Boracay Island, Philippines

Boracay is a fantastic tropical island about an hour’s flight from Manila in the Philippines. Its long white sand beaches rivals any of the best beaches in the more popular beach destinations such as the Caribbean, the South Pacific as well as Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Boracay can only be reached by ferry from Caticlan. SEAir serves up to 28 flights a day, each flight takes as short as 35 minutes, from Manila to Caticlan Airport. The other way is via Kalibo Airport on the other side of Aklan Island. From Kalibo, visitors have to take a two-hour ride to Caticlan. Mini-vans, buses and other rental vehicles take tourists from Kalibo to Caticlan.

 

About The Island

Boracay Island is a great place for just lazing around. Seven km long, it is only one km wide at its narrowest point. Boracay's largest villages or barangays are Yapak, Balabag and Manoc-Manoc. A confusing network of paths and tracks connects them, and several smaller hamlets called sitios, so maps of Boracay can only serve as a general guide. Slightly more than half the 5200 population lives in Manoc-Manoc. 

There is a beautiful beach on the west coast with very fine white sand, particularly near Balabag, however, the water is quite shallow. For snorkeling the east coast is better but beware of rips. There are scores of little sandy bays scattered around the island; they make an attractive alternative to the ever-popular White Beach. The atmosphere on Diniwid Beach is also pleasant and peaceful, just to the north of White Beach. There are a few places offering inexpensive accommodation there that would cost twice as much at White Beach. Also well worth the visit is the immaculate Punta Beach.

Boracay is also well known for its now very rare gleaming white puka shells, said to be the best in the world. For years puka shells were dug out of the beach at Yapak and then sold. It's already aaccomplished that large masses of land are soon going to be moved in the north of the island. The most important Philippine property developers, Ayala Land, FiI-Estate and Primetown Property Group have bought up 205 hectares of land. There they intend to build resorts and housing for the better off; construction on the obligatory golf course is already well under way.

Every day seems to be a holiday on Boracay - all you need to do is relax and enjoy yourself. Just get up, make some coffee and decide whether to go sailing, windsurfing or perhaps snorkeling and looking at corals. If you're curious you may get as far as the Caves of the Flying Dogs of Yapak' or Bat Caves (admission P20) on the other side of the island, where there are still fishermen who have nothing to do with tourism, except that they too have to pay higher prices in the stores.

For many people, Boracay is the typical Pacific island paradise. Whether this will change in the foreseeable future depends on how much building development goes on. Which will inevitably change the face of the island Out of all recognition. The new slogan seems to be 'concrete instead of bamboo'. Fortunately, so far most architects have succeeded in designing buildings that do not dominate their environment and fit in with the island around them.

Beaches

White Beach - This is what most people are here for. Not only is it a lovely stretch of powdery white sand against azure water, it’s also the commercial center of the island. A stretched grove of shady palm trees separates the beach from the line of restaurants, cafes, bars, internet cafes, shops, bakeries, etc. There is lots of room to stretch out on the beach with your sarong or you can rent a reclining chair from one of the vendors where they will be happy to keep you filled with food and drinks. Most people opt for the shade and tend to hang out under the palm trees.

  

Puka Beach - A quiet stretch of white sand along the northen tip of the island, Puka Beach is an image of what most people expect on a tropical island: white sand, azure water, and relatively empty. This is where locals gather the small puka shells for some of the jewelry that is sold on the island so expect the sand to be more coarse than on White Beach. The water tends to be a little rougher on this side of the island but it is much quieter. Similarly, there are fewer services — at last count there was one restaurant but you likely won’t have a problem getting a cold drink or an ice cream as there are a few vendors that patrol the beach. The main road in Boracay terminates at Puka Beach therefore you’ll be able to hire a tricycle to get there in less than 10-15 minutes from central White Beach. Make sure you arrange a pickup if it is a quiet day and no tricycles are hanging around the beach. Most people experience Puka as one of their sailboat or banca stops during a day trip. This is a good spot for a picnic, but be sure to bring your trash home with you.

Balinghai Beach - This is a quiet little cove just north of Diniwid Beach, where you can enjoy swimming, snorkeling and dining in a relaxed, peaceful environment. There are some fantastic views from the clifftop restaurant. Baling Hai is often included as a stop-off on an island boat tour.

- It is worth hiring motorbikes or scooters out to explore the island, as there are other beautiful beaches on the other side of the island that are even better for snorkeling that will be completely deserted. Hire them for a couple of days and you should get a discount. The roads are a bit dodgy, and some are still being constructed, but it’s a good laugh and better than plonking yourself on a patch of white sand and seeing nothing. If you happen to be lying on the beach though definitely have a massage and manicure.
- Take a boat around the island, with lunch included which is only a couple of hundred pesos for the afternoon.
- There are many places to go scuba diving too.
- A sailing tour with The Red Pirates is a must in Boracay. You will find their red paraw (native sailboat) in Angol at the southern end of White Beach. The place is called The Red Pirates Pub. It is a beautiful spot with a very unique driftwood garden under high coconut trees. Enjoy your drink, meet other travelers from around the globe and watch one of the most spectacular sunsets in Asia. Cap. Joey will bring you to a secluded beach for a beach BBQ and he will show you the best spots around Boracay`s shores for snorkeling.
- Horse riding is a fun activity in Boracay - get off the beaten path and experience native villages and scenery most other visitors don’t get to see. All levels of experience are catered to. Ask a tricycle to take you to the Boracay Horse Riding Stables.

- Located on Bulabog Beach, the Boracay Butterfly Garden is a “Must See” for Boracay visitors. Walk among rare and beautiful butterflies in a tropical garden by the beach. It is fun and educational, with conducted tours of the life cycles, with eggs, caterpillars, pupae, and mature butterflies.
- Try rock climbing at D’Wall Climbing Gym, an outdoor rock climbing gym located at D’Mall near Boat Station 2.

The fun in Boracay also doesn’t end when the sun sets. Boracay nightlife is vibrant with many bars and restaurants serving food, drink and fun until the very late evening.
Along White Beach, there is a wide variety of gift shops and boutiques along the beach path and in D*Mall. In addition to the crowded stalls that you expect in Asia, Boracay also has several high-end stores including clothing, art and household items. Some places will permit you to haggle, others have a fixed pricing system with price tags. Shop around as prices vary. Outside of White Beach, the shopping becomes sparse or non-existent.
While walking or laying on the sand, anywhere on Boracay, you’ll be appraoched to buy a variety of items including jewlery made of shells, fresh fruit, ice cream, sunglasses or a massage.

Facilities are available to suit different levels of activity. For those wanting to just lounge around and take in some rays, beachfront hotels usually have lounge chairs set up just a few steps away from the hotel entrances. Facilities for the usual water sports activities such as wind surfing, snorkelling, diving and jet skiing are also widely available for those in search of more active pursuits.
Accommodation standards vary, with top of the line hotels and resorts to a simple bed rented from a resident. As such, whatever your budget, you could easily find a suitable place to stay. During peak periods such as Holy Week, Christmas and New Year, rooms may be a bit more difficult to find and more expensive so it would be advisable to reserve in advance.
Staying along White Beach gets you closer to the bars, lounging and food. While staying closer to Balabag beach gives you better access to the popular wind and kite-boarding areas.

See more pictures of Boracay Island HERE

Sources: www.boracayonline.com and www.tropicaldestinations.info