Everything You Need to Know About Boracay Sand Castle Activities

Your vacation without a Boracay sand castle is incomplete.

By: Jun N. Aguirre | May 03, 2024

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Whether you're a first-time visitor or a frequent traveler, Boracay sand castle activity will surely make your beach experience even more enjoyable.

Image: Boracay Sand Castle Makers Association Facebook page

Vacationing in Boracay, especially in summer, is not complete without seeing white sand castles at the beach. Sandcastles, along with the beach, sea sports, and the famous Boracay Rock (formerly called Willy’s Rock), have become a unique identity of Boracay for decades.

The Boracay sand castle makers are better than in previous years. They are disciplined, respectful, and tourist-friendly. Thanks to the several trainings provided by the Department of Tourism-Western Visayas on authentic Filipino hospitality.

There is no clear history of when the sand castle in Boracay originated. But in 2007, Malay passed Ordinance Number 246 prohibiting the creation of sand castles to make a photo backdrop for a fee. Sandcastles at the beach are then aimed for ‘promotion purposes or for special events.’

It only allows the creation of sandcastles for “promotional or special” events, provided that organizers have secured a mayor’s permit.

The ordinance states that these Boracay sand castles must only be built “within the 6-meter stretch from the edge of the vegetation area towards the beach,” the ordinance said.

The event organizers must also pay a daily regulatory fee worth PhP100 per square meter.

The ordinance was created because “unregulated commercial activity (sandcastle making) tinkers with the natural terrain of the beach, resulting in the prolonged presence of irregular contours which affect the natural symmetry of the beach.”

After tourists complained, the municipal government and the Boracay Tourist Assistance Center initiated a crackdown against Boracay sand castle makers.

The complaints stated that some children making sandcastles are asking for “donations” from tourists and are also involved in some petty crimes.

The white sand castle lights up at night.

Image: Boracay Sand Castle Makers Association Facebook page

Several years later, in 2018, sand castle makers were banned at the beach because they were still unregulated. The government’s environment department said sand castle makers also use kerosene to create a light-up and glowing effect. When spilled on the white sand beach, the kerosene reportedly harms the environment.

In September 2023, the local government unit of Malay officially revived the white sand castle in Boracay beach, now following the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) standards. In April 2023, at least ten sand castles competed in the Love Boracay highlight.

The DENR has approved the creation of the local ordinance made by the Malay local government unit, which aims to regulate the operation of sand castles.

The Malay Ordinance Number 505, known as an ‘Ordinance Regulating Sand Castle Building in Boracay,” specified the regulatory policies in the conduct of Boracay sand castle making, such as:

• Sandcastle builders were required to wear their identification cards;
• Smoking and drinking at the beach are not allowed;
• Sand castles are only allowed from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, except for special events;
• Sandcastle makers must observe proper grooming and be respectable and courteous to the tourists;
• Kerosene gas lamps, candles, and other flammable materials are prohibited from lighting the sand castle; solar lights are allowed;
• Chemicals, cement, or other binding equipment are prohibited;
• Tourists who request to use the sand castles for pictures will only be asked to pay PhP20 to PhP50 each. However, if one tourist requests a customized design, he will be charged PhP1,000. Children below ten years old are exempt from paying;
• Sandcastle builders, who are Barangay Yapak, Boracay residents, were allowed to have their sand castle only at their beach;
• Builders must flatten their sand castles after they finish the day and should clean up their surroundings;
• The sands must not be transferred or moved elsewhere;
• Only six members were allowed to operate in a given area;
• Minors were not allowed to become members of the People’s Organizations and
• PhP3,000 will be charged to stakeholders or tourists who request to build a costumed sand castle for a single event.

The makers are carefully building a white sand castle.

Image: Boracay Sand Castle Makers Association Facebook page

Because of this ordinance, the Boracay Sand Castle Makers Association has been created. They are now considered a tourism frontline.

According to the association, tourists can enjoy sand castles at the VHub1, La Carmela de Boracay Resort Hotel (beachside), D’Mall Boracay, and the Pearl of the Pacific Hotel in Barangay Balabag. All of the Boracay sand castle makers at these beaches were association members.

Children were allowed to play at the beach to build their sand castles, but not for commercial purposes.

Last April 26, 2024, the association held its second annual competition as part of the highlight of Love Boracay 2024, the center of Boracay’s festivity. Through cooperation, they want Boracay to be better than ever!

Overall, visiting the white sand castles in Boracay is a unique and memorable experience that should not be missed.

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About Jun N. Aguirre

Jun Aguirre is a mobile journalism (Mojo) practitioner and a freelancer covering mostly Panay Island to include Boracay. In 2020, he was the only Filipino featured via online conference promoting MOJO during the Mobile Journalism Congress in Asia.

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sand castles in Boracay sand castles Boracay

Location Tags:

Boracay Island, Malay

Disclaimer: All articles in the Consumers Magazine of Yoorekka are for general information and entertainment purposes only. Although careful research has been made in writing them, Yoorekka does not make any warranty about the completeness and accuracy of all information presented in our articles. Our content is not intended to be used in place of legal, medical, or any professional advice.