A Dump or Paradise: What is Boracay Really Like?

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I hesitated at putting Boracay on my busy 2 week Philippines itinerary. I had heard so many conflicting things about the westerly Filippino island. Some people said the beaches here were the best in the entire country. Other people described it is an overrated sh*t hole that needed to be avoided at all costs.

After reading that the island had closed recently for a 6 month renovation to sort out its many issues (such as poor infrastructure, waste management emergencies, illegal activities and over crowding), I was hopeful. I thought that because it had been reopened, the problems must have been sorted. 

Well, unfortunately I was wrong.

Initially attracted by the rumours of one of the best beaches in the world and a great party spot to meet other travellers, I was sorely disappointed by the reality of the island’s best offerings.

Is Boracay Worth Visiting?

Although I don’t like to be negative and tell someone explicitly not to go somewhere (after all this is just based on my experience and opinion), the truth is, I personally regretted spending 4 days on the main part of the island, near White Beach. I actually wish I’d gone elsewhere on the island or stayed longer at a previous place I loved. So take that how you want!

But what exactly was my problem? Well, if you’re wondering what is Boracay like, here are just a few of my observations and experiences from my trip to the Philippines in May 2019.

What is Boracay Like? The Problems:

palm trees and run down houses on the beach
Demolished buildings on the beach front of White Beach.

The Difficulty Getting To Boracay Island

The first issue is probably minor in comparison to the other points, but Boracay is not very easy to get to. This is especially problematic if like us, you have already had a trip full of travelling or don’t have much time.

We flew directly to Caticlan airport which is the most direct way to get to Boracay. From the airport, we organised a transfer with South West Tours. This is a pre-arranged bus to the port followed by a speed boat and then another bus on the island to your accommodation.

In hindsight I am relived we decided to pay extra to join this 3-part transfer service as even though we were lucky enough to experience no delays (in fact, we had prompt service), the whole journey took hours. We would have struggled to have navigated it on our own (but it still was an epic journey).

The longest part was actually getting to our accommodation on the island as the roads are appalling.

busy roads boracay

The island itself is small, but it still take you ages to get anywhere. The roads are crowded, potholed and aren’t set up for the amount of people on the island. They’re not safe for walking down either.

The main problem with all this is that the long journey would probably have been forgotten if the island had made up for it. Unfortunately it didn’t. The effort to get there just made the Boracay experience all the more disappointing.

rubble at the side of the road
Piles of rubble at the side of the road – a common sight in Boracay.

A Lot of Boracay Island is Derelict

The state of the infrastructure was the most immediate observation upon arriving into Boracay.

The majority of buildings along the main ‘highway’ (which is just a single track cement road) have been half bulldozed or are falling into disrepair. This is even the case on the beach front of White Beach. I had read that construction had been complete, but it was clearly nowhere near finished.

Clearly a lot of buildings built on the shore were illegal, so I guess it is good they are attempting to have some sort of order. However none of them seem to be ‘work in progress’. Instead they are seemingly abandoned and consequently a stark eyesore.

Sadly, I guess the people who lived there were kicked out. Who knows if they can afford to build them again or will be getting any government support.

beachside building sites
piles of debris next to the highway in Boracay

In May 2019, there were also major water mains works that had no sign of finishing anytime soon. The noise of demo saws cutting through concrete as you lie on the quieter ends of the beach isn’t exactly relaxing!

The dust caused by all these roadworks and the bulldozed buildings is horrendous. If you take a tricycle anywhere you will need to wrap something around your face so you can breathe. I distinctly remember one part of the road, including the roadside foliage and surrounding buildings, completely blanketed in grey dust like a bomb had gone off!

Unfortunately my main impressions of Boracay were seedy looking nightclubs-cum-brothels, roadworks and dusty, empty building sites.

construction on boracay island
hotel buildings

Overrated Beaches & Overcrowding

As I mentioned at the beginning, White Beach in Boracay is meant to be one of the most beautiful in the world. Of all the beaches in Asia I have seen (and I have been to 10 countries on the continent) I would probably rate it in the bottom 5. I know that sounds pretty harsh but here’s why.

