Boracay has a very large selection of accommodations of all standards and all price classes. The majority of accommodations, however, is still simple. The reason is the way Boracay was developed. It started as a destination for knapsack travelers; luxurious tourism came much later. Therefore some of the most expensive resorts of Boracay are found in rather odd places while the best section of the beach has many simple cottages.

For example, a Singapore company constructed a luxury resort, ‘Club Panoly’, near the village Puntabonga at the Northern tip of Boracay. As mentioned above there is no public land transportation on the island. Now, those who want to visit some of the nice restaurants around Balabag have to hike over the hills for two hours - a discouraging prospect for those who want some alternatives. Those who don’t want to hike have no choice; for food and sports they have to pay the luxury hotel rates which are, of course, much higher than what they would pay at independent establishments.

Besides that, as commonly known on Boracay (but probably not to the foreign builders), there is a shortage of water on the Northern tip of the island. According to rumors, they only found this out at Club Panoly after the resort was constructed.

Accommodation business on Boracáy is highly seasonal. Many places have a lot of guests in December, January and February, but only a few in the months from May to September. Therefore, prices are generally lower in these months.

The best tourist infrastructure is around Mangayad - with good restaurants and many sports facilities. Luxury resorts around Mangayad are the Palm Beach Club and Red Coconut. Palm Beach Club actually occupies the most famous beach stretch of Boracay, with a number of strongly bent coconut palms. The sight is often shown on postcards of Boracay.

Palm Beach Club (22) ; luxurious cottages with all amenities; each cottage with big terrace; privacy is guaranteed with only few cottages in wide grounds; beautiful palm garden with aviary; picnic/barbecue area; reliable boat service; radio communication to Manila; food service by Bamboo Restaurant and English Bakery (good breads and pastries); 24 hr electricity and security guards; American Express, Visa, Diners, Mastercard accepted

Mla Off: Sunshine Inns, PHILCITE Bldg CCP Compl, Roxas Blvd, Metro Manila P.O. Box 598, Manila, Phls Tel 832-03-04 to 08 Tlx 40469 PHILCITE PM: Fax 8323414

Fridays (2) -  Named after Robinson Crusoe’s famous companion; very pleasant, luxurious resort; well maintained, also their stretch of the beach which is regularly cleaned; peaceful atmosphere; good restaurant.

Manila Office: 1089-B Consuelo St, Malate, Tel 521-54-40, Telex 29839 GALLEON PH,Fax (632) 818-97-20 (Attn: Acct 22042-6)

Coata Hills Resort (3)-  new beautiful stone build bungalows on the hillside, overlooking the beach; marble tb; nicely furnished private terraces; gym with games; bar and rest

Mla Off: Costa Hills Resort Rm 801, 1010 Bldg, Mabini St, Ermita Tel 50-71-83, 50-71-85 Fax 5215557, Tlx 63413 AMBADR PN

Red Coconut (18) with good restaurant (speciality: Paella); cottages with good sanitary installations; very nice garden; flights to Manila on own aircraft

Mla Off: Broadway Travel, Chateau Marie Roxas Blvd cor Padre Faura St Tel 59-19-24, 521-29-03

Boracay Beach & Yacht Club (BBYC) (28) 

Mla Off: Sun Cruises lnc, Magsaysay Bldg 520 T.M. Kalaw St, Ermita Tel 50-66-11/18, 58-88-09, 521-07-91/92

Club Panoly Resort (30)Puntabonga; 55 ac bungalows;Mla Off: 7th flr Citybank Center 8741 Paseo de Roxas, Makati Tel 815-74-75 to 78 Tlx 66064 PANOLY PN

Costa Blanca Resort (4) - 

Lorenzo Beach Resort (23) 

Lorenzo South Beach Resort (27) 

Cottage Queen (5) - 

Vista del Mar (19) - , 3 bedrooms, 2 dinningrooms, kitchen, 2 tb, big sun terrace

