Boracay Travel FAQ

3-4 days covers the core experience — White Beach Stations 1-3 walking, sunset paraw, island hopping (Crystal Cove + Magic + Crocodile + Puka Beach), Ariel's Point cliff diving, and D'Talipapa seafood pick-and-cook. Korean tourists typically do 3-4 nights as the standard length. Honeymoon couples extend to 5-7 nights — adds Bulabog kitesurfing (Nov-Apr), Mt. Luho ATV viewpoint, 2-hour Filipino hilot spa, helmet diving, and optionally a Caticlan mainland Tibiao River day trip. The 7km × 2km island doesn't reward stays longer than 7 nights for most travelers — at that point combine with Cebu or Palawan for a longer Philippines itinerary.

November-May Amihan dry season ideal (27-32°C / 80-90°F, low humidity, calm seas). January-February driest. December Christmas-NYE peak prices (+50-100% above shoulder). May Korean Golden Week peak prices. June-October Habagat monsoon brings daily afternoon thunderstorms but hotels 30-50% cheaper. August-September typhoon risk window (best avoided). November and late October are excellent value windows — same Amihan weather as January at 40% less hotel cost. Bulabog kitesurfing season Nov-Apr only.

Very safe — Boracay reopened October 2018 after the 6-month government rehabilitation closure, with 24/7 tourist police patrol on White Beach and strict environmental enforcement. Petty theft on beach is rare but lock valuables in hotel safe. The main risks are tourist overcharging (tricycle fares, market scams, beach tout instant-tours), not violent crime. Drug penalties are extreme — death penalty for trafficking. Bulabog east coast has stronger currents than White Beach (kitesurfing zone, not for casual swimming). Sunburn is #1 traveler health risk — strong UV index 9-11 year-round.

Not at all — the Philippines is one of the world's largest English-speaking countries (90%+ English proficiency). All Boracay hotel staff, restaurant servers, tour operators, spa staff, and tricycle drivers speak conversational English. Korean has growing presence due to Korean tourist density — many Station 2 restaurants offer Korean menus, and Korean signage common at D'Mall. Learning 'Salamat' (thank you), 'Magandang umaga' (good morning), and 'Magkano?' (how much) is appreciated. The 'po' politeness marker after sentences (like 'salamat po') is uniquely Filipino respect.

Visa-free 30 days for most passports (Korea, Japan, US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia, NZ). eTravel QR code mandatory since 2023 — register free at etravel.gov.ph 1-3 days before flight, show QR at immigration. 6-month+ passport validity + return ticket required. Cash PHP 600 ($12) for environmental fee + Caticlan port fee on arrival. Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+ mandatory at all marine zones (chemical sunscreens banned). DEET insect repellent for dengue prevention. Travel insurance with medical + cancellation coverage essential (typhoon-season Habagat monsoon disrupts tours).

Philippine Peso (PHP, ₱). PHP 56 ≈ $1 (April 2026). Hotels + mid-range restaurants accept Visa/Mastercard. Markets, D'Mall stalls, e-trikes, beach vendors, and small shops are cash-only. ATMs at D'Mall (BPI + BDO + Metrobank) charge PHP 250 ($5) per foreign transaction (Wise + Revolut + Charles Schwab refund this fee — recommended for Philippines). Avoid airport currency exchange (5-7% off mid-market). Boracay environmental fee PHP 200 ($4) + Caticlan port fee PHP 400 ($7) cash-only at arrival.

Boracay: 7km × 2km island with the world-class White Beach + tourist-focused infrastructure + Korean honeymoon density, $70-450/day. Best for pure beach focus + first-time tropical Asia visit. Cebu: 4,500 km² island with adventure activities (Oslob whale sharks, Kawasan canyoning), Spanish colonial heritage, and lower prices, $40-250/day. Best for adventure + culture + Philippines value. Phuket: 543 km² Thai island with Phi Phi access + Old Phuket Town heritage + larger restaurant scene, $60-480/day. Best for variety + Thai cultural depth. Bali: cultural + spiritual + surf + rice terraces, $50-380/day. Best for digital nomad + wellness + temple culture. Boracay wins on single signature beach quality; Cebu wins on adventure value; Phuket wins on variety; Bali wins on culture.

