Boracay : Getting to know the Island Paradise
The Philippines is composed of more than 7,100 islands with tropical climate. This explains the flock of tourist, both foreign and local for its beaches to relax and refresh. One of the most well known and loved beach is Boracay, an island located approximately 315 kilometers south of Manila. The island comprises the three barangay – Manoc-manoc, Balabag, and Yapak, and is under the administrative control of the Philippine Tourism Authority in coordination with the Provincial Government of Aklan.
Boracay is The World’s Most Popular Beach! According to Yahoo! Travel engine in 2007 and the fever has not waned since then. Known as the gateway to paradise because of its natural beauty of sprawling white beach of finest sands was also voted by the BMW Tropical Beach Handbook as one of the best beaches in world in 1990. It was also given distinction by the British publication TV Quick as the World’s Number One Tropical beach in 1996.
Tourism in the island started in the early 1970’s years after Aklan was proclaimed as an independent province. It is said that this paradise island was accidentally discovered by a foreign movie crew, others claim that it was the German traveler – Jens Peter, who included rave reviews of the island in his book that spark and transformed Boracay from a quiet secret to what it is now. Whichever is true, at around those times when it has ceased to be a private traveler hideaway and become one of the major tourist destinations in the Philippines.
Boracay have two primary tourism beaches – The White Beach which is located in the western part and Bulabog Beach situated on the opposite sides of the island. Several other small beaches are located on the white sprawling island. White Beach is known as the main tourism beach with a number of resorts, hotels, restaurants, lodge houses and other businesses. While Beachfront Path is a footpath of about two kilometers in the central portion that separates the beach from the establishments along it.
Being the secondary tourism beach, Bulabog Beach a bit less populated compared and heralded to its opposite beach but is actually a haven for the windsurfing and kite-boarding enthusiast because of the presence of stronger wind.
Weather in Boracay is generally divided into two seasonal weather patterns known locally as the Amihan and Habagat seasons. In the Tagalog language, Amihan means a cool northeast wind, and Habagat means west or southwest wind; south-west monsoon. These two seasons are generally associated with the El Niño and La Niña global weather patterns. Amihan season is exemplified by moderate temperatures, little or no rainfall, and a prevailing wind from the east. The Habagat season on the other hand is typified by hot and humid weather, frequent heavy rainfall, and a customary wind from the west.
Boracay generally expected to be in Amihan season sometime in September or October to around May or June and Habagat season for the remainder of the year. However, wind direction plays primarily for the season transition which sometime occurs abruptly. There are times that in a week or two the wind will switch between Amihan and Habagat several times before settling into the pattern. These dates can vary in individual years, though. Temperature ranges from 25-32°C at the beginning of the Amihan season which usually is during the month of February/March increasing to 28-38°C range. At the start of Habagat, the temperature moderates back to 25-32°C. Tropical storm, usually are present during the Habagat season.
Boracay Island is separated from Panay by a narrow strait. The island is located opposite the Barangay of Caticlan in the municipality of Malay, Aklan. Transportation across the strait is provided by boats operating from the Caticlan jetty port.
Two airports in Aklan province serve Boracay, Kalibo Airport in Kalibo and Godofredo P. Ramos Airport (commonly referred to as “Caticlan airport”) in the Caticlan.
The Perfect Summer Getaway – Boracay
When summer comes along on the start of early March, everyone is thinking which beach am I going to spend to work on my tan lines? Each Filipino is dreaming of walking on the white powder-like sand on the island of Boracay. The island of Boracay is located in the province of Aklan near Iloilo and Caticlan and it is accessible either by plane or by cargo ships. The island is full of surprises once you have explored it.
To start off, there are so many available tour packages to Boracay at your local travel agency or if you are up to a more exciting adventure, take the RORO route via cargo ships. On the island, the two main modes of transport, these are motor-tricycles along the main road or by walking along the beaches. Pedicabs are also available for transport along the beachfront path. Other means of transportation include mountain bikes, quadbikes and motorbikes, all of which can be rented. Once you are on the island, there are three (3) stations available; these are stations one (1), two (2) and three (3). Station three (3) is the most affordable when it comes to hotels or rooms to stay and where to dine on a tight budget for the rest of the vacation. It is necessary to negotiate on hotel/room price in order to keep up with the limited funds. This part of the island is located at the rightmost fraction of the land mass when facing right through it. The middle part is the station two (2) where you will find the different hotel and resorts in the heart of Boracay. This is also where you can have a tropical party, chill and booze up after seeing the beautiful sunset and after having a great platter of fresh sea foods for dinner. There are many restaurant and bars alongside the sea shore just beside the beach strip. For youngsters who are looking for fun and games, “D’ WALL” is the best place to play and goof around. Kiddie rides, games and wall climbing are offered in this small theme park of the island. The best part of Boracay is the station one (1) where you will find the lush 5-star hotels and resorts. This is also where you will feel the finest sand and the serene waves of the ocean. Classy restaurants are also available in this area. Most foreign tourist prefer this area because of its unruffled landscape and the most noticeable landmark – the Virgin Mary Grotto.
There are a lot of foreign individuals who took part on building the tourism in the island by putting up their own business and as well as promoting Boracay in their native country. Most of them fell in love with the island that they bought part of it and made a living just to stay on the island which they fell in love with.
Many of us haven’t explored the island coast of Boracay which makes us an alien to our own beloved country. I highly recommend to tour this part of our native realm to see how beautiful and magnificent our motherland is.
