Things To Do
Island Hopping
Join an all-day 6-hour island hopping tour on top of a classic catamaran equipped with a professional captain and attentive staff. Most island tours stop by same islands and beaches: Balinghai Beach, Crystal Cove, Crocodile Island, Magic island West Cove, and Puka Beach. The day will be spent snorkeling, jumping off the boat into the water, tanning on the deck, and coming to shore to explore. Of course, there will be a lunch buffet with fresh mango, barbequed chicken, sides, and beverages to keep your energy up! You can book tours like this all around the island at hotels, tourist desks, or from Filipino guys hustling with flyers.
Cliff Jumping
Conquer your fear of heights with a full day of cliff diving and water sports. You’ll be whisked out onto the open waters in a longtail boat along with a dozen other thrill seeking backpackers and travelers. The boat will bring you to Ariel’s Point where you’ll climb up the rocky steps until you reach the main deck. That’s where the fun begins. You’ll see that there are 3 planks from which you can dive, ranging from 3 meters to 15 meters. Start with a simple Pencil Dive or you might end up making a loud slapping sound when you hit the water. If you want to play in the water but are too nervous to cliff dive, you can ascend the cliff via a bamboo ladder. There is snorkeling, kayaking, and paddle boarding to enjoy when you sign up for Ariel’s day pass. This day pass includes a lunch buffet as well as an open bar to give you some courage.
White Beach
Boracay’s main beach is called White Beach. The sand is powder soft, the water is crystal blue, and the coconuts are cold. White Beach is 4 kilometers long and is divided into 3 sections: Boat Station 1, Boat Station 2, and Boat Station 3. You’ll find that hotels and restaurants use these boat stations as markers of reference. Station 1 is known to be the high-end area; Station 2 is where most of the restaurants, bars, and shopping are located; and Station 3 is the quieter area away from nightlife. Take your pick.
Bat Caves
You’re in for more than just bats and caves when you sign up for a Bat Cave adventure. First of all, to access the bat caves you need to go on a trek through the beautiful jungle. Walk along a well-trodden dirt path and you’ll come to a man-made cave that was carved into the cliff hundreds of years ago. Since that point, bats have taken shelter here. You can see hundreds of them clinging to the top of the cave, every once in a while releasing their grip to flap around. Some tours will take you to the bat caves via boat- if that’s what you prefer.
Filipino Cooking Class
Go home with more than just a Boracay tote bag; go home with some cooking skills that will stick with you for a lifetime! Sign up for a morning cooking class and you’ll have the pleasure to accompany the Filipino chef to the morning market where you will collect fresh ingredients to bring back to the kitchen. You’ll learn to cook 2 main dishes, an appetizer and a dessert. Then- the best part- you get to eat what you’ve cooked for lunch! Most of these classes throw in a couple free beers or soft drinks with your lunch as well. But the learning doesn’t stop there! Most cooking classes will send you home with a printed or digital cookbook so you can keep the Filipino flavors alive.
Crystal Cove Island
20 minutes from the shore lays Crystal Cove Island- a small island with pristine white sand beaches and quirky huts, play places and sculptures scattered all around. When you first set foot on the island, it will feel like you’re in an abandoned jungle camp of sorts as the structures are rickety and falling apart. This is what gives Crystal Island its curious charm. While you’re there, you can snorkel or explore some of the island’s caves where collections of crystals have formed. Some of these caves are dead ends, but some of them are passageways through to the other side of the island. It’s a strange experience that is definitely worth a visit.