Boracay

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Boracay is a small bone-shaped tropical island located approximately 200Km south of Manila and 2Km off the northwest tip of the mainland island of Panay in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines.

Measuring just 7.5km long and 2km wide, Boracay is possibly one of the last best-kept secrets for international travellers and vacationers. It has consistently been on numerous top ten best beaches lists for decades but, with the Philippines being far from the usual Asian vacation hubs, many tourists balk at the further travel needed to reach Boracay. For this reason Boracay has largely avoided the "tourist trap" feel that plagues many other Asian tourist destinations.

It has been said that Boracay is that mythical deserted island that people day-dream of running off to while at work or sitting in traffic. The best beach on the island is called White Beach, a 4km stretch of beautiful white sand on the western side of the island. This is one of the few naturally produced white sand beaches in the world. Other Boracay beaches going clock-wise around the island from White Beach are Diniwid, Balinghai, Punta Bunga, Puka Shell, Ilig-iligan, Bulabog, Tulhaban, Tambisaan, Manoc-manoc, and Cagban. Each of Boracay's beaches has its own distinctive character and history.

As recently as 1990, Boracay vacationers had to bring in their own drinking water and camp on the beach with only fire for light. Now, Boracay has electricity and piped water and has grown into an international tourist hub with 20 dive sites, scores of bars and restaurants, native tattoo parlors, banks, a fire department, and a police station.

It has also been voted in 1990 as one of the best beaches in the world by the BMW Tropical Beach Handbook. The British Publication TV Quick in its issue of December 21, 1996 gave the latest accolade for Boracay as the number one tropical beach in the world. The island roughly shaped like a dumb-bell, is 7 kilometers long and the narrowest spot is nearly 1 kilometer wide.

Located in Aklan province, home to the famous Ati-Atihan festival, Boracay is accessible by pump boat from the port of Caticlan. Several airlines offer flights directly from Manila or Cebu to the small Caticlan airport, but many visitors fly to the larger airport at Kalibo and then travel by bus or taxi from there to Caticlan.

Boracay tourists are cautioned not to take bottles or jars of the white sand as souvenirs, as numerous marine biology and aquatic studies have shown this is actually depleting the white sand which has taken nature some 40,000 years to produce.

A common sight round the Island is the sailing Paraw, a narrow hulled boat with outriggers either side and with passengers sometimes seated on a webbing platform between the outrigger supports. These are extremely fast off the wind, but are rather unwieldy. Going about is a rather complicated maneuver, requiring the foresail to be backed. They can be hired for trips round the island, a wonderful experience if you don't mind getting wet. There are three classes of paraw with size limits on each. Regular races are staged each year with a handsome prize offered to the winning boat.

In the recent years, Boracay Island is experiencing environmental issues in waste water, zoning, over population, polution, and garbage. Steps are being taken by the government to address these issues.

The Boracay dress code is very casual, day and night. Mostly you will walk and stand on sand, even in many restaurants. Slippers and casual, comfortable summer shoes are advisable. And your most worn outfit, at least at day time, will be shorts and T-shirts.

If you want a hassle-free transfer from the airports or jetty port to Boracay, book your accommodations prior to coming to Boracay. You may be approached by some people at the Kalibo and Caticlan airports try to sell rooms to travelers without bookings. If travel-weary or darkness is approaching, book a room thru them for only one night and look around the next day. If you have a prior booking, do not be swayed by those who will try to dissuade you from going there.

On the island public transportation is mainly by tricycle (motorbike with sidecar). Prices on the flat area are 5 Peso per person and trip. Tricycles for island trips can be rented at the office of the Tricycle Association. Other means of transportation are mountain bikes and motorbikes, which can be rented at several places. Motorbikes along the White Beach and the beach path are however forbidden by law.

External links

Boracay Beach Resorts Boracay Foundation - Info about Boracay Boracay Trip Travel Guide Boracay Travel Guide - Guide to Hotels and Transportation Boracay Business Center - Boracay Real Estate services Beach Resort Boracay Boracay Hotels Travel Beach Resorts Boracay

[Category:Islands of the Philippines]]