Not only was litter bobbing around in the sea, mingling with odd patches of rotting sea grass, oil tankers chugging by in the distance. For a world class beach, these aren’t exactly tranquil or endearing features. Yes, the water was otherwise pretty clear and the sand soft, but I really didn’t get why this beach was so special.

litter on beach 1

The shore was even less calming than the sea. White Beach was probably one of the busiest beaches I’ve ever seen (bar Ipanema Beach in Rio De Janero that is!). Along the foreshore, it was impossible to walk in a straight line without having to dodge people.

We were also harassed by vendors trying to sell tours every step we took. This was actually the first time we experienced the whole vendor harassment in the Philippines and it was our last stop.

To be honest, I felt on edge on White Beach. You didn’t know if someone was going to accidentally stand on you or accidentally flick sand in your face as they walked past. I didn’t even feel comfortable leaving my bag 3 metres from me as I had a quick cool down in the sea.

Ultimately, we had come for the world-renowned beach and it was unfortunately a let-down. Instead, we spent most of our time as far away as possible near our hotel, a 30 minute walk away.

There are however some fantastic and secluded beaches in Boracay and so if you plan on going, I would absolutely recommend avoiding White Beach and checking out some of these, the best beaches in Boracay instead.

Microtel in Boracay
Although our hotel, Mircotel was a bit outdated and basic inside, we were lucky it at least had a beach front pool to hang out at.

The Lack of Filippino Culture

One of the things I loved about the Philippines is that each island offered something completely different. In Bohol I adored the tropical rugged jungle, in Coron swimming in lagoons, El Nido cruising in a boat around limestone hills. We met awesome locals who showed us around, ate great food and enjoyed the natural sights.

But Boracay? Boracay didn’t seem to offer anything that was in any way interesting or typically Filippino, at least near White Beach.

One of the biggest attractions in Boracay is a huge mall called D’Mall, full of overpriced shops and restaurants. Yes – a shopping mall, just like you can get anywhere else in the world. Annoyingly we found ourselves drawn here daily to walk around because we realised there wasn’t actually much else to do onshore.

Right on White Beach you have Starbucks, KFC and chain hotels. It’s a totally generic, consumerised tourist trap. You could be anywhere in the world.

It’s interesting to see that I’m not alone in my despair at Boracay’s overwhelming commercialisation though they have tried desperately hard to rebrand as a more eco-friendly tourist destination.

DMall Boracay
D’Mall – the seemingly no.1 place to visit on Boracay Island.

our experience of Unfriendly People

Before Boracay, our experience with the locals was extremely pleasant and one of the most stand-out things of the trip. We often found ourselves on day trips with people holidaying from the cities and they were fun, kind and absolutely brilliant company. In Boracay, people didn’t seem at all friendly and just wanted our money. It was a real contrast.

Even in our hotel (Microtel), staff seemed to be annoyed at the simplest request (like for a towel or the WiFi password). After the very friendly and helpful staff at the Shangri-La in Mactan, and indeed elsewhere on this trip, we were particularly shocked at how poor customer service was here in Boracay. Good customer service is such an important factor that can make or break a hotel stay!

whats boracay like

The Verdict:

I’m sure for some people, especially those who will stay in an all inclusive resort, Boracay is exactly what they’re looking for in a holiday. The weather in Boracay is gorgeous and you do get some incredible beachfront sunsets, especially on some of the quieter beaches in Boracay.

However for me, Boracay was tainted by the trashy tourist trap of White Beach and the surrounds (and this is coming from someone who isn’t totally opposed to a trashy holiday!).

I’m also totally aware that it could have simply been bad timing that we had so many roadworks/building sites/crowds during the time we were there. Low season or a visit to another part of the island could offer a totally different experience. Construction can’t go on forever and I am sure in a few years time, Boracay could be completely transformed.

If you’re planning on going to The Philippines and Boracay, I’d mainly recommend you do your research to see if it offers everything you want and perhaps look into some of the other, more secluded beaches to visit and stay in Boracay.

