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Shangri-La is a high-end luxury resort and spa located at the northwestern coast of Boracay. It’s an eco-reserved area hidden from the public, complete with 2 private beaches.
In this review, I’ll cover the hotel in detail. Among other topics, I’ll discuss its main attractions, its location details, its highlight worthy amenities, the best rooms, plus I’ll also cover both its pros and cons.
Once read you should have a good idea of what to expect, and if it’s the right place to stay for you.
About Shangri-La & Its Location
Shangri-La is the first 5 star resort that was built in Boracay, setting a high bar for all the other luxury resorts that followed. It’s located in the Yapak neighborhood, which is known for its lush greeneries and peace.
Also located in Yapak is Puka Beach, a gorgeous beach composed of small shells; and Balinghai Beach, a secluded beach with a unique dining experience.
CityMall is also near, so you wont have to go far to get your shopping needs met. Apart from a supermarket and a department store, there are also restaurants and a movie theater.
Aside from being near several beautiful beaches, Shangri-La also has 2 private beaches that are part of the resort. Punta Bunga and Banyuga Beach. They’re completely separated from all the public areas and impossible to access outside of the resort. All yours as a Shangri-La guest.
Admittedly, this privacy means that the resort is a bit far from White Beach and D’mall – Boracay’s center where most restaurants, bars and hotels are located. But don’t worry, Shangri-La has a free shuttle service dedicated just for the purpose of bringing guests to and from the center.
See Shangri-La in Detail & Check its Best Price on Agoda
- The resort has 2 private beaches, for guests only
- Beautiful pool area & good options for in-house dining
- Butler service and speedboat transfers
- It’s relatively far away from White Beach and D’Mall
Highlight Worthy Amenities
In the famous saying of, "You get what you pay for," Shangri la definitely doesn’t shy away from going over-the-top with luxurious amenities. After all, they’re one of the most high-end resorts in Boracay.
Hassle-free Entrance
The luxury begins before you even get to the island. You’re picked up by Shangri-La’s staff at Caticlan Airport. After a 5 minute drive you then arrive at the jetty port. There you enter a private lounge as you wait for a speedboat to come pick you up, very James Bond-y.
You dock directly at the resort after 10 minutes. Finally, you can go directly into your room, no check-ins needed at the front desk, so you can relax right away. Easy, beautiful.
In comparison, if you were to travel on your own your travel time would easily exceed one hour.
Gorgeous Swimming Pool
Aside from two private beaches, Shangri-La also has a huge naturalistic pool for everyone right beside Cielo, their more casual restaurant and bar.
The pool has natural contours with palm trees strategically placed on the edges.. I love this pool because it reminds me of a lagoon and is a great alternative to the beach, for the times when you want to be close to the bar.
The option to toggle between the ocean and a luxurious pool just seals the deal when you’re at a resort, in my humble opinion.
Well Trained, Friendly Staff
I haven’t met a single impolite Shangri-La staff yet, from the butlers to the servers, all of them are kind and well-trained at their craft. Another thing is that Shangri-La employs more than enough staff, so everyone has time to assist you fully without rushing to another guest.
This is especially valuable if you’re in Shangri-La for an event like a wedding. Some requests may be complicated or time-consuming, and you can rest assured that the staff will be skilled and willing to assist.
Fine Dining
Shangri-La has four different fine dining restaurants inside its premises.
Cielo is a poolside restaurant and bar, a lot more casual, serving sandwiches, pizza, seafood and alcohol. Great for an early start on happy hour.
Rima offers award-winning Mediterranean food, right amongst the treetops. That location gives you an overview the resort, subtle and romantic. The menu here very elevated too, you can try their 4-course Degustation dinner or the a la carte options, depending on your mood.
Sirena is an award-winning seafood restaurant and bar all set in a clifftop. This one overlooks the perfect waters of Boracay as you dine on the most delicate seafood selections in the island. The decor is organic and elegant, and live music plays at night… You can see why this restaurant wins awards.
