Boracay is a tropical island about an hour’s flight from Manila in the Philippines. Its long white sand beaches rival the best beaches of more popular destinations such as the Caribbean, the South Pacific as well as neighboring Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.
White Beach stretches some four kilometers on the western side of the island. It is largely because of the pristine, white powdery sand of White Beach and the crystal clear blue water of the surrounding sea that Boracay is often called “the world’s most beautiful tropical island.”
In 1990, it was voted by the BMW Tropical Beach Handbook as one of the best beaches in the world and again in 1996 by British publication TV Quick as the world’s number one tropical beach. In 2007, Boracay island topped the list of the World’s Most Popular Beach according to Yahoo! Travel.
For those wanting to just lounge around and take in some rays, beach-front hotels usually have lounge chairs set up just a few steps away from the hotel entrances. Facilities for the usual water sports activities such as sailing, wind surfing, snorkeling, diving and jet skiing are also widely available for those in search of more active pursuits.
The fun in Boracay also doesn’t end when the sun sets. Boracay nightlife is pulsating with many bars and restaurants serving food, drink and fun until the very late evening.
The Low Season is when the winds change and blow eastward into White Beach. There is more rain than usual, but there are also fewer tourists, better prices on accommodations, and other lower prices. The low season begins in May, and ends in October.
During High Season, the winds come from the other side of the island, and White Beach is protected. The wind blows out to sea, leaving the beach pristine clean and generally calm. It is also winter in the northern hemisphere, and tourists come in numbers in search of sun, heat, beach and party. High Season starts in October and ends in May.
Most visitors to Boracay stay on the White Beach and travel by foot. It’s an hour and a half walk from one end of the beach to the other.