Philippines – Different Ways to Get to Boracay Island
Boracay is one of the best white sand beaches in the world. Famous for it’s amazing beauty and extravagance, this small island in the Philippines is being swarmed with thousands of people every year. Boracay Island is located in the Visayan part of the Philippines, in Caticlan Island in the Iloilo province. Boracay is being visited both locals and foreign at any time of the year.
The island is mostly visited during the Christmas season which is a perfect choice for holiday vacationers. Also, during the months of May to June while taking their summer vacations, though the heat of the sun is quiet strong during these months. From July to November is the rainy season in the Philippines and it isn’t favorable to go to the beach, though they offer the cheapest fees during these months, so one can try going to Boracay when it is not raining hard. The months October to November are the best months to see a beautiful sunsets in Boracay.
Here are the ways on how to get to Boracay:
• By the RO-RO – this is a kind of shipping boat that carries cargoes and passengers into the different provinces in the Philippines. Once they get off the RO-RO, travelers would then rent a van going to Iloilo and then another bus ride to Caticlan, then another ferry ride going to Boracay. most of the locals prefer to ride in the RO-RO because it costs cheaper than the plane rides.
• Via plane – from Manila; capital of the Philippines, one can go to the domestic airport and board a plane going to Kalibo Airport. This is the quickest way to go to Boracay islands. The flight from Manila to Kalibo will take about 45 minutes. There would then be another bus ride to reach Caticlan and then to Boracay islands via boat rides.
• Ferry rides – ferry rides are fun to experience. One can enjoy the beauty of the Philippine Sea while riding their way to the Boracay beach. First, one should get to Mindoro Province via ferry and then another ride with the big “banca” or boat that will sail through Roxas City and the move on to the Tablas Island and then another banca or ferry to take you to the Boracay beach. It is quiet a long ride, but one will definitely enjoy and have fun while in the trip.
Ms. Pinky is a mom of 3 school children. She is a Systems Engineer, a Technology Researcher and an Independent Medical Billing and Coding Consultant. She and her family is well-traveled all over the world!
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Article Source: eZineArticles
The Best Packages of Boracay Hotels
By Jose Abada
Boracay hotels always offer the best travel accommodations. They aimed to offer their guests the best accommodation, first class rooms and facilities with world class services. Most tourists know that Boracay is the number one tourist destination in the Philippines.
This bone-shaped island has a tropical weather and situated about 200 kilometers from south of Manila and 2 kilometers on the northwest tip of Panay Island in Western Visayas. This tropical island is considered by so many as paradise and has been enticing to people from all over the world because of its powder fine, white sand beach. The weather is mild enough to offer warmth, tranquility, and opulence to the island visitors. The place offers a great venue for numerous water sports activities, outdoors and even indoors activities as well.
Variety Options of Boracay Hotels
Boracay Island is a little paradise and a home to hotels of any kind. Hotels and resorts available are from class “A” to “Triple A” accommodations.
Boracay hotels and resorts that offer Class “A” accommodation are Alyssa Boracay Resort, Casa Pilar Beach Resort, Dalisay Paradise Resort, Galaxy Beach, Milflores de Boracay, Serina’s Place, Noe’s Place Resort, Nikko’s Beach , Saigon Beach, Starfire Resort, Sentro Group Resort and Tropical Guest House.
The class “Double A” Boracay resorts are the following: 357 Boracay Resort, Alice in Wonderland, Arwana Beach Hotel and Restaurant, Asya Boracay, B and B Beach Resort, Bamboo Bungalows, Bans Beach, Boracay Beach Chalet, Boracay Courtyard Beach, and Boracay Gold Crowne Club.
You can also enjoy the facilities of a class “Double A” Boracay resorts from the following: Boracay Peninsula Resort, Blue Waves Beach House, Blue Lily Villa, Boracay Beach, Casa Asia Resort, Casa Camilla Boracay, Chalet Y Resort, Club Manila East, Club Ten, Crystal Sand, Dave’s Straw Hat Inn, Escondido, and Fat Jimmy’s Resort. In addition, Hey Jude Hotel, La Carmela de Boracay Resort, La Reserve Resort Hotel, Lion’s Den Resort, and Punta Rosa Resort with the same class accommodation.
Boracay is a home to hotels and resorts classified as “Triple A” resorts such as Boracay Plaza, Boracay Ocean Club, Calypso Diving Resort, Cocomangas Hotel, Club Panoly, Discovery Shores, Fairways and Bluewater, Fridays Resort Boracay, Le Soliel de Boracay Hotel, Lorenzo, Nigi Nigi Nu Noos and many more.
Hotel Packages at Their Best
The different Boracay resorts and hotels have different package deals offered to the island guests. Boracay Peninsula is located at Station 2, a beach front hotel with pool and an accommodation rate of Php 4813 for its standard single room and Php 5125 for its superior room.
Las Brisas de Boracay in Station 1 offers a superior room with single accommodation for Php 5268 and single deluxe room for Php 5695. Hotel Isla Boracay in Station 3 has the single superior room accommodation for Php 13250 and Php 16500 for their single accommodation in premier room respectively. Most of the Boracay packages are inclusive of 3 days and 2 nights accommodation, daily breakfast, welcome drinks and two way trip of land and sea transfers.
There are other variations of tour and accommodation packages that can provide tourists several options that will make them experience a wonderful stay at Boracay hotels.
About the Author: Jose Maria Abada writes for http://www.Philippine-Travel-Guide.com, a travel guide that discusses about the Philippine Islands. The Philippines is an archipelago in Southeast Asia composed of more that 7,100 islands. Check it out to learn more about the country especially it’s resorts and beaches like the world famous Boracay resorts.
Article Source: EzineArticles