Pearl of the Pacific Beach Resort (6) breakfast inclMis Off: R&G Tirol Bldg, 831 EDSA Quezon City, Tel 98-39-07, 98-74-60

Cocomangas Beach Resort (10)duplex all cottages with mosquito screens

Paradise Garden Resort (23) - deluxe accommodation with swimming pool,far from the beach

Willy’s Place Extension (10) - 

Sea Paradise Inn (13) 

Jackson’s Place (17) 

Mango Ray (18) - ; shady barbecue garden rest;bikes, underwater camera, surf boards for rent

VIP Lingau (7) -  modest; on the beach

Jony’s Place (13) - ; very nice garden; shadythanks to many large palm trees; excellentfruit shakes, Mexican food

Bamboo Rest. Bar & Cottages (22)  near the sea; all cottages with ceiling fan; Swiss management; good restaurant with Swiss food; boat tours

Dalisay Cottages (22) - 

Casa Pilar Cottages (23) - 

Tonglen Homes (23) - 

Middle Class & Simple Resorts

Willy’s Place (8) - 

The Cliff-Hanger Inn (12) - 

Bindolo’s Place (13) - 

Yap’s Resthouse and Mila’s Rest. (14)

Nena’s Paradise Inn (14) - 

Bans Beach House (14) - 

Jomar’s Place (14) - 

Sunshine Cottages (14) - 

Serina’s Place (14) - 

Galaxy Cottages (16) - 

Noel’s Place (16) -

Gunding Torres Cottages (18) - 

Nora’s Cottages (18) - 

Summer Cafe & Cottages (18) - 

Sunrise Cottages (18) - 

G P’s Store and Cottages (18) 

Diamond Head (18) - 

Dalisay Village (18) - 

jopines Place (19) - 

Green Paradise Inn (19) - 

Summer Place (19) - 

Sunset Rest. & Cottages (20) 

Greenyard (20) - 

Country Inn (20) - 

Green Valley Homes (21) - 

Tito’s Place (21) - 

Fernando’s Place (23) - 

St Vincent Cottages (23) - 

Shangrila Oasis (23) - 

Magic Palm Cottages (23) - 

Lea Homes (23) - 

Holiday Homes (23) - 

Trafalgar Lodge (23) - 

La Isla Bonita Cottages (23) - 

Charlie’s Place (24) - 

Sea Side (24) - 

A-Rock Resthouse (24) - 

Happy Homes (24) - 

Roy’s Rendezvous (25) - 

South Sea Beach House (25) 

Moreno Place (25) - 

Pacing’s Nipa Hut (25) - 

Casimero’s Place (26) - 

Floremar Place (26) - 

Judy’s Cottages (26) -

Aside from numerous small snack bars and fast-food establishments there is a whole line of excellent restaurants with international dishes and ambience.

Chez Deparis (19) - Balabag; French and Asian cuisine; pizza, pastries and wines;high class rest

Bamboo Rest. (22) - Mangayad; Swiss rest,speciality Roesti (Swiss fried potatoes withbacon and egg; in Switzerland common asbreakfast

Red Coconut Rest. & Bar (18) - Balabag;European and Chinese cuisine, spec. Paella; beautiful garden

Jony’s Place (13) Balabag; Mexican food; famous for its fruit shakes

Fischfang Rest. (26) - Angol German & Swiss food Sundown Rest. (26) - Angol ;Swiss & German rest and cocktail bar

Floremar Rest. Da Mario (26) - Angol Italian specialty restaurant

Pizza da Baffo (24) - Angol Ristorante Italiano

Mezzanine Rest. & Billiard (18) - Balabag

Aqua Blue Rest. (18) - Balabag

Seralen Rest. (23) - Mangayad

New Seralen Rest (24) - Angol

Star Fire Rest (24) - Angol

Jolly Sailor Rest (26) - Angol

Villacel Rest. & Cocktail Bar (24) - Angol billiard tables

Moonlight Rest. (26) - Angol

Hapit-Anay (26) - Angol; native fast-food

Coffee Shops, Snack Bars & Bakeries

English Bakery & Tea Room (15) - Balabag nicely situated in an almost English landscape; once a week English food prepared by a genuine Englishman; excellent European bread and pastries

