Is the “New” Boracay Worth the Hype?
Boracay Island in the Philippines has been long accredited as the “party” beach of the world. It’s a tropical paradise located just an hour’s flight from Manila International Airport.
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Tourists from all over the world flocked to this teeny tiny island to get a glimpse of the world’s best beach. But over time, the island’s infrastructure could not support the influx of tourists. The president of the Philippines made the difficult decision to choose sustainability before economic profit: he shut down the island for six months of significant restoration and cleaning.
The Island of Boracay was closed from April 26 to October 26, 2018.
Dustin and I paid a visit in April 2019. We never visited the island before the closure. Still, we noticed right away that the process to get on the island was different from anything we had ever experienced before. I’ll share in detail what I mean later on in this post, but it was apparent that the Philippines government took extra steps to screen who, when, and how many people stepped foot on Boracay Island.
A common question we get is: Is Boracay worth visiting anymore? Boracay used to be the spring-break capital of the world, now that there as strict regulations, should we even bother going?
My short and sweet answer is: yes. And I’ll explain why.
Fun Fact
Boracay has been recognized in media as one of the best islands and having one of the best beaches in the world, including Travel + Leisure Magazine, CNN, the New York Times Travel, and many others.
The “New” Boracay: A Wellness Destination Reborn
While Boracay holds a long reputation as Asia’s Daytona Beach, with the new, “eco-friendly” tourist attractions, Boracay holds a new eminence. Boracay is now your destination for healthy-minded and wellness travel.
The island is scattered with places where you can relax with a coconut in hand, enjoy nature, and experience peace and tranquility. Here in Boracay, you can find the perfect balance of adventure and some R&R.
With Boracay’s unique island vibe, you’ll share the sheer bliss of wellness travel with other travelers and Filipino locals.
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What’s Changed
Previously before the closure, Boracay welcomed all with a total disregard for the island’s delicate ecosystem and poorly designed infrastructure. Now, there are limitations as to how many people are allowed on the island.
Only 19,000 people are welcome to stay on the island at any given time. And only 6,045 tourists per day are allowed to enter the island. This number is calculated by environmentalists based on the size of the island and the number of people the island’s infrastructure can support. Also, available accommodations have been reduced from 12,000 before the closure to now half that amount.
When Dustin and I touched down in Caticlan Airport, we charted a van that took us to the Jetty Port. The Jetty Port is the port you must go through to get to Boracay Island. From there, we went through a registration and verification process.
During the verification process, we were asked to present our hotel reservation on the island, something that is new from the island’s reopening.
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New Requirements to Visit Boracay Island
When booking hotel rooms, you can only book hotels that are the Department of Tourism accredited. You must have a hotel room already booked before registering at the Jetty Airport. This is mainly to keep track of how many people are on the island at any given time.
Rules While Visiting Boracay Island
One of the many reasons why Boracay temporarily closed is because of all the broken glass, cigarette butts, and mountains of trash littered all over the beaches. Now that Boracay is cleaned up, some new rules need to be followed:
- No smoking or glass bottles are allowed on the beach.
- No food/dining is permitted on the beach.
- Beachfront parties are banned.
- Shops and peddlers are forbidden from selling their merchandise on the beach.
- Single-use plastics are banned from the island as well.
Where to Stay: Eco-Friendly Hotels in Boracay
Wellness Activities in Boracay
Terra Wellness Spa
Legacy Gym Boracay
Mandala Day Spa
Paddle Boarding
Healthy Eating. Try Nonie’s Restaurant or the Sunny Side Cafe! You can even take a private cooking class!
Lounge out on the beach
Go Kiteboarding
Take a catamaran cruise
Go island-hopping
Green Earth Wellness Retreats
Couples Retreat Spa Package in Boracay
from: Viator
Private Filipino Cooking Class in Boracay
from: Viator
BORACAY ISLAND HOPPING with LUNCH and DINNER
from: Viator
My Two Cents
From my experience, Boracay is definitely worth a visit if you’re traveling to the Philippines. While it may not be the “party scene” that it once was, it has so much more to offer now. We spent a grand total of four days on the island, and each day was filled with sand, sun, and lots of fun!
Also, I believe places that are making a conscientious effort in sustainability should be rewarded. Perhaps some other heavily touristed areas can follow in Boracay’s footsteps. Can you think of any other destinations that are in dire need of restoration and cleaning?
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