About Boracay

As you travel through the 7,107 islands of the Philippines, you will find stunning natural scenery like Boracay , it is not difficult but there is one island that stands out but Boracay . In Boracay you can find a four-kilometer-long white talc powder sandy beach, turquoise blue waters and romantic scenery. Boracay is located on the northwestern tip of Panay Island and can be reached only by boat. Due to its natural beauty, the island of Boracay is a top beach in Asia. Boracay is also known as gateway to paradise.

Two (2) km off the northwest tip of Panay Island in the Western Visayan region of the Philippines is Boracay Island of the Philippines located approximately 345 km (200 miles) south of Manila. It's nine kilometers and spread over 2,563.86 acres (1,038 hectares). At its narrowest point Boracay is only one kilometer wide.

Amihan and Habagat seasons weather in Boracay is generally the weather patterns. Amihan means a cool northeast wind, and Habagat means west or southwest wind; south-west monsoon. The Amihan season is characterized by moderate temperatures, little or no rainfall, and a prevailing wind from the east. The Habagat season is characterized by hot and humid weather, frequent heavy rainfall, and a prevailing wind from the west.

The Amihan and Habagat seasonal pattern is the switch in wind direction which is the main indicator in Boracay . Boracay will be in the Habagat weather pattern for the remainder of the year and the Amihan weather pattern from sometime in September or October to sometime in May or June. These dates can vary in individual years, though.

Tropical Storms can impact Boracay at any time of year, but are most likely to be seen during the Habagat season. Daytime temperatures on Boracay generally range from 77-90°F (25-32°C) from the beginning of the Amihan season into February or March, and increase to the 82-100°F(28-38°C) range with the onset of the Habagat season. During Tropical Storm periods in Boracay , temperatures can fall below 68°F (20°C).

Ati tribe was the original settlers of Boracay . Boracay became an independent province on April 25, 1956 and part of Aklan Province. Tourism began to develop in Boracay , and the island became popular with backpackers in the 1980s formerly undiscovered it wasn't till the 1970s.

Boracay Island was a well-guarded secret many years ago, almost possessively so that only a few knew of its existence. When a foreign movie crew accidentally "discovered" this island paradise, it was only in the 70s. Others wrote a book, which included rave reviews of Boracay that changed the island’s pace from that of being a quiet secret to eventually being voted as having the best beach in the world.

Boracay is a phenomenon since Aklan for many tourists is synonymous to Boracay ; in fact, many more know about Boracay than Aklan. At peak season, some the Boracay Island’s population may swell to 20,000. A word on the Boracay Island is added a bonus for the weary heritage traveler.

The Boracay Island is under the administrative control of the Philippine Tourism Authority in coordination with the Provincial Government of Aklan comprises of the barangays Manoc-Manoc, Balabag, and Yapak (3 of the 17 barangays which make up the municipality of Malay).

The Boracay island came to international attention in 1980s when European backpackers, mostly German, wrote about this idyllic island in the South China Sea although Boracay was known to fishermen and some of its land owned by non-residents. The English baker on the Boracay Island is one of the oldest tourist’s establishments. Boracay could boast of five star accommodations and a golf course by the end of the 80s, many rest houses had been built and by the end of the century. It was voted as one of the best beaches in the world in 1990 and again in 1996 as the worlds number one tropical beach.

White Sand Beach is Boracay 's central attraction, on Boracay 's southwestern flank, a gem of nature stretching for about four kilometers, where most of

The rocky and subject to dangerous currents is in the northeast, especially during the rainy season. Boracay reefs make the island an ideal jump off point for the enthusiastic scuba divers or snorkelers.

Fresh sea foods can be found and which can be cooked right there or brought to where one is staying and for those on economy budget go to the Boracay talipapa, or Boracay open market. But Boracay Island has many restaurants catering to all tastes. Boracay has equipments for water sport, as well as lessons for scuba diving and wind surfing.

