Featured Beach of the Month: Boracay

This month's featured beach points to the most viewed page in the phcommute website - Boracay. Internationally renowned for its powder white sand, crystal blue waters, tropical palms, and flowering plants. Boracay has been selected as the 7th Best Beaches in the World (Yahoo! Travel, as of May 1, 2008). Situated 2 km off the northwestern tip of Panay, in the West Visayan region, Boracay is bordered by Sibuyan Sea, Tablas Strait, Tabon Strait, and Sulu Sea. The entire land area of Boracay stands at 10.32 square kilometers, which is divided into three barangays, namely, Yapak in the north, Balabag in the middle, and Manoc-manoc in the south. The whole strip is approximately 7 kilometers long; it is shaped into a dumbbell or a dogbone, with the narrowest part being less than 1 kilometer wide. Nudity, fighting, and loud commotions are prohibited on the island.

Photo taken from: http://www.ourworldtravels.com/

Commuting Instructions to Boracay

Travel Tips:

1. Wear a t-shirt, shorts, and slippers. Be prepared to get wet in the boat ride from the Caticlan Jetty Port to Boracay.
2. Pack light, especially if commuting. In the worst case, you can buy clothes and towels on the island.
3. Bring cash in small bills. There are only 4 ATM machines on the island, and the line can get very long.
4. Don't forget the usual beach essentials: sunglasses/sun hats, beach sandals, swimwear, and sunblock.
5. Bring a flashlight, especially if you intend to visit the Bat Cave.

Don't miss:

1. White Beach. 4 kilometers of pristine white sand lining the west border of Boracay, White Beach is the most popular attraction on the island. It is also connected to Diniwid Beach via a foot path, and can be the jump off point to diving sites such as Fridays Rock, Lobster Rock, Red Coco, Coral Garden, and Angol. Angol is best for beginners as it is one of the shallowest diving sites near the island at about 10m deep.
2. Bulabog Beach. Situated on the opposite side of the island, Bulabog Beach faces east and is the primary spot for windsurfing and kiteboarding/kitesurfing activities.
3. Puka-shell Beach. Known for its puka shells which can be found on the shore, Puka-shell Beach is one of the quieter spots on the island and is a good venue for picnics and intimate barkada bonding sessions.
4. Balinghai Beach. Located very near Diniwid Beach, Balinghai Beach is accessible via a foot path from the main road. It's a good venue for some quiet swimming and snorkeling.
5. Bat Cave. A popular sightseeing spot, the Bat Cave features several giant fruit bats and an interesting ceiling with multiple, small stalactites. Going down into the cave can be quite dangerous, however, so be very cautious. The stones are slippery and steep, and the path can get very dark. It will also be difficult to see the bats without a flashlight.

Try:

1. Scuba Diving. There are at least 12 dive sites around the island. Some of the more popular ones are: Yapak, Punta Bunga, Balinghai, Fridays Rock, Lobster Rock, Red Coco, Coral Garden, Angol, and Tambisaan Reef.
2. Snorkeling.
3. Windsurfing and Kiteboarding @ Bulabog Beach
4. Sailing.
5. Parasailing.
6. Water Skiing.
7. Mountain Biking, Motorbiking, and Hiking.
8. Beach Hopping. There are at least 12 beaches on the island. Some of the more popular ones are: White Beach, Diniwid Beach, Balinghai Beach, Punta Bunga Beach, Banyugan Beach, Puka-shell Beach, Yapak Beach, Punta-ina Beach, Ilig-iligan Beach, Lapuz-lapuz Beach, Bulabog Beach, and Manoc-manoc Beach. You can rent boats to go around the island.
9. Beach Sports. The more popular beach sports are beach volleyball and beach football.
10. Tennis.
11. Skimboarding. This activity is ideal for kids and older adults.
12. Horseback Riding @ Boracay Horse Riding Stables
13. Banana Boat. Each banana boat can hold 3 to 10 people. You can typically request for a "hard-core" banana boat ride or a smoother, milder, (and arguably safer) ride.
14. Wall Climbing @ the 40-feet D' Wall Climbing Gym in D' Mall
15. Golf
    

Hang out at:

1. One of many international restaurants, open-air bars, karaoke bars, pubs, nightclubs, and discos.
2. One of many Internet cafes
3. One of over 2000 rooms in 350 beach resorts
4. D' Mall for some shopping
5. Fairways and Blue Waters for a game of golf
6. Lapu-lapu Dive Resort for some diving
7. Mandala Spa for instant relaxation

Pig out on:

1. Chinese food @ Bamboo Lounge, Station 1
   
2. Greek food @ Cyma in D' Mall or Cafe Mediterranean
   
3. Indian food @ True Foods, Station 2
   
4. Italian food @ Aria Cafe in D' Mall
   
5. Mexican food @ Manana, Station 1
   
6. Spanish food @ Ole in D' Mall
   
7. Fruit shakes @ Jonas Fruitshake, Station 1

Get Around:

1. On foot
2. On tricycles
3. On rented mountain bikes or motorbikes

For Cash Emergencies:

1. There is a foreign exchange service near Boat Station 2.
2. There are 4 ATM machines on the island, but the lines can get very long.
3. Some establishments accept credit cards.

For Heath-related Emergencies:

1. There is a small hospital for treating minor illnesses.

For Gift Ideas:

1. Shell jewelry made from puka shells

Common Complaints:

1. It is overpopulated and too "tourist-y".
2. It is too commercialized and noisy.
3. The vendors can get irritatingly persistent.

References:

• http://www.boracay.com
• http://www.boracayisland.org
• http://wikitravel.org/en/Boracay
• http://travel.yahoo.com/beaches
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boracay
• http://www.asiatravel.com/manila/tips.html