Boracay

Boracay, Philippines

Palm trees swaying in the wind, crystal turquoise seas, and seemingly endless stretches of talcum-powder-fine-white sand beaches, plus a distinctively laid-back way of life characterise this beautiful island. Boracay offers everything from golf, trekking, sailing, and water sports (like windsurfing and scuba diving) to great hotels, gourmet restaurants, and festivals. Plus, of course, its fabulous beaches – including White Beach, voted among the finest in the world.

Population:

32,267

Currency:

Philippine peso (PHP)
₱10 ~ US$0,19

Emergency Numbers:

Police: 166 and 135
Hospital: 141
Fire Department: 198 and 194

Opening Hours:

Shops: from around 10 am to 5 pm, 8 pm on Saturdays.
Smaller shops stay open well into the evening.
Banks: from 9 am to 3 pm weekdays.

Newspapers:

Daily tribune
Philippine daily inquirer
Philippine star
Today
Mindanao times

The Island

One of the Philippines’ most popular tourist destinations, Boracay island lies just off the coast of Panay in the western Visayas region. It is comprised of thirteen areas, known by the Filipino name of Barangays, including Manoc-Manoc and Balabag.

Boracay became an independent state in the 1950’s, and was something of a secret until, it is said, a film crew "discovered" the island while filming in the area in the 1970’s. The secret was out: tourists began arriving and have continued to do so ever since.

Boracay is probably most famous for its beaches, especially the White Beach – at around four kilometres long, it is the island’s main tourist beach known the world over. The sea is especially shallow here, which makes it safe for water sports. The beach is lined with hotels and restaurants - some directly on the waterfront, others separated by a long esplanade.

There are other beaches, too, including the quieter Diniwid Beach and the second largest Bulabog Beach which, because it catches the wind, is popular with windsurfers, kitesurfers and kiteboarders. In fact, the brightly coloured sails are a part of the beach's identity. Boracay is also famous for its nature and eco-trekking, its bargain shopping in markets, diving, parties and the many spas found in its holiday resorts.

Do & See

Relaxing on the beautiful beaches is, perhaps, the top choice of many tourists who visit Boracay, but there are many other attractions and things to do. Boracay, for instance, is a magnet for festival-goers and sport event enthusiasts. Special events include dragon boat races, the Paraw regatta (sailing race), and the open Asian Frisbee beach tournament held every summer – an important event for Boracay’s own top ranking team, the Boracay Dragons. Golfing enthusiasts can enjoy the world-class 18-hole par 72 Fairways & Bluewater Resort Golf & Country Club course, while nature lovers and walkers can explore the natural areas of rice terraces, waterfalls and lush plantations around the Tibiao whitewater river (the adventurous can even go whitewater rafting).

Dining

Boracay has a huge choice of restaurants to suit all tastes and pockets – from local eateries to lavish gourmet-style venues. Dishes like char-grilled chicken, meat cooked to perfection over coals accompanied by salads and local vegetables, or fish caught fresh from the sea, marinated and grilled, can be found on most tables.

Try grilled prawns with bacon and avocado, fresh Oriental-style spring rolls, or delicacies like seared tuna with soy sauce. The hotels and resorts tend to have a selection of restaurants too, serving both Filipino and international cuisine.

Below are the best places to eat in Boracay, Philippines:

Cafes

There are plenty of cafes and casual eateries to choose from. Some offer international foods like burgers, pizzas and kebabs, others specialize in local delicacies like spring rolls and rice dishes that are ideal as a light snack. Salads, often with fruit like mango or pineapple diced in amongst the lettuce, are eaten as light meals too. Fruit is also the main ingredient of the colourful, vitamin-packed smoothies - a drink very popular among both visitors and locals.

Below are the best cafes in Boracay, Philippines: