Boracay is a beautiful tropical Island in the Phillipines, almost unheard of by the travel and tourism industry until the 1970s when it was discovered by a foreign movie crew, which started the slow trend of Boracay becoming one of the most popular tourist destinations in the region.

The Island is relatively small – just over 4 miles long and only 0.6 miles wide at it’s narrowest spot. One unusual feature of Boracay is its unusual seasons – rather than four, Boracay only really experiences two – locally known as “Amihan” and “Habagat.” Temperatures rarely drop below 20 degrees Celsius and only then during the tropical storm season . Daytime temperatures usually range between 77-90 F from September to June (Amihan) and between 82-100 F the rest of the year (Habagat).

The busiest part of the tourist season is usually during Amihan, when the wind blows from the East, sheltering the most popular tourist destination, White Beach, which is on the Western side of the Island. The seas on the Western side tend to be like a mill pond this time of the year. Although windsurfers and kiteboarders prefer the eastern side at the other main tourist destination, Bulabog Beach. In fact, several international competitions are held here, including the Asian Windsurfing Tour and the world famous Boracay International Funboard Cup. English is widely spoken on the Island and the locals are famous for their warm welcome. A number of websites offer discount accommodation in Boracay, and a better price is often available by pre-booking.

The main attraction of Boracay is the beaches, and as one long-forgotten pundit once stated, “ those unable to drag themselves away from the beach will not have missed much.”

White Beach

White beach was voted the world’s best beach by the Sun Herald, an Australian newspaper, and is one of the finest beaches in Asia, with bright white sand and clear, shallow waters. A relaxing atmosphere and wide range of restaurants make it the perfect family vacation spot even during the International Beach Volleyball competition.

Bulabag Beach

By contrast, Bulabag tends to attract a more active crowd. A reef shelters the beach from sea swells which forms a calm, shallow lagoon, perfect for wind surfing as there are on-shore winds almost throughout the season.

Getting to Boracy is a simple process. One can either fly or travel by boat. A large number of airlines fly from Manila, which is the closest International airport, to Caticlan and a small traditional “Banca boat,” takes just 20 minutes to one of the boat stations on White Beach. Just remember you will be dropped off directly on to the beach.

Alternatively, regular ferries run from Manila which is an overnight trip. Ferries do also run from Mindoro, but there is a high chance of encountering rough seas on this trip.

Once in Boracay, there are a large number of accommodations to choose from, ranging from ultra-basic to five star hotels and will suit almost any budget. Enjoy !