Caticlan International (MPH) is the closer airport — direct flights from Seoul (4.5h, Cebu Pacific + Jin Air + Asiana + Philippine Airlines, $300-600), Tokyo (5h via Manila), Hong Kong (3.5h), Singapore (4h). Kalibo (KLO) is the cheaper alternative — 1.5-2 hour van ride to Caticlan ferry port. Direct Kalibo flights from Seoul (4h, $200-450), Shanghai, Beijing, Taipei. From US/EU: connect via Manila (MNL) or Hong Kong/Singapore + Caticlan or Kalibo. No direct from Australia (connect via Manila or Cebu Pacific). Year-round availability with seasonal price swings — Dec-Jan peak, Sep-Oct Habagat discount.

Budget: $70/day (Station 3 hostel + e-trike + Filipino BBQ + free beach + 1 group island hopping). Mid-range: $150/day (4-star Station 2 + island hopping + Sutil Filipino BBQ + Ariel's Point + sunset paraw). Luxury: $380-700+/day (Shangri-La Punta Bunga, Discovery Shores, Crimson 5-star + private guide + helmet diving + spa + resort fine dining). Honeymoon: $300-1,500/day depending on resort tier. Christmas-NYE week +50-100% premium. Korean Golden Week (May 1-7) +30-50% premium. Caticlan flight 30-40% more expensive than Kalibo.

Hostels: $20-50/night (Frendz Resort Station 3, Mad Monkey Hostel Station 2). 3-star Station 2: $80-180 (Astoria Current). 4-star Station 1 + 2: $130-300 (Henann Regency, Boracay Mandarin, Henann Garden, Henann Lagoon). 5-star Station 1: $300-700 (Discovery Shores, Movenpick). Ultra-luxury: $560-980 (Shangri-La Punta Bunga private cove). Crimson Resort + Spa ($400-1,000) all-villa with private pool options. Christmas-NYE +50-100%. Habagat May-October -30 to -50% off peak.

Sunset paraw sail: $12-16 (PHP 600-800) most-iconic Boracay activity. Island hopping: $30-50 (PHP 1,500-2,500) pre-booked Klook, $50-70 walk-up. Ariel's Point cliff diving day tour: $50 (PHP 2,800) all-inclusive 7 hours with buffet + unlimited drinks. Helmet diving (Sea Walking): $45 (PHP 2,300) including photos, non-swimmer friendly. Parasailing: $50 solo / $75 tandem. Bulabog kitesurfing lesson: $80-120 half day (Nov-Apr only). Mt. Luho ATV: $30-50. Caticlan Tibiao River day trip: $80-150.

Service charge often included (10% at sit-down restaurants — check bill). Additional 5-10% optional if service was great. E-trike: PHP 20-50 ($0.40-1) rounding up. Spa massage: PHP 100-200 ($2-4) cash tip. Hotel bellhop: PHP 50-100 per bag. Tour guide: PHP 200-500 ($4-10) per day. Paraw boat captain: PHP 50-100. Filipino tipping culture is moderate — appreciated but not mandatory. Cash tips preferred over card add-ons (often don't reach staff).

Boracay environmental fee PHP 200 ($4) cash-only at ferry. Caticlan port fee PHP 400 ($7) cash-only at ferry + airport. Caticlan airport departure tax PHP 300 ($6) at check-in. E-trike overcharge — settle price upfront (Station-to-Station PHP 100-150, Puka roundtrip PHP 250-400). Beach tout instant tours 1.5-2x normal price — skip and pre-book Klook. Jet ski fake-damage scams: skip jet ski entirely. D'Mall ATM foreign card fee PHP 250 ($5) per transaction. Holy Week (varies late March-mid April) hotel +30-50%. Christmas-NYE +50-100%.

Hybrid — hotels + mid-range restaurants + luxury spas accept Visa/Mastercard. Markets + D'Mall stalls + e-trikes + beach vendors + small shops are cash-only. Carry PHP 1,000-3,000 cash daily. ATMs at D'Mall (BPI, BDO, Metrobank). Foreign card ATM fee PHP 250 ($5) per transaction. Wise + Revolut + Charles Schwab refund this fee — strongly recommended for Philippines. USD widely accepted at hotels at slightly worse rates than peso exchange.

Caticlan International (MPH) is the closer airport — 5 min from Caticlan Jetty + 10-15 min ferry to Cagban Port + 10-min trike to hotel = 30-45 min total. Caticlan flights $80-180 from Manila, $300-600 direct from Seoul. Kalibo (KLO) is the cheaper alternative — 1.5-2 hour van to Caticlan ferry ($6-10) + same ferry + trike = 2.5-3 hours total. Kalibo flights $50-100 cheaper than Caticlan. Pre-book Klook airport-to-hotel transfer $12-20 to skip the airport tout overcharging.

