Puka Beach, also called Puka Shell Beach, sits on the northern side of Boracay and feels different from the island's famous White Beach strip. The sand is coarser, mixed with broken shell, and the water can be a little more restless, but the setting is open and handsome. It is a good choice when you want Boracay's colour without quite so much beachfront choreography.
The beach is often visited on island-hopping trips, though it is also easy enough to reach overland. Bring water, shade if you need it, and realistic expectations: this is still Boracay, so you will not have it to yourself. Even so, the wider horizon and less built-up feel make it one of the island's better escapes from the busiest centre.