Tourism in Boracay is at its peak during the Amihan season partly because of its wind and weather pattern. The prevailing wind blows from the east Boracay during Amihan. The water off Boracay White Beach is often glassy-smooth. Hills on the northern and southern ends of the Boracay island channel and the Amihan season wind from the eastern side of the island; Boracay Bulabog Beach in the central part of the island's eastern side makes the reef-protected waters off that beach ideal for windsurfing and kite boarding / kite surfing.

Luxurious hotel types to budget and Spartan rooms are number of accommodation types scattered all over the Boracay Island. Along White Beach, location is often specified in relation to Boracay three boat stations, though the stations are no longer in operation. Boracay Station 2 is roughly in the center of the beach, with Boracay Stations 1 and 3 respectively roughly midway to the north and south endpoints of Boracay Island. The Boracay Station 3 area is where most of the cheaper lodgings are located, while Boracay Station 2 is meant for those who want to be within proximity of the bars. Boracay Station 1, meanwhile, is where you can find the more isolated accommodations, offering peace and quiet to those looking for a respite from the usual action-packed Boracay night scene.

Boracay island accommodations range from dirt cheap to luxurious. Every luxurious and some fine hotel resorts has its Boracay Suite Room, Boracay Private Rm, Boracay Honeymoon Rm, Boracay Executive Rm, Boracay Family Rm, Boracay Superior Rm, Boracay Standard Rm, Boracay Double Rm, Boracay Triple Rm, Boracay Quadruple Rm, Boracay Ocean View Rm, Boracay Garden View Room, Boracay Beachfront Room, Boracay Bungalow Type Room, Boracay Aircon Room, Boracay Fan Room, Boracay Dormitory Room, Boracay Transient Room, Boracay Backpacker Room, Boracay Room with Kitchen, Boracay House and any type of fabricated accommodations. Boracay peak period pricing are periods of heavy tourism (usually including Christmas / New Year, Easter / Holy Week, and Chinese New Year periods).

Most Boracay hotels and resorts have seasonal price levels, with high season prices generally coinciding with Amihan Season dates. Boracay has in excess of 350 Boracay beach resorts offering more than 2,000 rooms ranging in quality from five-star to budget accommodations, so tourists are sure to find whatever they are looking for. Boracay offers a wide range of restaurants, bars, pubs, and nightclubs. Leisure activities available on Boracay include scuba diving, blue snorkeling, mild windsurfing, windy kite boarding and blue beach relaxation. Boracay is the site of a world-class 18-hole par 72 golf course designed by Graham Marsh.

Boracay has two serving airports, the Kalibo International Airport in Kalibo pretty close to Boracay and Godofredo P. Ramos Airport (commonly referred to as "Caticlan airport") in Caticlan, 30 minutes boat ride to Boracay .

The Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH) passes through Caticlan which is the western part of Boracay , with car ferries from Roxas, Oriental Mindoro docking at the Caticlan jetty port.

Motor-tricycles along the main road of Boracay or by walking along the beaches of Boracay are the two main modes of transport. Along the Boracay island Beachfront road, Pedi cabs are available for transport. Boracay resorts other means of transportation include mountain bicycle, quad bikes and motorbikes, all of which can be rented.

Motorized bancas and sailing paraws are available for rent to explore around the Boracay Island’s coast. Around Boracay Island are outrigger canoes and are common sights in waters. Passengers may be seated on a trampoline platform between the outrigger supports sailing paraw is a narrow hulled boat with outriggers either sides. These are extremely fast off the wind in Boracay , but can be unwieldy for inexperienced sailors.

EXCITING EVENTS

Asian Windsurfing Tour, with the week-long Boracay International Fun board Cup competition usually held in January on Bulabog Beach, Boracay is one of the competitive venues.

Each January in Boracay Kalibo on nearby Panay Island, the well-known Ati-Atihan Festival takes place. Usually in the second or third week of January, a much smaller Ati-Atihan festival is celebrated on Boracay .

