Imagine an island paradise... with powdery soft and pure white sand... palm-fringed beach... crystal clear azure waters... stretching over 3.5 kilometers long... yes, Boracay is definitely the best beach in the country... and many have claimed even the world!
Getting to Boracay from Manila is easy, about an hour by plane to either Caticlan or Kalibo (the nearest city about 2 hours away). And from Iloilo, it is just a 2-3 hour land trip.
Almost all structures in Boracay are rustic, native and low (no more than 2-3 storeys high) and the lifestyle very laid-back. It is a great favorite among locals and many foreigners who find it a real bargain. In fact, food and language here is quite international... French, Italian, German, Australian, Japanese.... just among the many foreigners who have decided to make this paradise their home. Although generally very cheap (about $10 a day in regular accommodations), there are also a few that run to $100+ for the more luxurious ones. Many aqua sports are available but mostly non-motorized to preserve corals. Diving is also popular in Boracay with schools offering classes and licenses.
Since my first visit to Boracay island way back in the mid-80's (when it was not yet popular) and several other visits since then, I have noticed the changing face of the island. Many claim tourism has spoiled it, but I do not completely agree. I still find the place as enchanting as ever although with just a bit more people and commerce, and perhaps no longer as clean and pristine as it was then... Buy hey, paradise should be open to everyone... plus, who doesn't like the creature comforts like electricity, water and better accommodations not present then?
KALIBO ~ Kalibo is the regular entry point for Boracay on all regular flights from Manila. It is most famous for the Ati-Atihan Festival, a wild mardi-gras where revelers blacken themselves with soot, don aboriginal costumes and dance in the streets to the beating of drums. Held every third week of January, this is definitely worth experiencing but needs lots of planning as the limited accommodations available are booked up months in advance (trust me!). Boracay at this particular time also suddenly fill up.