Get a henna tattoo in Boracay

The crowning glory of Philippine beaches, Boracay and its white beach and crazy view of the stunning sunset, continue to reign among the hearts of sun loving tourists and local visitors. This jewel off the tip of the Panay Island is a world recognized natural treasure with its 9 kilometer expanse of natural beauty. Off shore are the greatest views of the coast where colorful triangles hover as sailboats roam around the breadth of the sea. Down below are interesting corals, and small swimming creatures that tickle your feet as the crystalline sand fill your toes. Huge rocks slapped by the splashing waters look like mermaid hangouts in the middle of the water. Through the fascinating views, the waters also swarm with wind surfers, and boaters among others. Ashore are bare backed people in their bikinis trying to get that perfect tan. Great big sand castles are common views, along the palm tree lined shore. Throughout the beach walk are laden shacks filled with native accessories, crafts and many other souvenir items. Tattoo artists stand by as you pass, luring you to get a distinctive Boracay henna or a tight braid.

Further up are lines and lines of gourmet restaurants serving all sorts of cuisine from international origins. In between are small shacks offering local tastes and delicacies. Fresh seafood hauled straight from the water and cooked before your eyes is just among the unique tastes in the beach.

Buy a kilo of fresh lobsters for P750 (about $17)

More souvenir shops line the area called D’Mall, the shopping hub along the beach. Through the alleys are numerous resorts and hotels catering to the different tastes of the visitors.

Aside from the great beach activities (beach volley, wind surfing, wall climbing, etc.), other entertainment opportunities await visitors as the musical local artists serenade you with their unique type of music, while other street entertainers paint your faces with a smile.

Boracay is an island that offers a perfect getaway for individuals, friends, families, and couples in a setting that boasts a fusion of laid-back beaches and exciting venues. Noted for its white-sand beaches and nightlife, Boracay is one of the top destinations in the Philippines where you are provided with a lot of enjoyable things to do. Without further ado, here are things that you should not miss doing when visiting Boracay.

1. Diving – Surrounded by the sea, Boracay is home to many diving spots that allow you to explore the fascinating marine life of the island. You can also request for lessons and rent your gear from Boracay Scuba if you want to.
2. Watersports – Parasailing, kiteboarding, and skimboarding are among the favorite watersports of locals and visitors.
3. Sports in the inland areas – Take a break from the beach and go hiking at the highest point of the island, which is Mt. Luho. You can also enjoy activities like horseback riding and tours around the island.
4. Beach sports – If water not your cup of tea, you can still enjoy fun under the sun at the beach with activities like frisbee, beach volleyball, and beach soccer. The best thing about them is that you won’t have to equip yourself with any special gear anymore to enjoy playing.
5. Tattoo – Decorate your body with one or more henna tattoos in different designs. Don’t worry – it’s painless and temporary.
6. Massage – Some resorts and beaches offer massages on the beach, like the one in Waling-Waling where you can lie under the cozy cabanas and get a rejuvenating and relaxing rubdown.
7. Watch fire dancers – Head to Hey Jude to see the fire dancers. Enjoy the show an experience some culture.
8. Watch the sunset – Boracay sunsets are some of the most beautiful in the world, so be sure you don’t miss it.
9. Boracay nightlife – You won’t run out of choices – from neighborhood bars to high-end clubs. There are dance parties and live performances (sometimes free) all year round.

At face value, Boracay is popular for for its beautiful beaches that boast pure white sands. However, aside from the white sandy beaches of Boracay, the island’s nightlife also contributes to the charm and vibrant atmosphere. To add to that, the eccentric cultural mix of people flocking to enjoy everything that Boracay has to offer keeps its nightlife very lively and definitely worth the trip.

Where should you go?

Boracay does not run out of venues to enjoy barhopping, clubbing, drinking, karaoke, dancing, and other entertainment options that offer varying ambiances to match any budget or idea of what enjoyable evening is supposed to be. Several bars line Boracay Beach and play a large role in heating up the nightlife of the island. In fact, many restaurants and bars are closed during the daytime and only open as soon as the sun goes down (and stays open until the first traces of sunrise appear). These venues tend to get crowded in the weekend, especially during peak seasons. You can expect some of the bars to charge you an entrance fee. If you want a more laid-back time, choose to visit Boracay during weekdays when the crowds are smaller. Non-peak seasons let you enjoy a quieter nightlife, allowing you to enjoy a more relaxed evening alone, with your family, friends, or with a special someone.

Barhopping lets you experience everything that Boracay’s nightlife has to offer. If you want the fun without the price tag, then just enjoy free live performances in the beach. You can watch live bands, cultural dances, ethnic shows, and others. During peak seasons. You can catch major live performances of popular celebrities, bands, and performers from Manila coming over for small concerts to promote their latest work.

As a well developed tourist destinations, the island of Boracay offers numerous accommodation facilities for different budget ranges and preferences. From first class beach resorts to essentially furnished hotels, long termed residences, and budget accommodations, you are sure to find all these in island paradise.

First class beach resorts in Boracay are located mostly along its finest beaches. These resorts add an extra lap of luxury to the already irresistible offer of Boracay’s pristine white beaches. Some additional amenities you can enjoy by staying at a first class hotel in Boracay are free shuttle services around the island, a private beach, and Internet service. These beach resorts usually charge between P5000 to P20000 for a three day, two night stay.

