The main points
- The island and beach hopping boat tour with snorkeling starts from US$19.[1]
- At Caticlan Jetty Port, the regular terminal fee is PHP 150 (USD 2.75); the environmental fee is PHP 150 for Filipinos and PHP 300 for foreigners.[2]
- Entry is optional at PHP 300.00 per person.[3]
- Private island hopping and snorkeling starts from US$93; private island hopping with lunch and kawa bath starts from US$68.[4][5]
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, with reserve now and pay later.[1]
- Top choice Island & Beach-Hopping from US$19 Duration2 - 5.5 hours[1]Live guideEnglish, Tagalog[1]CancellationFree up to 24 hours[1]Rating4.30 from 664 reviews[1] Check availability
- Sunset Cruise from US$15 Duration2 hours[6]Live guideEnglish, Tagalog[6]CancellationFree up to 24 hours[6]Rating4.73 from 327 reviews[6] See this tour
- Crystal Cove Island Boat from US$23 Duration5 hours[7]Live guideEnglish, Tagalog[7]CancellationFree up to 24 hours[7]Rating4.24 from 171 reviews[7] See this tour
Boasting sugar-white beaches, crystalline coves, and all manner of water adventures, four-square-mile Boracay is the Philippines in microcosm.
A simple day on the water, priced honestly
Fees to budget for
- Terminal fee at Caticlan Jetty Port
- Environmental fee for locals and foreigners
- Crystal Cove optional entrance
- Kawa bath packages with massage
What is actually excluded
The headline from price on a Boracay island hopping itinerary rarely tells the full story. Shared boat tours list the boat ride, the crew and the stops, but port charges and optional entrance fees often sit outside the listing. Knowing which charges are separate before you arrive keeps the day simple, and it stops small surprises from nibbling at your budget while you are standing on a jetty with your bag on your shoulder. Read the listing once for the route, then again for the fine print.
Before the boat leaves, Caticlan Jetty Port charges a regular terminal fee of PHP 150 (USD 2.75). Seniors, PWDs and students pay PHP 120 (USD 2.20), and children aged 5 and below pay nothing.[2] The environmental fee is PHP 150 (USD 2.75) for Filipinos and PHP 300 (USD 5.50) for foreigners.[2] Keep these in mind on top of the tour's from price, and set the cash aside before you travel so the queue at the counter moves quickly.
Once you are on the water, the clearest extra is Crystal Cove. Its entrance fee is optional and costs PHP 300.00 per person.[3] If the island is not on your must-see list, you can simply stay on the boat and skip the charge. The cove is known for its small lagoon and its viewpoints, and it works well as a pleasant pause rather than the whole point of the day.
Boracay private island hopping and the entrance charges
Private island hopping changes the shape of the day. You get a boat and crew to yourselves, and you set the pace, so you can linger at a beach that catches your eye and leave one that does not. A private island hopping and snorkeling tour starts from US$93[4], while a private island hopping tour with lunch and kawa bath starts from US$68[5]. Both suit couples, families and small groups who would rather not share a boat with strangers.
Even on a private boat, site entry fees do not disappear. Crystal Cove's entrance fee is optional at PHP 300.00 per person.[3] Ask your operator whether entry is folded into the price or collected on the island before you set off. It is a small thing to check, and it saves an awkward moment when the boat pulls up to the cove and someone starts counting heads.
A kawa hot bath is a separate add-on. It is a hot bath experience from Antique, Philippines, where you soak in a large metal cauldron of warm water infused with herbal leaves, essential oil and flowers, heated by firewood, and it includes a massage after each session.[10] It suits a slow afternoon rather than a packed water day, and it pairs neatly with a land tour.
Puka Shell Beach is a classic first stop on a Boracay island hopping itinerary.
The snorkelling fee
The tour booked from this site is called Boracay: Island and Beach-Hopping Boat Tour with Snorkeling. It starts from US$19, has a live English and Tagalog guide, and lasts 2 to 5.5 hours depending on the option.[1] The listing's route takes in Puka Shell Beach and Balinghai Beach Resort before a river boat section and a local restaurant.[1]
There is no separate snorkelling fee named in this listing. Still, keep a little cash tucked in your bag just in case. On Boracay, early morning snorkelers at Angol Point can see sweetlips, groupers and colorful corals.[11]
For the clearest water and the calmest conditions, go early. The day is also cooler, and you have more beach time afterwards. Your mask and snorkel should be comfortable; if you have your own, bring it, because a familiar fit makes a big difference when you are floating over a reef for a while. A rash guard and reef-safe sunscreen protect your shoulders and the corals at the same time.
