Boracay is a very famous island in the Philippines, well known for its beautiful white sand beaches, clear and warm water and the numerous beach parties! If you are looking for a destination where you can find a perfect combination of relaxing moments together with fun nights, I think this is the place to go in the Philippines!
USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES:
- Language: Filipino, English
- Visa: on arrival (for most of the countries). It is free and it lasts 60 days
- Capital: Manila. Population: 12.8 million people
- Currency: Philippine Peso (PHP)
- Time Zone: UTC/GMT +8
- Country Code: +63
- Emergency number: 911
- Population: 103,8 million people
How to get to Boracay?
If you are living in the South East Asia or if you are flying from anywhere in the world, you normally need to head first to Manila. There are no direct flights to Boracay, so you need to fly to Caticlan or Kalibo.
When I went to Boracay, I flew to Manila Naia Airport and from there I took a small plane to Caticlan. Once landed, the driver from Fridays Boracay Beach Resort –the hotel where I was staying – was waiting for me. He drove for a few minutes to the port. Once there, we took a small boat to Boracay Island, which took approximately 15-20 minutes. Then, a car took me to the resort. Trust me, it is easier than it seems! 🙂
What you need to know about Boracay
Boracay is a small island but very versatile, which belongs to the Western Visayas Islands.
On one side of the island you can find the well renown White Beach, which is divided in 3 main areas called “stations”. As per my experience, station 2 and station 3 are more crowed and full of bars, clubs and restaurants on the beach, where the accommodations are cheaper, compare to station 1.
I stayed at Fridays Boracay Beach Resort, almost at the end of station 1, close to the end of the beach where the atmosphere is more chilled and peaceful. I loved it!
On the other side of the island, the beaches are definitely not as nice as White Beach, but it is the favorite spot for kite-surfers because of the strong wind! I guess you can surf too.
You can also scuba-diving, snorkeling, paddling and do all the beach activities you like!
For your information, the fanciest resort is surely the 5 stars hotel Shangri-la Boracay Resort&Spa, located on a rocky peninsula in the northern part of the island, looking out over a private bay (Barangay Yapak).
My stay @ Fridays Boracay Resort
Fridays Boracay Beach Resort is a 50-rooms AAA hotel, perfectly located on White Beach-station 1. As previously mentioned, I really liked it because of the peaceful and relaxed atmosphere. It has a private beach where only the hotel guests can stay. In addition, the professional and joyful staff made my stay extremely pleasant.
Having a private beach is very important because in other hotels near by, the beach is public which means more chaotic and crowed, something that honestly I don’t like! Fridays managed to have the best spot in station 1, in my opinion, and on top of that the staff cares a lot about the calmness of the resort. Hugely appreciated!
Fridays Boracay Beach Resort is located almost at the end of station 1, as you can see in the picture below (view from the sea, in front of the hotel):
The room was very clean and tidy, and it looked like a ‘small island house’: totally adorable!
I would highly recommend to get fresh pressed juices at the beach bar, as well as seafood: everything was really delicious and fresh! Also, during the day is amazing to go for a walk alongside White Beach, but protect yourself from the sun, it is very very strong!
The sunsets in Boracay are some of the best I’ve ever seen around the world: an incredible explosion of colors… so romantic and enjoyable!
I also had the privilege of attending a special night at Fridays Boracay Beach Resort! Everything was set up so perfectly after the sunset… hard to describe!
After dinner, if you like to enjoy the crowd, it is interesting to walk down station 2 and station 3 where you can watch the fire shows, get some drinks and have fun at the clubs on the beach!
I have been to the Philippines many times and I would surely recommend Boracay to any traveler!
And you… are you lusting for the sublime?
Always,
Carlotta