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With a length of 7km and a narrowest point of 1km wide, Boracay Island is a great place to enjoy your upcoming summer vacation. This small Philippine island is located approximately 315km from Manila, 2km off the northwest coast of Panay Island in the West Visayas. The island comprises three small districts: Manoc-Manoc, Balabag, and Yapak, within the Malay Autonomous Region of Aklan Province. The beaches here have gently sloping sandy shores that stretch to the open sea, and the water is only chest-deep, making them ideal for various water activities.
Besides its white sandy beaches, Boracay is also famous as one of the world's top entertainment destinations. Simultaneously, it's listed among the most peaceful destinations with the most vibrant nightlife, and was voted the best island in the world in 2012 by the prestigious American magazine Travel + Leisure.
Here, you can relax on the 4km-long White Beach with its fine white sand, along with numerous resorts, shops, and restaurants. White Beach is divided into three smaller beaches. Beach 1 in the north is the most spacious, with the best and most expensive resorts and hotels. In the middle is Beach 2, where tourists often go to enjoy delicious food, shop, or hold lively parties. If you want to enjoy a quiet space, Beach 3 is the ideal place for you. Because the sea at White Beach is usually very calm during the Amihan season (from September to May of the following year), this is the peak tourist season on the island.
Bulabog Beach, located on the eastern side of the island opposite White Beach, boasts strong waves and winds year-round. It's an ideal spot for surfing and parasailing enthusiasts. In fact, Bulabog Beach is considered one of Asia's top destinations for parasailing. Because Boracay attracts tourists from all over the world, the island offers a diverse culinary experience, from Chinese, Indian, American, and Mexican cuisine to French, Italian, Dutch, and even Moroccan dishes! Visitors shouldn't miss the island's fresh seafood. Just stroll along the beach and choose what you like. Don't forget to try a refreshing fruit smoothie made with tropical fruits like bananas and mangoes when you visit the island.
This island paradise offers countless activities for tourists, so every day in Boracay feels like a vacation. Just relax and enjoy. In the morning, sip a cup of coffee and choose your favorite activity such as boating, surfing, snorkeling, or coral viewing. Boracay has around 25 diving spots for all ages. If you're an adventurous traveler, you can take a boat trip to explore the caves in Yapak or the Bat Cave on the other side of the island. You can also experience parasailing or try parasailing – a signature activity of the island – to explore the surrounding area.
After enjoying the beach activities, unwind with a sea massage or at one of the island's spas; sip a fruit smoothie at Jonah's, relax by the pool at the Shangri-La resort while gazing at the vast ocean. You can also shop for jewelry made from seashells. As the sun sets, Boracay comes alive with a plethora of bars. Listen to and immerse yourself in the vibrant music while sampling a cocktail, beer, or wine at a beachfront bar.
With a vacation on this paradise island, you and your family will have the opportunity to enjoy unforgettable moments in your lives.
Additional information:
The best time to visit Boracay
Boracay has a typical tropical climate, with average temperatures ranging from 24 to 31 degrees Celsius. The best time to visit Boracay is during the dry season, from September to May. This is the peak tourist season, with most visitors coming to enjoy the magnificent scenery of the tropical beaches. The rest of the year is the rainy season.
+ Currency
The currency of the Philippines is the Philippine Peso (PHP). You can exchange money at hotels, large grocery stores, banks, and currency exchange shops. However, it's advisable to exchange money before arriving on the island. 100 PHP = 2.4 USD (approximately 50,000 VND).
+ Travel
From Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, Philippine Airlines offers flights to Manila. From Manila, you can fly to Kalibo or Caticlan, both gateways to Boracay Island. Caticlan Airport is only about a 5-minute tricycle ride from Caticlan Pier (where you disembark and take a 10-minute boat ride to Boracay Island). Kalibo Airport, on the other hand, is about an hour's drive from Caticlan Pier, or a more than two-hour bus ride (it's recommended to take the yellow bus, costing 107 PHP per person). Although it's a domestic airport with a relatively short runway, its proximity to Boracay means tickets to Caticlan are significantly more expensive than those to Kalibo International Airport.
Although the procedures are quite complicated, Caticlan pier is always bustling. Tourists buy boat tickets and pay pier and environmental fees, then queue up at the security gate, unload their luggage for inspection, and only then are they allowed to board the boat. There are two types of boats to the island: one is a large hydrofoil boat that departs at fixed times, and the other is a small wooden boat that departs as soon as there are 20 passengers. Before boarding, you must go through another security check to ensure your safety.
+ Accommodation
Boracay offers a wide range of accommodation options for visitors, from guesthouses to luxury resorts, with prices ranging from $17 to $500 per person. Microtel Boracay, Boracay Regency Hotel & Resort, Discovery Shore, Monaco Suites de Boracay, Shangri-La's Boracay Resort and Spa are some of the most reputable accommodations here, with prices ranging from $103 to over $500 per night. 2-3 star hotels cost around $36-$60 per night. Budget guesthouses range from $17 to over $55 per night.
+ Food and drink:
Because Boracay attracts tourists from all over the world, the island offers a diverse range of culinary options, from Chinese, Indian, American, and Mexican dishes to French, Italian, Dutch, and even Moroccan cuisine! Fresh seafood is especially popular. Squid averages 150 PHP, shrimp 180 PHP, and lobster 280 PHP. The famous roast chicken and spring rolls at the Patio Pacific Hotel restaurant, crispy pata (crispy fried pork knuckle), tapsilog (rice with grilled meat), bangsilog (rice with fried fish), clams, mussels, and other seafood are all tempting choices. Locals typically only dip their food in soy sauce. Buffet meals here cost between 250 and 350 PHP per person (approximately 120,000 to 300,000 VND). Drinks like beer or soft drinks at Boracay's bars are very cheap; for around 100 PHP you can enjoy a drink while listening to live music from Filipino bands.
- For reference: Smoke Restaurant - serving Filipino food; True Food Restaurant - serving Indian food; Best Mestizos - serving Spanish food; The Hobbit House - serving Italian and Filipino food. In addition, there are several other restaurants and cafes such as Prana Restaurant, Manana Boracay, Bom Bom Bar (Beach 1, White Beach), Charhls Bar (Beach 2), Cream Café (Beach 1, White Beach), and Crafty's Rooftop Boracay.
+ Tourist attractions: White Beach, Bulabog Beach, Puka Beach, Baling Hai Beach, Bat Cave, Ariel's Cape, Mount Luho, Dead Forest, Kar-Tir Museum...
For more details and to book a tour, please visit our website:www.itsmorefuninthephilippines.vnAlternatively, contact the Philippine Tourism Authority in Vietnam at: (+848) 3 551 2202 F – (+848) 3 551 3800 | Facebook: Philippines Tourism – Vietnam.
