Boracay Island in Philippines

Boracay is an island which is a major tourist destination in the Philippines. The island is around 315km / 200 miles south of Manila and 2km off the northwest tip of the island of Panay in the Western Visayas region. The island is under the administrative control of the Philippine Tourism Authority in coordination with the Provincial Government of Aklan. The island was originally home to the Ati tribe.The island is nearly seven kilometers long which is dog-bone shaped with the narrowest spot being less than one kilometer wide, and has a total land area of 10.32 square kilometers.
Cagban Beach is located across a small strait from the jetty port at Caticlan on Panay island, and the Cagban jetty port serves as Boracay main entry and exit point during most of the year. When wind and sea conditions dictate, east-facing Tambisaan Beach serves as an alternative entry and exit point.

Boracay's two primary tourism beaches, White Beach and Bulabog Beach, are located on opposite sides of the island's narrow central area. The island also has several other beaches. White Beach is the major tourism beach which is on west of island. It is about four kilometers long. Many roads and paths connect the Beachfront Path with Boracay's Main Road, a vehicular road which runs the length of the island. At northern end of White Beach, a footpath runs around and joins White Beach with Diniwid Beach. Bulabog Beach is on the east of island which is across the island from White Beach, is a secondary tourism beach and Boracay's main windsurfing and kiteboarding area.

Puka Beach is a calm stretch of white sand along the northern tip of tropical island with white sand, azure water, and relatively empty. This is where locals gather the small puka shells for some of the jewelry. The water is little rougher on this side of the island but it is very calm. Baling Hai Beach is a small bay north of Diniwid Beach, where you can have swimming, snorkeling and dining in a relaxed, peaceful environment. It is often included as a stop-off on an island boat tour.

The Bat Cave has many small bats which are on the western-end of the island. The guide will take you on short hike through forest to mouth of a cave which drops down at very steep angle. The mouth of the cave is littered with large rocks and is difficult to enter and walk down. The air inside the cave is very warm and humid, and in addition to the amount of guano, is very difficult to breathe. The ceiling of the cave is interesting, however, with multiple, small stalactites.

Weather in Boracay is generally divided into two seasonal weather patterns known locally as the Amihan and Habagat seasons. In Tagalog language, Amihan means a cool northeast wind, and Habagat means west or southwest wind south-west monsoon. Amihan weather pattern is from September or October to May or June and Habagat weather pattern for rest of the year and the dates are varied. Tropical Storms can impact Boracay at any time of year mostly on the Habagat season.

Due to wind and weather patterns, tourism in Boracay is peak on Amihan season that is in between September and June. On Amihan season, water in White Beach is often glassy-smooth. On the eastern side of the island, hills on the northern and southern ends of the island channel the Amihan season wind from the east onshore, onto Bulabog Beach in the central part of the island's eastern side. This makes the reef-protected waters off that beach ideal for windsurfing and kiteboarding / kitesurfing.

Transportation across the strait is provided by boats operating from the Caticlan jetty port. Boracay is served by two airports in Aklan province Kalibo Airport in Kalibo and Godofredo P. Ramos Airport / Caticlan airport in Caticlan. The western part of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway passes through Caticlan, with car ferries from Roxas, Oriental Mindoro docking at the Caticlan jetty port. Several bus companies operate provincial bus routes from Manila which pass through Caticlan.