Boracay Island has been a Kitesurfing destination for about ten years and a tourist destination for many more. It is one of the most well-known Kitesurfing spots in South East Asia, together with Mui Ne in Vietnam.
Because the island itself is one of the country’s top tourist destinations, general infrastructure here is excellent. When Kitesurfing Boracay Island you can choose from many schools along the well-known Bulabog beach, all offering whatever you may need or want.
Accommodations in all price ranges and any kind of food of high quality are offered in the island’s restaurants. If you want to Kitesurf during the day and enjoy some western-style Nightlife at night in the Philippines, this is your choice.
To get there from Manila you can either fly into Caticlan or Kalibo. Caticlan is close to the island of Boracay. From Kalibo you need to go to Caticlan first, which will take you anywhere from 1.5 hours upwards. From Caticlan, you hop on a ferry boat which will take you to Boracay island, a short trip as Boracay is not far away from mainland Panay. Of course there are also boats from other places going here, but this option is not for most people as it will take longer and might require a little bit of local knowledge too.
The setup for Kitesurfing on Bulabog beach is onshore wind. Be aware that the beach gets very small when there is a high tide, so it can be tricky to launch then. With a low tide, there is no water and it is hard to impossible to get on the water. Bulabog beach is a bit longer than one kilometer. The water is usually choppy; there is a small wave out at the reef to mess around with. The ground is rocky with a couple of urchins around as well.
Kitesurfing Boracay involves crowds, especially during Christmas / New Year, Easter week, and Chinese New Year. There are a couple of other beaches nearby if one wants to dodge the crowds. Also, there is Union Beach which is not on Boracay but on mainland Panay with plenty of space. Kiteboarding season – Amihan – goes from mid November to March. Boracay is located at the East side of the windy area in the Sulu Sea which is further explained in the article about Wind in the Central Part of the Philippines and gets a good amount of wind regardless of the direction of the Amihan. Some schools operate in Habagat season as well, then on the other side of the island on famous white beach.
All the tourism does not only come with advantages, and besides the crowds on the water as well as on land there are lots of people selling stuff; this is not the place to find a tranquil atmosphere.
Another problem which the local kitesurf community has been tackling for years is the sewage pipe which ends right in the bay in front of Bulabog beach. Alas, local officials have been unable to change anything about it.
Beginners are having a hard time learning here due to the busy nature of the spot and its general setup. So, contrary to what you may have read online; Boracay is not the best place in Asia to learn to kite. If you are searching for a true tropical paradise island, keep looking.
Boracay is a great place for experienced riders who want to show off their tricks and ride amongst other good riders, pushing each other to new levels.
The great things about Boracay are in the general tourism infrastructure, not only with accommodation and food but also other activities such as diving, wakeboarding, jetskiing, and shopping. You name it, it’s there. This is unparalleled with other tourist destinations, let alone Kitesurfing destinations in the Philippines.
Positiv:
Negativ:
© 2014 – 250k Kiteboarding
