Boracay

Geography

Boracay is a tropical island located approximately 315km (200 miles) south of Manila and 2km off the northwest tip of the island of Panay in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. It is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations. The island comprises the barangays of Manoc-Manoc, Balabag, and Yapak (3 of the 17 barangays which make up the municipality of Malay. Boracay Island is located off the northwest corner of the island of Panay, and belongs to the Western Visayas island-group, or Region 6, of the Philippines. The island is approximately seven kilometers long, dog-bone shaped with the narrowest spot being less than one kilometer wide, and has a total land area of 10.32 square kilometers. South-facing Cagban Beach is located across a small strait from the jetty port at Caticlan on Panay island, and the Cagban jetty port serves as Boracay's main entry and exit point during most of the year. When wind and sea conditions dictate, east-facing Tambisaan Beach serves as an alternative entry and exit point.

Boracay's two primary tourism beaches, White Beach and Bulabog Beach, are located on opposite sides of the island's narrow central area. White Beach faces westwards and Bulabog Beach faces eastwards. The island also has several other beaches.

White Beach is the main tourism beach. It is a bit over four kilometers long and is lined with resorts, hotels, lodging houses, restaurants, and other tourism-related businesses. In the central portion, for about two kilometers, there is a footpath known as the Beachfront Path separating the beach itself from the establishments located along it. North and south of the Beachfront Path, beachfront establishments do literally front along the beach itself. In past years, Boracay entry and exit was done through three boat stations located along the Beachfront Path, but that practice was discontinued in 2007 in favor of the single-point entry and exit mentioned above. Several roads and paths connect the Beachfront Path with Boracay's Main Road, a vehicular road which runs the length of the island. At the extreme northern end of White Beach, a footpath runs around the headland there and connects White Beach with Diniwid Beach.

Across the island from White Beach is Bulabog Beach, a secondary tourism beach and Boracay's main windsurfing and kiteboarding area.

For Land Use and Management, the island of Boracay is divided into 400 hectares of preserved forestland and 628.96 hectares of agricultural land.

History

Boracay was then called "Land of the Atis" because the first settlers of the island are the Negritos or Atis. The Negritos farmed and fished in Boracay for centuries. During the 1940's and 1950's, the Boracaynons or the people of Boracay, depended largely on fishing and coconut plantation. Copra, the dried meat of coconut, was traded to businessmen from Aklan in exchange for rice and other goods and commodities.

In the 1960's and 1970's, Boracay became popular among families from Panay. When a German writer published a book about the Philippines in 1978, describing Boracay history and the beautiful island in details, the island was introduced to the world. This mark the beginning of tourist "boom" with tourist.

Since then, The onset of tourism changed Boracay completely. As word of its exceptional beauty--specifically the immaculate white sands of White Beach spread, tourists began arriving. Suddenly, from a sleepy, sparsely populated island, Boracay was transformed into a major destination on the international travel circuit. Whether the change was for the better or worse is an open question, but it was certainly a turning point in the history of Boracay Island.

Night out in Boracay | Evening Activities

For such a small island, Boracay offers a number of nightlife option to its visitors. Listening to classical guitarist or pianist while having romantic candle light dinner to jamming with the local bands while dancing on sandy grounds are just a few options. Most of the big resorts and hotels at Boracay offers live entertainment. Starting from the northern end of White Beach and going south, you'll see 24-hour spots and entertainment places. Generally, White Beach is the hospot but you'll find entertainment and music almost every night somewhere on Boracay Island.

Boracay Bars: the many bars on Boracay, and especially those along White Beach, are more than the heart of island nighlife. Most are often not only at night, but in the morning and all day. Some of the most popular bars Cocomangas Shooter Bar, located near Balabag plaza, Fridays Resortnear the northern end of White Beach, Pat Creek Bar, Cafe del Sol, Isla Baila, Mango-Ray Resort and Cocoloco.

On the other side of the island on the beach in Bulabog, there is Banana Saging. this simple bar is a fun place for food and snacks.

Boracay Discos: Pier One formerly known as Beachcomber Disco turns into a Disco after Dinner. Hiphop and techno music are usually played. Popular recording artists from Manila occasionally performs here live. It's mostly a younger crowd around the big bar and the billiard tables or seated in comfortable pillow-chairs. Summer Place, also called the Sex Shooter Bar, is moret han a bar. Its another center of nightlife on the Island, with a Mongolian Grill, a disco and a stage for live band and special events. Club Paraw lies between Pier One and the beachside part of the Cocomangas bar. Mainly young people dance and chat located directly on the beach.

Shows and Live Bands: Fridays Resort is offering etcnic and cultural dance shows every friday night. Live bands perform on weekends at Bom Bom - a popular island-style bar located on the White Beach path. Secxs in the Alice in wonderland resort also have livebands on weekend night.Sulu Star on the other hand offers karaoke and disco with nightly singing and dance contest.

24-Hour Spots - If you're out late and still hungry or thirsty, try Sea Lover's, a charming little Filipino restaurant and the oldest 24-hour place on Boracay. For a salad, a sandwich and another drink, Salad Bar is located at D'Mall and further south down White Beach is Bamboo Beach Resort or Dalisay for that late last drink.

One of the best things in Boracay? Nighlife!

Watersports, Boracay Style!

