The Coolest Way to Enjoy Boracay Island – Horse Riding

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Boracay island is the hippest and coolest island-resort in the Philippines, and the coolest way to travel around the island is by horse riding. A number of horse stables are located in Yapak near Puka Beach and the Bat Caves, off Station 1 from White Beach. They are not hard to find since any tricycle driver knows where it is and can take you there for a fare of Php20 or USD0.45

For about Php500 (USD11.30) to Php600 (USD14), tourists are treated to a leisurely tour across the jungles and beaches of Boracay on horseback. This may be too expensive for both local and foreign tourists for just an hour’s ride, but it is a worthwhile experience. The local guide can add a little extra fun to the ride as they typically engage their guests in a friendly and informative conversation about the island. If you are an expert rider, the guides will even let you gallop away on your own.

Horse owners, as well as other vendors in Boracay, typically charge Western tourists higher. Vendors and merchants know that travelers come from different parts of the world to enjoy Boracay and so they must have money to spend. To save on cash and get to enjoy the island attractions to the max, Western travelers would find having Filipino friends and companions very helpful. They may also learn how to haggle, since haggling is such a common practice in Boracay. However, it is more difficult to haggle with activity packages such as horseback rides than, say, for clothes.

Riding solo or with a group, the typical horseback route is from Yapak through the jungles and to White Beach and other nearby beaches of your choice. White Beach is usually the staple destination because it is Boracay’s main attraction. It is so popular that not many tourists are even aware that there are 12 other white sand beaches in the island. The closest to the horse stables is Puka Beach, but it is not good for horse riding since the white sand is not as fine as elsewhere.

The main action truly is in White Beach. The best hotels, bars, restaurants, spas and shops are along its 4-km shoreline. White Beach is known worldwide for its talcum white sand beach that would make any tourist want to frolic on it and perhaps “bum around” for many hours. Westerners can’t resist coming back to the island several times in a year and many have decided to become “permanent tourists”, making their homes among the locals.

The only mall in the entire island is located at White Beach. It is an open-air establishment with a maze of shops and kiosks selling all kinds of goodies, beach wear and local souvenirs. Stalls or open shops without air-conditioning are where heavy haggling takes place. Besides the shops, there are also many restaurants offering different cuisines from all over the world. The cheapest and most visited food places in D’Mall are Andok’s and Chicken Inasal, which both sell grilled local chicken. Near D’Mall is another famous food place, D’Talipapa, where live fishes, crabs, and prawns are sold and ready to be cooked and eaten on the spot.

After all the fun water and island activities, imagine yourself retiring in the sunset, galloping or horse riding leisurely across Boracay’s white sandy beaches. Can there be a cooler or more romantic conclusion to your beach experience?