E-trike (electric tricycle) is Boracay's only motorized transport — PHP 30-100 ($0.60-2) per ride along the main road. Shared e-trike PHP 30 ($0.60) along main road, private trike Station-to-Station PHP 100-150 ($2-3), round-trip Puka or Diniwid PHP 250-400 ($5-8). Walking on White Beach (Stations 1-3 = 4km). Boracay is 7km × 2km — walking + e-trike covers everything. No cars or jeepneys on the island (2018 environmental rule). No traffic stress.

Not in Boracay — e-trike is the only transport. Grab (Southeast Asia's Uber) operates in Manila and Cebu but not in Boracay. Settle e-trike price upfront with the driver (start PHP 50, max PHP 150 for cross-island private). Walking on White Beach is the default. Hotel-called e-trikes are at standard rates. Tourist overcharge common — name the price first.

Walking on White Beach (Station 1 north to Station 3 south = 4km, ~50 min). Walking the back road takes 30 min. E-trike PHP 30-50 ($0.50-1) shared along main road, PHP 100-150 private. If you base in Station 2 (centerline), you can walk anywhere without transport. Bulabog Beach east coast is 10-min walk through D'Mall from Station 2. Puka Beach + Mt. Luho require e-trike (15-20 min north).

Diniwid Beach: 10-15 min walk north from Station 1 via beach at low tide, or 5-min e-trike (PHP 100 / $2) via main road. Spider House Resort wooden overhang is the iconic sunset photo spot. Catimam Beach (further north of Diniwid): 10-min e-trike (PHP 100-150) — quieter alternative to White Beach + Diniwid. Puka Shell Beach: 15-min e-trike (PHP 250-400 round trip). All accessible from Station 1 base.

Caticlan mainland day trips (Tibiao River Adventure, Aklan rural villages) require ferry to Caticlan + van east 2 hours. Pre-booked day-tour packages ($80-150) include round-trip ferry + van + activities + lunch. Independent travel possible but coordination-heavy — use Klook or KKDay day-tour packages. Boracay-Caticlan ferry: 10-15 min, PHP 100 + PHP 200 port fee + PHP 75 environmental fee = PHP 375 ($7) one-way.

Boracay's tourism-economy dining doesn't have a single hyper-local signature dish. The canonical experience is the D'Talipapa Seafood Market pick-and-cook (Lapu-Lapu grouper, tiger prawns, king crab, lobster, scallops, mantis shrimp). The Filipino canon also covers chicken inasal (charcoal-grilled marinated chicken, $5-8 at Andoks or Mang Inasal), lechon (whole roasted pig, $10-15), halo-halo (Filipino shaved ice + ube + leche flan + sweet beans + jackfruit + evaporated milk, $3-6 at Mañang Aida), adobo (chicken/pork stewed in soy + vinegar, $5-8), sinigang (sour tamarind-broth soup, $4-7), and the calamansi muffin from Real Coffee (PHP 150 / $3 canonical breakfast pastry).

D'Talipapa Seafood Market behind D'Mall is the defining experience — pick fresh Lapu-Lapu grouper (PHP 800-1,200/kg), tiger prawns (PHP 1,200-1,800/kg), king crab (PHP 1,800-2,800/kg), or lobster (PHP 2,800-4,500/kg) from the wet market stalls. Walk 100m to one of 8-10 cook-to-order restaurants (Plato D'Boracay, Wakay Seafood House, Paluto sa Talipapa) for PHP 100-200 ($2-4) cook charge per dish. Total dinner for two: $30-60. Cleaner mid-range alternatives: Manong ($12-30, Station 2). Honeymoon resort fine dining: Sirena at Shangri-La Boracay ($60-150, Mediterranean-Filipino tasting menu) is the celebration-night canonical.

Sutil Restaurant (D'Mall, $8-18) is the canonical first-night Filipino BBQ — chicken inasal + lechon kawali + sinigang + halo-halo. Mang Inasal (D'Mall, $3-8) is the chain-restaurant unlimited-rice value play. Andoks (multiple branches, $3-7) is the take-out whole roast chicken option. Plato D'Boracay (behind D'Mall, $10-25) covers the broadest Filipino menu (kare-kare oxtail, bistek, adobo, sinigang) in a single sit-down location. For halo-halo: Mañang Aida (D'Mall, $3-7) is the canonical Filipino dessert spot.

