What's on in Boracay, Philippines through the year

Peak crowds — Ati-Atihan, Amihan season

• Festival

  Ati-Atihan

  12–21 JanMajor festivalCrowdedBook early

  Kalibo, the mainland gateway, gives over ten days to drumming and soot-painted street dancing before the third Sunday, and the island runs its own version after. Flights in fill first. Source ↗

Still on: Amihan season (1 Nov – 30 Apr (usually)), Kite season on Bulabog (15 Nov – 15 Apr (usually))

Busy — Amihan season, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Nature

  Green algae on White Beach

  15 Feb – 31 May · usuallyAlgae & red tide

  A fringe of green weed, locally lumot, grows along the shallows in the hot months and is raked off each morning. Harmless, natural, and not what the brochures show.

Still on: Amihan season (1 Nov – 30 Apr (usually)), Kite season on Bulabog (15 Nov – 15 Apr (usually))

Peak crowds — Holy Week, Amihan season

• Holiday

  Holy Week

  20 Mar – 20 Apr · usuallyCrowdedBook early

  The island's biggest domestic week: ferries from Caticlan queue, the beach path is shoulder to shoulder and rooms go at holiday rates. Book both the flight and the boat. Source ↗

Still on: Green algae on White Beach (15 Feb – 31 May (usually)), Amihan season (1 Nov – 30 Apr (usually)), Kite season on Bulabog (15 Nov – 15 Apr (usually))

Peak crowds — Holy Week, Amihan season

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Green algae on White Beach (15 Feb – 31 May (usually)), Holy Week (20 Mar – 20 Apr (usually)), Amihan season (1 Nov – 30 Apr (usually)), Kite season on Bulabog (15 Nov – 15 Apr (usually))

Busy — End-of-school-year break in Philippines, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Green algae on White Beach (15 Feb – 31 May (usually))

Busy — End-of-school-year break in Philippines, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Habagat swell on White Beach

  1 Jun – 15 Oct · usuallyMonsoon

  The wind swings round and pushes chop and seaweed onto the famous side while Bulabog goes glassy. Rates fall hard and the boat operators move their moorings across the island.

• Hazard

  Typhoon season

  1 Jun – 30 Nov · usually

  Aklan sits inside the storm track. The practical effect is the coastguard suspending the Caticlan crossing for a day or two at a time, so leave slack before an onward flight. Source ↗

Quiet — school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Habagat swell on White Beach (1 Jun – 15 Oct (usually)), Typhoon season (1 Jun – 30 Nov (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Habagat swell on White Beach (1 Jun – 15 Oct (usually)), Typhoon season (1 Jun – 30 Nov (usually))

Busy — Term 1 wellness break in Philippines, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Habagat swell on White Beach (1 Jun – 15 Oct (usually)), Typhoon season (1 Jun – 30 Nov (usually))

Quiet — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Habagat swell on White Beach (1 Jun – 15 Oct (usually)), Typhoon season (1 Jun – 30 Nov (usually))

Busy — Amihan season

• Season

  Amihan season

  1 Nov – 30 Apr · usuallyDry seasonCrowded

  The northeast wind puts White Beach in the lee: flat water, long sunsets and every boat running. It is also the price peak, and the Christmas fortnight is the dearest week of the year.

• Season

  Kite season on Bulabog

  15 Nov – 15 Apr · usuallyWind season

  The amihan blows straight across the reef flat on the other side of the island, and Bulabog turns into a wall of kites from December. Schools are full over the new year.

Still on: Typhoon season (1 Jun – 30 Nov (usually))

Peak crowds — Amihan season, Year-end break in Philippines

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Amihan season (1 Nov – 30 Apr (usually)), Kite season on Bulabog (15 Nov – 15 Apr (usually))