Bringing cash
Cash remains useful on Boracay, especially for port fees and small site entries. At Caticlan Jetty Port, the regular terminal fee is PHP 150 (USD 2.75), and the environmental fee is PHP 150 (USD 2.75) for Filipinos or PHP 300 (USD 5.50) for foreigners.[2]
The optional Crystal Cove entrance fee is PHP 300.00 per person.[3] If you plan to visit, set that aside in pesos. Note the exact figure, because it is not part of the tour's from price, and it is collected by the island rather than the boat crew.
Small notes are easier than large ones, and a dry bag keeps them safe on the boat. You do not need to carry a lot, but you do need enough for the fees you have chosen. Change and smaller bills also help at beach stalls and at the little restaurants where you might stop for lunch, where a large note can be awkward to break.
from US$19
The shared island and beach hopping boat tour starts from US$19[1]; budget separately for port fees and optional entrance charges.
How to decide about each
Match each optional fee to something you actually want to do. If cliff jumping appeals, head for Magic Island, where tourists come for cliff jumping.[12] If you prefer a hot soak and a massage, look for a kawa bath add-on, such as an island hopping tour with lunch and hot kawa bath from US$38[13].
If your priority is swimming, snorkeling and beach time, the simple shared boat tour from US$19 covers that well.[1] Add Crystal Cove only when you want to explore that island, and remember its entrance fee is PHP 300.00 per person.[3]
For a longer day, compare shared tours carefully. A group island boat tour with Crystal Cove entry starts from US$23 and lasts 5 hours[7], and a budget shared boat island tour with lunch starts from US$20 and lasts 5 hours[14]. Longer routes usually mean more stops and more chances to swim, so pick the length that fits your energy and your appetite for time on the water.
What the booking does cover
The booking for this site's featured tour covers the island and beach hopping route with snorkeling at a from price of US$19.[1] The tour can be booked as a small group, with a live guide speaking English and Tagalog.[1] Stops are Puka Shell Beach, Balinghai Beach Resort, a river boat section and a local restaurant.[1]
The listing offers reserve now and pay later, plus free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.[1] You can book early and still adjust later if your plans shift, which is handy when the forecast looks uncertain a few days out.
Travellers rate the tour 4.30 from 664 reviews, with guide 4.6, transportation 4.4 and value for money 4.3.[1] Use the reviews to see which option matches the length you want, and read the route notes so you know how much time sits on the boat and how much is spent on sand.
Hotel pickup
This listing does not mention hotel pickup. The route described begins at Puka Shell Beach, so plan to meet the boat there, and give yourself a little extra time to find the meeting spot on your first morning.
Getting to the meeting point is easy if you know the island's scale. White Beach stretches about 4 km (2.5 miles) end to end, and Boracay itself is four square miles in size.[8][15] A tricycle ride along the main road is short, and walking the beach path is pleasant in the morning before the sand heats up.
If you prefer door-to-door comfort, pick a tour that states pickup included. An island hopping tour with lunch with hotel transfer starts from US$60[16], and a private land tour with pickup and wheelchair access starts from US$94[17].
How travellers rate Boracay boat tours
Compare island hopping from-prices
From-prices in US dollars:[1][4][5][7][14]
When to think about fees and seasons
Plan your day, fee by fee
Know the base price
The boat tour from this site starts from US$19.[1]
Add port fees
At Caticlan Jetty Port, budget a regular terminal fee of PHP 150 (USD 2.75) plus an environmental fee of PHP 150 for Filipinos or PHP 300 for foreigners.[2]
Decide on Crystal Cove
Entry is optional at PHP 300.00 per person; pay only if you want to explore the island.[3]
Pack pesos
Keep small bills for the day; some stops ask for cash on arrival.
Check cancellation
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, so booking early is low-risk.[1]
Meet the boat
The listed route begins at Puka Shell Beach.[1]
Ready to see Puka Shell Beach from the water?
from US$19Reserve now & pay later