Lemoni Café (Station 2, $8-18) is the canonical Western-friendly brunch spot since 2000 — homemade salads, sandwiches, pancakes, eggs benedict, and proper espresso drinks. Real Coffee + Tea Café (Station 1 + 2, $5-12) is famous for the calamansi muffin canonical (PHP 150 / $3) + Filipino breakfast silogs. Both have strong Wi-Fi for digital nomads. Honeymoon couples typically rotate Lemoni for brunch + Real Coffee for take-away calamansi muffins. The morning queue at Real Coffee Station 2 starts by 08:30.

Backpacker $15-25/day: street food + Mang Inasal + Andoks + D'Mall casual. Mid-range $35-65/day: Sutil Filipino BBQ + Lemoni Café brunch + 1 D'Talipapa seafood + 1 sunset cocktail. Luxury $80-180/day: Shangri-La Sirena tasting $60-150, Discovery Shores Indigo $40-90, Crimson Saffron $50-120, Aria Italian $30-60. Specific items: chicken inasal PHP 250-400 ($5-8), halo-halo PHP 180-280 ($3.50-5.50), D'Talipapa pick-and-cook $30-60 per couple, San Miguel beer PHP 80-150 ($1.60-3), calamansi juice PHP 80-150 ($1.50-3).

Smoke Restaurant (D'Mall, $7-16, since 2007, open until 02:00) is the canonical Korean + Filipino late-night — Korean BBQ samgyeopsal, bibimbap, kimchi jjigae alongside Filipino classics. Most-recommended Korean spot for honeymoon couples + travelers craving home flavor. Seoul Garden Korean BBQ (Station 2, $15-35) offers Korean BBQ unli (unlimited 2-hour) PHP 999 ($18) per person — value-play for groups of 4+. Many Station 2 hotels (Henann Regency, Movenpick, Henann Garden) offer Korean menu items on request, reflecting Korean tourist density.

Station 1 (premium north + wider beach + luxury 5-star, $250-700/night) for honeymoon. Station 2 (lively center + D'Mall walking + mid-range 4-star, $80-300) for first-visit + convenience. Station 3 (budget south + cheaper, $30-150) for backpackers + budget. Diniwid Beach (north of Station 1 + quieter + iconic Spider House sunset, $140-400) for romantic alternative. Shangri-La Punta Bunga Cove (separate private beach, $560-980) for ultra-luxury all-inclusive honeymoon. Bulabog Beach (east coast + kitesurf-focused) for kitesurfers only. Standard formula: 1-2 nights luxury (Station 1 or Punta Bunga) + 2-3 nights convenience (Station 2).

Shangri-La Boracay Resort & Spa ($560-980/night, Punta Bunga Cove private beach, 219 villas, the honeymoon canon). Discovery Shores Boracay ($420-840, Station 1, 88 all-suite, social honeymoon pick). Crimson Resort & Spa Boracay ($400-1,000, near Punta Bunga, all-villa with private pool options, alternative quiet luxury). Movenpick Boracay ($350-700, Station 1, 312 rooms, family + Korean food on-site). Henann Regency Resort & Spa ($180-420, Station 2, 300+ rooms, value-luxury). Discovery Primea and Henann Garden Resort are the family-luxury picks.

Yes — Philippines allows Airbnb. Limited Boracay options compared to hotels (most accommodation is purpose-built resort or hotel). Booking.com + Airbnb + Agoda are the main platforms (Agoda often best inventory for Philippines). The 2018 government rehabilitation reduced informal accommodations. Some Station 2-3 condo buildings prohibit short-term rentals — confirm before booking. For 5+ night stays, a Station 2 condo Airbnb can be cheaper than hotels.

Frendz Resort Boracay (Station 3, $20-50) — Boracay's most-popular hostel + private rooms. Mad Monkey Hostel Boracay (Station 2, $25-55) — young social party crowd. Casa Pilar Beach Resort (Station 3, $30-70) — budget guesthouse beachfront. Limited backpacker options compared to Cebu or Manila — Boracay's tourism economy is resort-oriented. Most hostels in Station 3 cluster around the Cagban Port + south side, walkable to White Beach in 5-10 min.