Cafe Espresso (18) - Balabag espresso, cappuccino; friendly service; people help with information; chess club; large selection of books in many languages

Coffee and Tea (11) - Balabagbrewed coffee; English and European books

Plaza Cafe (10) - BalabagCharito’s Brewed Coffee (11) - Balabagespresso, cappuccino

Coco-Loco Hut (26) - Angol pizza

jony’s Place (13) Balabag; excellent fruit shakes

Reycon’s Shop & Snack Bar (23) - Mangayad

Boracay Store & Refreshment (24) - Angol

The small Cinema (26) in Angol shows Tagalog and English movies daily at 18:30. It is equipped with a color television set and a video recorder.

The Sulu Bar (24), also in Angol, is a cozy meeting place after dinner for a chat or game of pool Snacks and international cocktails are served. Other places are:

The Floating Bar, offshore Angol, is a unique place; often classical music; sometimes Champagne and fresh strawberries; shuttle service by boat

Beachcomber (11) - Balabag bar, rest and disco

Bazura (18) - Balabag ;bar, rest and disco

Sanctuary (19) - Balabag bar, rest, disco, live music

Sandbar Disco (26) - Angol bar, rest, disco

Benny’s Bar (24) - Angol billiard tables

Traveler’s (25) Angol drinks on the beach 

For water-skiing Richie  t. An instructor is available upon request.

Sailboats (outriggers) are for rent . Sailing courses with instructor are available for 400 pesos (3 lessons of 1 1/2 hour each) Info at Green Yard Resort.

Island round trips by motorized bangkas (maximum 8 persons) are available for about 350 pesos. The trip is offered by many resorts and private bangka owners.

A sunset cruise on a big outrigger is offered daily between 16:00 and 18:00 at the Palm Beach Club (22), weather allowing. 

Boracay Horse Riding Stable (15) -

Richie’s Mistral Windsurfing School (16) 

Donaire Dive Center (20) 

F 2 Windsurf Center (19) - Balabag beginner board

Lapu-Lapu Diving (19) - Balabag in front of ‘Chez Deparis"; 

Tennis Courts - Tirol-Tirol Beach Resort , rackets and balls included

The Department of Tourism (20) has its field office near 'Tirol-Tirol Beach Club'.

Police outposts (22) are on 'White Beach' behind 'Palm Beach Club' and in Manoc-Manoc.

There is a small post office (9) in Balabag; many resorts, however, offer a direct mail service via Kalibo.

Basic medical service is offered by a small medical clinic (24). It is equipped for minor illnesses. The nearest hospital is in Caticlan (Aklan Baptist Hospital). In a more serious case one should go to one of Kalibo's hospitals (see Kalibo chapter).

Blind masseurs offer Shiatsu Therapeutic Acupressure Massage (20) in Mangayad. The masseurs are also available for home service.. The massage is surprisingly efficient not only in relaxing the body but also the mind.

Radio contact with Manila, international telex and telefax are available at 'Lorenzo's Beach Resort' (23). Long distance and international calls can be made at 'Palm Beach Resort' (22).

There are no official money changers on Boracay. It is advisable to change enough money in Manila before going to Boracay.

From Manila by plane

Philippine Airlines (PAL) has 3 flights daily from Manila to Kalibo. But during high season PAL flights to Kalibo are often fully booked for several weeks. Alternative flight destinations can be to Tablas island (Romblon province), Roxas City (north Panay) or Iloilo City (southwest Panay).

The most convenient route is a flight to Caticlan, the jumping-off point to Boracay on the northwest tip of Panay, by private airlines such as Aerolift (Aer) and Pacific Air (Pac). They offer daily flights on smaller aircraft.

