Things to do · Boracay · Philippines
13 best things to do in Boracay
13 sights and experiences ranked for a first visit, with honest notes on time, cost and crowds.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
The essential sights in Boracay are White Beach, Willy's Rock and Island hopping. Of the 13 picks below, 7 are free, 1 work on a rainy day and 3 suit children. Allow about 5 days to see the highlights without rushing.
Key facts
- Top sight
- White Beach
- Free sights
- 7
- Good on a rainy day
- D'Talipapa market
- Time to see the highlights
- 5 days
At a glance
| Sight | Area | Time needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Beach | Station 2 | Half a day or more | Free |
| Willy's Rock | Station 1 | 30 minutes | Free |
| Island hopping | Station 2 | Half a day | Mid-priced |
| Sunset paraw sailing | Station 1 | 1 hour | Mid-priced |
| D'Talipapa market | Station 2 | 1.5 hours | Mid-priced |
| Puka Shell Beach | Northern Boracay (Yapak) | 2–3 hours | Free |
| Mount Luho viewpoint | Bulabog Beach | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Kitesurfing at Bulabog Beach | Bulabog Beach | Half a day | Expensive |
| Scuba diving | Station 3 | Half a day | Expensive |
| D'Mall | Station 2 | 1 hour | Free |
| Diniwid Beach | Diniwid Beach | 2 hours | Free |
| Ilig-Iligan Beach | Northern Boracay (Yapak) | 2 hours | Free |
| Tambisaan Beach | Station 3 | 2 hours | Free |
The 13 best things to do
Beach · Station 2
1.White Beach
The island's west-coast beach runs for about 4 km of fine, pale coral sand and shallow turquoise water, divided informally into Stations 1, 2 and 3. A sandy beach path lined with restaurants and resorts runs its length, and the sunsets draw crowds every evening.
Walk the full length early in the morning, when the beach is raked and empty, and claim your sunset spot at Station 1 by about 5pm.
- Time needed
- Half a day or more
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Kids
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Landmark · Station 1
2.Willy's Rock
A volcanic rock formation standing in the shallows off Station 1, topped by a small shrine to the Virgin Mary reached by steps. At low tide you can wade out to it; it is one of the island's most photographed spots.
Visit at low tide in the morning for easy wading and clear photos before the crowds.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Photo spot
- Kids
- Iconic
Experience · Station 2
3.Island hopping
Half-day boat trips stop at Crocodile Island for snorkelling, Crystal Cove Island's rocky coves and caves, and Magic Island's cliff-jumping platforms, often with a beach lunch. Boats leave from the White Beach stations or Bulabog depending on the season.
Book through an accredited operator, wear reef-safe sunscreen and bring water shoes for rocky landings.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Active
- Outdoors
- Iconic
Experience · Station 1
4.Sunset paraw sailing
Paraw are traditional Visayan double-outrigger sailboats; passengers sit on nets stretched between the hull and outriggers as the boat skims along White Beach. Sunset trips last about an hour and are the island's signature activity.
Agree the price per boat and length of the trip before boarding, and leave valuables ashore, as you may get wet.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Couples
- Iconic
- Views
- Photo spot
Market · Station 2
5.D'Talipapa market
A covered wet market near Station 2 where you buy fresh fish, prawns, crab and shellfish at the stalls and take them to surrounding 'paluto' restaurants, which cook them to order for a fee.
Agree the price per kilo and the cooking charge before buying, and choose two or three cooking styles such as grilled, garlic butter and sinigang.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Food
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Beach · Northern Boracay (Yapak)
6.Puka Shell Beach
Boracay's second-best-known beach, on the northern tip, has coarser sand mixed with tiny shell fragments and fewer buildings than White Beach. The water deepens quickly and waves can be stronger, but it is far quieter.
Go in the morning, take water and shade, and check the sea before swimming, as currents can be strong in the habagat season.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Nature
Viewpoint · Bulabog Beach
7.Mount Luho viewpoint
The island's highest point, about 100 metres above sea level, has an observation deck with 360-degree views over White Beach, Bulabog and the neighbouring islands.
Go in the late afternoon for softer light, then head to White Beach for sunset.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Experience · Bulabog Beach
8.Kitesurfing at Bulabog Beach
Steady northeast winds from about November to April make Bulabog's shallow, reef-protected lagoon one of Asia's main kitesurfing spots. Schools on the beach offer lessons from beginner to advanced, and windsurfing gear is also available.
Book lessons with a certified school, and come in December to March for the most consistent wind.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Active
- Outdoors
Experience · Station 3
1.Scuba diving
Dive shops along White Beach run boat dives to sites such as Crocodile Island and the reefs and walls off Yapak, with soft corals, reef fish and turtles. Beginner courses start in the calm shallows off the beach.
Choose a shop with recognised dive certification and check the sea conditions; some sites are only diveable in certain seasons.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Active
- Nature
- Outdoors
Street · Station 2
2.D'Mall
An open-air maze of shops, restaurants, cafés and fruit-shake stands just behind White Beach at Station 2, the island's main shopping and dining hub.
Use it as a meeting point and for browsing in the evening; prices for souvenirs are often lower in the side alleys.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- After dark
- Free
Beach · Diniwid Beach
3.Diniwid Beach
A small cove just north of Station 1, reached by a concrete path cut into the cliff, with clear water, a few resorts and a quiet atmosphere compared with White Beach.
Walk over from Station 1 in the late afternoon and stay for sunset at one of the cliffside bars.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Couples
- Off the beaten path
Beach · Northern Boracay (Yapak)
4.Ilig-Iligan Beach
A small, quiet beach on the northeast coast backed by trees and limestone with small caves, used mostly by locals and guests of nearby resorts.
Bring snacks and water; there are few facilities, which is the point.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Off the beaten path
- Nature
- Outdoors
Beach · Station 3
5.Tambisaan Beach
A small beach on the southeast coast near Manoc-Manoc, with a local fishing community and reef close to shore that is good for snorkelling when the sea is calm.
Bring your own snorkel and ask locals about the tide; at low tide the reef is very shallow.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Off the beaten path
- Nature
Pick by interest
| Interest | Best picks |
|---|---|
| Views | Sunset paraw sailing and Mount Luho viewpoint |
| Outdoors and nature | White Beach, Island hopping, Puka Shell Beach and Mount Luho viewpoint |
| Food and markets | D'Talipapa market and D'Mall |
| After dark | D'Mall |
| With children | White Beach, Willy's Rock and Island hopping |
| On a rainy day | D'Talipapa market |
Plan the rest of your trip
Questions travellers ask
+What is the number one thing to do in Boracay?
White Beach. The island's west-coast beach runs for about 4 km of fine, pale coral sand and shallow turquoise water, divided informally into Stations 1, 2 and 3.
+What can you do for free in Boracay?
White Beach, Willy's Rock, Puka Shell Beach, D'Mall and Diniwid Beach. More free things to do.
+What is there to do in Boracay when it rains?
Head indoors to D'Talipapa market.
+What is there to do in Boracay at night?
D'Mall are best after dark.