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Bulabog Beach

Aklan · Balabag / Boracay Station 2 area; Caticlan on mainland Panay for airport and ferry access

also known as Bolabog Beach, Kite Beach

Part of Boracay →

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

beginner-friendlyhigh crowds

On this page

The spot
Wind
Forecast
Month by month
Water
Level
The scene
Launch
Schools
Tips
Getting there
Photos
FAQ

Riding essentials

Season

Nov–Mar

Months riders and schools name

How windy

15-25 kt

Character: synoptic

Room to launch

tight

access rules on record, below

Water

mixed

29–30 °C in summer

Hazards

Reported by riders

Level

Beginner to advanced

With a caveat: see Your level

BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced

Crowds

high crowds · busy Dec Jan Feb Mar

Schools

named at this spot

From the airport

Caticlan Airport (MPH)

Transfer times under Getting there

When it fills in

There is no thermal to wait for. Amihan is a synoptic flow, so it can already be up at first light and hold all day rather than building at eleven and dying at five. Early morning is normally the strongest and cleanest window, before the lesson traffic fills the inside and the daytime chop builds. November and April are the unreliable ends where a day can simply not happen.

Nearbystraight-line distance

Backup spotsWhere riders go when the wind doesn't work here.

White Beach
Seco Island
Tambisaan Beachno page yet

The spot

Bulabog is Boracay's wind side, a reef-sheltered bay on the east coast directly across the island from White Beach.

Wind and tides

In Amihan, the northeast monsoon, the wind comes into the bay cross-on and the lagoon behind the reef stays flat, which is why the school row here is as dense as it is. Ride mid tide. Around dead low the coral comes clear and the inside is too thin to use; at high water it chops up and the sand narrows to a strip at the northern end.

Season and water

December to March is the reliable window, December to February the windiest core, with 25-30 knot spells and the odd day past 30. Water sits at 26-30 C, so no wetsuit, but booties are standard kit here rather than an optional extra, for the urchins, shells, stones and reef.

Crowding and wind shifts

What nobody warns you about is the first 80 m off the sand, which is lesson water all day, and the mid-December to mid-January crush that turns a crossed line into a real problem. When the flow goes Habagat the bay turns side-off and stops working; riders reportedly move to White Beach, though whether kiting there is allowed is unconfirmed.

The wind

locals call it Amihan / Northeast Monsoon

Direction

cross-onNE to ENE

Direction to shore

cross-on

Dominant direction

NE to ENE, with NNE the most frequent bearing across the bay. SE days happen and are noticeably gustier.

Kite sizes

567891011121314151617

metres · typical quiver highlighted

The quiver, in words

For a 75-85 kg rider in Amihan a 9 m covers the everyday 18-22 kt bracket, a 12 m handles the 12-15 kt mornings and the shoulder months, and a 7 m earns its place on the 25-30 kt days that come through in January and February.Two kites, 9 and 12, cover most of a two-week trip. School racks run the full 7-14 m range and will swap sizes for you through the day.

Character

synoptic

When it fills in: see above ↑

Average strength

18-20 kt as a main-season average; the wider reported envelope is 12-30 kt depending on the month and how the figure is counted.

Typical strength

15-25 kt through the core of the season, averaging 18-20 kt. December to February throws 25-30 kt spells and the occasional day past 30. November and April are the thin ends, where 12-15 kt days are common.

Steady through Amihan, cross-on into the bay. SE days happen and are noticeably gustier, and the bay is worse for them.

Amihan, the northeast monsoon, is the season. Usable from late October, reliable December through March, tailing off across April. December to February is the windiest core.

June and November are turnover months when the monsoon swaps direction and windless days are common. When the flow goes southwest the bay turns side-off and riding leaves Bulabog altogether.

Forecast

Live forecast

Windguru Windfinder Windy

Month by month

14 ktJan27°
13 ktFeb27°
12 ktMar27°
10 ktApr28°
8 ktMay29°
8 ktJun29°
10 ktJul29°
11 ktAug29°
9 ktSep29°
9 ktOct29°
12 ktNov28°
14 ktDec27°

avg knots per month · water °C below · season highlighted

Modelled monthly averages. Highlighted: the months riders and schools name (Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar).

Modelled from weather reanalysis on a 10–25 km grid (30-year modeled climatology (reanalysis); Caticlan is the town/airport directly across the ~2-3km Tabon Strait from Boracay Island, same open-water wind regime), not a ground station: reliable for trade and synoptic winds, understates thermal sea breezes and valley winds.

Every figure, month by monthKnots · Wind from · Air · Water

Month	Knots	Wind from	Air	Water
Jan	14.3 kt	E	27.2 °C	26.7 °C
Feb	13.3 kt	E	27.2 °C	26.7 °C
Mar	12 kt	E	27.8 °C	27.2 °C
Apr	9.7 kt	E	28.9 °C	28.3 °C
May	8 kt	E	28.9 °C	29.4 °C
Jun	8.3 kt	W	28.3 °C	29.4 °C
Jul	9.6 kt	W	27.8 °C	28.9 °C
Aug	10.5 kt	W	27.8 °C	28.9 °C
Sep	9.3 kt	W	27.8 °C	28.9 °C
Oct	9.2 kt	E	27.8 °C	28.9 °C
Nov	11.8 kt	E	28.3 °C	28.3 °C
Dec	13.8 kt	E	27.8 °C	27.2 °C

How this is modelledmodelled · 30-year modeled climatology (reanalysis); Caticlan is the town/airport directly across the ~2-3km Tabon Strait from Boracay Island, same open-water wind regime

A weather model's cell over this place, not a station on it. Good for comparing places, weaker for one beach.

