The main points
- The tour lists stops at Puka Shell Beach, Balinghai Beach Resort, a river boat and a local restaurant, so the day mixes reef time with beach stops.[1]
- Early morning snorkelers at Angol Point can see sweetlips, groupers and colorful corals, along with the small reef fish that hang around the shallows.[2]
- You do not need to be a strong swimmer, but you should be happy floating face down with a mask on. Ask what snorkelling gear comes with the boat.
- Crystal Cove entry is an optional PHP 300.00 per person on top of your tour, so decide on the day whether you want to go ashore.[3]
- From Kalibo Airport it is a 2-hour bus or van ride to Caticlan Jetty Port and a 10 to 15-minute ferry from there to Boracay.[4]
- Top choice Island and beach-hopping from US$19 Duration2 - 5.5 hours[1]Rating4.30 from 664 reviews[1]Guide languagesEnglish, Tagalog[1]CancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours[1] Check availability
- Sunset cruise from US$15 Duration2 hours[5]Rating4.73 from 327 reviews[5]Guide languagesEnglish, Tagalog[5]CancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours[5] See this tour
- Crystal Cove boat tour from US$23 Duration5 hours[6]Rating4.24 from 171 reviews[6]Guide languagesEnglish, Tagalog[6]CancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours[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.
Is the Boracay island hopping snorkeling tour worth it?
Things to check
- Check what the boat provides in the way of masks, snorkels and life vests
- Choose a morning slot if you want the calmest water and the best light
- Budget for port fees and the optional Crystal Cove entrance
- Reserve early in busy weeks; morning departures fill first
On the water
- Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses for the ride out
- A small dry bag for phone, keys and cash
- A rash guard or thin top if you feel the cold after a long swim
- Sandals you can slip off at the boat ladder
Where you snorkel on a Boracay boat day
Most snorkelling days follow the same rhythm. A boat picks you up on the White Beach side in the morning, runs along the coast while the skipper reads the swell, and stops a few times so you can step off the ladder into the water. The tour booked from this site lists stops at Puka Shell Beach, Balinghai Beach Resort, a river boat and a local restaurant, which means the day mixes reef time with sand and a proper sit-down meal rather than a quick dip.[1]
Angol Point, on the north-west shoulder of the island, is the name that comes up most often for snorkelling. Early morning snorkelers there can see sweetlips, groupers and colorful corals.[2] The reef sits close to the shore in water shallow enough to see the bottom from the surface, and that is where most boats put their guests in. Boracay itself covers four square miles.[7] White Beach runs about 4 km (2.5 miles) end to end, and most boat traffic works along that western shore.[8]
Stops vary with the weather. When the wind comes from one direction the skipper will take you to the sheltered side, and when it swings the other way you may visit different coral gardens entirely. That is normal, and it is part of why the same tour can feel different on two different days. Ask on the boat which spots you are heading for, and say what you most want to see. A guide who knows you are keen on fish will often pick the livelier patch.
Can you snorkel in Boracay? What you actually see
Yes. The reef is not a wall of colour, and anyone expecting a coral paradise will enjoy it more if they know that. What you get is a shallow garden of hard corals, patches of soft coral and plenty of small fish moving through them. Parrotfish crunch at the coral, damselfish guard their little patches, and clownfish sit tight in their anemones. Visibility is best in the morning, before the wind picks up and the day boats churn the surface.
Different stops give different things. At Angol Point, early morning snorkelers can see sweetlips, groupers and colorful corals.[2] Around Crocodile Island and the coral gardens further south you find more of the same, plus the occasional turtle if you are quiet and lucky. Puka Shell Beach is more about sand and shells than reef, which makes it a good place to dry off between swims. Float without kicking and the fish will come back around you.
A snorkeller drifts over the shallows with the reef below
The sea snakes, and how to behave around them
Banded sea kraits are the snakes you may meet on the reef. They are black and white, they breathe air, and you will often see one surfacing before it dives again to hunt among the coral. Occasional sea snakes are part of the life at Angol Point.[2] They are curious rather than aggressive, and they usually keep their distance if you keep yours. Do not chase one, do not corner it against the reef, and never hold one up for a photo.
