Shangri-La Boracay

Why book?

For a lush island resort set between two pristine private beaches, with a phenomenal treetop restaurant, endless family-friendly activities, and mansion-like villas overlooking the sea.

Set the scene

There’s no other Boracay island resort quite like the Shangri-La. The sprawling hillside property looks like a screensaver, with verdant gardens, private sea-view villas, and two powdery coves—Punta Bunga and Banyugan. It exudes romance, making it the go-to spot for honeymoons and destination weddings. Other than couples and newlyweds, affluent Filipino families come here to escape the Manila hustle while tech execs unwind on their time off.

The backstory

Shangri-La, a luxe Asian hotel brand, welcomed its fifth property in the Philippines when it opened the Boracay outpost in 2009. It was (and still is) the island’s only five-star destination resort, set on a 30-acre estate along the secluded north shore, far from White Beach’s wall-to-wall hotels and bars. The Shangri-La group tapped Jim Freeman, then a project lead at WATG architecture firm, to spearhead the site planning. Before breaking ground, he trekked through the dense jungle with machete-wielding guides to scope out the terrain and hand-pick each villa plot. Freeman envisioned the steep bluff as a natural amphitheater and arranged the villas on staggered terraces that hug the headland to ensure unobstructed ocean views over the roofs below. Meandering golf cart paths swerve around ancient trees and limestone rocks for an immersive experience, revealing glimpses of the sea through the forest.

The rooms

All 219 rooms and villas, imagined by Singapore-based LTW Design Works, honor Filipino craft traditions, with coral stone walls, abaca fabrics, capiz shell light fixtures, and wooden oar art pieces. Standard rooms and suites are located in the hotel building—and every room has access to golf cart chauffeurs. The villas are the star of the show thanks to their exclusive perks: private pools, 24/7 butlers, and smartphones pre-loaded with staff contacts and room service menus. Couples love the loft villas’ second-floor bedrooms and lower-level living rooms, kitchenettes, and cantilevered infinity pools. Tip: Request loft villa #25 as it’s more elevated above the ocean. For sweeping bird’s-eye views, honeymooners book the adults-only treehouse villas on the highest hillside. The floor plan is swapped (living room upstairs, bedroom on the bottom), and they’re the only villa type with an open-air hot tub instead of a pool.

Spacious one- or two-bedroom pool villas are tucked away in a tranquil garden, with two outdoor showers and a pergola for al fresco dining. The quiet two-bedroom beach villa, ideal for families traveling together, has its own sandy stretch. Politicians and corporate bigwigs check into the palatial presidential villa, an 18,590-square-foot compound (yes, you read that right) with a one-bedroom main villa attached to a gigantic living room, plus a second standalone suite. It can even accommodate 40-person private dinners on the poolside patio.

Food and drink

The all-day Vintana Asian Café really shines at breakfast due to its buffet of Filipino favorites. For lunch, classic comfort food and refreshing Tiki cocktails are served poolside at Cielo, a casual restaurant and beach bar. Sunset is a must at Sirena’s chic, cliffside cabanas overlooking Banyugan Beach. Its seafood-focused menu excels at oysters, caviar, and the fresh catch of the day, while meat lovers shouldn’t miss the Balinese java-glazed pork ribs. The panoramic treetop restaurant, Rima, is so outstanding that I had dinner there two nights in a row. Reserve a table by the railing and splurge on steakhouse dishes like bone marrow beef tartare, A5 wagyu tenderloin, and truffle tagliatelle. Can’t decide? Ask the gracious waitstaff for their recommendation—they’ll never steer you wrong. Just don’t fill up before ordering the local Davao dark chocolate mousse for dessert. Note: Sirena and Rima both welcome families, but the intimate atmosphere is better for adults.

The spa

CHI is a nearly 6,000-square-foot sanctuary, surrounded by a peaceful koi pond. Ten standalone spa villas (five for couples and five for singles) encircle a pool reserved only for spa guests. The Philippine hilot massage is a miracle-worker. Coconut oil and warm banana leaves are placed on your body; strips that turn brown signal energy blocks or imbalances. The deep-tissue technique, using thumbs and knuckles, relieves these pain points. For glowing skin, get the plumping thirst relief facial, which involves a nori algae mask and organic marine products only found at Shangri-La Boracay.

The neighborhood/area

It takes planes, vans, and boats to get here, but it’s worth the journey. It also helps that the transfers are taken care of. You’re picked up at Caticlan Airport and driven to Mabuhay Center, Shangri-La’s private lounge at the port. Then, you cruise in a speedboat for 15 minutes to the resort jetty. Though most guests are content staying at the serene Shangri-La, if you want to venture out, Puka Shell Beach is just down the road, and Boracay’s famous White Beach—a packed nightlife district—is 20 minutes away via the resort shuttle. The on-site dive center offers sunset sails, snorkeling trips, and PADI scuba certification courses to explore the underwater world.

The service

The staff greets guests by name and goes out of their way to make you feel at home. Each villa has around-the-clock personal butlers, called “villa hosts.” They will surprise you with flower-petal bubble baths waiting after a travel day, chauffeur you around in a golf buggy, and organize any special requests you can think of (think: floating breakfast in your private pool).

For families

It’s almost overwhelming how many family-friendly activities there are. For children ages four and up, there’s the Adventure Zone kids club with indoor slides and arts and crafts, while fish feeding and guided nature walks happen at the Eco Centre. Teens usually hang out at the Entertainment Centre, which features air hockey, foosball, ping-pong, billiards, video games, board games, an arcade, and karaoke competitions. Punta Bunga beach has calm water suitable for young swimmers, as well as sand toys they can borrow. At the pool, life jackets are provided, and attentive lifeguards always keep a close eye on little ones.

The two-bedroom pool villas, beach villas, and ocean villas have space for multi-generational families to spread out. A more affordable alternative is the Premier Family Seaview Room, with two queen beds and a large balcony. Check out the Family Fun Package, including a welcome basket, Nikki Paniki toy, stamp scavenger hunt, and family movie night, among others.

Eco effort

The Shangri-La goes way beyond the typical sustainability measures. It has a designated desalination and glass water bottling plant (the island’s first). Guests are encouraged to get involved by taking an apiary tour of the bee hives, helping with coral reef restoration, building fish shelters, or joining a snorkeling safari of the giant clam sanctuary at Punta Bunga beach.

Accessibility

Accessible guest rooms are on the fourth floor of the hotel block, directly down the hall from the lobby (no elevators needed). Here, the bathrooms have roll-in showers with curtains for ease. The pool villas are also a good choice as the main gate is big enough for a wheelchair, and staff can put a ramp on the step by the front door. Guests with limited mobility should avoid the Tree House Villas as they’re high up on the hill with outside stairs.

Anything left to mention?

Check the daily schedule at the Entertainment Centre to see what’s on. Aqua fitness classes, bodyboarding, kayaking, candlemaking, and painting in the garden are popular pastimes. There are, on average, two weddings a week at the resort; sometimes sound can carry from the beachfront reception, but the party never lasts too late in order to be respectful of guests. Another thing to keep in mind: Both beaches are covered in colorful coral and rare seashells, but collecting them is prohibited, and airport security will search for any snuck in your suitcase.