The typical daily max and the direction are columns of the table above, month by month. Highlighted months are the riding season from the spot record.

WeatherSpark modeled climatology at Caticlan, Aklan (Boracay mainland gateway) · WeatherSpark (NASA MERRA-2 reanalysis, 30-yr modeled 'typical year') · 30-year modeled climatology (reanalysis); Caticlan is the town/airport directly across the ~2-3km Tabon Strait from Boracay Island, same open-water wind regime

The water

Type

mixed

Standing depth

Waist to chest deep over much of the lagoon at a workable tide, and a sandbank sits just off the school row that keeps a standable patch even when the tide is in.It is not standing depth everywhere: past the teaching zone it deepens toward the reef, and around dead low the shallow parts stop being shallow water and start being exposed coral.

Tides

Mid tide is the honest middle: enough water over the reef, still flat. Stay off for roughly 1.5 hours either side of dead low, when coral comes clear and the inside is too thin to ride.High water is choppier and eats the beach, worst on the northern section. Which tide lands in daylight shifts through the season - from December to February low water tends to fall during the day, while in March and April the daytime tide is the high one.

Temperature

29–30 °C summer · 26–28 °C winter

Modelled monthly average: 27–29 °C

Wetsuit

No wetsuit; boardshorts/swimsuit plus rashguard or long-sleeve lycra for sun protection. Reef shoes/booties are commonly recommended because of coral, shells, stones and sea urchins.

Conditions

A coral barrier reef shelters the bay from larger ocean swell, creating flat lagoon water inside and wave/chop options on or beyond the reef when wind and swell build. Water quality and beach space can vary by tide and by the post-rehabilitation beachfront layout; check the current usable launch with a beach school before rigging.

No reliable, spot-specific current pattern was found.

Your level

BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced

Beginners use the shallow, reef-protected lagoon with schools and beach assistance, but only at suitable tide and away from the most crowded lesson zone. Intermediate riders get freeride, freestyle and chop in the bay. Advanced riders use stronger-wind days, jumps and the reef/wave sections; exposed reef and peak-season traffic make judgment important.

The scene

What riders come here for

intermediatefreestyleflat waterbig airbeginner lessonsfreeridebump and jumpwingfoilingwindsurfingreef waves for experienced riders

Who it suitsbeginner

School after school along one beach, mostly international, with windsurfers and wings on the same water and a competition history behind it. The social side is real and so is the traffic; early morning is the quiet hour.

Launch and rules

three ways on to the water, and what each one asks of you

With a school or a boat

15 schools name this spot

See who they are

On your own

Room to launch: tight

Read the access rules

Somewhere else

2 spots nearby

All 2 spots within 40 km are under Nearby

Rescue

+63 917 328 6684 +63 36 288 5352 +63 995 151 4595 +63 947 1640714

Rescue — full text1 min read

No lifeguard and no rescue boat covers the bay. Cover is whatever your centre provides: the beach schools run caddies who launch and land you and keep eyes on the water during lessons, and instructors will go out for their own students.

Riding independently means arranging it yourself - store gear at a centre, tell someone your kite colour and roughly where you are going.

Habagat Kiteboarding answers on +63 917 328 6684, Isla on +63 36 288 5352 or +63 995 151 4595, Padayon on +63 947 1640714.

Launch

East-facing beachfront lined end to end with kite and windsurf centres, storage sheds and rental racks. Launching is easy with a caddie on low and mid water.At high tide the sand narrows and the northern section can shrink to a strip. The first 80 m out from the beach is teaching water, so independent riders launch, cross it and stay outside it.

Hazards riders report 20 reported

Wind

off-season or wrong-direction winds can be side-off or unsuitable at Bulabog
SE and southwest days turn the bay gusty or side-off; the spot stops working before it stops looking rideable.

Crowds and zones

crowding during peak season
crowded water and lesson zones in peak season
Peak traffic from mid-December to mid-January is heavy enough to be a hazard in itself.
Water quality has a history here: sewage outfalls into this bay drove the 2018 island closure and warnings against swimming still circulate, so clean and cover reef cuts the same day.

Bottom

sea urchins on parts of the reef - aqua booties recommended
sea urchins, shells, stones and sharp reef sections; booties recommended
Sea urchins, shells and stones on parts of the bottom - booties are standard kit here, not an optional extra for beginners.

Waves and currents

reef and coral exposure near low tide
high-tide beach space can nearly disappear on the northern section
exposed coral/reef and very shallow water around low tide
reduced launch space at high tide
reef waves and breaking surf outside/on the reef are for experienced riders only
Coral and reef come clear around dead low tide, and the forgiving shallow inside turns sharp.
Beach space shrinks at high tide, worst at the northern end, which pinches launches and landings.
Waves break on and outside the reef when swell is running - experienced riders only, and a long way from help.

