Boracay, Philippines

Boracay is a tropical island located approximately 315km (200 miles) south of Manila and 2km off the northwest tip of the island of Panay in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. It is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations. The island comprises the barangays of Manoc-Manoc, Balabag, and Yapak (3 of the 17 barangays which make up the municipality of Malay), and is under the administrative control of the Philippine Tourism Authority in coordination with the Provincial Government of Aklan.

Beaches
Perhaps the most popular beach here on the island is White Beach, which is due to its resplendent white sands and calm waters. Strong winds don't usually disturb both water and pristine sand on its side of the island, which makes it quite idyllic. This beach stretches to four kilometers in length and is lined by various hotels and resorts from one end to the other.

Of course, the other beaches in Boracay are also worth the trip and each one of them has something unique to offer to visitors and guests. After all, there is more to just pristine beauty that makes a beach part of the world's best. Some of the criteria that people ought to consider should include night attractions, dive spots, excellent cuisine, and top notch accommodations.

The Climate
The Boracay climate is pretty much the same as the typical climate you get in the Philippines. It enjoys a full summer season and also has a wet rainy season. The climate also dictates whether you get to spend more on room rates or not. The peak season includes the summer months in the Philippines. However, do take note that the months immediately preceding the summer is also part of the peak or high season as well.

So, this simply means that you should expect to find the room rates steeply high from January to May, which is the high to peak season. The rest of the months other than these are within the lean season or low season where there are fewer visitors on the island thus sparking lower demand and lower room rates. However, do take note that a good number of visitors also tend to come to Boracay starting in September.

Restaurants
On a related note, a stunning array of restaurants has also made their home on the island. A lot of these restaurants serve food from a variety of cuisines. It's like a culinary center right smack dab on the beach. You get to feast on different flavors renowned the world over. A huge number of these restaurants are located on Boat Station 2. Incidentally, this station is also where you'll find the majority of bars and night life places in Boracay.

Hotels and Resorts
If you think the number of restaurants, bars, and nightlife places here are quite a lot then guess again. There are in fact hundreds of hotels and resorts in Boracay. That is how popular this summer island is. You can just imagine how many people come here during peak season.

Since Boracay is such a huge tropical getaway in the Philippines, it is only a small wonder why there are so many hotels, inns, and resorts that have been put up. The hotels here range from small enterprises manned by a single owner or by a single family to a full blown luxurious establishment with international credentials to boot.

The hotels and resorts cater to backpackers as well as distinguishing luxury travelers. If you're on the island on a shoestring budget then you just have to know where to look to find the best deals. It's basically both a question of where and when you come over to have your time on the white sands.