Boracay travel tips for big groups

Just came back from another Boracay trip. It has become a yearly thing for me and my friends to hit Boracay in summer. I always have the deadliest travel hangover after every Bora trip and maybe it’s because time spent with your bestest buds at a nice beach with booze all day and your favorite playlist spells a lot of FUN. My blues would usually last for a week or so and I can’t stop wishing that I’d be brought right back at that moment when I was just setting my office’s OOO or boarding the plane in high spirits and excited of the happy tipsy beach feels that await would us.

Because of this, I’ve decided to share with you tips for big groups who are planning a Boracay trip with friends soon.

Take the ship getting there and the plane coming back

If you don’t catch a seat sale, you can always travel by sea. 2go has a daily schedule to and from Caticlan which costs a little over P1,000. The ship leaves Batangas Port at 9PM and arrives in Caticlan at 7AM making it highly convenient especially for employees. No need to file a leave as long as you reach Batangas Port before 9PM. You sleep the entire night and when you wake up, you’re smack right in Caticlan! Take the cabin for 6 if you’re in a group for a more comfortable experience.

The schedule from Caticlan to Batangas is not as favorable because you’ll have to burn almost the whole day traveling which is why I suggest that you prioritize the return flight when you book.

Where to stay in Boracay

In this post, I’ve listed down some of my recommended accommodations in Boracay. But for big groups, I suggest that you book in La Fiesta. It’s a beachfront resort in Station 1, a few steps beside Starbucks and Gerry’s Grill. The beachfront rooms are taken quickly so be sure to reserve ahead of time. When you book, be specific that you want the beachfront room with a veranda. Their rooms can accommodate as many as five people. La Fiesta is not yet on Agoda so reservation is done through text or email.

What to do in Boracay
There is a range of activities to do but if you’re like my group, we simply just want to drink, toast, swim, eat (on repeat) the entire day.

Drink, toast, swim. There’s only one place for these three activities and that’s been tried-and-tested for years now – Mamita’s! It’s a restaurant in Station 1 right after you pass by the stretch of shaded trees past Astoria and right before Obama Grill. It’s perfect because the water here is cleaner than in Stations 2 and 3. Beach beds are also available for a minimal amount. If you want to drink, go for the bottle because it’s cheaper. But if you’re buying by the glass, I say try the classic margarita! And for your meal? Their crispy pata is a winner.

Wait, I haven’t even mentioned the best part – you can play your own playlist! I’m not sure if this applies to all customers but in our case, we’ve always been allowed to connect our players every time we’re here. Drinks, the beach, great friends, and great music – all in Mamita’s!

When in Boracay, eat. Only you care too much about your tummy so forget about the diet and for goodness’ sake, E-A-T! For big groups, the paluto at the Talipapa is always a great option. Here, you get to eat fresh sea foods for almost half the price in Manila. For our group of 8, our Paluto bill would usually fall between P250-300 per person and this includes dishes of crabs, shrimps, tuna, mussels, rice, etc.

For breakfast, Real Coffee is always a favorite. We always swing by for pancakes and to make an advance order of kalamansi muffin for pasalubong. By the way, Real Coffee has moved to the second level of Sea World in Station 2.

Watch the sunset and take pictures at Puka Beach. This is probably the only non-White Beach activity that we do. Puka Beach is the less busy stretch on the other side of the island. There are no restaurants except for small sari-sari stores. The sand here is not as white and fine as that in White Beach and the waves are stronger which may not be conducive for swimming but still; we come here for quiet sunset sessions. And for photographers, the golden hour is best witnessed in this part of the island. No need for filters or post prod! To come here, take a trike from D’Mall. Price is usually P150 per trike one way.