Is Boracay Worth Going in the Rainy Season?

Boracay is a well-known island tourism hotspot in the Philippines, and even in the Southeast Asian region. The island’s beaches are drop-dead gorgeous in fine weather, and there are many touristy things to do. But is Boracay worth going in the rainy season?

Located in the Visayas region of the Philippines (the middle bit), it is on the leeward side of the typhoons that batter the Philippines every year or so. This does not mean that there are typhoons all the time, nor does it mean that the typhoons would hit Boracay specifically. But this season is considered the off season for Boracay because it also tends to be more rainy.

When is the rainy season in Boracay?

The Philippines has a distinct typhoon season towards the middle to later months of the year (although as climate change progresses, it is becoming a bit less distinct – and ‘typhoonier‘).

At work, we try to plan fieldwork in the Philippines to finish before June, or start after September, so that the crew wouldn’t be caught trying to work during a typhoon. This is a rule of thumb, since it is still possible for freak typhoons to occur slightly earlier, or later, in the case of a prolonged typhoon season.

Safety note: When travelling to/in the Philippines during the typhoon season, please always check the weather report for typhoon warnings. 

Why even do Boracay in the rainy season?

That’s a good question. 

The general plus points of going somewhere in the off peak season include better deals, and fewer crowds. That last one is a major plus for an introvert like me. 

But is it a good idea to apply this logic to a beach holiday destination? That’s the sort of holiday made or broken by the sunshine! 

I found out for myself last year when a bunch of colleagues and I decided to pop down to Boracay after our team meeting in Manila. Not only were we going during typhoon season, we intended to go for only 3 nights. Deducting the travel days, we were giving ourselves only 2 full days to get lucky. Not great odds for Boracay in the rainy season! 

This article describes that experience. Additionally, I also touch on Boracay from a sustainable traveller’s perspective.

Getting to Boracay

Unless you’re already on a nearby island in the Visayas, the most practical way to reach Boracay is by air. There are two plausible airports to arrive in.

By far, the most popular one is Caticlan Airport @ Boracay Airport (airport code MPH). Although not on Boracay itself (there are no airports on the island), it is just across a narrow strait and Boracay transfers from the airport are understood. There might be direct flights to Caticlan from outside the Philippines, but as with many destinations in the Philippines, it is more likely that you’d have to transit in Manila first. Direct flights from regional capitals like Cebu are more likely.

There is also another international airport you could arrive in, Kalibo International Airport (airport code KLO). This airport is also in the Malay municipality of Panay Island, but it is further away from Boracay. The transfer from Kalibo to Boracay is something like a couple of hours. If you’re going to Boracay for a short holiday, I’d recommend you try to land in Caticlan.

Arriving in Boracay

The omens were not good on our arrival day. There was a light rain that day, and the sky was completely covered with low, heavy cloud. We were ushered into a bus that went out of Caticlan airport, which seemed inexplicably to go all the way around it, just to deposit us at the boat transfer location pretty much across the fence from our plane still on the tarmac. 

We were booked at what is widely considered to be the best beach of Boracay, the Station 1 beach. Philippine boats with bamboo outriggers took us to the Boracay landing, where we took tuktuks to reach Station 1 beach. 

Behind the beaches of Boracay

Boracay (at least before the island’s shutdown) is infamous for its lack of municipal infrastructure relative to its density. I had already heard of this. Someone I knew once told me that he wandered inland while vacationing in Boracay, and found the heaps of garbage just dumped in the remaining forest on the island. 

But I think I didn’t quite factor it in, perhaps because you never see these images. I’d only seen the fantastic beach images of Boracay. 

So I was mildly surprised to see the real Boracay, as the tuktuk stuttered along the back roads, through dense and heavily built-up zones, and rows of commercial buildings just like any other Southeast Asian town growing in density. In my mind, I imagined it to be smaller, and not as dense. 

The basic nature of the roads and alleys showed, with the rainy season. A lack of streetside drainage infrastructure meant that parts of the lanes had standing water, obscuring potential potholes.

But water had also carved troughs at the sides of the unpaved roads, eating down next to building walls. The tuktuk basically had to delicately choose a route that best avoided both the water and any ‘natural drainage’. 

I thought this was not going to end well.

Sure enough, eventually the overloaded tuktuk ran itself into a trough and was mired. So we all had to get out so that the vehicle could be lifted and pushed out to continue its journey. Fortunately it was not damaged. 

Boracay’s Station 1 beach in the rainy season

Once we reached our hotel though, the atmosphere changed. Within the resort, and out to the beach, the cramped and ramshackle vibe vanished. Our hotel was a mid-range one near the far end of the beach, with a traditional Philippine vibe. In the off season, there was never a feeling of crowds. 

Out on the beach you could see why Boracay is famous. Even with the gloomy overcast sky, the spacious pale sandy shoreline stretched a long, long way down along the water’s edge. 