Christmas-NYE peak (Dec 22-Jan 5): 8-12 weeks ahead — rates triple. Korean Golden Week (May 1-7): 6-8 weeks ahead. Chinese + Korean Lunar New Year (varies, early-mid Feb): 6-8 weeks ahead. Holy Week (varies late March-mid April): 8-10 weeks ahead. November-April dry season: 4-6 weeks ahead for popular Shangri-La, Discovery Shores, Crimson. May-October Habagat: flexible booking + travel insurance with cancellation coverage (Habagat tour cancellations 20-40%). Bulabog kitesurfing accommodation (Nov-Apr): 2-4 weeks ahead.

Filipino fingerfood (kamayan style — eating with hands on banana leaves) is acceptable at heritage Filipino restaurants. Service charge often included (10% at sit-down restaurants — check bill). Tip 5-10% additional optional. Family-style sharing common at Filipino tables — order 4-5 dishes for the table and eat from the center. Toast 'Mabuhay!' (literally 'live!') with San Miguel beer (Philippines' national beer). Don't blow on hot food (considered rude). 'Pagamit po' (excuse me, may I) is polite when navigating crowded tables.

The 2018 government rehabilitation reshaped White Beach behavior. Strictly enforced rules: 1) No smoking on White Beach — fines PHP 5,000 ($100). 2) No drinking on the beach front-line (30m closest to water) — drink at bars/restaurants only. 3) No eating on the beach front-line — eating moved back from the sand. 4) No littering — heavy fines PHP 1,000-5,000. 5) No single-use plastics — bring reusable bottles and bags. 6) Bars close by 23:00, music stops 22:00 (the pre-2018 dawn-patrol party scene is over). 7) Daily visitor cap of 19,000 + environmental fee PHP 200 at Caticlan ferry. Compliance is high; the island is dramatically cleaner than pre-2018.

90%+ Catholic Filipino (one of the world's only majority-Catholic Asian nations). Boracay has St. Patrick's Catholic Church in the central village — free entry, modest dress (cover shoulders + knees). Sunday Mass at multiple times (06:00, 07:30, 09:00, 11:00, 17:00). Christmas Eve midnight Mass (December 24) is the year's biggest religious gathering, open to non-Catholic visitors. Filipinos are warmly welcoming to tourists at religious sites. Don't take selfies during Mass. Filipino Catholic Christmas (Misa de Gallo, December 16-24 dawn masses) is the canonical Boracay Christmas atmosphere.

'Filipino time' — appointments often run 15-30 min late, embrace it. 'Po' politeness marker after sentences ('salamat po' = thank you respectfully) shows respect. Karaoke is the Filipino national pastime — beach bars and restaurants often have karaoke nights. Catholic country means Sunday Mass affects business hours (many shops 09:00-18:00 Sun, vs 09:00-22:00 weekdays). Filipinos are generally very warm + service-oriented — match the energy. 'Sanook' (Thai concept) doesn't apply but Filipino equivalent is 'mabuhay' (live + celebrate) — Filipinos avoid heavy or aggressive conversations.

Service charge often included (10% at sit-down restaurants — check bill). Additional 5-10% optional if service was great. E-trike: PHP 20-50 ($0.40-1) rounding up. Spa massage: PHP 100-200 ($2-4) cash tip. Hotel bellhop: PHP 50-100 ($1-2) per bag. Tour guide: PHP 200-500 ($4-10) per day. Paraw boat captain: PHP 50-100. Filipino tipping culture is moderate — appreciated but not mandatory. Cash tips strongly preferred over card add-ons (often don't reach staff).

The Philippines' biggest cultural festival — held in nearby Kalibo (Aklan capital, 1.5h van from Boracay) every 3rd weekend of January. A 9-day Catholic-indigenous celebration honoring Santo Niño (Holy Child Jesus) with massive street parades, body paint, drumming, and dancing. Indigenous Ati tribal heritage interpreted through Spanish Catholic colonization. The peak Sunday (3rd Sunday of January) is the most-spectacular street parade. Boracay travelers can day-trip across the ferry for the festival. Hotels in Boracay see modest premium during festival weekend.

December 22-January 5 is the year's biggest tourist crush and maximum hotel pricing (+50-100% above shoulder). Korean honeymoon couples + Filipino domestic + European Christmas escape all converge. Filipino Catholic Christmas atmosphere is canonical — parol star lanterns at every restaurant, Misa de Gallo (December 16-24 dawn masses), and Boracay's largest beach NYE party at Station 2 with island-wide fireworks. Book everything 8-12 weeks ahead. Dec 1-19 is the smart window — same Amihan weather, 60% of holiday-week pricing.

