[Travel Guide]

What makes a beach gain the reputation of being one of the world’s best? Such is simply a gift of nature. And Boracay is more than endowed with the gifts of paradise. Boracay is paradise itself.

Geographically, Boracay is approximately 7 kilometers long. The narrowest part of this island is just about one kilometer wide. And the whole shape of the island is similar to that of a dumb bell. Situated off the northwestern end of Panay, an island in the Visayas region of the Philippines, the small island of Boracay has also become the ultimate vacation destination in the country. The main reason is the almost four kilometers of long white sand beach.

This Boracay Beach has already gained international fame. In 1990, Boracay was featured in the BMW Tropical Beach Handbook as one of the best beaches in the world. In 1996, Boracay was recognized by the British Publication TV Quick as the world’s top tropical beach. Now, more than a decade later, Boracay still remains the best beach in the Philippines.

The famous white sand beach is at the west coast and located between the picturesque villages of Angol and Balabag. The sea water is shallow and seemed to be purposely made for the enjoyment of mortals. The sand is brilliantly white, amazingly fine-grained and invitingly soft. And this white sand stays that way even during the hottest of day.

The locals are cheerful. After all, they live in paradise and that fact alone is enough to keep oneself happy. The locals are also helpful and accommodating. They wanted to show off their beach and aimed to make the stay of the tourist as one of the most memorable and pleasurable vacation experiences. The whole atmosphere of the place is a unique combination of tranquility and activity. That is, people in Boracay are involved in all sorts of pursuits but no one is in a rush.

On the white beach, the tourist can choose among the 350 beach resorts. There will always be a perfect room for the tourist who is looking for a particular design, type, or fancy. And there will always be an accommodation for every range of budget. The more expensive ones boast of ultra-modern amenities while the cheaper ones offer the basic facilities.

Boracay also offers a wide range of food stalls, bars, cafes, restaurants, and grill houses to entice and satiate one’s gustatory senses. The restaurants can certainly satisfy even the most discriminating gourmet. Then, there are beer joints and discos where the tourist can while the night away.

During the day, swimming is not the only preoccupation of the tourist in Boracay. There are water sports, jet skiing, kayaking, and island hopping. One can play beach volleyball or visit the butterfly garden. One can trek and discover bat caves. And one can join a dive boat which will take the tourist to wonderful dive sites.