Boracay

The Boracay Island is an adventure destination, serene spot, nature tripping area and party place all at the same time. There is no wonder why locals and foreigners alike fall in love with this island over and over again. Boracay is located in the Visayas region, part of the Aklan province.

Boracay, Aklan (photo credit: erniecatanghal) 

This is a multi-awarded destination with recent awards such as second best beach given by TripAdvisor for 2011 and one of the Top 10 Islands given by Travel + Leisure travel magazine. Since this is a beach destination, the best time to go here is when the weather is sunny so you can enjoy the sun, the sea and the sand. Visit the island from September to June so you can catch the Amihan season characterized by little to no rainfall and moderate temperature. The residents of the island rely heavily on tourism as their main source of income. The main tourism area here is the White Beach on the western side of the island. This beach is often described as having powdery white sand beach that never feels hot to the touch even during the hottest part of the day. Another popular beach in the island is the Bulabog Beach where windsurfing, kite boarding and kite surfing are done.

The start of tourism in Boracay Island was recorded in the 1970s. By the late 1980s, the island is already known as the place to go for budget travelers. During the 1990s it is already acclaimed as one of the best beaches not just in the Philippines but in the entire world.

Boracay, Aklan (photo credit: erniecatanghal)

There are two events to watch out for in the month of January. The first one is the Boracay International Funboard Cup held in Bulabog Beach. CNN even focused this event in its 52 weekend recommendations for the year 2010. Kalibo is known for the Ati-atihan festival. Boracay also holds its mini Ati-atihan festival usually in the third or fourth week of January. In the summer time, you can catch the ultimate Frisbee event known as the Boracay Open Asian Beach Ultimate Tournament. One of the popular events in the summer is the Dragon Boat race held by the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation.

For first time visitors in Boracay, remember that you cannot enjoy this place just by staying overnight. You will need at least three days in order to do all the activities and see all the sights. Aside from lounging on the beach, the White Beach part of the island transforms from into a party scene at night where bands play and the people get together to dance the night away. There are numerous activities on the island aside from water sports. You can ask the locals if you want to try the horseback riding, ATV, Frisbee, beach volleyball, mountain biking, trekking and cliff jumping. Golfers would be happy to know that Boracay now has an 18 hole, par 72 golf course inside the Fairways and Blue Waters property. It is tagged as the Golfing Jewel of the Pacific.