The main points
- The island and beach-hopping boat tour with snorkeling stops at Puka Shell Beach and Balinghai Beach Resort.[1]
- The tour is priced from US$19 and lasts 2 - 5.5 hours, depending on the day.[1]
- White Beach stretches for about 4 km (2.5 miles), while Puka and Balinghai offer a quieter, more open side of Boracay.[2]
- Early morning snorkelers at Angol Point can see sweetlips, groupers and colorful corals.[3]
- Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund on the beach-hopping tour.[1]
- Top choice Beach-Hopping Boat Tour from US$19 Duration2 - 5.5 hours[1]HighlightsPuka, Balinghai, snorkeling[1]GuideEnglish, Tagalog[1]CancellationFree up to 24 hours[1] Check availability
- Sunset Cruise from US$15 Duration2 hours[4]HighlightsSunset cruise with water activities[4]GuideEnglish, Tagalog[4]CancellationFree up to 24 hours[4] See this tour
- Crystal Cove Island Tour from US$23 Duration5 hours[5]HighlightsCrystal Cove entry, island tour[5]GuideEnglish, Tagalog[5]CancellationFree up to 24 hours[5] See this tour
Stretching for about 4 km (2.5 miles), it forms a continuous seafront that shapes how Boracay is laid out from north to south.
Choose Puka for space and Balinghai for shelter
Getting to the beaches
- From Kalibo Airport, a 2-hour bus or van ride to Caticlan Jetty Port, then a 10 to 15-minute ferry.[6]
- Caticlan Jetty Port: terminal fee PHP 150; environmental fee PHP 150 Filipinos, PHP 300 foreigners.[7]
- The beach-hopping boat tour stops at Puka Shell Beach and Balinghai Beach Resort.[1]
- The tour lasts 2 - 5.5 hours; check availability for starting times.[1]
What Puka Beach is
Puka Shell Beach is the kind of place people mean when they talk about Boracay's quieter side. It is a wide, open beach on the northern end of the island, with pale sand, coconut palms and a steady breeze off the water. The island and beach-hopping boat tour with snorkeling stops here, and it is the easiest way to see it without arranging your own boat.[1]
Boracay itself is four square miles in size.[10] The boat tour runs 2 - 5.5 hours and costs from US$19, which makes it a practical choice for first-time visitors.[1] A live guide travels with the group in English and Tagalog, and small group spaces are available.[1] The stops are listed as Puka Shell Beach, Balinghai Beach Resort, a river boat section and a local restaurant, so you know what to expect before you go.[1]
If you are coming from Kalibo Airport, allow time for the journey. Travelers take a 2-hour bus or van ride to Caticlan Jetty Port, then a 10 to 15-minute ferry ride to Boracay.[6] Once you are on the island, the boat tour is the easiest way to reach Puka, and the free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance gives you flexibility if plans change.[1]
White sand beach Boracay: how it differs from the strip
White Beach is the main strip, and it is easy to see why. White Beach on Boracay stretches for about 4 km (2.5 miles) end to end, forming a continuous seafront that shapes how the island is laid out from north to south.[2] Puka Shell Beach is a different kind of beach: more exposed, less built-up, and reached by boat rather than by a short walk from the main road.
The water temperature is another difference to plan around. Boracay's sea water can get as cold as 26.7°C during the dry season, which is still warm but not always bath-like.[8] The rainy season runs from June to November and may include typhoons and heavy rainfall, so check forecasts before you book a beach day.[9] Boracay is four square miles in size.[10] The beaches are close enough to explore in a day.
Boracay's beaches were given a fresh start after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the island closed to tourists for six months on April 26, 2018, to rehabilitate it after sewerage facilities were polluting the water.[11] Today, the contrast between the busy strip and the quieter beaches is one of the island's great pleasures. The main strip has the restaurants, bars and water sports, while Puka and Balinghai feel more like escape hatches.
Puka Shell Beach's long curve of pale sand and coconut palms.
Why is it called Puka Beach
The name comes from the puka shell, the small spiral shell that washes up on the sand. Over time, the beach became known as Puka Shell Beach, and that is the name you will see on the boat tour route.[1] The full name matters when you book, so look for Puka Shell Beach when you check the route.
The shells are part of the beach's charm. They crunch underfoot near the high-tide line, and they are the reason the sand here has a slightly different texture from the finer sand on White Beach. If you are travelling with children, the shells make a natural treasure hunt.
The beach is open and easy to walk, and the boat tour's free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance gives you flexibility if plans change.[1] Keep an eye out for the shells while you are there, and remember that the tour lists the stop as Puka Shell Beach.
