Boracay has been one of my favorite beach destinations since I visited years ago – the powdery, white sand and crystal clear, warm water make it a special slice of paradise, as you can read here. Apparently, many people agreed and Boracay’s popularity has soared, it was voted to be “Best Beach in Asia” and one of the top 10 beaches worldwide repeatedly. That, of course resulted in more development and an increasing stream of visitors to the islands. When my sister planned to visit the Philippines, I wanted to show her the most popular beach in the country, yet I was a little anxious just what all that development had done to paradise…
The good news is, what made Boracay so special in the past, the powdery, white sand and crystal clear, warm water, is still there, unchanged! Yet it is not the undiscovered, sleepy beach it was on my first visit: No more ride in the private outrigger boat straight to the beach (now prohibited) with a warm welcome by the hotel staff on the sand, welcome drink, cold towel and necklace included, no more “few low-rise hotels hidden among the trees”, no more deserted beaches. You now reach the island via the little harbor at the Southern end of the island, followed by a tricycle or van ride on a paved road to your hotel. And you are still being welcomed by friendly locals with cold towels, welcome drink and necklace…
Every part of the famous White Beach frontage has been developed with hotels, restaurants and bars or water activities! You now find a wide range of hotels, from budget hostels (on the South end, Station 3) to top-end luxury resorts (on the North end, Station 1). There are all kinds of restaurant, from every fast-food chain you find in Manila at the d’mall to local and international specialty restaurants that can compete with the nice restaurants in the capital. And you can find all the activities you can imagine in the water (or air): from snorkeling and diving, para sailing and banana boating, to wave, wind and even kite surfing! You can go on (more or less romantic) sunset sails or just enjoy the sunset in a lounger with a happy-hour cocktail in hand.
Boracay has developed a reputation as a party island, attracting young people from all over Asia and the world. And there is plenty of evening entertainment on offer, you will have all kinds of live music and my personal favorite, fire dancers! Thank god I”m not a smoker – I didn’t need anybody to light my cigarette with a swirling ball of fire! There are also some DJ’s playing dance music, but don’t expect Ibiza-style clubs. It’s more of a hang-out-with-friends-drink-listen-to-music kinda party. At station 3, those drinks can be had cheaply …
While Boracay has lost its innocence, it has grown up into a proud adult! The development has been frantic and you can still see (and hear) construction around the island, yet the hotels are mostly of reasonable size, only a few stories high, you won’t need more than flip flops to have a wonderful dinner on the beach, a few steps from the ocean. It has become a better beach destination for most people: easier to reach, more choices to stay and eat, more activities to do. You can go on a budget, come to party or continue to seek peace and relaxation – or mix it up with a short stroll along the beach from one station to the next. If that sounds good to you, you should put Boracay on your travel list. If you don’t want any party within walking distance, you can always head to a different Philippine island instead and try Coron…