BORACAY TRAVEL INFORMATION
PUA Midyear Convention 2024

General Information

About Boracay

Boracay is a paradise of plenty, providing everything the traveler could possibly want from a holiday. Dazzling beaches, crystal waters and azure skies supply the backdrop for relaxing or partying, solitude, or company. With a seemingly endless list of sports and activities on offer, areas of outstanding beauty to visit and hundreds of places to eat, drink and be merry.

Location

Boracay is a small island located 2km off the north-west coast of Panay Island in the Philippines, municipality of Malay in Aklan Province.

Major Areas around the island are:

White Beach: The longest beach strip on the island, split into 3 boat stations:
Station 1: Northern Section in Baranga Balabag.
Station 2: Epicenter of most establishments in Boracay and the busiest part of the island. Majority of lodging, dining, and shopping establishments including the D’Mall which is the most visited part of the island is located here.
Station 3: Southern end of the White beach. The strip of sand here is narrower and stipper and the area is not as crowded as Station 2.
Banyugan Beach: private cove of Shangri-La Boracay.
Boracay Newcoast: a newly opened 150-hectare town-style property located in the northeastern edge of the Island. Located here are the Savoy Hotel and the Belmont Hotel as well as other business establishments primarily owned and operated by the developer of the area. Hotels located inside the newcoast area offer free shuttle service to White Beach

Time Zone

Local time is UTC+8 (Philippine Standard Time). Same time zone as Singapore and Beijing, one hour ahead of Thailand and an hour behind Japan.

Climate

November to February: cool and mostly dry
March to June: warm and mostly dry
July to October: warm and mostly wet

Languages

Aklanon and Ati are the native languages. Locals working in the tourism industry can fluently speak and understand both Tagalog and English.

Currency

The currency in the Philippines is the Peso (PhP) and the Centavo. 100 centavos = P1. Coin denominations are: 5, 10, and 25 centavos, P1, P5 and P10. Bill denominations are: 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 pesos.

Check with the local banks for current exchange rates. Foreign currency may be exchanged at your hotel, banks and authorized money changing shops along the beach fronts and main road. Various ATMs are also found along the main road near stations 1-3 and around D’Mall area.

Modes of Payment

Cash primarily is the mode of payment used on most businesses around Boracay. Some establishments accept credit cards, but most smaller stores and eateries accept only cash or GCash.

Tipping

In Boracay, as in other parts of the Philippines, tipping is NOT mandatory. Restaurants usually include a service charge on the final bill.

Electricity

220 Volts, 60Hz. Plug and socket used is Type A.

Attire

Light, casual clothes all year round.

Water

Bottled water available in resorts, restaurants, and convenience stores.

Communication

International and direct dial phone and fax are available in most hotels.

Internet access can be through the hotel WIFI facilities or data packages provided by local cellular carriers.

Internet cafes are widely available around the island. Pocket WIFI devices are also available for rent so you can stay connected around the island even outside the confines of your resort or hotel.

Smoking

The Philippines has a Nationwide Smoking Ban which prohibits smoking in all enclosed public spaces and conveyances. This includes but not limited to:

Restaurants and other food and drink establishments
Hotels and other accommodation facilities
Transportation terminals
Churches
Shopping centers, retail stores and other merchandise establishments
Entertainment establishments
Sports venues

Public conveyances include buses and jeepneys, taxicabs, tricycles and other public utility vehicles, rail transit, airplanes and ships. The order also prohibits smoking in all outdoor spaces where people gather such as parks, playgrounds, sidewalks, waiting areas, open-air markets and resorts.
Smoking will be allowed only in designated smoking areas.

Important note about vaping and e-cigarettes:
Vaping is likewise prohibited and is treated the same as smoking tobacco.
If you are a smoker, please be aware of the designated smoking areas in your vicinity. Violators will be apprehended and impose fines of up to Php10,000.

Drone Flying

Flying of drones around the area may be allowed as long as a special permit is secured from the local government. The permit will indicate the DATES and TIMES when the drone can be used and areas where flying is allowed.

Business Hours

Most businesses are open from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Restaurants typically open around 11:00AM until 10:00PM. A few outlier establishments such as the local McDonald’s branch are open 24/7.

Getting There

Travel VISA

The Philippines offers visitors from 157 different countries visa-free access for tourism purposes.

30 Day Stay: Most countries from North America (inc. USA, Canada, Mexico), South America, Africa, and Europe (inc. UK, EU), also Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Russia, and ASEAN countries are offered 30 days.
59 Day Stay: Brazil, Israel
14 Day Stay: Hong Kong (BNO 7 Days), Macau (Macau-Portugal 7 Days)
Notable exceptions that require tourist visas are: Taiwan (ROC), China (PRC), India, the Ukraine

By Air

Major Airport Gateways:
Caticlan (MPH) and Kalibo (KLO) airport offer international travel. Distance between Caticlan and Kalibo is 63 kilometers.
Various domestic carriers fly to Boracay’s major gateways from Manila (around 20+ flights daily), Cebu (daily flights) or once a week from Busuanga.

Airline Carriers: AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, AirSWIFT, Royal AIR Philippines.

By Sea

Regular commuter ferries from Manila or Cebu have scheduled stops in Dumaguit (30 minutes beyond Kalibo) which take around 15-17 hours of travel time. There are 2 ports that serve the island: Caticlan Jetty Port and Tabon Port.

