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Boracay is a tropical island about an hour's flight from Manila in the Philippines. It has superb long white sand beaches, as good as any anywhere, and is one of the country's most developed tourist destinations.
Facilities are available to suit different levels of activity. For those wanting to just lounge around and take in some rays, beach-front 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 sailing, windsurfing, snorkeling, diving, and jet skiing are also widely available for those in search of more active pursuits. The fun in Boracay also doesn't end when the sunsets. Boracay nightlife is pulsating with many bars and restaurants serving food, drink, and fun until the very late evening.
Boracay is an excellent choice for anyone who... Read more
Boracay is a tropical island about an hour's flight from Manila in the Philippines. It has superb long white sand beaches, as good as any anywhere, and is one of the country's most developed tourist destinations.
Facilities are available to suit different levels of activity. For those wanting to just lounge around and take in some rays, beach-front 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 sailing, windsurfing, snorkeling, diving, and jet skiing are also widely available for those in search of more active pursuits. The fun in Boracay also doesn't end when the sunsets. Boracay nightlife is pulsating with many bars and restaurants serving food, drink, and fun until the very late evening.
Boracay is an excellent choice for anyone who wants a full range of facilities in a prime tropical location and can pay for it. However, it is not a good bet for bargain hunters; prices are relatively high by Philippines standards, though moderate by Japanese or Western standards and lower than many places in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean or South Pacific.
There are dozens of beaches on the island, and White Beach being the longest and the most popular of them, where all life goes on, it occupies roughly all western part of the island. On the opposite side of the island (eastern), there is a main kitesurfer's beach - Bulabog. Other beaches are much smaller and tranquil. All parts of Boracay are interconnected with the help of the Main Boracay road which runs from South to North through all island.
White Beach is several kilometers long, and thus it's divided into three parts (from south to north): Station 1, Station 2, Station 3.
Regarding hotel prices, Boracay has very distinct seasons. There are two main seasons, low and high, and within the latter, there are three peak seasons. Low season is from 1 Jun–1 Nov or 1 Dec depending on the hotel. High season is usually from 1 Nov, or 1 Dec, to 31 May. Usually, hotels charge about 30% more in high season over low season.
The peak seasons are roughly as follows:
1. Christmas/New Year 15 Dec-5 Jan
2. Chinese New Year: Date of Chinese New Year +/- 3 days. i.e., if Chinese New Year falls on 8 Feb, prices will increase 5-11 Feb.
3. Easter: Date of Easter Sunday -4 days and +2 days. i.e., if Easter Sunday falls on 27 Mar, hotels will be more expensive 23-29 Mar.
For peak season, prices will increase an additional 20-30% on top of high season prices. Prices are negotiable at any time of year, though for peak season a lot of places get fully booked, so negotiating with the places still available will be much more difficult.
White Beach is divided into five areas:
In every station, there are two lifeguards patrolling on foot equipped with whistle, lifebuoy, and hand-held radio. The boat station 2 is the lifeguard and rescue command center.
During the dry season (Nov-Apr), also known as Amihan, White Beach is calm and very suitable for swimming, etc. The other side of the island has large winds and waves making it suitable for windsurfing, wave running, etc. During the rainy season (Jun-Oct), also known as Habagat, this is reversed, with a risk of typhoons. White Beach often gets large winds and waves which sometimes makes it unsuitable for swimming. Current weather conditions can be found online.
For those interested in scuba diving, there are dozens of dive centers along White Beach; it is a good place to learn or to improve your skills. The dive centers have agreed on standard prices amongst themselves so prices will be the same at all centers. There are 25-30 dive sites within 10–15 minutes speed boat ride from the beach, suitable for beginners up to advanced level. Dives range from 'Angol Point' (10m), through 'Crocodile Island' (22-25m), a straightforward wall dive, up to 'Yapak'- a deep wall dive suitable for only the most experienced divers due to strong currents, although there is the possibility of seeing sharks and stingrays.
