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.