15 Things to Know Before Visiting Boracay – Boracay Island After Reopening

 

Boracay after reopening is a topic that we are excited to write about since we had the opportunity to visit before and after. We are so excited to share this article with you guys about things to know before visiting Boracay Island. Since Boracay Island is one of the top tourist destinations in the Philippines.

But first we will talk about Boracay and why Boracay Island got closed for 6 months from April to October 2018. After this we will tell you our impressions of Boracay after the reopening: things that improved and things that still have to be improved.

According to the president of the Philippines: Rodrigo Duterte. Boracay became very dirty. That’s why the government decided to close for 6 months from April to October 2018. It was a shock to everyone. Not only to Filipinos, but more so to tourists and travellers who are expecting to travel to Boracay.

The closing for several months will mean that each of the hotel properties in the island will be inspected and will need to pass a new set of operating standards (focusing mainly on disposal and sewage and drainage).

Read here Boracay itinerary and how to get from Caticlan airport to Boracay!

Boracay has been the party island of the Philippines for a really long time. And it wouldn’t be like this if Boracay is just a simple island. In fact, Philippines is composted of more than 7000 islands that one might think it’s not that easy to pick the top party island.

However, Boracay is one of the best waters we’ve ever seen, and even with the many islands we’ve traveled to in the Philippines, this still remains as one of our top favorites.

Just check how blue the water is.

Also, Boracay has these banger sunsets too.

Read here where to stay in Boracay Island and How to get to Boracay Island!

Read here which one is the best station in Boracay and where to eat in Boracay Island!

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Boracay Island After Reopening: Things to Know Before Visiting Boracay Island

And if you think this is all for the worst, then check out the next few paragraphs. Here are the new changes in Boracay since it reopened on -:

1. Hotel Booking is required

You’ll now need a hotel booking of at least a day before you can enter Boracay island. Once you get to Caticlan port where you have to take the boat to the main Boracay island, there will be a check point to check your names and booking. You can read a full blog post how to get to Boracay Island.

2. Properties That Did Not Pass the new Standards were Closed

Properties and even coves that did not pass the new standards set were closed Around Boracay island you’ll see signs that have been put up to show that properties have passed the checking of the government. Some of the coves that we’ve visited before have been closed and there’s no sign that they are reopening. This is for the best, because Boracay is one of the most touristic islands in the country, and it has been easy for other properties to build on the island without having to pass strict regulations when it comes to their garbage disposal and sewage. And this hurts the island. Check here the list of authorized hotels in Boracay Island!

3. Drinks Aren’t Allowed in Beach Area

You can no longer go around walking in the beach or the island with beers in your hand. Now if this is your idea of a party, and we have certainly done it many times in some places, you can’t do it anymore in Boracay. There are police and even locals who work in the island to inform you that this is not allowed anymore (in case they see you doing it), and that if you don’t follow, you will get fined. Beers are also highly prohibited to be brought to the beach. However, Boracay is still the best party island and even if you can’t roam around with beers anymore. There are still a lot of bars and restaurants where you can have plenty of beers and dancing and parties. This is actually good because so many people will just leave their beer bottles lying around especially when they finish drinking and these can add up to the islands. Click here to get a discount booking your airport transfers in Boracay with Klook!

4. Sunbeds are not allowed in the beach anymore

There are too many hotels in the island. That the white sand beach Boracay is super popular for can be easily hidden with all the sunbeds lying around. Now that sunbeds are not allowed anymore. You can still sit down and sunbathe with your towels on the beach. The best part is you can actually see all the white sand now, and if you want to play games like volleyball or other games with your friends, or just walk around in the beach, enjoying the sand on your feet, then you have a lot more chances to do so. Read here how to get from Kalibo to Caticlan!

5. License for Disco Bar and Restaurants

Depending on the license of the disco bar or drinking bars, some close earlier than the others. When we were going around to see what the island looked like at night, we noticed that some of the bars were closing earlier than the others. In this way everything is controlled better. Most of the bars closing late charge an entrance fee to go inside. Also, if you are traveling with children, take note that some bars will of course have an age minimum so you might not be able to take them to some of these bars. Some places will have their bars section and puff bags outside the bars, and you can take younger children here because the music and dancing will be inside the bars.

More About Boracay Island After Reopening Things to know Before Visiting Boracay Island

6. No more plastic in the island

Now this is one of the biggest and happiest changes made in the island. And surprisingly, this is actually implemented very well. Apart from very small juice stands from locals that are almost street vendors (and maybe don’t need permits since they are very small), food establishments are not using plastic with their food anymore. Hopefully in our next visit plastic is banned 100 % in Boracay Island. And hope other touristic places in the Philippines follow and do the same in the future. It would be amazing! Big establishments like Mcdonalds, Jollibee and KFC (there’s a lot more), and small fruit and coffee shops and the restaurants plastic free. It’s a really good step forward not only to cleanliness but also to helping the environment in general.

