[Boracay 2022] Things to Do in Boracay

naysanalbaytar

Dec 8

Planning to go to Boracay? I hope this post will be able to give you ideas on what activities you can do and try. We stayed in Boracay for ~4 days, and it was more than enough time to enjoy the sun, sea, and sand and try some of the activities I haven't tried yet during my previous visits (including some I have already tried before but wanted to do again).

When it comes to activities, I usually go either of two ways—book them in advance via Klook or find local guides in the area so we can haggle haha.

Sunset Cruise

This is a 3-hour boat tour that starts at about 3:30 PM and ends at about 6:30 PM. We booked this via Klook at P675 per pax, so much cheaper compared to the package being offered by local tour guides (cheapest offer we found was P1000).

The assembly was at 3:30 PM, in the usual area near Astoria Hotel. Boat capacity was up to 50, but there were only 29 guests during our tour. We left the shore before 4:00 PM, cruised along the length of the island, passing by Station 1 and Station 0 before the boat traveled to a designated area somewhere in the middle of the ocean where the sunset watching happens. I say "designated" because it's an area where different boats converge for the same sunset watching activity, so we weren't alone.

Part of the cruise package was the entertainment aboard the boat, which consisted of an acoustic singer who played the guitar and sang songs like "Here Comes the Sun."

It was fun, and on both sides of the boat there were activity areas—a hard net where we could lounge and rest to sightsee or look at the clouds and the sunset; a wooden stair that goes down into the water for those who wanted to swim (life jacket and goggles provided); and a pair of cloth hammocks hanging from the bamboo outrigger on one side of the boat. There was also a kayak and a paddle board provided for those who wanted to try them, and I was able to try paddle boarding. So much fun! And all of these, guests can do while they wait for the sunset.

The package does not include food or drinks, so guests are encouraged to bring their own. And please, do not litter in the ocean! Overall, it was a great way to enjoy the sea, watch the sunset, take lots of photos, and meet new friends! We went back before 6:00 PM with the sunset behind us, happy from the 3 hours of fun we had.

Island Hopping

This was an unplanned part of our itinerary, something we decided on upon our arrival and after talking to a local guide. The rate was very affordable at only P550 per pax, inclusive of all activities (except some entrance fees), and with a total of 4 destinations. We decided to do this on our third day.

The tour started at 8:00 AM until 2:00 PM, and the guide fetched us at the hotel. We walked quite a way to Station 3 where the meeting place was, and we were among the last ones to arrive. After registration, we were ushered into the boat, which was already packed. Good thing we found a spot towards the back. The guide conducted an orientation, and then we were on our way.

First Stop: Puka Beach

This is a public island with fine sand and moderate waves, perfect for a swim in the middle of a hot day. There is no entrance fee. And apart from the beach, here you will find different spots for photo op, with no fee except for a donation. There were also a lot of trinket vendors, and I was able to buy 2 pairs of earrings made from shell and pearls for only P150 (the same set was being offered in the main island at P200 a pair, so it was a steal!) – maybe because according to the vendor, I was her buena mano. We stayed here for about an hour before it was time to go.

Second Stop: Snorkeling Area near Crocodile Island

This is a small area for those who want to marvel at underwater wildlife. We were given free use of snorkeling goggles, and we only had to pay P40 per pax for the upkeep and maintenance of the area. The underwater wildlife wasn't as rich as the one in Coron, but it was still beautiful to watch.

I was also personally awed at the coconut vendors in boats who would roam around the sea and approach boat tours to offer their produce—what a show of real ingenuity, proof of the human capability to adapt and thrive.

Third Stop: Lunch Buffet at a Restaurant in Tabon Port

This was a long way from where we started. We traveled by boat to Tabon Port and walked a bit until we reach this open buffet restaurant around 11:00 AM. In terms of ambiance, there was nothing extraordinary about it. It had a rustic bamboo theme, and it has a small area with kawa bath props for picture taking. We were the first group to arrive, quite early before the restaurant was ready, and while waiting we spent the time taking photos in the kawa bath area.

