Picture: impressive barrel sponge for the coast of
Boracay, a natural underwater treasure
Boracay
General.
The
small island of Boracay is a real piece of paradise on earth and
one of the most well known touristic hotspots in the Philippines:
white sandy beaches, palm trees, crystal water combined with a
tropical climate. Equipment for water sports which is sometimes
hard to find in many places in the Philippines or which is in
limited supply, is available here: jetskiing, parasailing,
windsurfing, kitesurfing,... At daylight the beach is a dream
location for getting that nice tan you always wanted or for
water sports, but at night the island transforms into a party
island with nice beach bars, disco's and all kinds of
entertainment, most of which can be found alongside the
promenade. Boracay is also known as a destination for
honeymoons.
Beaches.
Boracay's biggest asset are its beautiful sandy beaches. There
are several of them around the island but White Beach is the
most famous one. At a single glance you will see where White
Beach gets its name from. It has a promenade where you can hang
out in the shadow of the palm trees, there are various bars,
shops and of course quite a few sellers that try to get you to
go on tours or buy their stuff. Watch and compare to get the
best offers. Tip: if you want something super relaxing, then
try one of the massages that are offered at the beach. On the
other side of the island lies Bulabog Beach that is mainly known
for kitesurfing and windsurfing. There are also a few other
smaller more secluded beaches.
Activities.
Most activities on Boracay are obviously linked with water. There
is a quite extended offer (to Philippine standards, you could
even say that there is a huge offer) of water sports and
activities such as: glass-bottom boats, parasailing, bananaboat,
jetskiing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, island hopping... The
greatest beauty of the ocean however lays under the water
surface, so don't forget to bring a snorkel and goggles. If you
want more than just snorkeling, than you can book a diving
session in one of the many dive shops. Sunset sailing trips are
also very popular. The bangkas depart from White Beach every
day slightly before sunset and will take you for a unforgettable
trip to the open sea. You can book a trip easily via one of the
many tourist shops or sellers (and if it's not too crowdy you
can ever try it at one of the boats directly). If you prefer
doing something on dry land, then you can rent a bike, go horse
riding or play golf.
Diving.
Scuba diving on the Philippines is an unforgettable experience,
it's not different on Boracay. There are plenty of diving
centers on the island, most of them near White Beach. It's
worth checking and comparing the prices, the equipment and the
dive locations before choosing. They offer initiation dives for
people without diving licenses but if you want, you can also
follow a course to get one. Several schools of fishes near the
beach have become so used to be fed by people that they have no
fear anymore and swim around you in large numbers. It's like
swimming in a huge aquarium. More advanced divers are taken by
boat to more challenging dive spots and reefs a bit further off
shore.
Cliff Jumping.
One of the most exciting activities in the area is cliff
jumping. This is not done on Boracay itself, but in Ariel's
Point (Buruanga), which is located on a neighbouring island.
Boards have been installed at different hights on a rock that
is leaning towards the ocean. The lowest board is at 1 meter
above sea level, the highest one on 15 meter. A real challenge
if you have vertigo... If you had it with jumping, then you can
try sea kayak or just swim or snorkel. There is also bar where
you can have something to drink or eat. You can book a trip to
Ariel's Point in Boracay. A boat picks you up from White Beach.
Shopping.
Shopaholics can feed their addiction along the beach promenade
where there are plenty of little shops and sellers. There are
also a few "local" markets where you can purchase cheap textiles,
bags, souvenirs,... If you are a bit handy in haggling, then
you can easily save a few pesos. The biggest shopping center (D'Mall)
is located in the middle of the island (more or less in the
middle of White Beach). Next to shops you can also find some
restaurants there.
Mount Luho.
This mountain is the highest point on the island. From the top
you have a great view on the entire island.
Culture and monuments.
There are no real monuments or cultural sights on the island of
Boracay itself. If you fancy that, you can visit the
neighboring island of Panay.
Entertainment
and nightlife.
There are plenty of options on Boracay when it comes to
entertainment or nightlife going from chilling at one of the
beach bars to clubbing in one of the dancings. Barhopping trips
are also popular.
Food.
No need to worry about the variety in food. Since the island is
quite touristic, there is a wide range of restaurants: italian,
chinese, local,...from fast food to haute cuisine. Of course
there are also quite a few fish restaurants. A spot on the
beach underneath the palm trees with the sound of the waves on
the background and fresh lobster, seafood, lapu lapu or the "catch
of the day" on your plate? Doesn't that sound appealing? It's
possible on Boracay. Warning with regard to the tap water: it
is not drinkable. You best use water from bottles (take care
that the seal has not been broken).
Spending the night.
You will encounter both backpackers and luxury tourists on
Boracay. The facilities for spending the night vary from cheap
hostels and cabins (often in nipa) to luxurious 5-star resorts.
Take into account the seasonal fluctuations at the moment of
booking.
Picture 1: the beach of White Beach
Picture 2: sunset sailing
Picture 3: diving in the waters around Boracay
Picture 4: cliff jumping in Ariel's Point
Picture 5: sunset on Boracay
Picture 6: squid with rice
Picture 7: parasailing
Picture 8: moray eel
Picture 9: turtle