PAL has offices at the airports of Kalibo and Tugdan on Tablas island and in Looc on Tablas. In Manila, Aerolift tickets are sold in the Manila tourist belt by Southeast Travel (corner Del Pilar St/Pedro Gil St) and by Broadway Travel (Chateau Marie, corner Roxas Blvd/Padre Faura St). The main office of Aerolift in Metro Manila is in Makati, Chemphil Bldg, 851 Pasay Rd, Tel 817-23-61, 817-23-69, 817-4223. The Makati office is open 9:00-18:00. Pacific Air’s Metro Manila office is on the Domestic Airport Rd, Pasay City, Tel 832-27-31, 832-27-32, 833-23-90.

On Boracay, Aerolift has an office at Lorenzo Resort (23), Pacific Air at the Dublin Resthouse (26).

Broadway Travel offers package tours for 3 days including round trip air fare (Manila-Caticlan-Marlila), transfers and accommodation with breakfast for 2780 pesos.

DESTINATION LINE VESSEL DEP ARR TIME

Malay William MV Masbate Fr,12:00 Sa,5:00 17hrs

Dumaguit Aboitiz El Cano Th,12:00 Fr,11:00 23hrs

Dumaguit * Aboitiz MV Legazpi Su,12:00 Mo,8:00 20hrs

New Washington Gothong Guadalupe We.12:00 Th,10:00 22hrs

* effective 3rd week of March until 3^rd week of June,1989

From Manila by boat

A cheaper alternative from Manila to Boracay is a boat trip to the towns of either Malay or Dumaguit/New Washington on the north coast of Panay and then by public bus or jeepney to Caticlan. The boat ride can actually help save on expenses for a simple accommodation since the boats sail overnight. These trips are offered by William Lines, Aboitiz Shipping Corp. and Gothong Lines. All ships depart from North Harbor, Manila.

One way tickets cost 135 pesos for economy class (mostly open deck, simple cots without mattresses). Tourist or 2nd class costs 225 pesos (dormitory, air-conditioned, cots with, mattresses), and cabins are available from 280 to 325 pesos per passenger.

Malay is the most convenient destination, because bangkas (outriggers with engines) are already awaiting the arrival of the MV Masbate of William Lines for the transfer to Boracay. Since there is no adequate pier in Sanviray, the harbor of Malay, the MV Masbate stops off-shore and passengers are picked up by bangkas directly from the vessel. Caution, the boat ride to Malay (mainland) costs just 5 pesos, but passengers to Boracay may depend on being offered a special trip which will generally be overcharged. 300 pesos for the whole bangka is common.

A trip on the MV El Cano of Aboitiz Shipping Corp. to Dumaguit includes a stopover at Romblon.

From Caticlan

There is frequent bangka ferry service between Caticlan and White Beach on Boracay. Only bangkas with a white flag are scheduled and stop at White Beach at places which are marked with a white flag. The fare is 8 pesos. There are no piers at the landing points, so one must be prepared to get wet and pack valuables in plastic.

From Kalibo

At the airport in Kalibo one may take a tricycle to town (P 10) and proceed to Caticlan by bus or jeepney (P 25). Terminals are on Roxas Ave (see Kalibo chapter). During the high season bus and jeepney operators offer direct trips from the airport to Caticlan. Duration: 2 hours.

From Dumaguit or New Washington

From Dumaguit or New Washington one has to take a jeepney to Kalibo first and then a bus or jeepney to Caticlan. The whole trip is about 3 hours.

From Roxas City

There is a bus connection to Kalibo from Roxas City almost hourly. The bus terminal is at the market. An alternative is a jeepney trip to Sigma; there one may board a Kalibo-bound bus that frequently come from Iloilo.

From IIoilo City

Ceres Liner buses run almost hourly from Iloilo to Kalibo between 3:00 and 15:00. The terminal in Iloilo is on Rizal St (downtown) and the trip takes about 4hrs. There are ‘ordinary’ as well as ‘express’ buses.

