The main points
- The tour booked from this site stops at Puka Shell Beach, Balinghai Beach Resort, a river boat and a local restaurant, with a guide in English and Tagalog.[1]
- The island and beach-hopping boat tour with snorkeling starts from US$19, runs 2 - 5.5 hours and is rated 4.30 from 664 reviews.[1]
- At Angol Point, early morning snorkelers can see sweetlips, groupers and colorful corals, so an early boat is worth the alarm.[2]
- At Caticlan Jetty Port the terminal fee is PHP 150 (USD 2.75); the environmental fee is PHP 150 (USD 2.75) for Filipinos and PHP 300 (USD 5.50) for foreigners.[3]
- Boracay's rainy season runs from June to November and may include typhoons and heavy rainfall, so keep a spare day free in those months.[4]
- Top choice Island and beach hopping from US$19 Length2 - 5.5 hours[1]Reviews4.30 from 664 reviews[1]GuideEnglish, Tagalog[1]CancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours before[1] Check availability
- Crystal Cove island tour from US$23 Length5 hours[5]Reviews4.24 from 171 reviews[5]GuideEnglish, Tagalog[5]CancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours before[5] See this tour
- Sunset cruise from US$15 Length2 hours[6]Reviews4.73 from 327 reviews[6]GuideEnglish, Tagalog[6]CancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours before[6] See this tour
Early morning snorkeling is recommended to witness the lively underwater world, including sweetlips, groupers, occasional sea snakes, sea cucumbers, starfish, and colorful corals.
Verdict: the island and beach-hopping boat tour
Things to check
- Pick the boat that matches your group, from shared island hopping trips to private charters.
- Keep small cash for the terminal and environmental fees at Caticlan Jetty Port.
- Pack reef-safe sunscreen, a rash guard, a hat and a dry bag for the crossing.
- Check the meeting point and start time on your booking before you travel.
On the water
- Small group departures are available on some listings if you would rather not share a big boat.
- Dry-season sea water can drop to 26.7°C, so a light rash guard is useful.[7]
- Snorkel early at Angol Point for sweetlips, groupers and colorful corals.[2]
- The Crystal Cove entrance fee is optional and costs PHP 300.00 per person.[8]
What Boracay island hopping tours are
Island hopping is the classic Boracay day out. A bangka, the narrow outrigger boat you will see lined up along the sand, carries a group around the island with pauses for swimming, snorkeling and lunch. Boracay itself is small, four square miles in total, so most routes stay close to shore and you are rarely out of sight of land.[9] Trips run from a couple of hours to a full day, and what you pay depends mostly on how long you are out and whether lunch and entry fees are built in.
The island's shape decides the route. White Beach stretches for about 4 km (2.5 miles) end to end along the western shore, forming a continuous seafront that shapes how Boracay is laid out from north to south.[10] Most boats collect passengers on the White Beach side in the morning, then swing around the headland to the windward beaches where the kite crowd gathers. The island has been managed closely since April 26, 2018, when President Rodrigo Duterte ordered it closed to tourists for six months to rehabilitate the island after sewerage facilities were polluting the water.[11]
Where the boats stop
The tour booked from this site follows a route that takes in Puka Shell Beach, Balinghai Beach Resort, a river boat and a local restaurant.[1] Other listings swap in Crocodile Island, Magic Island and Crystal Cove, so read the stop list before you choose. Puka Shell Beach sits at the northern end of the island and feels wilder than White Beach, with shells mixed through the sand and palms leaning over the shore. Balinghai is the quiet cove stop, a good place for a swim and a photo.
Magic Island is the cliff jumping stop. Tourists come to Magic Island for cliff jumping, so bring a waterproof camera and a bit of nerve.[12] Crystal Cove is the stop that often costs extra: the optional entrance fee is PHP 300.00 per person, so decide on the boat whether you want to go ashore when your guide asks.[8]
Lunch varies as much as the route. One Boracay island hopping tour with a boodle fight lunch starts from US$93.[13] A boodle fight is the Filipino spread of rice, grilled fish and meat piled onto banana leaves, eaten with your hands, and it turns a boat stop into the social part of the day. If you have allergies or eat vegetarian, mention it when you book rather than on the sand.
Outrigger boats waiting along the pale sand of White Beach before the morning run.
Group tour, small group or private boat
Shared boats keep the price down. The island and beach-hopping boat tour with snorkeling starts from US$19 and offers small group departures,[1] while the island boat tour with Crystal Cove entry starts from US$23.[5] On a shared trip you join a mixed group, follow a fixed route and stop where the boat stops. That is the cheapest way to see the coast and often the most sociable.