An ultimate Frisbee event has been held annually since 2003, usually during summer, the Boracay Open Asian Beach Ultimate Tournament.

LOCATION HISTORY

AKLAN where Boracay located between latitudes 11° 09' 30" N and 12° 01' 00" N, and longitude 121° 50' 00" E and 122° 34' 45" E, Aklan island of Boracay like Capiz close to Boracay shares the northern coast of the roughly triangular island Panay like island laso of Boracay . More than a third of the land is mountainous but Boracay Island has a few, with Aklan's western flank sharing the high cordillera that divides the province from Antique which is close to Boracay as well. The south is bounded by the central cordillera of Panay Island where Boracay is located, common to the provinces of Capiz and Iloilo. A break in the cordillera at Nabas allows passage to Pandan, Antique and the other passage for Boracay . The lowlands are limited to a narrow strip that starts from the coast and extends to the foothills, the widest are the floodplains of the Ibajay (30 kms) and Aklan Rivers (60 kms), two of five major rivers in the province while Boracay island is like a shoe. The rivers empty into Sibuyan Sea. The other rivers are the Tangalan, Jalo and Talon. 

Aklan's beginning as a settled area before Boracay was known is wreathed in legend and spurious and undocumented historical claims. It is hard to find documentary evidence about the island and Boracay with the coming of the Spaniards. In 1566, the Augustinian Fray Martin de Rada had begun evangelizing Panay Island including Boracay shoreline, where he preached the Gospel at Pan-ay, Capiz, Boracay itself and in Dumangas. However, they continued their missionary work in Boracay and Panay and in 1581 evangelized Kalibo including Boracay and in 1596, Ibajay. Both areas particularly Boracay were strategic settlements because they were near the mouth of Aklan's great rivers, a convenient waterway for penetrating the island's interior and the shoreline of Boracay .

Aklan and Boracay participated in the Revolution against Spain when Gen. Francisco Castillo, who had donated his fortune to found a national press in Boracay for the Katipunan and Candido Iban arrived in Aklan and Boracay to found a chapter of the Katipunan. Iban was a resident of Malinao, Bo. Banga and a resident of Boracay Island and a friend of the brother of Andres Bonifacio, Mr. Procopio. Inductedin tothe Katipunan, he returned to Boracay to organize in the Visayas.

Aklan's best-known tourist attractions are: the Ati-atihan and Boracay Island, both relatively new attractions. Although the story told of the origins of the Ati-atihan links it to the legend of the peace pact between the Bornean datus and the Ati (Ayta) who occupied Panay Island and Boracay Island in the 13th century, the fact is the Ati-atihan (held on the third Sunday of January to coincide with the feast of the Santo Niño patron of Boracay ) was concocted in the 1950s as a way to boost tourism. Boracay island a long but narrow white sand island came to the attention of surf and sun backpackers in the late 70s, by the 80s enterprising Europeans had set shop on the island of Boracay and by the end of the century, the island Boracay boasted of five star resorts, a gulf course, establishments catering to different clientele: from economy to the luxury tourist budget, and a string of restaurants that serves the cuisine of the world: from native islander, to Japanese and Chinese, to Asian to continental, and what have you. These two attractions alone bring in most of the tourist dollars and Euro to Boracay municipal and town of Aklan.

In Kalibo and Boracay year 1581, the Augustinians established a mission. In Kalibo and Boracay year 1680, was erected a parish under the advocacy of the San Juan Bautista Then, the town site was at Barrio Laguinbanwa in Numancia, some two kilometers distant from the present site of Kalibo and Boracay .

In 1947, after the World War II, Gabriel M. Reyes, Archbishop of Cebu and later Manila, personally took a hand reconstructing and remodeling the church in various area including Boracay . The Boracay church hit by an earthquake on 14 June 1990 measuring 7.1 in the Richter scale hit the Island of Boracay at 3:41 P.M., the epicenter was located at 11.34North of Boracay latitude; 122.10 East of Boracay longitude. The Philvocs reported 15 kilometers depth as computed.