Vinatana is an all-day restaurant and cafe that serves the best of Filipino cuisine alongside popular international dishes. The tables are outside near the garden with an ocean view. Ideal for a relaxing, casual lunch in between swimming or before you head out to go shopping.
My Top 3 Room Recommendations
Amongst the wide selection of rooms, suites and villas, I chose 3 of the best rooms to serve specific purposes. All of them come with complimentary breakfasts.
Deluxe SeaView Room
Much less expensive but still luxurious. I chose this for the balance of price and having everything I want in a room: ocean views, big bed, marbled-floor bathrooms with a separate shower and bath, and most importantly…. you can see the sunset in your balcony here. What more can a tourist ask for?
For me this is the best valued room in Shangri La. I highly, highly recommend it.
The Treehouse Villa
This villa is deal for couples that want to have a romantic getaway. It’s secluded without compromising on luxury.
This accommodation is 2 stories tall and has a panoramic view of the ocean. The whole lower level is your bedroom, and on top you’ll find your living space, including a huge balcony with a jacuzzi. Every furnishing is well-designed and of high-quality. This is a honeymoon dream home.
The room comes with butler service, perfect if you want to ask for champagne while you’re in the hot tub.
Presidential Suite
This is over 1718 square meter of the best of real estate in Boracay, all in one suite. That’s another level of privacy and decadence. The suite is composed of three luxury villas, good for six people.
An elevated villa is designed as a viewing deck, which is the place to be once the sun sets. The place also houses a kitchen, several living areas, and an indoor dining space.
Inside the main villa you’ll find the masters’ bedroom and a huge sunlit bathroom with separate tub and rain shower. The guest villa is where you’ll find the entertainment room, as well as the guest bedroom.
You have the choice of several outdoor areas around this suite: a spacious dining gazebo, several day beds and your very own lap pool. There also is an outdoor shower.
It basically really feels like your very own mini resort, especially with the added butler service. An ideal place to stay if you’re looking for a quiet retreat or complete privacy.
What Guests Say & My Take
At the time of writing Shangri-La Boracay Resort and Spa is rated 9.1 on Agoda (952 reviews), 9.1 on Booking.com (552 reviews), and 4.5 out of 5 on TripAdvisor (3,119 reviews). That’s an extremely high rating.
To me personally, Shangri-La is a sure choice when it comes to luxury and excellence here in Boracay, they’ve been consistent with their quality through the years, and I love the fact that they take the time to do things the right way, not just with their guests but also on how they operate here on the island. I highly recommend this place.
Conclusion & Summary
Shangri-La is the best choice if you enjoy luxury, quiet surroundings and private beaches set in an expansive eco-reserved area. The location is a bit far from the center of Boracay, but a shuttle service makes it easy accessible.
Here’s a quick summary of the 3 most important points made in this review:
- The resort comes with 2 beautiful private beaches
- Everything screams high-end luxury, you’re in a unique slice of paradise
- It’s about a 15 minute shuttle ride from the center of Boracay, something to keep in mind
Hope this review helps you have the perfect stay in Boracay. Have a good trip! 🙂
Shangri-La Contact Info
| Contact number: | +63 36 288 4988 |
| Email: | slbo@shangri-la.com |
| Website: | https://www.shangri-la.com/boracay/ |
| Facebook page: | https://www.facebook.com/ShangrilaBoracay/ |
| Address: | Barangay Yapak, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan, 5608, Philippines |
P.S. If you’re not yet sure if Shangri-La is the right place for you, 3 good alternative hotels to have a look at with similar price-points and locations are Mövenpick, Crimson Resort, and Fairways & Bluewater.
Where are the Cons?
Good question Weng, thanks for bringing to my attention that that’s what’s missing. I just added the main con (I’ve been meaning to update the review and will still update it more later on). The main con to put it into words here also is that Shang is relatively far away from the center of Boracay.
So you get a great feeling of tranquility at its private beaches, but visiting White Beach and D’Mall for example is much more of a commitment than when you stay close to the center of the island where most hotels are located. It’s about a 15-20 minute ride.