From Tablas

From the airport on Tablas island jeepneys ply routes to Looc and Sta. Fe where bangkas wait for passengers bound for Boracay. The boat trip is about 70 pesos and takes 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

There are also a frequent jeepney connections from Qdiongan to Looc and Sta.Fe.

From Mindoro

An alternate route by land/water transportation from Manila can be via Mindoro, either Puerto Galera or Calapan. To Roxas, the jumping-off point on the east coast of Mindoro, one can take a bus from Calapan. A big outrigger ferry leaves Roxas daily for Odiongan or Looc on Tablas. At Melco Beach Resort in Roxas some private bangka owners offer special trips direct to Boracay for 1000-1500 pesos per boat. Since the Tablas Strait (between Mindoro and Tablas) is buttered by high waves and dangerous currents the trip is considered risky. In February 1987 a bangka with nine tourists and five boatmen allegedly sank on this route.

From Cebu by plane

DEST CAR DAY DEP ARR FARE

Kalibo PAL Mo 13:25 14:20 337

Kalibo PAL Tu,Th,Sa 15:30 16:25 337

Iloilo PAL daily 5:00 5:55 257

Iloilo PAL Mo,We 6:20 7:15 257

Iloilo PAL daily 7:30 8:05 290

lloilo PAL Mo,We,Fr 12:30 13:05 290

Caticlan Pac request 9:00 10:20 1100

PAL departs at Mactan Island Airport, and Pacific Air takes off at Lahug Airport in Cebu City.

Ceres Liner buses leave Cebu City (Rizal Ave) for Bacolod (Negros) early in the morning. From Bacolod a ferry leaves for Iloilo twice a day.

From Palawan

PAL flies from Puerto Princess to Iloilo every Mo and We at 9:30 and arrives at 11:00. The fare is 523 pesos.

The MV Masbate of William Lines departs from Puerto Princess every Sunday at 21:00 and arrives at Malay on Monday at about noon.

TRANSPORTATION FROM BORACAY

To Manila by plane

FROM CAR DAY DEP ARR FARE

Kalibo PAL daily 9:50 11:00 428

Kalibo PAL daily 13:40 14:50 428

Kalibo PAL daily 16:55 18:05 428

Tablas PAL daily 10:55 11:55 344

Tablas PAL Tu,Sa 14:20 15:20 344

Iloilo PAL daily 8:05 9:10 620

IloiIo PAL daily 14:45 15:50 620

Iloilo PAL daily 16:15 17:20 620

Iloilo PAL daily 18:30 19:35 620

lloilo PAL daily 20:10 21:15 620

Roxas PAL daily 11:25 12:20 533

Caticlan Pac daily 9:00 10:50 1000

Caticlan Pac daily 13:00 14:30 1000

Caticlan Pac daily 16:00 17:30 1000

Caticlan Aer Fr,Sa 8:40 10:00 1100

Caticlan Aer Mo,We,Er 12:10 13:30 1100

Caticlan Aer Mo,We,Fr 16:40 18:00 1100

Caticlan Aer ‘Fu,Th,Sa 16:55 18:15 1100

To Manila by boat

The ‘MV Masbate’ of William Lines anchors off-shore Malay. Passengers will have to use a 5-peso ferry service from the harbor to the vessel by bangka. The jumping-off point near Malay can be reached from Caticlan by tricycle in ten minutes. Tickets are also sold there.

Bangka owners offer special trips direct from Boracay to the vessel. But these services are mostly overcharged.

To Caticlan

There is a frequent bangka ferry service between Caticlan and White Beach on Boracay. Only bangkas with a white flag are scheduled and stop at White Beach at places which are marked with a white flag. The fare is 8 pesos. There are no piers at the landing points, so one must be prepared to get wet and pack valuables in plastic.

To Kalibo

Arriving in Caticlan by bangka a jeepney or bus to Kalibo will usually wait for passengers near the shore line. They only depart when full and the trip takes about two hours. There is a special bus trip direct to Kalibo airport, that departs from Caticlan at about 7:00, to catch PAL’s morning flight.

