Boracay Island Hopping Itinerary: Stops, Boats and Snorkeling

• Top choice Island & Beach Hopping from US$19 Duration2 - 5.5 hours^[1]Rating4.30 from 664 reviews^[1]Guide languagesEnglish, Tagalog^[1]CancellationFree up to 24 hours in advance^[1] Check availability
• Sunset Cruise from US$15 Duration2 hours^[6]Rating4.73 from 327 reviews^[6]Guide languagesEnglish, Tagalog^[6]CancellationFree up to 24 hours in advance^[6] See this tour
• Island Boat Tour from US$23 Duration5 hours^[7]Rating4.24 from 171 reviews^[7]Guide languagesEnglish, Tagalog^[7]CancellationFree up to 24 hours in advance^[7] See this tour

What a Boracay island hopping itinerary includes

Island hopping is the classic day out on Boracay. A boat collects you on the White Beach side of the island, runs along the coast, and drops you at a few beaches, coves and snorkeling spots before bringing you back. Boracay is small, four square miles in all, so the boat never gets far from shore and the view changes quickly: coconut palms, limestone edges, quiet inlets and long curves of pale sand.^[8]

White Beach stretches for about 4 km (2.5 miles) end to end, which makes for a long, easy walk after your boat trip. Boats leave from the White Beach side or from Tambisaan Beach on the east coast, depending on the route.^[9] Many crews time the loop so that you swim first, eat later, and drift back towards the sunset side in the afternoon, when the light softens and the day boats head home.

A typical loop takes in two or three beach stops, one snorkeling stop and a lunch break, and crews keep the schedule loose so the boat can move with the weather. If you have one full day on the island, this is the easiest way to see the coast, the coves and the reef without arranging each piece separately. Nothing is very far here: even the quiet northern beaches are only a lazy sail from the busiest stretch of White Beach, so you spend your time in the water rather than in transit.

The stops you will likely visit

Routes vary between operators, but the same names come up again and again. Puka Shell Beach is the quiet northern stretch, Balinghai is a small cove with a resort built into the cliff, and Magic Island is where tourists come for cliff jumping.^[10] Some routes also add a stop at Crystal Cove; on one operator's listing the entrance fee there is optional and costs PHP 300.00 per person, so ask before you commit.^[11]

Snorkeling usually happens at Angol Point, where early morning snorkelers can see sweetlips, groupers and colorful corals.^[2] If your itinerary includes a kawa hot bath, expect a soak in a large metal cauldron of warm water infused with herbal leaves, essential oil and flowers, heated by firewood beneath, with a massage after the session.^[12]

Ask your guide at the start which stops are swimmable and which are photo stops only, because a few of the cliff-backed beaches have steep steps down to the sand and very little shade. A waterproof camera, a dry bag and a little patience help as well: the coves fill up around midday, and experienced crews order the stops to dodge the busiest boats.

Puka Shell Beach, the quiet northern stop on the boat tour route

Shared boat, small group or private charter

The boat tour booked from this site runs 2 - 5.5 hours, starts from US$19 and has a small group option, with a live guide who speaks English and Tagalog and free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.^[1] The route already includes Puka Shell Beach, Balinghai Beach Resort, a river boat and a local restaurant, so you get beach time, a short transfer and a meal in one booking.^[1]

If you would rather have the boat to yourselves, private options exist too. A private boat tour with a local guide runs 4 hours and starts from US$255, while a four-hour private island hopping and snorkeling tour with a guide starts from US$93.^[13][14]

Shared tours are sociable and cheap, small group options keep the numbers down, and private charters let you choose the stops and the pace. Whichever you pick, the meeting point is often on the beach rather than at a pier, so you will wade out to the boat with your bag held high. Wear sandals you can kick off, leave them in the boat, and be ready to step over the outrigger poles to get aboard, with your towel and water bottle already inside a dry bag.