7. Drones are not allowed, unless you get a flying permit

This is something big for a lot of travelers, as drone prices start to go down, and now a lot of travel enthusiasts are starting to have drones as well. There are policemen going around the island to make sure the new changes are being implemented, and it’s hard to risk flying the drone without being seen by them. It’s best to actually secure a permit to let yourself fly freely. If you want to fly your drone in Boracay Island you have to go to the Barangay and ask for the permits. In our staying in Boracay we didn’t do since it was too windy for flying the drone. And we were allowed to fly the drone inside a couple of properties that we were staying. They are very strict and always that we flew the drone someone was taking a look of it everything is correct!

8. No Pets Are Allowed in Beach Area

Well to be honest this is the least favorite for myself. I consider that if you are bringing your pet to the beach you will be able to keep it clean everything. But as some people don’t clean it. it’s forbidden to bring pets to the beach area.

9. Not Smoking in Beach Area

There are a few areas allowed for smoking in Boracay Island. It’s forbidden to smoke inside the beach area. You will see the police is around checking just in case you do it! Well for me it’s great having free smoke around the beach.

10. No Fire Dancers in the Beach

No fire dancers are allowed in the beach area after 9 pm. At one point maybe it can be forbidden but for now you can still enjoy them until that time.

11. No Sand Castles Are Allowed

Sandcastles aren’t allowed anymore in the beach area. I loved it the sandcastles. The part that I didn’t like to see kids asking for money. I don’t like supporting these activities. Kids (around 8-10 years old) rent their sandcastles for tourist in exchange of a fee. Still we could see a few of them around the beach even the police is always watching.

12. Water Sports Not Allowed in the Beach Area

Watersports like jetskies aren’t allowed so close to the beach area. You will have to keep a distance of 100 meters at least based in the new rules in Boracay Island.

13. Electric Jeepney

One of the most impressive activity that they are testing to implement in Boracay is the use of the electric jeepneys. We discovered this while waiting for a tricycle ride on one of our beach visits. A jeepney stopped but offered us to ride for free. These jeepneys were all electric, and the government is currently testing them on a few stops in the island, mostly offered for locals and students for free. There were also a few rides with local payment, which if started to be be implemented in the whole island, will create an amazing impact not only to the environment in general but also for Boracay to serve as a good example to the other parts of the Philippines. Click here to get a discount booking your airport transfers in Boracay with Klook!

14. Roads Need to Improve Soon

There are roads that aren’t fixed yet. And this is of course a result of various implementations in the island. It would be good to have these road constructions finished immediately especially at the end of Station 2 and Station 1 as this is a huge problem with traffic and makes the roads dirty and full of smoke. This increases the pollution in that area.

15. Not Allowed Barbecues on the Beach

Barbecues are not allowed in the beach anymore to keep it clean. Dinner at the beach with a barbecue is amazing and so peaceful to do it. But sorry not in Boracay! The restaurants can only serve outside the beach, by the restaurant premises, to keep it clean. You can also get AirBnB for $30-40 USD per night in Boracay Island.  Click here to get a discount on your first booking! Click here to book your accommodation with Booking and Agoda in Boracay Island. Click here if you want to get your discount booking activities in Boracay Island, the Philippines with Klook! What do you think about all the things to know before visiting Boracay Island? Have you been in Boracay Island after reopening? Let us know how you like this post in the comments below. Feel free to use our links with discounts for Booking, Agoda, Airbnb and Klook. Using our links you will help us to continue with the maintenance of the website and it will not cost you anything. Thanks for the love guys

Boracay Island After Reopening: Things to Know Before Visiting Boracay Island

And if you think this is all for the worst, then check out the next few paragraphs. Here are the new changes in Boracay since it reopened on -:

1. Hotel Booking is required

You’ll now need a hotel booking of at least a day before you can enter Boracay island. Once you get to Caticlan port where you have to take the boat to the main Boracay island, there will be a check point to check your names and booking. You can read a full blog post how to get to Boracay Island.

2. Properties That Did Not Pass the new Standards were Closed

Properties and even coves that did not pass the new standards set were closed Around Boracay island you’ll see signs that have been put up to show that properties have passed the checking of the government. Some of the coves that we’ve visited before have been closed and there’s no sign that they are reopening. This is for the best, because Boracay is one of the most touristic islands in the country, and it has been easy for other properties to build on the island without having to pass strict regulations when it comes to their garbage disposal and sewage. And this hurts the island. Check here the list of authorized hotels in Boracay Island!

3. Drinks Aren’t Allowed in Beach Area

You can no longer go around walking in the beach or the island with beers in your hand. Now if this is your idea of a party, and we have certainly done it many times in some places, you can’t do it anymore in Boracay. There are police and even locals who work in the island to inform you that this is not allowed anymore (in case they see you doing it), and that if you don’t follow, you will get fined. Beers are also highly prohibited to be brought to the beach. However, Boracay is still the best party island and even if you can’t roam around with beers anymore. There are still a lot of bars and restaurants where you can have plenty of beers and dancing and parties. This is actually good because so many people will just leave their beer bottles lying around especially when they finish drinking and these can add up to the islands. Click here to get a discount booking your airport transfers in Boracay with Klook!