The fare is about 45 pesos.

FROM LINE VESSEL DEP ARR TIME

Malay William MV Masbate Mo,14:00 Tu,7:00 17hrs

Dumaguit Aboitiz El Cano Sa,13:00 Tu,12:00 23hrs

Dumaguit * Aboitiz MV Legazpi Mo,12:00 Tu,8:00 20hrs

New Washington Gothong Guadalupe Su,12:00 Mo,10:00 22hrs

* effective 3^rd week of March until 3^rd week of june,1989

To Dumaguit or New Washington

Jeepneys wait in Kalibo around the market on Gonzales and Torong Sts.

To Roxas

Buses wait near Ceres Liner Terminal in Kalibo. Departure is almost hourly. One may also take the bus bound for Iloilo until Sigma and from there a jeepney to Roxas.

To Iloilo

Ceres Liner buses leave Kalibo from the terminal at corner Mabini and Ma-agma Streets between 3:00 and 14:30 almost hourly. The trip takes 4 hours.

To Tablas & Mindoro

There is irregular ferry service to Odiongan/Tablas by a large outrigger which stops at White Beach to pick up passengers.

Bangka owners on Boracay offer individual boat rides to Sta.Fe or Looc on Tablas. These trips take about 2 hours and the fare has to be negotiated. From Sta.Fe or Looc jeepneys go to the airport, to Looc and to Odiongan, where a big outrigger departs for Roxas, Mindoro, in the afternoon. The boat trip takes 3 1/2 hours.

To Palawan

PAL flies from Iloilo to Puerto Princess every Mo and We at 7:35 and arrives at 9:05. The fare is 523 pesos.

The MV Masbate of William Lines leaves Malay for Puerto Princess every Saturday late afternoon. The trip takes 15 hours and costs 132 pesos for 3rd class, 160 pesos for 2nd class and 200-250 pesos per person for cabins. Arrival time is Sunday morning.

SHIPPING SCHEDULE (except Boracay)

DESTINATION Isl/Port FROM Company DEPARTURE time-day/ . Travel time/via/vessel

Cebu Cebu City Iloilo Trans-Asia 1 trip daily

Cebu City N.Washing Gothong 18:00-Thu /20hrs

Cebu City Roxas Gothong 18:00-Sun /22hrs

Luzon Manila Estancia Sulpicio 22:00-Thu /17hrs

Manila Iloilo Negr.Nav 10-Mon,Thu/24hrs/MV sta . . . . Florentina

Manila Iloilo Negr.Nav 12:30_fri,Tue/24hrs /Don

Claudio,Sta Maria

Manila Iloilo Sulpicio 14:00_Sun/22hrs/Don Eusebio

Mindanao Cagayan Dumaguit William 08:00_wed/ 19hrs/ MV Cebu City

Cagayan Iloilo Negr.Nav 17:00-Sat /15hrs/MV Sta.Florentina

Zamboanga Iloilo Sulpicio 22:00-Sun,17:00-Wed /14 hrs

Mindoro San Jose Malay or Buruanga several trip weekly

Negros Bacolod Iloilo Negr.Nav 7:00,15:00daily/2hrs

LAND TRANSPORTATION (except Boracay)

Iloilo - Kalibo (3-4 hrs) frequent buses during day

Iloilo - San Jose de Buenavista direct buses or jeepneys to San Joaquin there other buses or jeepneys to San Jose

Iloilo - Estancia / Balásan frequent buses during day

San Jose - Culasi - Pandan - Kalibo (8-9 hr.s) frequent buses and jeepneys

FLIGHTS FROM PANAY (except Boracay)

from-to Days Dep Arr Fare

Iloilo-Manila daily 10:45 11:45 620

Daily 13:00 14:00 620

Mo,We,Fr,Su 16:20 17:20 620

Daily 15:55 16:55 620

Daily 21:10 22:10 434

Iloilo-Cebu daily 7:05 7:40 247