If honeymoon planning is on your mind, I have a beautiful destination for you to consider – Boracay, Philippines. Boracay (pronounced Barack-ki — like Barack of Barack Obama and hi but with a hard “k”) is a remote 7-kilometre long island with the whitest of sands and bluest of waters. Keep reading for my honeymoon travel guide for the lovely island of Boracay, Philippines.
The island offers picture-perfect sunsets, a slew of affordable water activities and luxury accommodations to be pampered with. If you are willing to make the trek out to this remote island, you will not be disappointed with the beauty and adventure that awaits. I visited Boracay as part of an Asia trip last year and was pleasantly surprised with how beautiful the island was!
Boracay at sunset. So stunning!
Honeymoon in Boracay, Philippines – Overview
Boracay is a remote beach island in the Philippines, consistently featured as a top beach destination in the world according to Travel + Leisure magazine. It isn’t as infamous a destination as Bali is (read about honeymoon ideas for Bali here), but it certainly is a top contender for couples who love the beach and water sports. It is sort of a pain to get there (a plane ride, bus and ferry will get you there), but once you arrive, you will be surrounded by white beach and clear blue waters. You won’t have to spend a fortune for food and activity here either, as your dollar will go far. Food is not what this island is known for, so I will focus on what to do and where to stay.
Honeymoon in Boracay, Philippines – Where to stay
The island of Boracay is divided into three beach areas – Station 1, Station 2 and Station 3. All are walking distance from one another, with Station 2 being the busiest with the main strip mall area being located there. You can choose to stay on the beach or stay in the northern side of the island where it is more remote for a boutique experience.
Here are my top picks for luxury accommodation in Boracay:
Shangri-La, Boracay: If you want to enjoy the white sands of Boracay but prefer more privacy, this resort located on the northern tip of the island is pleasantly secluded. It will be more removed from the action, but nothing is too far on this small stretch of sandy island.
The District: If you want direct beach access but with a boutique feel, The District offers a spot right in the middle of the action in Station 2 while still offering the amenities of a high end hotel.
Discovery Shores: Relax in luxury condo style suites at the edge of Station 1 with Discovery Shores.
Luxury Honeymoon in Boracay – What to do
Once on the island of Boracay, there are plenty of water activities to partake in and they are very affordable (so you can spend a little more on your hotel!). Here are my top picks for what to do while in Boracay, Philippines.
My hubby learned to scuba diva from Calypso Diving School and had a blast.
Scuba Dive (or learn to!) – Calypso Diving is the biggest PADI-certified dive centers on Boracay. Their instructors will teach you the ropes and bring you to see the beautiful coral reefs just outside the island.
Charter a private boat tour – See the island and snorkel on the outskirts with a private chartered boat. Catamarans are plenty. Make sure to take the tour while the sun sets for great photos.
Catch the famous Boracay sunset, every day – Every evening, you must take in the breathtaking sunset in Boracay. There is no better place to be on your honeymoon than on the beach watching the sun set over the clear waters, with a view like this.
See the island from the highest point – Catch the sunset at the highest point on the island for a great view. We drove ATVs up the mountain top to catch the view.
Parasail over the clear waters – Water activities are plenty in Boracay. Don’t forget to try parasailing! I don’t think I ever would have tried parasailing, but it was so affordable that I could not say no (I think we parasailed for under $30 CAD).
Kite Surf: If you’re looking to pick up a new extreme sport, try your hand at Kite Surfing on the east end of the island where the winds are strong.
Toss some disc: Toss a frisbee with the local Ultimate Frisbee team if you catch them practicing (they’re one of the best beach teams in the world!). Fun fact, my husband and I met playing ultimate frisbee.
Spend some time being a beach bum: If you are going to spend time on this beautiful beach island, be sure to remember to catch some zzz’s on a lounger and enjoy the white sand. You may never see another beach like it. Look at that white sand and blue water! This was my view first thing in the morning.
Honeymoon in Boracay, Philippines – Staying cool
Every day was a constant 39 degrees Celsius on our trip and we needed to stay hydrated. Some of my favourite drinks/treats on the island weren’t anything fancy, but they sure were good!
Jonah’s Fruitshakes were hard to pass up. The chocolate banana and mango shakes hit the spot while lounging on the beach.
If you’re looking to take a break from the heat on a hot afternoon, check out Halowich for their oversized fresh mango sundaes and air-conditioned cafe (A/C is key!).
For those of us with Chinese creature comforts, have no fear. Even on this remote island, you can get a roasted milk tea with a tapioca at Chatime.
[line]
These photos are not from some magazine or professional camera, they were straight from my own unfiltered, amateur camera and the photos still turned out amazing. If you love beaches, water and relaxing, I can’t think of a better place to spend a honeymoon than in Boracay, Philippines. See it for yourself!
[line]
In our honeymoon and travel series, Rebecca takes you to beautiful destinations around the world for honeymoon ideas. When you think of your honeymoon, you are planning for a once-in-a-lifetime trip and you want it to be both stunning and memorable. Rebecca gives you an inside look at locations she has traveled to herself to give you some honeymoon planning inspiration. Her travel style is a mix of cultural exploration, taking in the landscape and luxury experiences.