Scuba Diving
Sign up for an introductory dive and explore the underwater life with fishes at some dive sites for beginners or be an expert diver and dive 130 feet below sea level at Ship Wreck and discover how Pelagics move beneath the sea.

Boat Trips - you can take a boat trip around the island for just sightseeing but its more fun with stopovers at different beaches for drinks, lunch, swimming and snorkelling. Wind condition sometimes makes boating on one or the other side of the island unsafe, but either coast of Boracay has enough beaches and snorkelling areas.

Paraw Sailing - Let the wind take you wherever the wind leads you and sail into the glorious sunset on this unique, double-winged wind driven boat that can only be ultimately enjoyed in Boracay. Paraws, small outrigger sailboats, is ideal for 2 to 6 people and may be rented with or without the two-man crew, depending on your sailing skills. Sailing instruction is also available. Many boatmen along White Beach allowed thier paraws to be rented at per hour basis. Or you can contact the Malay Sailing Boat Owner Association Inc

Snorkeling - Some boatmen provides snorkels and fins once you rented thier boat for island hopping or snorkelling. Snorkels and fins are also available at most hotels, dive shops and at some beaches where either beach operators or restaurants are located.

Skimboarding - For several years now, skimboarding in Boracay has been an entertainment for older people. But for the kids, it is a new watersports. The shallow water of White Beach is the best beach to practice skimboarding. You can rent skimboards at several places along White Beach.

Windsurfing and Kitesurfing - The best beach for windsurfing and kitesurfing is Bulabog beach where equipment rentals, winsurfing and kitesurfing lessons are available. Ocean Republic offers a different packages from 2 hours to 3-days course. Wind and wave conditions are best between December and February during the northern monsoon.

Waterskiing, Banana Boat, Glass Bottom Boat and Parasailing - These activities are all available on the White Beach. As of 2007, waterskiing costs about Php900 for 15 minutes and Jet Skiing about Php1,500 for 30 minutes. The popular banana boat ride costs about Php200 each for a minimum of four people.

There are two glass bottom boats allowing you to see Boracay's underwater world while you stay dry. The smaller boat can accomodate 6 to 8 persons and the trip takes around 1 hour. The bigger boat names We Found It, takes up to 30 persons out for one and a half hours. The best time forParasailing is in the high season during the northeast monsoon where the sea off White Beach is calm at that time.

Banana boat rides, waterskiing, jet skiing and parasailing can be arranged at some resorts or at theBoracay Tourist Center.

Boracay Tourist Center (63)(36)288-3704
Small Glass Bottom Boat (63)(36)288-6269
We Found It (mobile no.) +639184905619

Fishing - Kingfisher's Farm is in a lovely inlet surrounded by mangroves. You can order food and drinks and just watch the many birds and constantly jumping fishes. You can try your luch for fishing those jumping fish (mostly bangus and tilapia). Kingfishers Farm will grill your catch for you. With fishing, a restaurant, and a small store, billiards and table tennis, Kingfisher's is ideal for kids, families and friends.

Travel to Boracay | Tranquility via Land, Air and Sea By Plane The most popular means of travelling to boracay in Malay, Aklan is by air via Kalibo. There are regular cheap flights from Manila to Kalibo Airport in Aklan on Panay Island. The flight takes less than one hour, but an additional 90 minutes bus trip to Caticlan Jetty Port is required. From Kalibo to Caticlan Southwest Tours, Star Express and 7107 Island Tours ply the route from Kalibo Airport to Caticlanwith air-conditioned buses or coasters. Included in the price is also the boat transfer from Caticlan to one of Boracay's boat stations. Other means of reaching Caticlan are mini-vans, which are a little cheaper, but don't provide boat service to Boracay. The trip takes 1 to 1.5 hours. Smaller turbo planes fly directly to Caticlan Airport, This is the fastest way and fromCaticlan Airport, only a short tricycle ride to the jetty port. By Ship An adventorous but more leisurely and romantic way to travel to Boracay is by Ferry from Manila to Caticlan or Dumaguit, near Kalibo. The trip to Boracay takes about 17 hours. MBRS Shipping Lines have two boats plying the route from Manila to Caticlan. The ships leave Manila's North Harbor, Pier 8, every Friday, Monday and Wednesday and arrive in Caticlan the next day. Other shipping companies service the route Manila to Dumaguit, half an hour east from Kalibo. The companies are WG&A and Negros Navigation. By Land Caticlan, the entry point for Boracay, can be reached also by private cars or air-conditioned buses, via the 'strong republic nautical highway', stretching from Batangas, Luzon, to Cagayan de Oro. This is probably the cheapest way to go to Boracay. But it takes more time an adventorous spirit. See Travel to Boracay by RORO Arriving on Boracay - The new Jetty Port at Caticlan Boracay Island itself is then reached by travelling on motorized bancas (motorized outtrigger boats), which is continously ply the short trail between the island. The boat trip takes 20 to 25 minutes and land at three defined areas, known as Boat Stations 1,2 and 3 along the shoreline of White Beach. If you're going to visit Boracay, it is advisable that you find out in advance which Boat Station is closest to the resort where you are staying. Most travel agency can arranged that for you. TIP: it is best to wear casual clothes like shorts, T-shirt and slippers for arrival and departure boat trips. You may get wet while crossing the channel between Caticlan and Boracay Island, and usually one has to wade a short distance in shallow water from the boat to the beach.