accommodation.
June to September is the rainy season of the country so it is not the best time to visit the island. I prefer for you to book your ticket at October to December as it is less crowd and hotels is in a cheap price. These months is not a rainy season and summer season but I assure you that the weather for these month is at least the best.
Activities are still up at Boracay like Parasailing, Helmet Diving, Island Hopping and many more. Some locals will offer you an activities or island hopping, it's up to you if you're going to get it or choose the packages because they offers different prices. We didn't get any of this because we just want to relax and we don't want to do any activities. If you want to know more for the activities you can do at the island you can check it out here in my other blog post => https://bit.ly/32TWEnr
*D'mall at Station 2*
Atm is everywhere at Boracay so don't worry if you don't have a cash or you forgot to withdraw your pocket money. Other establishments also accepts a credit card and debit card. There's also a foreign money exchange if you want to exchange your money from dollars. But expect the costs of anything here is expensive especially the restaurants at the island. But if you're in a budget you can still find a carinderia, more affordable and still worth the money.If you want to lounge around the white beach or to swim,the best place is at Station 1 if you want a less crowd for your photo. You can take a tricycle if your from Station 3 because walking from it may feel you so much tired because of it's 4km long. Station 2 can walk to Station 1.
*Puka Beach Boracay*
Puka Beach is also the best one to visit in the island. The sand is not powdery like in white beach due to the mixed of corals to the side that filled with puka shells, thus the name. The water depth also drops significantly as you get farther from the shore, so swimmers are advised to be careful. It is a 800 m long where you have the ocean on one side and a cliff and forest on the other.More details here and how to get there => https://bit.ly/2BLv2VG
*Oyster Sisig and Four Cheese Pizza at Two Seasons*
If you're thinking where to eat in Boracay, don't worry all stations are filled of restaurants and hotels that offers breakfast and dinner buffet to everyone. This is the most hardest part for us, choosing where to eat. Haha! We spent like 45 minutes choosing where to eat for lunch and dinner, I actually have a itinerary on where to eat but because we are in a budget, we're looking for a restaurant that is affordable for us.Check my other post for where to eat in Boracay => https://bit.ly/2WiYxHT
They say that Boracay had the best sunset of all and I am totally agree with that! Look at this photo above without filter, this is the sunset that welcomes us when we arrive at the white beach. Seeing this photo makes me miss more our sunset session every day. Don't miss this when you visit the island, it's the best experience of all!
Also take note that constructions at the main road is still on going so expect a traffic around the area. Expect low tide in the morning and high tide in afternoon.
Overall, our experience here was so memorable and worth everything. If we get a chance to visit this island again we will do! This is so perfect for a family vacation too, your children will enjoy the sand, the beach and the activities too! But please be a responsible traveler, if you ever see a plastic or trash at the beach or near the beach pick it up and put it in a right trash cans. I love how I saw others doing this to maintain the cleanliness of the island. All hotels and establishments also using a environmental utensils and they don't use a plastic, so happy to witnessing and experience this, I hope all do the same like this.
If this blog post was helpful, don't forget to share this to your friends and family! Enjoy your stay at Boracay💖
RELATED BLOG POST:
Frendz HostelBoracay => https://bit.ly/2BPQ4mc
Puka Beach Guide and Details => https://bit.ly/2BLv2VG
Activities at the New Boracay => https://bit.ly/32TWEnr