4. Sunbeds are not allowed in the beach anymore

There are too many hotels in the island. That the white sand beach Boracay is super popular for can be easily hidden with all the sunbeds lying around. Now that sunbeds are not allowed anymore. You can still sit down and sunbathe with your towels on the beach. The best part is you can actually see all the white sand now, and if you want to play games like volleyball or other games with your friends, or just walk around in the beach, enjoying the sand on your feet, then you have a lot more chances to do so. Read here how to get from Kalibo to Caticlan!

5. License for Disco Bar and Restaurants

Depending on the license of the disco bar or drinking bars, some close earlier than the others. When we were going around to see what the island looked like at night, we noticed that some of the bars were closing earlier than the others. In this way everything is controlled better. Most of the bars closing late charge an entrance fee to go inside. Also, if you are traveling with children, take note that some bars will of course have an age minimum so you might not be able to take them to some of these bars. Some places will have their bars section and puff bags outside the bars, and you can take younger children here because the music and dancing will be inside the bars.

More About Boracay Island After Reopening Things to know Before Visiting Boracay Island

6. No more plastic in the island

Now this is one of the biggest and happiest changes made in the island. And surprisingly, this is actually implemented very well. Apart from very small juice stands from locals that are almost street vendors (and maybe don’t need permits since they are very small), food establishments are not using plastic with their food anymore. Hopefully in our next visit plastic is banned 100 % in Boracay Island. And hope other touristic places in the Philippines follow and do the same in the future. It would be amazing! Big establishments like Mcdonalds, Jollibee and KFC (there’s a lot more), and small fruit and coffee shops and the restaurants plastic free. It’s a really good step forward not only to cleanliness but also to helping the environment in general.

7. Drones are not allowed, unless you get a flying permit

This is something big for a lot of travelers, as drone prices start to go down, and now a lot of travel enthusiasts are starting to have drones as well. There are policemen going around the island to make sure the new changes are being implemented, and it’s hard to risk flying the drone without being seen by them. It’s best to actually secure a permit to let yourself fly freely. If you want to fly your drone in Boracay Island you have to go to the Barangay and ask for the permits. In our staying in Boracay we didn’t do since it was too windy for flying the drone. And we were allowed to fly the drone inside a couple of properties that we were staying. They are very strict and always that we flew the drone someone was taking a look of it everything is correct!

8. No Pets Are Allowed in Beach Area

Well to be honest this is the least favorite for myself. I consider that if you are bringing your pet to the beach you will be able to keep it clean everything. But as some people don’t clean it. it’s forbidden to bring pets to the beach area.

9. Not Smoking in Beach Area

There are a few areas allowed for smoking in Boracay Island. It’s forbidden to smoke inside the beach area. You will see the police is around checking just in case you do it! Well for me it’s great having free smoke around the beach.

10. No Fire Dancers in the Beach

No fire dancers are allowed in the beach area after 9 pm. At one point maybe it can be forbidden but for now you can still enjoy them until that time.

11. No Sand Castles Are Allowed

Sandcastles aren’t allowed anymore in the beach area. I loved it the sandcastles. The part that I didn’t like to see kids asking for money. I don’t like supporting these activities. Kids (around 8-10 years old) rent their sandcastles for tourist in exchange of a fee. Still we could see a few of them around the beach even the police is always watching.

12. Water Sports Not Allowed in the Beach Area

Watersports like jetskies aren’t allowed so close to the beach area. You will have to keep a distance of 100 meters at least based in the new rules in Boracay Island.

13. Electric Jeepney

One of the most impressive activity that they are testing to implement in Boracay is the use of the electric jeepneys. We discovered this while waiting for a tricycle ride on one of our beach visits. A jeepney stopped but offered us to ride for free. These jeepneys were all electric, and the government is currently testing them on a few stops in the island, mostly offered for locals and students for free. There were also a few rides with local payment, which if started to be be implemented in the whole island, will create an amazing impact not only to the environment in general but also for Boracay to serve as a good example to the other parts of the Philippines. Click here to get a discount booking your airport transfers in Boracay with Klook!

14. Roads Need to Improve Soon

There are roads that aren’t fixed yet. And this is of course a result of various implementations in the island. It would be good to have these road constructions finished immediately especially at the end of Station 2 and Station 1 as this is a huge problem with traffic and makes the roads dirty and full of smoke. This increases the pollution in that area.

15. Not Allowed Barbecues on the Beach

Barbecues are not allowed in the beach anymore to keep it clean. Dinner at the beach with a barbecue is amazing and so peaceful to do it. But sorry not in Boracay! The restaurants can only serve outside the beach, by the restaurant premises, to keep it clean. You can also get AirBnB for $30-40 USD per night in Boracay Island.  Click here to get a discount on your first booking! Click here to book your accommodation with Booking and Agoda in Boracay Island. Click here if you want to get your discount booking activities in Boracay Island, the Philippines with Klook! What do you think about all the things to know before visiting Boracay Island? Have you been in Boracay Island after reopening? Let us know how you like this post in the comments below. Feel free to use our links with discounts for Booking, Agoda, Airbnb and Klook. Using our links you will help us to continue with the maintenance of the website and it will not cost you anything. Thanks for the love guys