Kites over Bulabog — Photo: Roman Nuritdinov

Kites over the lagoon at Bulabog Beach, through the trees. — Photo: Alexey Komarov

Shallow water and seagrass off Bulabog Beach. — Photo: Dinesh Valke

A kite off Bulabog Beach, flags along the sand. — Photo: Roman Nuritdinov

Philippines

Jan · 89% rideable

Bulabog, Boracay

What it's actually like

This is the kite beach of Boracay: flat, chest-deep water in a lagoon behind the reef. The wind is cross-onshore from November to April and February is the pick. Ride mid tide and stay outside the first 80 m of lesson water.

Mabuhay, which is welcome in Filipino. Bulabog is the kite beach of Boracay, on the east coast across the island from White Beach. A shallow lagoon about 2.6 km long and 700 m wide runs along it, closed off by a coral barrier reef that breaks the ocean swell. Inside the reef the water is flat and waist to chest deep at a workable tide. The Amihan, the north-east monsoon, blows cross-onshore, funnelled onto the beach by the island’s northern and southern hills.

November to April are the windy months, and February is the pick: since 2017, nine days in ten have cleared 12 knots for three daylight hours. The mean runs from 15 to 17 knots, with spells of 25 to 30 from December to February, and in February the windy days peak from 8am to noon. North-east to east-north-east is usual; south-easterly days are gustier. In the Habagat, the south-west monsoon, kiting moves to White Beach. A February morning on the lagoon is pure hooning.

Tide decides your session. Mid tide is the sweet spot, flat with enough water over the reef. At low tide the lagoon drops and the coral comes clear. At high tide the water chops up and the beach narrows, and the northern section can almost disappear, leaving you little room to set up. From December to February low water tends to fall during the day. In March and April the daytime tide is the high one, so plan your sessions round the tide table.

The whole beach is your launch, lined with kite and windsurf centres, storage sheds and rental racks. The first 80 m off the sand is lesson water all day: launch, cross it quickly and ride outside it. If you are new, ask for help to launch and land; storing kit with a centre buys you a caddie for that. When a swell runs, waves break on and outside the reef. They are for experienced riders only, and a long way from help.

Rules and safety. Stay off the water for at least an hour and a half before and after low tide. Wear booties: sea urchins, shells, stones and sharp reef lie on parts of the bottom. No lifeguard and no rescue boat covers the bay; each centre covers its own students and storage customers. If you ride on your own, tell someone your kite colour and where you are going. In an emergency in the Philippines call 911 for ambulance, fire and police. Ciriaco S. Tirol Hospital in Balabag, the barangay of the beach, runs a 24-hour emergency room.

Caticlan airport is about 2 km from the jetty, and the boat to Boracay takes 10 to 15 minutes. Kalibo is a longer road transfer to the same jetty. Boats normally run from Caticlan to Cagban; in the south-west monsoon the crossing usually moves to Tabon and Tambisaan. Private cars do not cross to the island; tricycles and e-trikes cover it. Bad weather can halt the crossing, so leave yourself slack before a flight. Everyone entering the Philippines registers free at etravel.gov.ph within 72 hours of departure.

Padayon Kiteboarding is an IKO Pro Center with an all-Filipino team, teaching kite and wing. Habagat Kiteboarding Center, one of the first schools on the island, is an IKO kite centre on the beach with rooms, and its storage comes with a caddie. Isla Kitesurfing has taught on the lagoon since 2003. Freestyle Academy charges PHP 12,000 for each IKO beginner level and PHP 36,000 for levels 1 to 3. Beginners start with a school in the flat water inside the reef.

When it's good

Is it for you?

LevelBody dragger to kiteloop
Flat, chest-deep water inside the reef; clear the first 80 m of lesson water.
WaterMillpond to head-high
Flat water behind the reef at mid tide; high tide brings bump and jump.
LaunchMind your feet
Sand at the launch, but coral shows near low tide; wear booties for urchins.
WetsuitBoardies
Sea about 28 °C in January: boardies weather, with a rash vest at most.
AprèsGoes off till sunrise
22 bars, 7 clubs and 151 places to eat within 5 km: the night's yours.
CostNot checked yet

Where to launch

Conditions change. Check local rules and conditions before you ride.

Launch
School
Stay

Bulabog Beach

The lagoon inside the reef, chest deep and flat.

For kite, wing. Directions: Google Maps · Apple Maps

In an emergency

Emergency 911

Getting there

Nearest airportCaticlan or Kalibo. Caticlan and Kalibo are the two closest airports, and Caticlan is only a short boat ride from the island.
Getting aroundBoat, then road. Caticlan airport is about 2 km from the jetty, then the boat to Boracay takes 10 to 15 minutes.

Stay, learn and rent

Full details for every place are in the Pocket Guide.

The Lazy Dog Bed & Breakfast

A pet-friendly B&B steps from the beach, from dorm beds to private cottages, with its own café and room to work on the no-wind days.

Book on Booking.com

7Stones Boracay

$$$

Oceanfront apartments and suites right on Bulabog, many with sea-view balconies over the water, and a 26 m pool. The concierge books kite and windsurf sessions.

Book on Booking.com

Aissatou Beach Resort

Habagat’s sister resort on south Bulabog, steps from the kite beach, with sea or garden view rooms and penthouse apartments with their own kitchens.

Book on Booking.com

Book links to Booking.com and Agoda may earn WindChaser a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Pocket Guide

Bulabog, Boracay, in your pocket

Everything you need on the beach in one PDF. Save it to your phone and it works with no signal.

01The month: wind, conditions and water02Every hazard, and the local rules03The launches, with maps04Getting there with kit05Stays, schools and kit hire06Where every score comes from

Bulabog, Boracay

When it's good

Is it for you?

Where to launch

Bulabog Beach

In an emergency

Getting there

Stay, learn and rent

The Lazy Dog Bed & Breakfast

7Stones Boracay

Aissatou Beach Resort

Padayon Kiteboarding

Habagat Kiteboarding Center

Freestyle Academy Kitesurfing

Isla Kitesurfing

Habagat Kiteboarding Center

Padayon Kiteboarding

Isla Kitesurfing

Bulabog, Boracay, in your pocket

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