Boracay Island Hopping + Helmet Diving and UFO w/ Premium Lunch

Boracay packs a lot into one morning. This four-to-five-hour boat trip combines swimming, snorkeling, an underwater helmet activity, a UFO inflatable ride, and a buffet lunch in one tidy outing. I like the mix of quiet beach time at Ilig-iligan Beach and the lively water activities, and I also like that boat transport, gear, lunch, a life jacket, hot kawa, and a local guide are included.

The main caution is the price and group size. At $98 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Boracay from the water, and the stated maximum of 100 people is much larger than the small-group feel some visitors may expect. Optional entrance fees, the snorkeling charge, and hotel transfers also cost extra.

Key points to know before you book

• Three different sides of Boracay: You visit the quiet Ilig-iligan Beach, marine-rich Crocodile Island, and northern Puka Shell Beach.
• Water activities are built in: Snorkel gear, a life jacket, helmet diving, and the UFO ride are included.
• Lunch is part of the schedule: A buffet with international and local dishes is served during the outing.
• Two stops cost extra: Crystal Cove Island and Magic Island Boracay are optional, with entrance fees paid locally.
• The meeting point is Station 1: You need to reach Astoria Boracay Boat Station at 8:00 a.m. because hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.
• Weather matters: The trip may be moved or refunded if poor weather prevents operation, but ordinary cancellations are not refundable.

What the $98 price really covers

The fee buys more than a simple boat ride. You get transport by boat, a local guide, a buffet lunch, life-jacket use, snorkeling equipment, helmet diving, the UFO inflatable ride, and hot kawa. For someone who wants several activities without arranging each one separately, that package has a clear advantage.

Still, I would look closely at the extra charges before booking. The snorkeling fee is listed as Php 40 per person. Crystal Cove Island and Magic Island Boracay are optional, but their entrance fees are not included. Hotel pickup and return transportation are also left to you.

That makes the final cost less predictable than the headline price suggests. If you stay near Station 1, reaching the meeting point may be simple. If you are staying elsewhere on Boracay, you need to arrange your own way there and back.

The value depends on how much you want to do. If you only want a boat ride and a beach stop, $98 may feel high. If you plan to snorkel, try helmet diving, ride the UFO, eat lunch, and visit several coastal sites in one morning, the bundle becomes easier to justify.

The available rating is 3 out of 5 from one published assessment, described as not terrible but also very average. That is useful context. The tour appears designed for convenience and variety rather than a quiet, polished private cruise.

Starting at Station 1 at 8:00 a.m.

The tour begins at Astoria Boracay Boat Station 1 in Barangay Balabag. The listed start time is 8:00 a.m., and the activity ends back at the same meeting point.

Because there is no pickup or drop-off service, plan your morning around that location. Your mobile ticket should be confirmed at booking, but you still need to arrive at the stated meeting point on time. The tour operator is CTPH TOUR.

A morning departure is practical for a half-day outing. You have time for several stops, lunch, and water activities without giving up the entire day. You can still spend the afternoon on Boracay, although the schedule may feel full if you want to linger at every beach.

The maximum group size is 100 people. The experience is described as small-group, but that maximum means the actual atmosphere could vary. Ask yourself what you want most: a social boat outing with many activities, or a calm trip with few people and plenty of unhurried beach time.

Ilig-iligan Beach, Boracay’s quieter first stop

Ilig-iligan Beach is listed as the first stop, with about 30 minutes there. It is described as one of the more remote beaches on Boracay, reached by motorbike, a short hike, or a tricycle charter when visited independently.

That remoteness is the appeal. The beach stretches for almost a kilometer, with grainy white sand and views toward several small islets. Compared with Boracay’s better-known shores, it offers a simpler setting and a chance to slow down at the start of the outing.

Thirty minutes is enough for a swim, a few photographs, or a short rest on the sand. It is not enough for a long walk along the beach. If Ilig-iligan is the stop you care about most, you may wish the schedule gave it more time.

I like the contrast between this stop and the activity-heavy parts of the day. It gives you a beach experience before the snorkeling and rides begin. Bring a dry bag or another way to protect your phone, since the tour quickly moves between boat travel and water activities.

Crocodile Island for snorkeling and marine life

The next stop is Crocodile Island, another 30-minute visit. From a distance, the uninhabited rocky outcrop is said to resemble a crocodile’s head. Its clear surrounding water and marine life make it the most obvious stop for snorkeling.

Snorkel gear is included, though a Php 40 per-person snorkeling fee is listed separately. A life jacket is also provided. That combination makes the activity approachable if you want to look around in the water without bringing equipment from home.

The island also has a beach suited to a secluded swim or group picnic. In practice, your short stop may be split between putting on gear, entering the water, snorkeling, and returning to the boat. I would not expect a long, relaxed session beneath the surface.

Crocodile Island is likely to be the highlight for anyone who values marine life more than beach lounging. Conditions can affect visibility, and the tour requires good weather. You should treat the snorkeling as a scheduled introduction rather than a full reef expedition.

Puka Shell Beach and its northern setting

Puka Shell Beach is on Boracay’s northern side and is also known as Yapak Beach. The shore is lined with coconut trees, with tropical forest just beyond the sand.

The stop lasts about 30 minutes. That gives you time to feel the character of the beach, take photographs, swim, or sit beneath the palms if space allows. It is a useful change of pace after Crocodile Island, especially if you prefer sand and scenery to organized water activities.

Do not expect a full beach day here. Thirty minutes passes quickly, particularly if the boat needs time to unload and reload everyone. The value is in seeing a different part of Boracay without arranging separate transport to the north.