There’s also an abundance of other islands in the Philippines of course. We especially loved Bohol (Pangalao Island) and Coron. If you like to go out and explore the area, these may be better Filipino islands for you.

This post is just my opinion based on my short experience staying in Boracay. If you’ve been to Boracay I’d love to hear your experience too. Did you find it a ruined over-rated holiday island or did you manage to find pristine pockets or have a wild time? Let me know in the comments below!


Read about some awesome waterfalls I loved in Bohol here!

jungle waterfall flowing into pale green pool

Heading to The Philippines Soon? Don’t forget these essentials!

Flights: compare and search using Skyscanner

Accommodation: hotels to hostels, glamping to apartments I always use Booking.com

Tours: to search and compare the best group tours and activities worldwide (with up to 20% off), use Viator

Visa: don’t forget to check the entry requirements for the passport you are travelling with

InspirationLonely Planet’s guide to The Philippines, or for your next trip, how about Lonely Planet’s Guide to the World?

PIN ME FOR LATER:

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18 thoughts on “A Dump or Paradise: What is Boracay Really Like?”

  1. You had the worst time to visit Boracay. Streets were in so much mess due to overhaul infra works. They opened the island too early.

    But last month ago during my last visit, everything is so much better, with wide sidewalks enabling people to walk safely. The beach is better and cleaner too.

    Reply
    • How interesting! That is great to hear. It definitely didn’t seem finished but at the same time, looked very far off so I am surprised they have completed the renovations so soon. I’m glad though. Thanks so much for your perspective!

      Reply
  2. Thank you so much for this Post. I’m wondering: you said “seedy looking nightclubs-cum-brothels”: could you please elaborate? Are the nightclubs now full of prostitutes?

    Reply
    • Of course not all of them and to be honest I didn’t go inside any but there were plenty I went past that had seedy things going on. There were ladies hanging outside the doors asking men if they wanted sex quite openly. It was just an observation from the outside 🙂

      Reply
  3. I’ve heard so many good things about Boracay from my cousins who live in Manila and vacationed there. Thank you for being honest with your experiences so people can have an idea of what to expect.

    Reply
    • To be honest, it may really suit some people. Just wasn’t for me. Especially as I went to other places I much preferred ?

      Reply
  4. That is such a bummer that you didn’t have a better experience but that is the reality of travel. It’s not always how we expect or imagine. Great post and perspective on your experience!

    Reply
  5. Ah, I appreciate your honesty! It’s good to hear different perspectives! I had actually never even heard of Boracay before today haha

    Reply
    • It’s one of the most popular islands in the Philippines to be honest but I was slightly confused as to why haha. Thanks for your comment!

      Reply
  6. Wow did not expect that. I only heard about the good parts… the instagramable parts. and to be honest, if you open google and type in Boracay, you will get only white sands and blue waters. Sometimes harsh is good, because all is way to pretty on Instagram .. and let’s face it we’ve all been “there”, in some idyllic destination. it’s not always rainbows and butterflies.

    Reply
    • You’re right. It surprised me as I also only saw pristine beaches of Boracay on Instagram and on blog posts. Travelling has a lot more rough edges than what is portrayed on social media! Though as I mentioned, perhaps I was just at the wrong part or there during the wrong time. Who knows! Thanks for reading and commenting.

      Reply
  7. Appreciate this post – it doesn’t sound like my cup of tea either and I’m sure you’ll have saved someone from spending too long there!

    Reply
    • It’s definitely something I would have liked to have known in advance so thought it was worth writing about! Thanks for reading!

      Reply
  8. Thanks for sharing this information! I haven’t ever thought about visiting but I’m not sure I would consider it now. I love hearing a different perspective of a place and I find it so refreshing when someone shares a negative experience because we can often just sensor out the places we didn’t enjoy!

    Reply
    • Thanks for your comment Alicia. I hoped it wasn’t too negative but I agree – it’s important to share the reality of my experience as travelling isn’t all roses and time to time places do disappoint us. Nothing wrong with that!

      Reply

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