Voted  one of the world’s bet beaches,  Boracay is the perfect  island getaway,   offering  warm blue  waters, powder-fine white sand, and a palm fringed 4 kilometer beach. Boracay Island lies at  the most  Western Visayas  and is approximately 350 kilometers south of Manila. The island  is  seven  kilometers  long  and has an area of 1,083 hectares, with  the  narrowest   spot  in  the middle  part of the island only one kilometer wide. The Northern  and Southern  part of Boracay are  hilly,  with   the highest elevation at 100 meters above sea level.  Boracay   belongs  to   the municipality   of  Malay  in   Aklan province, consist of three villages or barangays: Yapak in the North, Balabag in the center and Manoc Manoc in the  South.

HISTORY 
According  to  one  version,  Boracay  took  its  name from the local word of cotton “borac”, in reference  to  the  white,  cotton-like color of the sand. “Boracay”, according to another version, means  “frothing  and  bubbling”,  a  description  of   the  waters by the shores of the island. Still another version dates back to the Japanese occupation of the island. “Borak” refers to the white rice   paste  used to   make-up  by Japanese theater  performers.  “Hai” ,  the  Japanese  “yes”, completes the name  “Borac-hai”.  More  importantly,  visitors respect the serene quality of  the place, and pay tribune to native Boracaynons by behaving  according  to loval behavioral codes which means no nudity, no fighting, and no loud commotion. 

GETTING THERE.
Philippine  Airlines,   Air  Philippines  and   Cebu  Pacific all fly  into the airport of Kalibo. From Kalibo  you  take  the  scenic  two-hour  bus ride  to Caticlan pier, where  you can catch one of the many banca taxis    to Boracay Island. Alternatively you can fly  with Sea Air or Asian Spirit direct into Caticlan airport and take a short tricycle journey  to Caticlan pier to catch your banca to the island. 

WHAT TO DO
For  sun-worshippers   the  world  over,  paradise  goes  by  the  name  Boracay,  and  with  4 kilometers  of   pristine  beach,  there  is  plenty of space to do it. When  the heat  becomes too much, cool off in the clear blue waters surrounding the island. After a  swim in the sea,  you can  engage in an array of activities such as: combing the beaches on horseback, playing an  exciting game  of  volleyball,  scuba diving, windsurfing, or hiring an outrigger for a cruise and the island.
As  the  sun  goes down, swim over the floating bar and enjoy a relaxing sunset cocktail before readying  yourself  for  an  exciting  night  of dancing and partying. Boracay has plenty  of bars, discos,  and fine restaurants serving up fine  international cuisine-but don’t take our word for it, Boracay is definitely an island you have to experience for yourself.

COMMUNICATIONS
Domestic  and  international  calls  and  faxes  can  be made at almost all resorts and many other places. The telephone system does, however, not allow collect calls ‘Smart’ and Globe Telecom provide  an  international  cell  phone  network,  and  there are many Internet Café’s available to keep in touch with the outside world (why would you want to-you are in Boracay).