The best way to see the beauty of Boracay and its various beaches is by Paraw (native outrigger sailboat). You will constantly be asked if you want to take a boat trip, as there are dozens of companies offering this service. It is better to go with a reputable and established group such as Allen Fun Tours (motorized banca boat tours) or Red Pirates (paraw sailing) to ensure your safety and avoid being overcharged.
Boracay's Bulabog beach claims to be the best kitesurfing destination in Asia. The season runs from November through to April with onshore winds varying between 12-30 knots. A small lagoon (2 km wide) is protected from waves by a coral reef. The water becomes almost flat at low tide, making it easy to start learning to kitesurf and continue with freestyle tricks. Because of its nice conditions, the spot becomes overcrowded with riders in high season. A serious disadvantage is sewage pollution of the lagoon, so the smell from water and infections from even small injuries are common.
Skimboarding in Boracay has been a new fun sport for kids and entertainment for older people for several years. It is a welcome new attraction and a pleasure to watch. Skimboards are available for rent at several places along White Beach. But be sure to hire an expert to teach you the skills.
Because of its wide draw of international travelers, Boracay has a wide variety of places to eat, including a surprising number of bakeries.
Don't miss the opportunity to enjoy one of the best mangoes in the world. Climate in the Philippines is perfect for mangoes, so you always get them mellow and sweet.
If you like to party, there are plenty of places to choose from. The livelier bars are situated near boat stations 1 and 2. There are plenty of places to party all night! Boat station 3 has a more laid back and relaxed atmosphere, with small native bars and restaurants - popular with backpackers.
Expect to check your handgun with the security guard!
Along with White Beach, especially around Station 2, there is a wide variety of gift shops and boutiques along the beach path. 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. D'Mall at Station 2 and D'talipapa at station 3, between the main road and White Beach, have many shops. D'Mall is larger, but D'talipapa features some shops, vegetable merchants and a large meat market also selling a large selection of live seafood. Prices at D'talipapa (including those for necessities such as milk, vegetables, and meat) are about 25% below those of D'Mall.
While walking or laying on the sand, anywhere on Boracay, you'll be approached to buy a variety of items including jewelry made of shells, fresh fruit, ice cream, sunglasses or a nice massage.
There are about 8 ATMs on the entire island for the 16,000 inhabitants plus tourists, and when they run out of cash, they are not refilled until the next business day. On weekends and holidays, it is even worse, as the ATM's might go several days without being refilled. On paydays, one will also see very long lines at the ATM's, and be aware that not every ATM accepts every card. One might only accept cards with the Visa logo, and not the MasterCard logo, so before standing in line for two hours, be sure it accepts your card. Also, be prepared for a very long wait in line, as many Boracay natives seem to do all their banking at the ATM, spending what seems like an unusual amount of time at it.
The best solution is to bring plenty of cash.
Foreign money (US dollars, Euros, Korean Won, Japanese Yen, etc.) can be exchanged at several locations around the island. It's worth checking around for the best exchange rate, as all places don't offer the same rate. You're best off heading away from the beach for better rates.
LOCAL TIME
3:03 am
March 5, 2021
Asia/Manila
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LOCAL CURRENCY
PHP
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Boracay is the beach capital of the Philippines. Boracay is often mentioned among the ten best beaches in the world. Boracay is a very small island with a length of about 7 km and a width of only 4 km, but it is so distinctive that you can come here again and again. Here's the... |
Garden of Butterflies was another place we visited. It is not very big, but we saw an eagle and flying foxes. We fed them with mango and held them for their wings. By the way, the cheapest mango is near the Garden of Butterflies!
This bug fell on our balcony!
There's a Willy's Rock on the beach... |
Hello, Boracay!
In
Boracay,
we stopped in the hotel I booked on www.myboracayguide.com. I booked transfer on a motor boat there as well. When we arrived at Caticlan Airport, we were greeted, accompanied to the mooring by car, seated in the boat and in 5 minutes we were in ... |