The Philippines' biggest domestic Catholic holiday — Filipinos return home from US, EU, Middle East. Boracay sees 40-50% Filipino + OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker) returnees. Hotel rates spike +30-50%, ferry queues at Caticlan port peak at 60-90 min. Filipino Catholic atmosphere is canonical — Stations of the Cross processions, midnight Easter Vigil at St. Patrick's Church, and quieter beaches (Filipinos at family gatherings inland). Korean Golden Week early-arrivers also stack the demand.

The first week of May brings the year's biggest Korean tourist surge — Shangri-La Punta Bunga, Discovery Shores, Crimson, and Movenpick all fill 6-8 weeks ahead. Korean restaurants (Smoke Resto, Seoul Garden) packed nightly. Korean menus on every Station 2 restaurant. Korean Lunar New Year (varies, early-mid Feb) is the second Korean peak. Boracay positions itself as a Korean honeymoon destination — the Korean tourist density at Station 2 D'Mall hits 50-70% during Golden Week and Christmas-NYE.

Boracay Mango Festival (late May) — celebrates the Philippines' world-famous sweet mango harvest with D'Mall mango shake stalls, mango sticky rice, and mango halo-halo flooding every restaurant. Funboard Cup kitesurfing competition (late January-February) at Bulabog Beach — international kitesurfing pros + spectator-friendly. Misa de Gallo (December 16-24) — Filipino Catholic dawn masses at St. Patrick's Church. National Heroes Day (last Monday of August) + Independence Day (June 12) are minor Filipino holidays without major Boracay impact.

Tropical — warm year-round (27-32°C / 80-90°F highs). November-May Amihan dry season: low humidity, calm seas, perfect beach weather. June-October Habagat monsoon: daily afternoon thunderstorms 14:00-17:00, mornings often clear, sea rough on east coast (Bulabog). August-September typhoon risk window. Water temperature 27-29°C year-round. UV index 9-11 (extreme) year-round — reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+ mandatory. Bulabog Beach east coast wind season Nov-Apr (kitesurfing capital of Asia).

Light beach attire + swimwear + reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+ + DEET insect repellent (dengue prevention). Modest cover-up for St. Patrick's Catholic Church + rural Aklan village visits. Cash PHP for e-trike + market + D'Mall + tips + ferry port fees. Type A/B/C plug (220V) — most US/EU plugs work without adapter. Quick-dry dry bag + waterproof phone case for boat tours (Ariel's Point + island hopping). Smart casual for Aria Italian + Spider House sunset + Hama Japanese + resort fine dining. Hat + sunglasses (UV 9-11 year-round).

Mixed — modern Station 1 + 2 luxury resorts (Shangri-La, Discovery Shores, Movenpick, Henann) are wheelchair-accessible with elevators, ramps, accessible bathrooms. White Beach sand is challenging for wheelchairs. Island hopping and Ariel's Point require boat transfer and mobility. Most 5-star resorts offer accessible day-pass options for non-guests. Caticlan Airport is accessible. E-trikes are not wheelchair-accessible — pre-arrange resort transfers for accessibility. Big Buddha-equivalent St. Patrick's Church has ramp access. Limited accessible tour operators — coordinate through hotel concierge.

Caticlan Airport (MPH) storage PHP 200-400 ($4-8) per 24 hours (basement level). Most hotels store luggage free for guests on check-in/check-out days. D'Mall area has private storage at small business offices PHP 100-200 ($2-4) per day. Day-tour operators (island hopping, Ariel's Point) include luggage storage at pickup hotel during the tour day. No major left-luggage facility at Station 2 D'Mall — use hotel storage.

Mercury Drug + Watsons + Generika Drugstore at D'Mall + Station 2 — over-the-counter medications + first aid. Boracay Family Clinic + Aria Clinic for tourist medical consultations ($30-100). For serious medical issues, Caticlan mainland or Manila/Cebu private hospitals. Travel insurance with medical coverage essential — dengue (DEET repellent mandatory), motorbike + boat accidents, sunburn severe enough for ER. 'Bali belly' equivalent ('Boracay tummy') common first 1-2 days — bottled water + busy stall street food + Imodium in your kit. Emergency: 911.