Other

sun exposure in tropical conditions
The first 80 m off the beach is lesson water: crossed lines, walking students, kites going down.
Tropical sun and no shade once you are on the water.

Rules & access

1 min read

designated kite zones enforced by the local kite association to separate riders and swimmers
No official 2026 Malay LGU or kite-association ordinance enforcing formal kite zones at Bulabog was found. The beach is public, with sections worked by individual kite schools alongside open space for other riders; lesson-zone boundaries are set and posted by the schools themselves rather than by a single enforced association system.
The inshore band, roughly the first 80 m off the sand, is school teaching water; riders are expected to cross it and stay outside it.
Riders are reportedly asked to register with the local watersports association before a first session. No municipal ordinance backing this was found in 2026, so ask at the centre you store gear with.
2026: no Malay municipal ordinance creating formal kite zones at Bulabog was found. Zoning on the sand is set by the schools that work it, not by the LGU.
Since the 2018 rehabilitation a 30 m buffer from the waterline is kept clear of structures island-wide, which is why racks and shelters sit well back off the beach.
2026 arrival fees: terminal PHP 150 each way at Caticlan/Cagban or PHP 100 in and PHP 50 out at Tambisaan, environmental fee on arrival PHP 300 for foreign visitors and PHP 150 for Filipinos, boat ticket PHP 50-100.

Access rules drift faster than anything else we hold — check locally, and propose an edit if this has changed.

Schools that ride here

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Rider tips

Ride early. The wind is usually strongest and cleanest before the lesson traffic fills the inside.
Stay off the water for the 1.5 hours either side of dead low, when the reef is up, and wear booties whatever your level.
Cross the first 80 m fast; that strip belongs to the schools.
From December to February the daytime tide is usually the low one, in March and April the high one. Plan the session around it.
Store gear at a beach centre and use a caddie for the high-tide launches when the sand narrows. An 80 kg rider gets through most of a trip on a 9 and a 12.
Rinse and disinfect reef cuts the same day, and book the crossing knowing the port changes with the season: Cagban in Amihan, Tambisaan in Habagat.

Getting there

Airport

Godofredo P. Ramos Airport / Caticlan Airport (MPH); Kalibo International Airport (KLO) is a longer mainland transfer option.

Route

Fly to Caticlan (MPH), 7-10 minutes by road to the jetty, then the crossing.Seasonal routesIn Amihan, roughly October to March, boats run Caticlan to Cagban; in Habagat, April to September, the crossing switches to Tabon and Tambisaan on the east side.Transport and costsFrom the port it is a van or e-trike to Bulabog. 2026 fees: terminal PHP 150 each way at Caticlan/Cagban or PHP 100 in and PHP 50 out at Tambisaan, environmental fee PHP 300 for foreign visitors and PHP 150 for Filipinos, boat ticket PHP 50-100.Alternative from KaliboFrom Kalibo (KLO) add 60 km and 1.5-2 hours by van or bus at PHP 180-250. Packaged door-to-door transfers from Caticlan start around PHP 950 per person.

Transfer

45-65 minutes door to door from Caticlan: 7-10 minutes to the jetty, 10-20 in the fee queues, 10-15 on the boat, 5-20 to the hotel. From Kalibo, 2.5-3 hours.

Cost level

2026: mid-to-high by Philippine island standards. Shared Caticlan airport-to-hotel transfer packages start around PHP 800 per person; doing the legs yourself with local transport is cheaper and slower.

Staying

Bulabog has beachfront kite hotels, guesthouses and school-linked accommodation for riders; White Beach and the Station 1-3 areas offer the largest range of resorts, nightlife and restaurants within a short walk or e-trike ride.

No-wind days

White Beach for the swim and the sunset, paraw sailing, SUP and kayaks, snorkelling and diving, island hopping, cliff diving, parasailing and jet skis where they are legal and running, the Mount Luho viewpoints, and the restaurants and nightlife on the west side.

Photos

FAQ

When is the best time to kitesurf at Bulabog Beach?

The Amihan northeast monsoon runs roughly November to March, with December to February singled out by local schools as the windiest core.

Is Bulabog Beach suitable for beginners?

Yes, the shallow reef-protected lagoon and heavy concentration of local schools make it a major beginner and freestyle-progression base, though lessons work best away from the low-tide reef exposure.

What is the wind like at Bulabog Beach?

Wind is the cross-onshore Amihan monsoon from the northeast to east-northeast, typically 15-25 knots with stronger 20-30 knot spells in peak months.

Are there kite schools and rental at Bulabog Beach?

Yes, the beachfront is lined with schools and rental operators offering lessons, gear and storage, though it gets crowded in peak season.

What hazards should riders know about at Bulabog Beach?

The main hazards are exposed coral reef and sea urchins near low tide, tight launch space at high tide, and heavy crowding during the December-March peak.

The bigger pictureEverything about Boracay

Last updated: August 2026