Things to do in the Island Paradise of Boracay

PUBLISHED June 3rd, 2015 08:42 am | UPDATED January 19th, 2016 02:58 pm

With crystal clear waters and beautiful skies, it’s no wonder that two of Boracay’s beaches are ranked amongst the top 10 beaches in Asia (White Beach and Puka Shell Beach) as voted in TripAdvisor’s 2015 Traveller’s Choice Awards. But what makes this island paradise special is the variety of exciting activities available – so here’s what we recommend for your next jaunt to Boracay.

Water Activities

Boatman on the traditional Paraw

Thrill seekers will fancy traditional water exploits like jet skiing, water skiing, fly-fish rides, and parasailing. They’re all great ways to appreciate the beauty of Boracay in a fast-paced manner so we’d suggest you do all of them if you have the time. But if we had to pick just one, we’d definitely go for something more unique: cliff diving. There’s nothing like jumping off a 15 metre high cliff at an exhilarating speed, only to land in the water with your heart racing.

Cliff diving off Ariel’s Point

Head to Ariel’s Point located in the rustic fishing town of Buruanga, a 30-minute boat ride from the island. For the price of $50SGD, we had a whole day of cliff diving, kayaking, and snorkelling. On top of that, there was a lunch buffet provided and free-flow alcohol for the whole day!

Diving in Boracay

For activities that aren’t as heart pumping, there’s snorkelling, scuba diving, helmet diving, kayaking, or romantic cruises to catch the sunset. We especially loved helmet diving, where we got to walk underwater wearing an oxygenated helmet.

Carabao Island

If you’d like to explore the other islands, we recommend taking a boat to Boracay’s sister island Carabao (known locally as Hambil), where most of the fishermen and tour guides live. A rustic place without all the glamour of its neighbouring island, and a great place to take in the scenery without the fuss of a crowd.

Land Activities

If getting wet isn’t your idea of fun, there’s a smorgasbord of land activities. Get started with an ATV ride along windy roads with scenic views of towering mountains. The guides are super helpful and the terrain is pretty smooth – so no biggie if you haven’t ridden an ATV before. During the course of your journey, you’ll arrive at Mt. Luho, the highest point of Boracay and where spectacular views await.

View from the top of Mt. Luho

Nearby Mt. Luho is Ride the Zorb, a zorbing park where tumbling down a hill isn’t as bad as it sounds. Boracay also has a zip lining facility that is roughly 80 feet above sea level and 300 metres long. It may not be as death defying as other zip lines around the world, but daredevils should still be able to get a kick out of it.

Zorbing in Boracay

The G-Max Boracay doesn’t fare too badly as well. This reverse bungee will launch you 50 metres in the air at a neck-breaking speed of 200km/h. Want to know what you’re getting into? Check out the G-Max Youtube compilation before you buy your tickets!

G-Max Boracay edition

At the end of it all, you could just walk along the beaches, mingle and make conversation with the locals. The Filipinos are some of the most beautiful and friendly people in the world, and they’ll gladly tell you more about their country.

Eat

To score a hearty breakfast that kickstarts your day, head to Lemoni Café at D’Mall. Besides an impressive selection of all-day breakfast choices, their freshly baked pastries are totally worth the calories. Real Coffee & Tea Café is one place to go for a caffeine fix – try their Calamansi Muffin if you’re feeling peckish.

Lemoni Café’s Caesar Salad

For the midday meal, chow down on great Indian food at Crafty’s Roof Top Bar and Restaurant, and wash it all down with their more than decent selection of cocktails, wines, and beers. Getting too hot and humid? Grab a seat at Jonah’s Fruit Shake & Snack Bar. The shakes are extremely refreshing and were practically our life savers.

The all-refreshing shake from Jonah’s

Seafood lovers, you absolutely have to check out D’Talipapa – Boracay’s largest fresh food market. Put your haggling skills to the test as you bargain with vendors and take your pick of the huge variety of fresh seafood. Once you’ve selected your produce, take it to the nearby restaurants that’ll charge cooking fee to prepare your seafood in whichever way you desire.

D’Talipapa

And of course, what would we do without Filipino cuisine? Check out Mang Inasal for delicious grilled chicken, Mesa for succulent pan-fried pork belly, and Smoke Resto for tender chunks of beef shank. If you’re feeling adventurous, try the classic Balut, which is essentially a duck or chicken egg cooked while still in gestation.

Balut

Nightlife

Seven days a week, Boracay is transformed into a massive adult playground where ravers can party all night long. It isn’t quite Ibiza but Boracay’s nightlife is right on par with the party capitals of Asia. From classy clubs to laid-back bars, there’s something for every kind of nocturnal animal.

Epic Nightclub

Fans of house music can get their groove on at Epic, a resto-bar by day and a super club at night. Summer Place and Club Paraw are also popular places for both tourists and locals alike. Both play mainstream EDM hits, so expect a lot of dirty dancing! The ultimate creature comfort comes in the form of Boracay Stars, the island’s latest club, and the only air-conditioned one as well.

Exit Bar

For chilling out at the beach, Bom Bom Bar is a Bob Marley inspired bar with punchy cocktails and great live music. A short walk away, Exit Bar is another dope place to visit. Their awesome Trip-Hop beats and live music make this bar a must-go for all music lovers.

Boracay’s Pub Crawl

Feel young enough to get smashed (and shit faced)? Take part in a 15 shot challenge at Cocomangas Bar, one of Boracay’s oldest watering holes. If you’re still standing at the end of the night, your name, score and country will be engraved on the wall of this madcap bar. Alternatively, embark on an island wide Pub Crawl, where you get to meet new friends at 9 different bars or clubs. Also check Conga’s Bar’s schedule to see if they’ve got any parties lined up. They only throw parties twice a month, but when they do, it’s massive. More importantly, their music varies from one event to another, so you can expect a wide range of genres like dub step, dancehall, deep house, and psychedelic trance.