What Balinghai is
Balinghai Beach Resort is the second beach stop on the island and beach-hopping boat tour, listed after Puka Shell Beach.[1] It is a small, sheltered cove with clear water and a relaxed, low-key feel. The cove is small, and that gives it a more intimate feel than the open sands of Puka.
The tour continues from Balinghai to a river boat section and a local restaurant stop.[1] The day has a natural rhythm. The setting is tidy and easy to enjoy. It is a good place to sit in the shade and watch the water, and you do not need to stay at the resort to visit on this tour.
A paraw, a traditional Filipino double outrigger sailboat made from wood, is the classic way to see this coast.[12] You may spot one from the beach while you are there, especially in the late afternoon. If you want a hot soak after your swim, a kawa hot bath is a traditional experience from Antique, Philippines, with warm water infused with herbal leaves, essential oil and flowers, heated by firewood, and it includes a massage.[13]
from US$19
The island and beach-hopping boat tour with snorkeling is the practical way to reach Puka Shell Beach and Balinghai Beach Resort.
Which suits sunbathing
If you want space to spread out, Puka Shell Beach is the obvious choice. It is a wide, open beach with plenty of room, and the boat tour gives you time to settle in before moving on.[1] The long curve of pale sand is the main draw, and it is easy to find a quiet spot away from the boat. The sand is pale and the water is clear, so it is a lovely place to stretch out with a book.
If you prefer a sheltered spot with less exposure to the wind, Balinghai Beach Resort is the better fit. The tour stops at both, so you can compare them in a single morning or afternoon.[1] Sunbathing plans should also account for the season. The rainy season runs from June to November and may include typhoons and heavy rainfall.[9] Balinghai's sheltered position means less breeze, which can make the sun feel stronger.
For a different kind of thrill, tourists come to Magic Island for cliff jumping.[14] It is not part of this beach-hopping tour, but it is worth knowing about if you are planning a longer island-hopping day. Stick with Puka and Balinghai for a relaxed sunbathing day.
Swimming at each
The tour is a beach-hopping boat tour with snorkeling, so you will have chances to swim at the stops.[1] The water is generally calm, though the open side of Puka can have more movement than the sheltered cove at Balinghai. Both beaches have gentle entry points, and the tour's guide can point out the best spots.
For the best underwater life, get out early. At Angol Point in Boracay, early morning snorkelers can see sweetlips, groupers and colorful corals.[3] Ask your guide where the snorkel stop will be on your day, and bring a waterproof pouch for your phone. The water temperature can get as cold as 26.7°C during the dry season, so a light rash vest makes the first few minutes easier.[8]
The listed stops are Puka Shell Beach, Balinghai Beach Resort, a river boat section and a local restaurant.[1] That gives you a mix of beach time, boat time and a proper break on land. The tour's duration is 2 - 5.5 hours, so you can choose a shorter or longer day depending on the schedule.[1]
What to take ashore
Pack light but bring the essentials. Reef-safe sunscreen, water, a rash vest and a dry bag will cover most beach days. Boracay's sea water can get as cold as 26.7°C during the dry season, so a rash vest helps if you feel the cold.[8]
Keep an eye on the season. The rainy season runs from June to November and may include typhoons and heavy rainfall, so have a flexible plan.[9] The boat tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, which gives you room to adjust if the weather looks uncertain.[1]
At the jetty, budget for fees. 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.[7] If you are arriving from Kalibo Airport, remember the transfer before you even reach the beach: a 2-hour bus or van ride to Caticlan Jetty Port, then a 10 to 15-minute ferry ride to Boracay.[6]
Tour from-prices
From-prices per person in US dollars from GetYourGuide listings.[1][4][5]
Tour from-prices
From-prices per person in US dollars from GetYourGuide listings.[1][4][5]
When to go and when to book
Plan your beach day
Book the boat tour
The island and beach-hopping boat tour with snorkeling costs from US$19 and runs 2 - 5.5 hours.[1]
Sort the jetty fees
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.[7]
Pack a dry bag
Take reef-safe sunscreen, water, a rash vest and a waterproof pouch. Sea water can get as cold as 26.7°C during the dry season.[8]
Pick your beach
The tour stops at Puka Shell Beach and Balinghai Beach Resort, so you can compare the two.[1]
Snorkel and swim
Early morning snorkelers at Angol Point can see sweetlips, groupers and colorful corals.[3]
Know the weather
Rainy season runs June to November and may include typhoons and heavy rainfall.[9]
See Puka and Balinghai in one easy boat trip.
from US$19Reserve now & pay later