However, the downside to the Boracay beach experience was that you would invariably encounter touts trying to sell you trinkets and tours. Not as much as some other places I’ve been in the region (or maybe that’s because it’s the low season). But… it’s not the kind of beach where you could wander on and expect to have your private time to contemplate the meaning of life and everything. 

The Station 1 beach scene

The constant gloom and threat of rain did make everything a little bit dismal. But the beach is still pleasant, with relaxing things to do.

There are also a ton of options for food and bars, especially at night – albeit mostly near the middle of the beach. (That means, if you want a quieter stay, pick a resort at the north end of the beach, like us). The quality is mixed; we went to a budget place for our first lunch that was just ok. But we were more discerning for dinners and those fared better. 

In the daytime, there are places all along the beach where you can get a massage. It’s not the cheapest in the region, or even in the Philippines itself, but still ok. 

You could also get henna tattoos drawn. Depending on how complicated the design you chose is, it could take a few minutes up to maybe half an hour. Or, you could also let the artist draw freestyle – my colleague did this, and her foot tattoo turned out awesome! 

At about sunset you would see local lads making sandcastles. Not amateur ones, mind you. Really good ones, usually spelling out ‘Boracay’, and with niches to put tea lights in, so that it glows after nightfall. They charge you for taking photos of these; basically it’s a way for them to earn a bit of side money. It’s not a lot, so depending on your mood and how much you liked the sculpture, it’s reasonable for a nice photo. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Inspiring Insightful Travel (@tejaonthehorizon)

Things to do in Boracay in the rainy season

I was looking forward to doing a dive in Boracay, as I hadn’t done one in quite a while. But I was still recovering from the flu, and my nose was still blocked. So on our first full day, I sensibly joined the others on a standard island hopping tour. The tour involved a visit into Crystal Cove island, a bit of snorkelling, and Puka beach at the north end of Boracay. 

Island hop to Crystal Cove resort

This is a resort island near Boracay, which seems to be a popular day tour from Boracay. There is an entrance fee to get in for daytrippers, which was PHP200 in 2017. 

Perhaps since it was the off season, there wasn’t a crowded vibe. I mention this because, based on some signs (like the risqué sculptures you occasionally come across by the paths, and the sign with the unusually specific safety advice not to buy booze for your boatmen), I wondered if Crystal Cove is a party island in the peak season. 

The day tour takes you on a walk through the complex. The two highlights are a couple of island grottoes that you can explore briefly (they’re very small). 

The first one involves descending a spiral staircase into a small grotto. I actually sort of liked this one, because it felt like a pirate smuggling store. However, even in the low season, there is a queue to get down, because the grotto is too small to accommodate more than a few people at any one time. 

The second one involves descending the side of a low cliff on staircases and catwalks, and then walking partly in water to crawl into a hole to the grotto. 

To be honest, I felt Crystal Cove was just an ok stop. If I were to choose between it and more snorkelling time, or even just a chill massage day on Station 1 beach, the latter would be a better choice. 

Say no to fish feeding when snorkelling in Boracay

The tour brochure specifically mentions ‘fish feeding’. This is a tactic to induce fish to come to the snorkeler, by throwing bits of bread into the water. 

When I was little, this used to be common in Malaysia too. (Actually, it still is, in locations with ‘fast tourism’). Just to be nice and ‘feed the fish’, as if they were in your own aquarium or pond. I did it myself before I understood why it is a bad practice for coral reef health.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Reef Check Malaysia (@reefcheckmalaysia)

Anyway I explained to the boatman at the outset that I did not want it done. That I was fine with just snorkelling naturally. And he nodded, as people often would in this region, who are trying to sell you something. 

But when we got to the place, he opened a packet of bread to start feeding the fish. So I had to stop him, and reiterate my request. Then I had to firmly assure him that I understood that he was only doing it to get the fish to come to me. And it was still no. Finally, he agreed. 

Snorkelling in Boracay

The snorkelling location immediately where we anchored was as you’d expect. Pretty desolate, littered with broken corals, and not a lot of life.

Sometimes, you see reviews on TripAdvisor (ones that come across genuine, mind you), marvelling at what they saw on snorkel trips. And you know it’s only because they have never seen how much more beautiful it was supposed to be. So they cannot tell that the ecosystem has been degraded, nor do they know what responsible coral reef tourism should look like. For example, in locations with vibrant coral life, snorkel boats do not drop anchor at the snorkelling location. There are permanently anchored buoys that they tie up to, so that the anchors don’t drag around and dredge the reef.

For readers who have not yet seen what a healthy coral reef is supposed to look like, here’s a video to give you an idea. This is so you would know whether you’re actually looking at a depleted and unhealthy coral reef system on your holiday, or one that is properly cared for. And be able to write your TripAdvisor reviews correctly! :)

However, slightly away from the boat anchoring spot, you can still find intact coral reef. In this stormy sort of region, the reef consists mostly of the ‘staghorn’ branching coral, which is the fastest growing species. But, as you would expect from a heavily touristed island with poor sewerage infrastructure and prevalent fish feeding practices, much of it was covered over with algae. 