Snorkeling, swimming and the water

The water is warm enough for long swim stops. Boracay's sea water temperature can get as cold as 26.7°C during the dry season, which is still comfortable for most people in a swimsuit or a thin rash guard.^[4] Visibility is at its best in the morning before the day boats stir up the shallows, and the reef edges around Angol Point are gentle enough for beginners.^[2]

Bring your own mask if you have one, and ask the crew to fit your life jacket properly before you get in. If you would rather stay dry, a paraw, the traditional Filipino double outrigger sailboat made from wood, offers a slower view of the same coastline.^[15]

Keep your hands off the coral and your fins away from the sand, and stay near the boat if the current feels strong. A thin rash guard protects against sun and against the odd brush with a rock, and it dries in minutes once you are back on deck. If you are not a confident swimmer, say so before you board and stay at the stops where the boat is anchored and the crew can watch you.

When to go: season, sea temperature and wind

The rainy season runs from June to November and may include typhoons and heavy rainfall, so those months need flexibility.^[3] Outside that window the days are usually dry and bright, though the afternoon breeze picks up and can make the crossing between stops choppier. A wet morning is rarely a reason to cancel unless the coastguard has grounded the boats.

Morning departures tend to be calmer and cooler, and they leave you the rest of the day for White Beach. Whatever month you choose, book a slot with free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance so a bad forecast does not cost you the fare.^[1]

Sea temperature and air temperature are different things, and a cloudy morning does not mean cold water. A light long-sleeve top is useful for the ride back, when you are wet and the wind is stronger. Add a small dry bag for your camera and phone, and remember that the ride out is usually smoother than the ride home once the breeze fills in.

Getting to Boracay and paying the port fees

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.^[16] Pre-booked speedboat transfers are also available for the crossing, and one airport transfer listing runs 1 hour from US$25.^[17]

At Caticlan Jetty Port the regular terminal fee is PHP 150, and the environmental fee is PHP 150 for Filipinos and PHP 300 for foreigners; seniors, PWDs and students pay PHP 120 for the terminal fee, and children aged 5 and below are exempt.^[5] Keep small notes and coins handy for these counters, and expect to queue when several flights land at once.

Keep the paper receipts too, because staff sometimes ask to see the environmental fee slip again at the jetty. Porters are usually on hand to carry bags down to the boats for a small tip, which makes a difference if you are travelling with a suitcase rather than a backpack. If you land late in the evening, check the last ferry times before you book your flight.

Good to know before you board

On April 26, 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered Boracay closed to tourists for six months to rehabilitate the island after sewerage facilities were polluting the water.^[18] It is a reminder that this is a small island with a lot of visitors, so follow the local rules on waste and sunscreen and take everything back to shore with you.

Pack light and practical: swimwear under your clothes, a dry bag, sandals that grip wet decks, a hat, and more water than you think you need. Charge your phone in the morning, save the voucher so it opens offline, and confirm your meeting point the day before, since some routes start on the White Beach side and others at Tambisaan.

Agree that meeting point in writing. Beach fronts look alike at first light, and boats move along the sand as the tide shifts, so a photo of the spot and a pin on your map save a lot of wandering. Give yourself time to reach the sand before the agreed hour, especially when the road behind White Beach is busy.

Plan the island hopping day

1. Fix your dates

   Choose a calm-weather day, keep one backup morning free in the rainy season, and avoid clashing with your travel days.^[3]

2. Book the boat

   The island and beach-hopping boat tour runs 2 - 5.5 hours from US$19 and can be cancelled free up to 24 hours in advance.^[1]

3. Sort the port fees

   At Caticlan Jetty Port the terminal fee is PHP 150 and the environmental fee is PHP 150 for Filipinos and PHP 300 for foreigners.^[5]

4. Pack the right kit

   Bring a dry bag, reef-safe sun cream, a rash guard and your own mask, and wear sandals you can slip off on the boat.

5. Plan the snorkel stop

   Angol Point rewards an early slot: early morning snorkelers there can see sweetlips, groupers and colorful corals.^[2]

Things travellers ask