Upon Arrival in Caticlan

5-minute tricycle ride to jetty port, 15-minute outrigger boat ride to Stations 1, 2 and 3.

Upon Arrival in Kalibo

1 and ½ hour bus ride to jetty port, 15 minute outrigger boat ride to Stations 1,2 and 3.

Transfers and Getting Around

Most resorts offer free shuttle transfer around major areas as well as boat stations for guests.

E-tricycles or E-trike is the primary mode of transportation around the island. Most tricycles have a fixed route and will pick up or drop off passengers along the way unless the vehicle is chartered as a “special trip”. Average cost is around Php15 to Php 500 depending on the distance and if it is a chartered trip.

Boracay Travel Requirements
Tourist Arrival Form. To be accomplished upon arrival at the Caticlan Jetty Port
Valid ID. For Filipinos, any valid ID will do. For foreigners, travel passport is required.

Hotel Accommodation
From the simple “nipa hut” (bungalows constructed of bamboo and nipa palm leaves) to the opulent, contemporary hotels with spas and boutique resorts, Boracay Island offers lodging options for any budget. The majority can be found in the West along the four-kilometer White Beach. There are a handful more scattered around the island’s interior and on the east and north shores.
The PUA Midyear Convention 2024’s official hotel partners are Belmont Hotel Boracay and Savoy Hotel Boracay Newcoast. To secure your hotel booking with special rates, please send us an email through boracay2024@puaweb.org.

More Information:
SAVOY Hotel Boracay
Newcoast Dr., Boracay Newcoast, Boracay Island, 5608, Aklan, Philippines
https://savoynewcoast.hotel-boracay.com/en/
BELMONT Hotel Boracay
Newcoast Dr., Boracay Newcoast, Boracay Island, 5608, Aklan, Philippines
https://www.belmonthotelboracay.com/
Convention Venue: Boracay Newcoast Convention Center
Newcoast Dr., Boracay Newcoast, Boracay Island, 5608, Aklan, Philippines

Restaurants and Nightlife

There are more than 200 restaurants and eateries on Boracay offering food from around the world and suiting every budget. Pork and chicken are the most popular meats, but fresh seafood is simply delicious and available everywhere.
For local colour, small market-based ihawihaw (bar-b-q) restaurants are well worth a visit. For the adventurous and sturdy stomach, try balot, a boiled fertilized chicken or duck egg widely believed to be an aphrodisiac! All Filipino dishes are best served with the world-famous San Miguel Beer, ice-chilled! Many night spots for drinks, dancing and karaoke with numerous bars and discos litter amongst the resorts, some are open 24/7.

Shops, Markets and Crafts

Boracay’s markets will take you to a world of new and exotic sights and impressions where you can buy souvenirs, local delicacies and much more. The largest is the Talipapa, a flea market which covers 4,000 square metres between White Beach and the Main Road at the centre of the island. Another shopper’s haven is called D’Mall which houses some 100 stores neatly laid out among coconut trees. White Beach also has a number of shops selling everything from beachwear to art and antiques.

Sports Activities and Island Explorations
There are many attractions on the island to explore, from villages to the stunning white sand beaches to viewpoints such as Naked Rock and Mount Luho 100 metres above the sea. Visit the many caves, and particularly the Bat Cave, home to the flying foxes of the island. Be delighted by the many species of butterflies on show at the Butterfly Garden and Butterfly Farm.

The Dead Forest where dead mangrove roots reach strangely out of the waters is an impressive and slightly bizarre experience. For stargazers, the negligible light and air pollution mean the night skies are clear and afford spectacular views of the Milky Way, Jupiter and Venus. There is even the odd shooting star on which to make a wish.

The diversity of marine life and corals all around Boracay makes it one of the finest dive locations in the Philippines. There are over 30 dive shops with high quality equipment and good scheduling of dives and instruction. Island and cave exploration tours are also enjoyable and easy to organize. Day trips to uninhabited islands close by offer scenic views and pleasant discoveries. Other traditional sports available for those who prefer an active holiday are: tennis, badminton, beach volleyball and football, bowling, fishing, golf, horseback riding, hiking, sailing, boating, skimboarding, wind and kite surfing.

Other Attractions within the Region

Historical Landmarks:
Kalantiaw Shrine (Aklan); Pan-ay Church and Bell Tower (Capiz); Malandog Marker (Antique); Fort San Pedro, Museo Iloilo; Miag-ao Church, Molo Church, Jaro Cathedral (Iloilo); Naurlas Church (Guimaras); Victorias Sugar Plantation, Spanish Ancestral Houses of La Carlota, Silay and Talisay (Negros Occidental). Natural Attractions: Isla Naburot (Guimaras); Mt. Madia-as, Kalamasag Falls, Igpasungaw Falls and Natural Pools (Antique); Suhot Cave, Igang Cave (Capiz); Numerous Caves and Waterfalls along the Kalibo-Caticlan Route (Aklan); Bucari Highlands, Nadsadjan Falls (Iloilo).

Best Buys:
Guimaras Mangoes; Buri Hats; Capiz Shellcraft; Piña or Sinamay native weaving fabrics; Antiques.

BORACAY TRAVEL INFORMATIONPUA Midyear Convention 2024

BORACAY TRAVEL INFORMATION
PUA Midyear Convention 2024