That said, if you swim around long enough, you can still find pockets of healthy reef. So perhaps, not everything is lost for Boracay’s coral reefs. Hopefully the shutdown and upgrade will improve its health.

Puka Beach

Our lunch stop was at Puka beach. This is another spacious, long sandy beach, at a different part of Boracay island. There were restaurant shacks lining the beach here, and you could do beach activities like volleyball. When we were there, it was not too crowded. Lunch was ok, and it was a pleasant enough stop. 

However, is Puka beach that different from Station 1? Maybe not.

In the off peak season anyway, even on a weekend, the crowd levels on both beaches felt mostly similar. I personally preferred Station 1. If I were to do it again, I don’t know if I’d choose to go to another very similar beach, instead of more fully exploring the one I was already at.

You can get clear days in Boracay in the rainy season

For the first two days, Boracay felt like just a mediocre island destination. There were things I liked, but there were also things I could live without. 

But then we woke to a clear sunny morning, and Boracay instantly jumped up in my estimation. It was warm, and the colours were crisp and vibrant. The sun really makes a big difference in how you perceive Boracay. It got me in the mood to explore all the way to the north end of Station 1 beach, where it ends in a rocky cliff. 

There was a concreted path hugging the shoreline at the base of the cliff. And there were other people on it, too. This must lead somewhere. 

And it sort of did. At the very end was a rock arch, which made a beautiful frame for a serendipitously photogenic rock outcrop standing in the water. To the side of this arch, someone had made a discreet little Catholic altar for the Virgin Mary, underlining the Christian faith of the local people. 

It is possible to hike through the arch and make your way around it on a narrow path that hugs the cliff. This will lead you to an adjacent cove that had a big resort looming beyond it. 

Go on a sunset cruise on an outrigger boat

The beach was so pleasant with a sunny day that, after a bit of swimming, I was even in the mood to just laze about on a lounger all day. (This is fairly rare for me. Maybe I was also a little weak from the recent illness.) 

As the afternoon wore on, though, we decided we should do the sunset cruise, even though it was the most expensive of the Boracay tours on offer. 

This tour involves being taken a bit out to sea on a boat in the hour or so around sunset. The boat is extremely narrow, so you actually sit on some netting that’s laid across the outriggers, like a hammock. 

We were not disappointed. 

That evening Boracay decided to reward us with one of the most spectacular sunsets I have ever seen, then and since. 

And out at sea was the perfect way to enjoy it.

Overtourism in Boracay

Some might ask the opposite question: is Boracay worth going in the peak season? 

Obviously my answer will be biased, since (1) I didn’t go in the peak season, and (2) being an introvert, it is hard for me to appreciate what is so appealing with going somewhere when it is heaving with people. 

However, the year after I went (i.e. 2018), the whole island of Boracay was shut down for tourism, due to concerns over the environmental degradation caused by over-tourism. At the time this guide is written, it has not yet re-opened. 

It is possible that by going in the off peak and rainy season, I saw Boracay in a better light. The water was nice and blue and the beaches clean. I did not see the ‘cesspool’ Boracay. Maybe the rougher seas during the typhoon season mixed the water more, and reduced the effect of the sewage outfalls from the many businesses on the island. And lower visitor numbers would obviously reduce the sewage load as well. 

The island closure received mixed responses. On the one hand, I could see why the upgrades were so desperately needed, and why it would be much more easily done with a total shutdown. But the decision also received strong challenge from Philippine citizen groups dismayed over the loss of livelihood during the shutdown period. 

Activists of one issue or another like to believe that their issue is the most pressing one, and that ‘somehow’ the consequences of what they want will (vaguely) be taken care of (usually by someone other than them). But the fact is, real sustainability means hard decisions, compromise, and stakeholders adopting each other’s issues. I can only hope that enough of it is happening. 

Tips for zero waste travellers to Boracay

Boracay required some effort to stay zero waste. I was not able to do it completely. I personally found it hard to avoid single use plastic if dining at budget locations. There were no signs of recycling effort on Station 1 beach.

A compounding factor was that I was also ill on this trip for the first couple days, which lowered my willpower to refuse many things or prepare sustainable alternatives.

Staying zero waste also means you would also have to miss out on local specialties like Boracay’s famous fruit shakes, which are only served in single-use plastic. Even in the off season, a popular place is still very busy, and there’s no means for them to note special serving requests even if you did bring a container of your own.

But if you go upmarket, it is easier. The dining options on Boracay range all the way up to 5 star quality. At that service level, they will customise anything. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Inspiring Insightful Travel (@tejaonthehorizon)

Carbon offsetting information to Boracay

A return flight between Kuala Lumpur and Caticlan (Boracay) produces carbon emissions of approximately 2,370 lbs CO2e. It costs about $12 to offset this.

I wonder what Boracay is like after its upgrade? Pin this article for your trip to find out!