Puka Shell Beach | Malay

Information

Landmark: Puka Shell Beach
City: Malay
Country: Philippines
Continent: Asia

Puka Shell Beach, Malay, Philippines, Asia

Puka Shell Beach, also known as Yapak Beach, is a 800-meter stretch of coastline located at the northern tip of Boracay Island. It serves as the island's second-largest beach and remains less commercially developed than the southern coastal zones.

Visual Characteristics

The shoreline is composed of coarse sand mixed with small, naturally occurring puka shell fragments and coral bits. Unlike the powdery consistency of the western beaches, the texture is granular and cream-colored. The water deepens rapidly from the shore, transitioning from a clear turquoise to deep blue, with a backdrop of dense tropical vegetation and limestone cliffs.

Location & Access Logistics

Access is via the main island road using e-tricycles or mountain bikes, approximately 15 to 20 minutes from Station 2. There is a designated parking area and tricycle terminal at the entrance. Alternatively, the beach is a standard stop for island-hopping outrigger boats (bangkas) circling the northern end of the island.

Historical & Ecological Origin

The beach is named after the Puka shell (the operculum of a cone snail), which was harvested here extensively in the 1970s and 1980s for jewelry production. Ecologically, it is a critical nesting site for the endangered Golden-crowned Flying Fox and the Large Flying Fox, which inhabit the adjacent forest canopy.

Key Highlights & Activities

Swimming is the primary activity, though the current is stronger and the drop-off steeper than at White Beach. Shell collecting is restricted by local environmental laws. Kayaking and paddleboarding are available for rent at the southern end of the beach. The area is also used as a landing point for snorkeling tours.

Infrastructure & Amenities

Infrastructure is minimal, consisting of small bamboo stalls and eco-friendly souvenir shops. There are limited public restrooms and no large-scale resorts directly on the sand. Mobile signal (4G/5G) is functional but can be intermittent near the cliffs. Natural shade is provided by trees lining the edge of the beach, as commercial umbrellas are prohibited.

Best Time to Visit

The beach is best visited in the morning before 10:00 to avoid the arrival of island-hopping boat tours. For photography, the late afternoon provides soft lighting against the northern cliffs, though the sun sets behind the hills earlier than at White Beach. It is a preferred location during the Habagat season for calmer waters relative to the eastern coast.

Facts & Legends

A local tip for visitors is to walk toward the far left (west) end of the beach to find secluded areas away from the boat docking zones. While the Puka shells that gave the beach its name are now less abundant due to historical over-harvesting, the site remains a protected ecological zone for Boracay's fruit bat population.