Private boats cost more and give you control. A private island hopping and snorkeling tour starts from US$93, and a private boat tour with a local guide starts from US$255.[14][15] Private trips suit families with young children, friends who want music on board, and anyone who would rather spend an hour at one reef than tick off five beaches. Check the group size and the guide's language on the listing before you commit.
Whichever you pick, find the meeting point before the morning of the trip. Boats leave from different stretches of the beach and along White Beach they are spread out, so the walk from your hotel to the right stretch can run longer than you expect with a dry bag on your shoulder.
Snorkeling and what you will see
Snorkeling is usually the middle act of the day. At Angol Point, early morning snorkelers can see sweetlips, groupers and colorful corals.[2] If the underwater part matters most to you, choose a route with a proper snorkel stop rather than a quick dip beside the boat, and ask whether the stop is over reef or over sand.
Take your own mask if you have one that fits, and borrow a vest even if you swim well. A well-fitting mask makes a long stop far more comfortable than a borrowed one that leaks, and a vest lets you float and watch instead of treading water. Reef shoes help on the shell beaches and on the walk from the boat to the sand.
Keep your hands off the coral and your fins off the bottom. The reef here is shallow, and a careless kick does lasting damage; floating a little higher costs you nothing, and the fish usually come closer when the water settles.
from US$19
Rated 4.30 from 664 reviews, with free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance and a live guide in English and Tagalog.[1]
How long a trip takes
Length is the biggest practical difference between listings. The island and beach-hopping boat tour with snorkeling runs 2 - 5.5 hours depending on the option you choose.[1] The Crystal Cove entry tour takes 5 hours, the snorkeling and lunch trip takes 6 hours, and a sunset cruise takes 2 hours if you would rather finish the day on the water.[5][6][16]
A morning start usually means calmer water, cooler air and a free afternoon. An afternoon or sunset departure trades the swimming for the light, and a two-hour evening trip is easy to add to a day that already has plans. Whichever you choose, keep the hours after the boat loose. Groups move at the pace of the slowest swimmer, and the run back from the northern beaches can feel long once everyone is sun-tired.
What it costs and what is not included
Prices spread widely. The island and beach-hopping boat tour with snorkeling starts from US$19, the Crystal Cove entry tour starts from US$23, the snorkeling and lunch trip starts from US$81, and a private island hopping and snorkeling tour starts from US$93.[1][5][14][16] Those are from-prices for the cheapest option on each listing, so your date, your group size and any extras you add will move the final total.
On top of the tour price, budget for the fees that come with the island. At Caticlan Jetty Port, the terminal fee is PHP 150 (USD 2.75), and the environmental fee is PHP 150 (USD 2.75) for Filipinos and PHP 300 (USD 5.50) for foreigners.[3] Crystal Cove, when it is offered, is an optional PHP 300.00 per person entrance fee.[8]
Some boat days pair the island circuit with a kawa hot bath, a traditional soak in a large metal vessel of warm water infused with herbal leaves, essential oil and flowers, heated by firewood beneath and finished with a massage after each session.[17] Read the inclusions line by line before you pay, and ask the operator whether anything on the route is paid separately on the day.
When to go and how to get there
Boracay's rainy season runs from June to November and may include typhoons and heavy rainfall, so build slack into a trip booked in those months.[4] Outside that window the sea stays warm enough for long swims; even in the dry season, the coldest the water gets is 26.7°C.[7]
Getting here takes a flight, a road transfer and a short boat ride. From Kalibo Airport, travellers take a 2-hour bus or van ride to Caticlan Jetty Port, then a 10 to 15-minute ferry ride to Boracay.[18] If you would rather sail than motor, look for a paraw, the traditional Filipino double outrigger sailboat made from wood that still runs trips off White Beach.[19]
Book your island hopping tour for your second morning if you can, so a delayed flight or a slow transfer does not eat the day you paid for. Leave a spare morning as well, so you can move the trip if the weather turns.
From-prices for Boracay island hopping tours
GetYourGuide from-prices, cheapest option on each listing:[1][5][14][16].
What a Boracay boat trip could cost
From-prices, cheapest option on each GetYourGuide listing[1][5][6][14][16].
When to book a Boracay island hopping tour
Choosing your trip
Settle the budget
Shared boats cost less and private charters cost much more, so decide roughly what you want to spend before you compare listings.
Check the route
Read the stop list carefully. Puka Shell Beach, Balinghai, Crocodile Island and Magic Island appear on different routes.
Match the length
Trips run from a couple of hours to a full day. Half a day is plenty for a first visit; a longer trip suits swimmers who want more snorkel time.
Read the reviews
Check how many reviews a listing has, not just the score. A high score from a handful of travellers tells you less than a lower one from hundreds.
Plan the transfers
Add the trip to and from the island to your day. A flight, a road transfer and a ferry sit between the airport and your first swim.
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