Island life succumbs to the changing of the wind that creates two seasonal weather patterns, locally defined as amihan (cool southeast wind) and habagat (southwest monsoon).
Peak and Super Peak Seasons (November-May)
The peak and super peak seasons fall on amihan (November-February) and the summer (March-May) when Boracay enjoys its most sunny weather, with temperatures from 77 to 90°F (25 to 32°C) and little to no rainfall. The sea is calm, skies are clear, the island is lively and pulses with people. Cool winds blow through the island from November to February, while heat and humidity herald the sultry summer months of March to May. Owing to the higher demand, accommodations and travel services (like domestic airfares) are more expensive during this season. If you’re arriving in Boracay at this time, it would be prudent to book your hotel room far in advance so as to give you the best chance at securing your preferred accommodations.
Boracay has steadily grown in popularity such that the island teems with masses of people during the so-called super peak season which falls on holidays: Christmas and New Year (December 21-January 3), Chinese New Year (sometime in February, depending on the lunar calendar), and Holy Week (March or April, depending on the year).
On White Beach, crowds are concentrated mostly around Boat Station 2, the middle part of the beach where D’Mall is located. Even so, those who wish to leave the throngs behind need only walk towards either Station 1 or Station 3 to find the quieter parts of the island. If you wish to stay away from the hordes, book a hotel near White Beach Stations 1 or 3, Bulabog Beach, Diniwid Beach, Lapus-Lapus Beach, Punta Bunga Beach, or one that overlooks the beach on the cliffs of Balinghai or on the mountaintop of Mt. Luho. There are also many lower-cost hotels that can be found off the beaten path along the main road or on the inner part of the island. Given the variety of types and prices of available accommodations, it’s well worth your time to walk around and ask to see rooms at several places before settling down on a single resort or other.
Lean Season (June-October)
The lean season falls on the habagat, with temperatures from 82 to 100°F (28 to 38°C), which can sometimes drop to 68°F (20°C) during the frequent but often harmless tropical storms. The waters, especially on White Beach, form small waves that invite the body-surfer enthusiast; the paraws (traditional double-outrigger sailboats) and other water activities that usually dominate White Beach during the amihan move to Bulabog Beach, which in turn has much calmer waters during this time of the year. Rainclouds hang heavy on the horizon and stunning sunsets become a rarity, but you can still see a terrific show of shades and colors in the sky that mark the transition of day to night.
An added benefit to traveling during the lean season is that some hotels drop their prices dramatically. Many budget travelers take this opportunity to stay in posh hotels whose rates were unaffordable during the amihan season. While it’s true that outdoor activity slows down to accommodate the rainy weather, there are still activities to be enjoyed and people come to Boracay to take advantage of discounted rates and the more relaxed setting of an un-crowded island.
Next: Explore the Island
This Boracay Guest Guide is authored by Camilla Collings for Boracay Magazine, copyright 2014. All rights reserved. No part of this section may be copied-and-pasted into any Boracay promotional material, or altered to hide traces of plagiarism, without permission from the copyright owner. This article may be shared as long as links kept intact, and proper acknowledgements made.
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