Picture your idea of a desert-island paradise—white sand, crystal blue waters and palm trees—and add just enough plush amenities that you don’t have to build your own shack. That pretty much sums up four-mile-long Boracay, a sandy-shored speck of an island in the Philippines that seems like it should exist off the grid. It’s accessible by an hour-long flight from Manila to Caticlan, followed by a 10-minute ferry ride. When you visit Boracay, you’ll find, aside from the idyllic beaches, a vibrant nightlife, good spas and some of the best snorkeling in the world. Adding another layer of paradise, travel to Boracay is also pretty affordable, too. Read on in the Boracay travel guide to discover this little island yourself.
Things Not to Miss in Boracay
• Go barefoot to experience the soft sands of White Beach • Explore Puka Shell Beach • Go “island hopping” to snorkel or check out sea caves • Get an authentic Hilot Filipino Massage, using coconut oil • Go out to Ariel’s Point for canoeing, snorkeling or kayaking
When to Go to Boracay
The weather in Boracay is beautiful all your round, but the prime Boracay travel season runs from the Christmas holiday season until May (with an extra jump in crowds around Easter). The shoulder season, when temperatures tend to be a little cooler, lasts from October to December, but if you want to save the most money, come between June and October, when you risk getting some rain showers as a trade-off. One reason that January is the high season: the Kalibo Ati-Atihan Festival, the Philippine version of Mardi Gras, and the annual water-sports competition, the International Funboard Cup.
-
Where You Should Travel Solo, Based on Your Zodiac Sign
With seemingly endless places to travel around the globe, it’s tempting to simply hop on the next international flight at the airport, confident that... Read More
-
Tourist Fined for Wearing 'Tiny' Bikini on Popular Beach in the Philippines (Video)
Be careful if you plan to wear an itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny bikini. According to the state-run Philippine News Agency (PNA), a Taiwanese tourist, who... Read More
-
The Top 10 Islands in Asia (Video)
The flight time (and resulting jet lag) required to get to Asia from the U.S. is no joke. But the heaps of praise readers bestowed on the best islands... Read More
-
The Top 10 Islands in Asia in 2018
Yes, Asia is a long flight from the U.S., and the jet lag can be a beast. But when it comes to finding islands that have it all — rich culture, healthy... Read More
-
A Guide to Vacationing in Boracay
On an island called Boracay — one of the more than 7,000 that make up the Philippines —travelers sun on powder-like white sand while scattered sailboats... Read More
-
World's Best Islands 2013
You know you’ve escaped civilization when you’re swimming through a coral garden, with only green sea turtles and tropical fish for company. That’s the... Read More
-
World's Best Hotels 2013
Picture a cypress-lined road in Tuscany. Now picture yourself arriving at a 10th-century former castle on more than 4,000 acres of rolling hills.... Read More
-
World's Best Service 2013
Top 10 Hotels Overall: City1. The Peninsula, Hong Kong 98.782. Wentworth Mansion, Charleston, South Carolina 98.673. The Peninsula, Bangkok 98.314. Four... Read More
-
Beautiful Islands Around the World
Imagine this: bright blue water laps against pristine white sand. Up ahead, two empty beach chairs wait for you to enjoy the warm breeze and a cool... Read More
-
World’s Most Romantic Islands
Bora-Bora seduces couples with visions of overwater bungalows above a turquoise lagoon. But that’s not all: the island offers coral reefs and, should... Read More
-
Behind the Scenes at a T+L Photo Shoot
“We were finishing up a morning shoot in the Philippines on White Beach in Boracay, this big, long stretch of supersoft, sugary sand on the island’s... Read More