Puka Shell Beach also helps explain the appeal of an island-hopping trip. Boracay is compact enough to visit several distinct shores in one morning, but each one has a different mood. This stop is more about coastal scenery and a short swim than about a major attraction or long walk.

Optional Crystal Cove and Magic Island stops

Crystal Cove Island and Magic Island Boracay are both optional. Each is allotted about 30 minutes, but neither entrance fee is included. You pay on the spot if you choose to enter.

This is where you need to watch the wording of the package. The boat may bring you near these places as part of the route, but access is not part of the base price. Carry enough Philippine pesos if you want the option to join, since the provided information does not state the entrance costs or payment methods.

Crystal Cove is presented as an optional island stop, while Magic Island is another optional visit. Since the tour already includes three listed beaches and island areas, you can decide based on your energy, budget, and interest in adding more stops.

If you are trying to keep costs controlled, skip the optional entries and enjoy the included locations. If you want to fill the morning with as many stops as possible, budget for both before you leave your hotel. The important point is that these are add-ons, not guaranteed inclusions in the $98 price.

Helmet diving, the UFO ride, and hot kawa

The activity package is the tour’s biggest selling point. Helmet diving is included, along with the UFO ride, snorkeling gear, a life jacket, and hot kawa.

The helmet activity offers a way to experience the water with a specialized helmet rather than relying only on a mask and snorkel. The supplied information does not give the exact duration, depth, or operating procedure, so you should ask the guide for those details before taking part.

The UFO is an inflatable ride pulled or operated on the water. It is aimed at fun rather than quiet sightseeing, and it gives the trip a more playful feel. If you are traveling with friends or family, this may be one of the most memorable parts of the morning.

Hot kawa adds a distinctly local touch to the package. The information does not specify where or when it is served, so consider it an included extra rather than a centerpiece of the itinerary.

These activities also explain why the tour may feel busy. You are moving between beaches, reefs, equipment, lunch, and optional stops in only four to five hours. I would choose this outing for variety, not for long stretches of peaceful swimming.

Buffet lunch with local and international choices

A buffet lunch is included, with both international and local cuisine. That is helpful on a half-day boat trip because you do not need to search for food between stops.

The buffet format is practical for mixed groups. You can choose familiar dishes or try something local, though the available information does not list the menu. If you have dietary restrictions, confirm the choices with CTPH TOUR before booking rather than assuming every need can be covered.

Lunch also gives the schedule a natural pause after the morning activities. Keep your expectations sensible: this is part of an organized excursion, not a dedicated food tour. The real value is convenience, variety, and having a meal included in a day built around the water.

Who will enjoy this Boracay outing most

I would recommend this tour to you if you want to sample many Boracay activities in a single morning. It suits first-time visitors with limited time, families looking for several forms of entertainment, and anyone who prefers an arranged schedule to organizing boats, gear, beach stops, and lunch independently.

It is also a good fit if you enjoy switching between activities. You can swim at Ilig-iligan, snorkel around Crocodile Island, walk or rest at Puka Shell Beach, try the helmet activity, ride the UFO, and eat lunch without building the plan yourself.

I would hesitate if your priority is silence, privacy, or a slow pace. The maximum group size of 100 is significant, and the three-hour-stop pattern leaves little room to linger. The single available assessment called the outing very average, which supports a measured expectation rather than a promise of a standout luxury experience.

The friendly, polite nature of Filipino service is one positive cultural note associated with the experience, but no individual guide names are provided. You should not book expecting a particular guide or a private level of attention.

Practical details that can change your day

The tour requires good weather. If conditions force cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. If the minimum number of people is not reached, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Your own cancellation policy is much stricter. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason once booked. If you cancel or request an amendment, you do not receive a refund.

Most people can participate, and confirmation is provided when you book. The mobile ticket is convenient, but it does not include transportation to or from the meeting point.

I would carry swimwear, sun protection, a towel, small Philippine peso notes for extra fees, and a secure way to protect your phone. Those items are practical suggestions based on the water-based schedule and the listed local payments, not extra services supplied by the operator.

Should you book this $98 Boracay tour?

Book it if convenience and variety matter more to you than privacy. The included boat ride, lunch, snorkeling gear, helmet activity, UFO ride, and visits to several coastal locations give you a full introduction to Boracay in four to five hours.

Skip it if you want a quiet beach day, a genuinely small boat, or complete control over your time. The $98 price can rise with snorkeling and optional entrance fees, and the maximum group size may be much larger than the phrase small group suggests.

My practical verdict is a cautious yes for a first visit with limited time. Go in expecting an energetic, average organized outing with plenty to do, not a luxury cruise or a slow exploration of every beach. Budget for the extras, arrive at Station 1 before 8:00 a.m., and book only if you are comfortable with the strict no-refund rule.

FAQ

How long does the Boracay island-hopping experience last?

The activity lasts approximately four to five hours.

Where does the tour start?

It starts at Astoria Boracay Boat Station 1 in Barangay Balabag, Malay, Aklan.

What time should I arrive?

The scheduled start time is 8:00 a.m.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the same meeting point, Astoria Boracay Boat Station 1.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

No. Pickup and drop-off transfers are not included.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A buffet lunch with international and local cuisine is included.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling gear and a life jacket are included, but a snorkeling fee of Php 40 per person is listed separately.

Are Crystal Cove Island and Magic Island included?

No. Both are optional stops, and their entrance fees are paid on the spot.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

You are offered a different date or a full refund if poor weather causes the cancellation.