If the prospect of spending your entire Boracay vacation surrounded by other tourists and countless salespeople isn’t exactly the paradise you had in mind, you are in luck. White Beach is not the only place in Boracay to relax sea-side and soak up the sun. Despite its small size (and the fact that White Beach takes up a huge chunk of beach space), there are indeed several other beaches in Boracay worth visiting as well. At least a dozen of them, in fact.
Now, don’t get me wrong. If you’re coming to Boracay, it’s almost obligatory that you spend some time on the island’s most popular beach – it is what made the island famous, after all. But if you’re visiting in peak season and you prefer a little more personal space, then you can rest assured there are plenty of other great beaches in Boracay to escape to when White Beach gets too busy. We checked out a few of Boracay’s lesser-known beaches on our trip and fell in love with three in particular, all for different reasons. So if you’re looking for quieter beaches in Boracay (still with gorgeous scenery, of course) or beaches with better waves, then you’ll want to check these out!
Related Post: A Quick Guide To Boracay’s White Beach
DINIWID BEACH
Located along the west coast of Boracay, Diniwid Beach is sort of like White Beach’s less wild, introverted little sister. Both beaches sit right alongside each other on the coast and share the same soft white sand and beautiful ocean views, but that’s pretty much where their similarities end. Diniwid Beach is a fraction of the size of White Beach and offers only a handful of options for food and accommodations, but that’s what makes it perfect for those seeking a quieter Boracay experience. During the day, you’ll find far less people here, so if your beach holiday wish list involves peaceful naps on the beach, reading a book uninterrupted, and swimming in an ocean not packed with boats, then Diniwid Beach is a must-visit.
Getting to Diniwid Beach on foot is fairly easy, especially if you’re coming from Station 1 on White Beach. From the far northern end of Station 1, follow the footpath until you reach the rocky cliff that separates Diniwid Beach from the main beach. Here, you’ll have to round the cliff on a narrow path with only a small rope to hang onto, but it’s quick and you’ll be on the other side in no time. You’ll come to a small beach inlet filled with boats, keep going and the next beach is Diniwid. The entire walk from Station 1 to Diniwid Beach takes about 10 minutes. Alternatively, if you’re coming from further away, a motor-tricycle can get you there for around 100 pesos.
From early morning until mid-afternoon, Diniwid Beach stays relatively quiet and uncrowded. You won’t hear any loud music blaring from restaurants and bars, and the lack of tourists means fewer salespeople on the beach (do still expect a few, though), but as the afternoon creeps closer to sunset, you’ll notice the beach starts to fill up as well. Like White Beach, Diniwid Beach is a prime location for sunset viewing. If you decide to stick around and watch, don’t wait too long to make your way back to White Beach. After dark, the path back gets a lot harder to see.
If you get hungry or start craving a cold drink while relaxing on Diniwid Beach, take a walk to the opposite end of the beach you entered on and follow the narrow alley to Spider House. A rustic resort and open-air restaurant made of bamboo, Spider House has amazing views and exactly the sort of laid-back vibe you’d expect from a beachside hangout. Like Diniwid Beach itself, Spider House gets more crowded at sunset, but during the day it’s a peaceful spot to relax with a fruity drink and take in the surrounding scenery. (When we visited, they even had a pen of puppies you could cuddle. I don’t know about you, but that alone guarantees Spider House a spot at the top of our list of favorite places in Boracay!)
BULABOG BEACH
Running parallel to White Beach on the opposite side of the island, Bulabog Beach is Boracay’s largest beach on the east coast. While the waters of the sea on the western coast of the island stay mostly calm and wave-free, on the eastern side you’ll get a few more waves, as well as enough wind to give kitesurfing or windsurfing a go, which is what most people head to Bulabog Beach for. (At least during the dry season, anyway.) Even if you don’t plan to surf, it’s fun to come out to Bulabog Beach just to watch. The beach itself isn’t as pretty as some of the others on the island – the sand is a bit rougher and the waves bring in lots of seaweed – but if you want to get your adrenaline pumping or catch the sunrise, Bulabog Beach is the place to be.
From White Beach, it’s only about a 10-minute walk to Bulabog Beach. Depending on where you’re coming from, however, the route can be a little confusing. (The quickest and easiest way to reach Bulabog Beach is from D’Mall in Station 2.) Unless you know exactly where you’re going, it might be easier just to hire a motor-tricycle to take you there for 50-100 pesos.
Bulabog Beach is one of the most popular spots in Southeast Asia for kitesurfing and windsurfing, so you’ll find no shortage of kite centers and schools on the beach offering lessons and equipment rentals. As we were there solely to watch, I don’t have any personal recommendations for you, but a quick walk up and down the beach will show you your options. Morning is supposedly the best time for surfing, but even when we showed up towards the end of the day, several people were still out on the water performing tricks.
Tip: If you’re not coming to Bulabog Beach to surf, you can watch all the action on the water from one of the budget-friendly cafes and bars lining the beach. Our favorite was Smoke Resto. We ate there twice on our trip!
PUKA SHELL BEACH
My favorite of all the beaches in Boracay that we visited, Puka Shell Beach is what I imagine White Beach must have been like before tourism took over. Located along the northern coast of the island, Puka Shell Beach features a long and wide stretch of white sand with a tall cliff running the length of the beach along the backside and an endless ocean stretching out in front. The beach has remained largely undeveloped – you won’t find any hotels, resorts, large restaurants, or clubs here. (But there are a few food stalls and small cafes, so don’t worry, you won’t starve.) And thanks to the ocean current, even during algae season the water here is always crystal clear. In other words, Puka Shell Beach is paradise.
Puka Shell Beach is quite a long way from White Beach, making a motor-tricycle ride necessary to reach it. (One-way from Station 1 or 2 will cost approximately 150 pesos.) The journey takes around 20 minutes and you’ll get to pass through some less-frequented areas of Boracay along the way. Motor-tricycles queue up outside the entrance to Puka Shell Beach, so you won’t have any trouble finding one to take you back to White Beach later either. As long as you leave before dark, anyway.
Puka Shell Beach is blissfully quiet in comparison to White Beach, but it’s not deserted by any means. This beach is often included on the island-hopping tours provided by boat operators in Boracay, so boats are always coming and going, but the beach is large enough and the tour boats small enough that Puka Shell Beach never feels the least bit overcrowded. The most populated section of the beach is the area just past the entrance where the cafes, shops, and sunbed rentals are located. For a more private beach experience, head down the beach in either direction until you reach the end. There you can spread out your beach towel and relax in your own little slice of paradise. (But don’t forget your sunscreen. There is very little shade!)
Similar to Diniwid Beach, Puka Shell Beach is best for those seeking a chilled out, do-nothing sort of beach day, but if you do happen to get bored, head down to the end of the beach where the caves are (to your left after you enter the beach) and explore those for a bit. Wading out in the water around the cliffs will take you around to several other tiny beaches as well. If you’re lucky, you might even be able to spot Puka’s famous resident – the flying fox. (What looked like a hundred of them were flying overhead while we were there!) Also, if you’re a seashell hunter, you’ll have better luck finding unique shells and coral here than the beaches in Boracay with finer sand. Puka Shell Beach gets its name from the crushed shells that are mixed with the sand, and if you take a walk along the shore you should be able to spot some good ones!
Have you visited any of these beaches in Boracay? Do you prefer beaches with lots of activity and energy or ones that feel like your own deserted island?
Related Post: Boracay Basics: Everything You Need To Know For Your First Trip
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