If a snake swims past, stay still and let it pass. Most encounters last a few seconds and end with the snake going about its business. Guides on the shared boats know the reef and will point things out, so stay near the group and follow their lead. The same advice covers everything else down there: look, do not touch. Sea cucumbers, starfish and urchins all sit within reach of a careless fin.
Boracay snorkeling: the gear question
Ask before you book whether masks, snorkels and life vests come with the boat, and whether fins are available in your size. A mask that fits your face matters more than any other piece of kit, because a leaky mask will ruin your day faster than choppy water. If you own a mask, bring it. If you wear glasses, consider daily contact lenses or ask about prescription masks. A rash guard saves your back from sunburn, which is the spot most people forget.
Bring a small dry bag for your phone and keys, a refillable water bottle, and cash in small notes for island fees. Sandals you can kick off at the boat are easier than shoes. If you feel the cold, a long-sleeve top or a short wetsuit helps on a long morning in the water. Towels, a hat and reef-safe sunscreen round it out. Keep your bag light, because you will be stepping over gunwales and sitting on a bench with everything on your lap.
from US$19
Rated 4.30 from 664 reviews, the island and beach-hopping boat tour with snorkeling starts from US$19 per person.[1]
The optional fee, and the small costs on the way
Crystal Cove is the stop where you may be asked to pay extra. The optional Crystal Cove entrance fee is PHP 300.00 per person.[3] Some boat tours call there and some do not, so decide on the day: the island has a short walk, a small cave and a viewpoint, and if you would rather stay on the boat you can. Have the cash ready so the stop does not hold up the group.
Getting to Boracay has its own small fees. 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 and PHP 300 (USD 5.50) for foreigners.[9] From Kalibo Airport, travellers take a 2-hour bus or van ride to Caticlan Jetty Port and then a 10 to 15-minute ferry to Boracay.[4] Keep small notes for these, and for tricycle rides and drinks once you are on the island.
Do you need to be a strong swimmer?
Not really. Most snorkelling happens on the surface, in calm shallow water, and a life vest keeps you floating while you look down. You should be able to put your face in the water, breathe through a snorkel and kick gently back to the boat. If you are nervous, say so when you board. Guides on shared boats are used to first-timers and will keep an eye on you. Children snorkel happily with a vest and an adult beside them.
The boat tour booked from this site runs 2 - 5.5 hours depending on the option you choose, so pick the shorter version if it is your first time in the water.[1] Eat something light before you go, drink water through the day, and take seasickness tablets before boarding rather than after. The sun on the water is stronger than it feels, so reapply sunscreen between stops and cover your shoulders while the boat is moving.
Looking after the reef while you snorkel
Boracay's reef has had a hard time and it is still recovering. 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.[10] That history is worth holding in mind while you are in the water. Float flat, keep your fins up and away from coral, and never stand on a reef to adjust your mask. Use the boat ladder instead, and take your rubbish back to shore.
Reef-safe sunscreen, no feeding, no collecting shells, no lifting starfish: the small rules matter here. If your guide asks you to stay in one area, stay there, and if you see a boat anchor on coral, mention it to your guide rather than confronting anyone. The reef is the reason people come, and a few careless fins can undo a good day. Go gently, look closely, and leave the place as you found it.
From prices for Boracay boat tours
From prices per person on GetYourGuide listings:[1][5][6][11][12]
Compare boat tour prices per person
From prices in US dollars for GetYourGuide boat tours:[1][5][6][11]
When to plan your snorkel day
How your snorkel day runs
Book your slot
Reserve now and pay later, with free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.[1]
Bring the right kit
Mask, rash guard, dry bag, water and small notes for island and port fees.
Meet at the beach
Boats leave from the White Beach side. Arrive early, leave your sandals in the basket and keep your bag under the bench.
Snorkel the shallows
Follow the guide, float flat on the surface and keep your fins away from coral and other swimmers.
Beach stop and lunch
The listed stops include a beach and a local restaurant, so there is time out of the water as well.[1]
Ready to book your Boracay snorkel boat?
from US$19Reserve now & pay later
