If you are bored of visiting the same old destinations for a beach vacation and want to experience something new, then perhaps the tropical island of Boracay would interest you this season. Though it’s not really an unknown destination, considering it has just been declared the Best Island in the World title by the Travel + Leisure Magazine in 2012.
Location
Boracay is located just 2 kilometers northeast of the Panay Island of the Philippines in the Municipality of Malay in the Aklan Province. The island is pretty small with an area of a little less than 4 square miles.
Attractions
There are quite a few attractions to look forward to in Boracay.
White Beach: Probably the most well known district of Boracay. This is what naturally makes the White Beach the home to the best resorts and commercial and social activity on the island. The beach is divided into three stations. Station 1 features the widest beach area and the best and the most expensive hotels and resorts. Station 2 is commercial with mid-range accommodation and eating areas, while Station 3 is known for budget accommodation, but still a scenic and peaceful environment.
White Beach
Puka Beach: Puka Beach is probably the most scenic part of the island with white sand beaches, pristine waters and a peaceful environment you would expect to find on a Boracay vacation. The amenities are not as extensive here as on White Beach, which is why many tourists treat it as a day trip destination. The beach is named after the Puka shells found on it.
Puka Beach
The Bat Cave: A popular tourist attraction, featuring a population of indigenous fruit bats in a cave located to the west of the island. The caves are located on family-owned land and are dangerous to enter due to the presence of dangerous bats and snakes, apart from the rough conditions inside and on the road leading to it. Local guides are available for the trip to the cave, which requires an entry fee as well.
Bat Cave
Bulabog Beach: This part of the island is the center of kiteboarding on the island thanks to the strong gusts of the wind there on certain days.
Bailangg Hai Beach: This is a quiet and peaceful cove just north to Diniwid Beach with a plenty of opportunities for swimming and snorkeling.
Ariel’s Point: This is an adventure destination known for its remarkable scenic beauty. The tour to this attraction includes activities such as cliff diving, paddling and snorkeling. The package also contains a barbecue buffet and unlimited drinks.
Nightlife: There are several nightlife attractions such as Cocomangas, Summer Place, Juice, Gulli’s Island and Club Paraw among others. One of the memorable nightlife spectacles of the island is fire dancing.
Activities
Boracay offers enough activities to keep you engaged and entertained throughout your trip. There are some terrific scuba diving spots around the island, particularly at the Ariel’s Point.
Boat tours are a relaxing way to explore the island. If you are more adventurous, then kayaking on the waters surrounding the island could catch your fancy. Kiteboarding at the Bulabog beach is one of the most favorite activities of tourists in Boracay and it offers several kiteboarding schools.
Apart from that, the island features leisure activities such as horse riding, parasailing, skimboarding and motor biking.
Accommodation & Resorts
Accommodation in Boracay includes both hotels and rentals. There are quite a few quality resorts in Boracay which could prove convenient such as Shangri-La’s Boracay Beach Resort & Spa, Nigi Nigi Too Beach Resort and Regency Lagoon Resort.
Why Boracay?
There are quite a few reasons to pick Boracay over the rest of beach vacation destinations in Asia, or even around the world. Boracay offers some of the most beautiful and pristine beaches in the world, which are not by any means less impressive than the ones in the Caribbean and are certainly among the best in South East Asia.
When to Visit
If a quiet beach vacation suits you, then don’t visit Boracay during holidays such as Christmas and Easter to avoid crowds. However, if you want a festive environment, then perhaps the Kalibo Ati-Atihan Festival in late January could be the best time. The months from June to October are the wettest and the cheapest for tourists.