And when the food was finally ready, it more than made up for the ordinary ambiance and long waiting time. It was plenty - unlimited soup, sauteed vegetables, pork barbecue and chicken barbecue, fried milkfish, steamed mussels, bananas (the small, prinsesita variety), and choices of melon juice and buco pandan for drinks. There was endless refilling, and the staff were friendly. We were all happy by the end of lunch and ready to proceed to the next destination.

Fourth Stop: Crystal Cove

This was our last stop, and it was a big private island with accommodation and facilities for guests. We had an option to just stay on the shore, lounge, and swim, or to enter Crystal Cove (entrance fee was P300 per pax) to explore the facility and its 2 famous coves. We opted for the latter because we wanted to check out the coves.

The facility is huge, like an island garden with different areas to enjoy. There were cottages, playground, greenery and gardens to get lost in. The view was magnificent. However, because of the limited time we had, our exploration was mainly focused on the 2 coves.

The first cove is accessible via a small hole on the ground that descended down the cove via a set of steel stairs. It's a small area, so it can get crowded, but the water is amazing—the name Crystal Cove is perfect. We were able to swim and enjoy the water here, although only a small area is safe. Right next to the swimming area, the water gets too deep. The two areas are separated by rope, and there are staff posted to check on the guests swimming. We only stayed here for about 10-15 minutes before coming back up to proceed to the next cove, which is quite a long walk from the first one.

The second cove is accessible via the outer perimeter of the island. It's down another set of stairs, and then one has to walk-swim towards a small entrance, then walk-crawl through a small tunnel, before emerging into the cove. The view is magnificent, but it was too crowded at the time. There was a long line of people waiting to have their photo taken, so I did not stay here.

After the visit, we had a few more minutes to sightsee. We went to a spot called Baywatch, a stone tower that offers a 360-degree view of the island, climbed the tower and take photos, and then it was time to leave. I wanted to have explored the facility more, but the time was too short. Crystal Cove is best enjoyed for a half day or a whole day, not for a mere hour, especially given the entrance fee of P300 (compared to the tour's overall package rate at only P550).

We left Crystal Cove by around 1:00 PM and arrived in the main island by 2:00 PM, so we still had the whole afternoon to ourselves.

Crystal Kayak Photo Op

This is a rather new activity in Boracay, and it's not kayaking per se because the kayak is primarily used as a prop for photo op. You'll have no problem finding someone who offers this package because almost all local guides do—just walk along the beach and chances are you'll be approached by someone offering this package. They all offer the same view and experience, but the difference is in the skill of the photographer at directing poses and taking great shots. I was fairly happy with the results I got.

The rate is P250 per pax for approximately 15 minutes of picture taking (guide and photographer included), but you can always haggle. We had ours for only P200. There are two views—sea view and rock view, the latter being offered by those near Willy's Rock, the one we also availed. We did this on the afternoon after the island hopping. It was almost low tide, but the condition wasn't very ideal because the waves were stronger than usual, so some photos were blurry. Here are some of them:

I think this is something to try at least once in Boracay, but I don't think I'll try this again next time.

Paddle Boarding

This one is similar to Crystal Kayak in that it is also mostly for photo op. But, the good thing is that you can actually use it for what it was built for: to paddle board.

I love surfing the two times I tried it in La Union, and I have always wanted to try it again. Paddle boarding is perhaps the younger, calmer, safer sibling haha. I enjoyed learning how to balance on the board (despite falling a few times) and actually paddling and cruising on the water.

This costs P300 per board for 30 minutes, but we were able to haggle to P250 for 40 minutes. The guide was also more than willing to take the photos, as well as allow us to be on our own to just try paddle boarding. I wanted to try this on the deeper part of the water, but I'm not a very good swimmer. It was too late when I found out that we could borrow a life vest; our time was up by then.

So there! When in Boracay, enjoy the sea and the shore, but also try some fun activities like the one I mentioned above. Have a happy and safe Boracay trip!

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