Boracay Island is the dream for many city dwellers who are looking for the perfect pick-me-up. However, because of commitments at home and work, most people can only spare one day exploring the sand and the sea. The perfect way to maximize your Boracay overnight stay is to get to know the beauty of its islands via island hopping.

Whether you’re exploring alone or traveling with your barkada, you’re sure to make the most out of your Boracay experience if you go island hopping. You can also haggle the price down and include snorkeling gear or lunch in the payment.

If you’re thinking island hopping is too much of a hassle in a day, don’t be fooled by its name. You’re actually just traveling from one beach to another, all connected to the island of Boracay. So instead of sunbathing, you get to see and experience a lot more.

One surefire way to maximize your time is to plan a by-the-hour itinerary that lets you visit most of the island. Here’s a sample itinerary you can follow that takes into account the locations of beaches, as well as lunch and dinner recommendations.

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Arrival at the airport and travel to Boracay Island

Photo courtesy of Yeray Sanchez via Unsplash

Suppose your flight arrives at Caticlan Airport at 8:00 AM. From there, ride a tricycle to Jetty Port which typically costs Php50. From Jetty Port, ride a ferry to Boracay island. This costs about Php200, including the ticket and environmental fees.

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Settle down at the hotel room

Photo courtesy of Toa Heftiba via Unsplash

Even if you’re just staying for a night, you should still get the best accommodation the island can offer. One of the most sought-after places in Boracay is Alta Vista de Boracay, situated at the highest peaks of Boracay. If you book now for a summer trip, you can avail of promotional discounts at the hotel.

Here, you’ll have a breathtaking 360-degree view of the island from the Dinara Deck. You’ll have a field day taking selfies and photos of the landscape. Charge your cameras and phones and have a big breakfast at the hotel because you’re going to have a jam-packed day filled with unforgettable experiences!

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Marvel at the white sand shores of Puka Beach

Photo courtesy of Frank McKenna via Unsplash

If you choose to book at Alta Vista de Boracay, you’ll have exclusive access to the magnificent Puka Beach.

Puka Beach is easily the second most famous destination in Boracay after White Beach. It was named after the abundant crushed puka shells mixed into the white sands. Here, you can take a dip and enjoy the late-morning sunlight and the clear waters. The crowd isn’t too big at Puka Beach, which is the perfect start to a busy day.

11:30 AM - 12:30 NN

Visit the coves of Ilig-Iligan Beach

Photo courtesy of Devon Janse van Rensburg via Unsplash

To continue the tranquil start to your island-hopping adventure, visit the cozy Ilig-Iligan Beach. You can travel from Puka Beach to this destination via a motorcycle or tricycle.

This destination is one of the lesser-known spots on the island and barely has any tourist infrastructure. Like Puka Beach, it’s not as crowded and is often overlooked by tourists. But that doesn’t diminish Ilig-Iligan Beach’s charm. Here, you can explore the coves or the forests near the shore.

You can even try scrumptious seafood in one of only two restaurants at the beach. They’re usually open even for the smallest number of tourists so you’ll enjoy a peaceful meal without the crowd.

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Get your adrenaline running at Bulabog Beach

Photo courtesy of Joseph Greve via Unsplash

After a filling meal, head to Bulabog Beach and try surfing and kitesurfing. Unlike some beaches on the island, Bulabog Beach is not advisable for swimming because of the abundance of sea urchins.

Rest easy first before you try any adrenaline-pumping activities because you just had your lunch. You can go up to Mt. Luho Viewpoint; for Php120 you can enjoy a panoramic view of the whole island, including nearby destinations such as Carabao Island and Panay Island.

Bulabog Beach offers an exhilarating combination of scenery and excitement with the activities you can do there, a perfect addition to your one-day Boracay experience.

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Get to know the magical marine life of Crocodile Island

Photo courtesy of Taylor Simpson via Unsplash

After riding the waves of Bulabog Beach, head to Crocodile Island and experience its picturesque marine life. If you’re into snorkeling and underwater photography, Crocodile Island is the place for you.

You can swim around with the beautiful marine life and you can even feed the fish with bread. You, too, can have a little merienda on Crocodile Island because there are a lot of ice cream vendors by the shore.

5:00 PM - 6:30 PM

Experience the White Beach and its breathtaking sunset

Photo courtesy of Fab Lentz via Unsplash

Now you’ve finally reached the famous White Beach. Here, you’ll encounter a much bigger crowd, but you can also do a lot of new activities here. Besides, crowds present an opportunity to meet new people.

You can go parasailing or scuba diving here and even rent a banana boat to ride the calm waters as the sun goes down. Sunsets are best viewed from this side of Boracay, and you can even make the experience more unforgettable by sailing onto the middle of the sea and view the sunset from there.

7:00 PM - 7:40 PM

Have a bountiful seafood dinner at D’Talipapa

Photo courtesy of Louis Hansel @shotsoflouis via Unsplash

You can’t possibly end your Boracay trip without having your fill at the D’Talipapa. Here, you can choose from a wide selection of fresh seafood and have it cooked right then and there.

The price ranges from Php500 to Php700, seafood and preparation included. However, you can still haggle since some vendors might try to dupe you by setting the prices too high.

8:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Join a pub crawl

Photo courtesy of Pim Myten via Unsplash

Your overnight Boracay trip will not be complete without dancing the night away in a pub crawl. After your seafood dinner, you might want to head back to the hotel to freshen up first. And after you’ve done that, it’s time to end the day by joining an epic Boracay party.

You’ll meet a lot of different people in a pub crawl and each one will make your trip unforgettable. If you’re going alone, be sure to take note of the time and place so you’ll know how to get back to the hotel. Remember that you only have a day to spend on the island! But it’s better to stay longer, anyway.

Photo courtesy of Nils Nedel via Unsplash

And that’s it for the ultimate overnight Boracay trip itinerary! If you leave the island wanting more, you can always come back. Even if you only have weekends or long weekends, you can strategize your itinerary for the perfect weekend getaway.

Remember that this is only a sample itinerary. You or your friends can plan a whole different set of experiences based on what you want to do on the island. As long as you’re having fun, there’s no one way to enjoy the island life!

The Ultimate Overnight Boracay Trip Itinerary