Now, if you don’t have that much cash to burn on accommodations, there are several less expensive hotels that you can choose from. You might have to sacrifice beach front locations and several luxurious amenities by choosing these hotels, but they are nonetheless clean and efficient. Rates for a three day, two night stay in these hotels usually start at P3,000.

For budget travellers, the island also offers much cheaper accommodations. Locals residing in the island usually offer rooms in their houses to visitors who are interested in renting transient space. Rates of transient rooms are by far lower than those offered by resorts, but you shouldn’t expect the luxury and comfort of the latter either. These transient houses, however, are the best option if you want to experience authentic island living as most of them are traditional nipa hut accommodations.

Now if you plan to stay in the island beyond the usually three day, two night vacations, it is best to book an apartment or other long term housing facility in the island. In general, the farther away an apartment is from the beach, the cheaper its rates are.

Then again, whatever kind of accommodation you choose to use for your stay in Boracay, you can expect the same brand of warm hospitality that the island, and the whole country, is well known for.

The island of Boracay is small enough that you can easily walk around and get to wherever you need to go. In fact, to get to one end of the 4 km White Beach to another, the walk will take you only about an hour and a half. If you want to be in close commune with nature, leisurely walks around the island are definitely in order. Just don’t go barefoot and don’t walk around at high noon because the sun light is especially strong during this time. Besides, your feet will not appreciate you torturing them by getting them in close contact with the scorching hot sand.

If you’re going to areas outside the White Beach, public transport in the island comes in the form of tricycles. These are motorcycles that have sidecars attached to them where the passengers are supposed to sit. The fare ranges from five pesos to twenty pesos depending on how many people are hiring the ride. If you’re going to charter a tricycle for an hour, you may have to shell out 150 pesos.

You can also rent bicycles. Some resorts rent them out to their guests at about 50 pesos per hour. This is another way to get around the island and exercise at the same time. You just need to be careful on the road. Bikes are supposed to run on the right side of the road. Tricycle drivers tend to navigate through the main roads like maniacs so make sure to stay out of their way.

There are also resorts that can help you arrange for motorcycle rentals. But take note that driving manners and the road conditions may be different from those in your country. You will also need an international driver’s license to be able to rent a motorcycle. Rentals can cost about 150 pesos an hour.

Beautiful beaches may be Boracay’s main attraction, but these stretches of white sand are not the only reasons why the island is one of the most visited destinations in the Philippines. There is also the island’s perfect weather, the eccentric cultural mix if offers, and of course, its very lively nightlife. Truth to be told, Boracay’s nightlife is as much of a tourist pull factor as its beaches.

The whole island of Boracay, which only measures nine kilometres long and one kilometre wide, is packed with an intoxicating mix of bars, restaurants, discos, and other afterhours venues. The beaches themselves are transformed to tropical party venues after the sun kissed the water at sunset.

Boracay bars are on top of the list when it comes to nightlife and entertainment in the island. These bars are open from sunset till sunrise, with their parties usually spilling out to the beaches. Given the wide variety of Boracay bars, you are sure to find a place with music, food, and a crowd that suits your taste.  Bar hopping is also a popular practice and is recommended if you want take a sampling of everything.

Live performances by the beach are another staple in Boracay. Live band performances, ethnic shows, cultural dances, and a variety of other shows are staged every night near and on the island’s beaches.  During peak seasons, these live performances usually include major shows featuring popular celebrities and performers from Manila, the country’s capital city.

Nightlife in Boracay, however, is not all loud and crowded. The island also has several night life venues where quiet and intimate is the name of the game. D’Mall, the main shopping district in Boracay, is lined with several international restaurants and quiet shops. There are also classical piano and guitar shows held nightly by the beaches. These spots are perfect for a moment of solitude and romantic dinners under the stars.

Bikinis of Boracay

The gem in the Philippines tourist crown, Boracay boasts one of the most perfect stretches of tropical tourist beach anywhere in Asia. Not-surprisingly it is the most popular destination in this archipelago though it’s tastefully developed and not overly crowded. The whole beach-feel has been retained since the access roads are kept away from the water front and the low-rise beachfront resorts provide a great experience where you can literally get sand between your toes while eating breakfast!

This blog will gradually reveal the best of Boracay and those things to watch out for, in short how to get the most out of your visit here. By the end of 2009 this will all be upgraded into a 100 page website that is part of a large established guide series to Southeast Asia, with sister sites on the Visayas, Manila and the Philippines. Everything you need to know about Boracay will soon be found here.

The island centres around the stunning White Beach, which runs for several kilometres of perfect white sand, aqua coloured water and plenty of coconut palms. The ends of the beach offer an private and quite island experience while the central beach area is where you will find many restaurants, bars, shops and services. It all adds up to a great experience of sunbathing, sailing, snorkelling and diving, water sports, relaxing and partying.

Hotels and accommodation: Boracay has plenty of fine hotels right on the beachfront to suit all budgets on room rates. Some are cheap, others cost the earth, and if you intend to stay during a busy period it’s worth booking well in advance online to secure the cheap hotel room rates.