Boracay Island: A Love Affair

No matter how long I stay in this island, I still always feel sad every time I leave.

Boracay, you will always have my heart.

The Philippines is one of the favorite destinations for people around the world because of its renowned all-year tropical weather and beautiful showcases of nature. Almost every island in the country has their own landmark to visit. And Boracay Island is probably one of the most best-loved spots in the country.

Nestled between islands in the central part of the Philippines, Boracay is home to numerous resorts, bars and spots. It is popular to both international and local tourists. It became news last 2018 when the nation’s president decided to close it down for 8 months to rehabilitate and clean up the beach. It was probably devastating to the country’s economy in terms of tourism, but it had to be done to save the island from the pollution that had built up over years of welcoming people from all over the globe. When they finally reopened during the latter part of 2018, it was all worth it. The island was brought back to its glory. A lot of rules were implemented as well to ensure the beach’s protection from overwhelming pollution again.

I, personally, went there three times in a row last year. And if I didn’t migrate to a different country, I would have probably gone more times than that. For me, the island is a perfect place to go to if you love the beach and you also like partying. Though, there are more private resorts for couples or families who prefer quiet days and nights, most parts of the island are mostly for people who enjoy drinking and meeting new friends.

Here are my own reasons why I love Boracay Island:

1. The Beach

The minute you step into the beach and take in the beauty of the paradise before you, I promise that you will hold your breath for a few seconds. The long shoreline, the crystal clear blue green hue of the sea, and the soft powdery white sand is the perfect vision that you expect to see on a vacation to an island. It has never disappointed anyone, and I don’t think it ever will. It is a slice of heaven for beach bums all around the world. The best time to visit is during summer (Feb to May), when the west coast of the island is calm and you can freely float in the water with your face up to the cloudless sky.

You’ll probably have to bring loads of sunscreen though, because the sun can be really harsh on your skin. There are a few restaurants and resorts that provide umbrellas or lounge chairs so that you can sunbathe during the less painful hours of the day.

Even from a  place with shade, you can look out into this view and enjoy the tranquility of the island while sipping on your favorite cocktail.

The shoreline just goes on and on and on from one tip of the island to the end.

I personally loved rolling around the sand. It was clean and soft.

In some beaches, you’d have to bring a blanket with you to lounge by the beach, if you don’t mind sandy bums, then you should definitely lay on the sand and just enjoy how powdery it feels.

If you’re a sucker for blue green hues, then this island will give you numerous shot spots.

During summer, the sky is clear and blue. No shade from the sun, but perfect for soaking in those rays.

I am always excited to talk about the island to a Boracay-virgin. And I especially love seeing how their eyes go wide when they first see the beach. Trust me, you’ve never seen anything like it before, especially during summer.

2. The Sunset

The sunset in this place is one of the most spectacular and peaceful view. Depending on the month, the sky changes in hues of yellow, orange, blue and pink. You will especially enjoy it when you do Paraw sailing. The coast guards don’t allow drinking in the Paraw boats anymore though. So, if you want to enjoy the sunset with a bottle of cold beer or a glass of cocktail, you can enjoy it from a few of the restaurants overlooking the beach.

To name a few of my favorites are: Paraw Beach Club, Mayas Filipino Mexican Cuisine, True Food Indian Cuisine Boracay, Kasbah Boracay and Epic Boracay.

3. Food and Drinks

DRINKS

Though, rules have been made about drinking on the beach front (certain distance has to be followed or else you’re going to be reprimanded), you can still drink alcohol in the restaurants I previously suggested. The island is one of the best places to drink in the whole country. It’s just 10x better to have a cold bottle of beer or a classy glass of cocktail when you’re near the sea.

If you’re not a beer drinker, you can always get fresh coconut juice and sip while you enjoy the sunset or the sea.

My personal favorite: Watermelon Daiquiri in Paraw Beach Club & Resort

 

Tequila Sunrise by the pool at Station X

FOOD

The island has numerous restaurants littered all around. Majority of which are in the D’mall area.

The west part of Boracay Island is divided into three stations:

Station 1 – private and more expensive resorts are located with a few restaurants and bars as well

Station 2 – majority of the restaurants can be found here. It is also where D’mall is situated. This is where most of the merchandise, pharmacies, boutiques, etc are being sold. There are also affordable resorts and pension houses located in this area.

Station 3 – usually the more crowded part of the island where a lot of really affordable places to stay in. There are also restaurants and bars here.

Back before the rehabilitation, a lot of sea food buffets would be lined up on the shore during dinner time. But after they reopened, following the restrictions implemented, the buffets were restricted to dining inside the restaurants only.

Right before sunset, these small food carts open in the area between station 1 and 2. They sell barbecued chicken liver, hotdog, dried squid, pork, and my favorite, chorizo burger. It’s very affordable, the vendors are local, very filling, and definitely delicious.

One of the most popular breakfast places here is Real Tea & Coffee. I had coffee and some french toast, read a book, with the beach as my view. (located in Station 2)

The best pizza and sisig definitely goes to Two Seasons Resort!

Some classic seafood meal with tuna panga (cheeks) and other Filipino delicacy at Hoy! Panga (located in Station 2)

You can never go wrong with the breakfast staple of bacon, eggs and rice at Paraw Beach Club & Resort. (located in Station 1)

For healthier options, try House Brew Cafe. (located in Station 2)

There are literally dozens of cafes with the view of the beach all around, you can pick one, enjoy a cup with laughter and talk with friends

If you want to try an exotic meal, we fell in love with the food and ambiance of one of Boracay’s pioneering restaurant, True Indian Cuisine (located on top of Hoy! Panga). You can also get drinks here and just enjoy the view.

4. Meeting new friends & bond with old friends

Like the tides of the sea, people come and go in the island. Everyone is there to have a good time. It’s a perfect place to meet new people. There are even several activities that you can join in to make new friends. All you have to do is just have an open-mind and have a go-for-it attitude.

Group shot with the Pub Crawl Crew

Met a lot of new friends during the bar hop

New friends we met in Mad Monkey Hostel

If you want a jumpstart to your new friendship spree, you can either join the Pubcrawl event or get drinks at Mad Monkey Hostel.

For me, Boracay is also the perfect place to go to with old friends. I think it is best enjoyed with people you like hanging out with.

Having said that all, I think it’s pretty clear how I feel about the island. That place will always be somewhere I would go back to, no matter where in the world I go. My love affair with this place is never-ending. I pray that both locals and tourists responsibly do their parts to preserve the beauty so that future generations will get the chance to experience the awe of being in this destination. 

So, the next time you plan a vacation to Asia, make sure you check out Boracay. I’m 100% sure that your insatiable thirst for the beach and everything that goes along with it would be satisfied, no question.

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Additional Tips:

• Always print out a copy of your hotel reservation receipt because government officials will ask for it in the boat pier in Caticlan, before they let you ride the boat going to the island.
• When you arrive in the airport, these are the following fees that you need to pay: tricycle fare to the boat pier + terminal fee + environmental fee + boat fare + fare to the resort or hotel in the island (If you don’t want the hassle of paying each fee on their separate counters, you can get the package fee for a slightly higher price) You can always do this D.I.Y, but it will take a lot of patience especially because of the crowd and the usual humid heat of the country.
• Normal tricycle fare is Php7 only. Give the exact amount to avoid letting the drivers charge you higher.
• If you’re into seafoods, try the D’Talipapa market, near Station 3.