Famous for its white-powder beaches and crystal-blue waters, Boracay is a butterfly-shaped island 315 kilometres (195 miles) south of the Philippine capital, Manila. Shangri-La's Boracay Resort and Spa is located on the hilly and verdant northwestern tip of the island. A balance of urban comforts and natural wonders, the island offers colourful shops and restaurants, a wide variety of beach activities and water sports as well as pristine beaches, scenic nature trails and diverse flora and fauna.Plug TypeLanguageTagalog, Aklanon and EnglishPopulation16,000Time ZoneGMT + 8 hoursMeasuresMetric SystemVoltage220 voltsMobile PhonesGSM 900 / 1800Most foreign visitors do not require visas for stays of less than 21 days. Three-month visas can be obtained in advance and cost around USD 35. Hong Kong and Macau residents holding SAR or BNO passports are permitted to enter the Philippines without a visa for a stay of not more than seven days.The Official Website of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of the PhilippinesThe national currency of the Philippines is the Philippine peso (PHP). Coins come in denominations of 5, 10, and 25 centavos, 1, 5, and 10 pesos. Notes are in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 pesos.
Cash and travellers cheques can be exchanged in licensed exchange offices and at international hotels.
Here are the most recent exchange rates for some common currencies.PHP 1.00 equals:
.02
US Dollar (USD)
.02
Australian Dollar (AUD)
.15
Chinese Yuan Renminbi (RMB)
.01
Euro (EUR)
.01
British Pound (GBP)
.17
Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)
.99
Indian Rupee (INR)
1.92
Japanese Yen (JPY)
.03
Singapore Dollar (SGD)
Hotel and resort establishments apply 12% EVAT plus .5% local tax for Rooms, 2% local tax for Food and Beverage.
Items sold at the shops are inclusive of EVAT.
A service charge of 10 percent is usually added to hotel and restaurant bills. Otherwise, a 10 percent tip is appropriate for waiters.Bank Hours9am to 4pm, Monday through FridayOffice Hours9am to 5pm, Monday through FridayShop Hours10am to 10pm, Monday through SundayA health certificate is not required for entry into the Philippines.
We recommend drinking bottled water during your stay, and complimentary drinking water is provided daily by Shangri-La's Boracay Resort and Spa for guests' convenience.
Lightweight and comfortable clothing are ideal for daily wear during the summer. As tropical weather can be unpredictable, it is advisable to have a light jacket or windbreaker on hand. For formal occasions, men wear short sleeved polo shirt with slacks or dress shorts while women wear summer dresses.There are two season in Boracay: Amihan and Habagat. Amihan, which means "northeast monsoon" in the local language, generally lasts from November to February. During Amihan, the skies are generally clear with cool breezes and calm seas. From March till June, the weather becomes hotter with little rain. Habagat, or southwest monsoon, from July to October, sees more rain and stronger winds.