Boracay, the Shangri-La of the Philippines

Boracay, among Asia’s most beautiful tropical islands.

Boracay Island in the Philippines is always among the top tropical destinations on almost every travel list due to its pristine white beaches and year-round climate of 25 degrees up. A trip to this beautiful destination, if not flying directly, can be accomplished with just one stop from most countries due to its mass popularity to travelers from all over the globe. Want to know more about Boracay? Watch this video:

How does Boracay look after the reopening?

Now Boracay is more beautiful than for a very long time. Why do I say this? See the video and read about Boracay’s come-back below.

The pollution literally hit Boracay in an unexpected way, which in the year 2018 was shut down for almost a year to control tourism’s growing pollution. Really many hotels, restaurants, cafes, and infrastructure did not follow the applicable rules and one was hazardous to health and environmentally harmful. An unusually tough decision to the local tourism industry, but hopefully a good decision for all in the long run. Last news on June 18 was that a limited number of hotels etc. are allowed to open in October, the latest figures were approx. 100. and that work has been done seriously to ensure a higher standard of environment and pollution to the benefit of, residents and guests on the island.

The pollution had built up for a long time.  Too many tourists on a very small island only 7 km long was more than the environment could handle. It then literally hit Boracay in an unexpected way, which in 2018 was shut down by the government for approx. 3/4 of a year to control tourism’s growing pollution.

Really many hotels, restaurants, and cafes, and infrastructure did not follow the applicable rules before that.  It was environmentally harmful. An unusually tough decision to the local tourism industry, but for sure a good decision for all in the long run. Last news on June 18 was that a limited number of hotels etc. are allowed to open in October, the latest figures were approx. 100. and that work has been done seriously to ensure a higher standard of environment and pollution to the benefit of, residents and guests on the island. So enjoy what Boracay was meant to be.

Boracay Philiipines, back to nature

Boracay Philiipines, back to nature

Boracay’s 4 km long, chalk-white beaches await

Boracay is only one hour from Manila, Philippines, one of the fastest-growing destinations in Asia. CNN announced in January 2018 Boracay was the perhaps most promising destination in the Philippines. And there are many competitors.

It is the amount of perfect chalky beaches that attract visitors from Europe, the United States and Australia – also in comparison to the fact that the island has extremely well-functioning hotels, restaurants and infrastructure, and very affordable size. The price level is also quite acceptable with our eyes.

For those who just want to completely relax, Boracay is the perfect beautiful place, but you do not have to be glued to the comfortable beach chair minutes from the hotel all day. You can grow almost anything that ends with “water” like sailing, windsurfing, snorkeling, diving, and jet skiing. What begins with “golf” Boracay also delivers, with a hyper well-groomed quality golf course.

Nightlife is really well-developed and you can spend the night and have delicious food and snacks 24 hours a day. It’s not a primitive discovery trip. The exploration experience you can easily find elsewhere in the Philippines. There are 7,000 islands in total, and only a few are discovered as tourist destinations. Several new paradise island destinations are under development. There must be some infrastructure before investing, but the Philippines has caught the point in taking care of nature and the globe.

White Beach on Boracay, the most famous beach on the island

Boracay is only 7 km long and is 315 km south of the Philippines’ capital, Manila. See the map below.

White Beach at Boracay is one of several amazing beaches that bring the tropical island into the super league and Boracay is often on top of the lists when we compare comparisons of the best beaches in the world in the Caribbean, the Pacific, the Mediterranean, etc.

White Beach is the best-known beach on Boracay and is about 4 kilometers long. By 2015, it was voted the best beach in Asia by TripAdvisor. It is the preferred beach on the small island. On the beach, you will find it all: hotels, resorts, restaurants, souvenir shops, and of course a lot of irresistible bars. White Beach consists of three areas from the most expensive to the cheapest hotels, but also here is the peace and quiet. The water is turquoise blue and people play the day long in the temperate water while trying to learn to skimboard and stay on the surfboard in the wave. Paraw boats are a colorful part of the scene and colored flag fans in the wind at the sailing industry.

Bulabog Beach Boracay

Facing White Beach, on the eastern side of Boracay, lies beautiful Bulabog Beach. Bulabog is a hotspot for surfing and kiteboarding due to the big waves and powerful win all year round. Bulabog is considered one of Asia’s best kitesurfing destinations.

As always, it’s the young backpackers that first came to Boracay for years. Today, the island is expanded with modern luxury hotels offering spa and spa treatments, and there is a beautiful golf course on the island. There are more restaurants and bars available, but smaller and simple accommodations are still available. The immediate backward mood is still there. Most traffic takes place on three-wheeled bicycles with and without engines, and the nightlife offers cold drinks, music and fire dancing in the sand.

https://www.shangri-la.com/boracay/

A luxury tip is Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort and Spa

Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort and Spa offer a private luxury experience. Maybe a honeymoon or “we celebrate something big” destination.

 

You are picked up from neighboring island Caticlan, which is the nearest airport as well. Awaiting you in the hotel’s private lounge for a short while, the adventure begins with a 20-minute crossing to Boracay by private motorboat. You arrive at an eco-park where the hotel is located. Shangri-La is more than a hotel that is 12 acres of tropical “garden” and its own private unspoiled beach.

Shangri-la, boracy. treetop villa 21 deck
Shangri-La, Boracay has over 200 rooms, suites, 4 restaurants, 2 bars, huge pool area, shopping arcade, and all other services you can dream of. It is a true official 5-star hotel. One is very eco. conscious. You do not see plastic mugs and the air-con automatically closes when you open the balcony doors. So you can take your good conscience on your stay.

Shangri-la, boracy. treetop villa 21 deck
See Shangri-la Boracay here

Book Philippines tours with top travel agencies with best competitive prices

See tours, prices, dates and travel agency, book safely using Tour Radar, a world leader in ready-to-go travel tours.

Philippines Island Explorer

Philippines One Life Adventures – 10 Days

Wanderlands Philippines – 12 Days

Philippines West

Palawan Archipelago, Philippines: See & Experience it ALL in 7 Days

Travel tips to Boracay:

You can either book the trip to Bocaray directly with Singapore Airlines here. 

Read more about travel destinations in the Philippines here

Tried the championship golf course in Boracay with a resort with its onw beach?

See also Palawan, another extremely beautiful and nature-protected Philippine island, definitely worth a trip.

Fairways & Bluewater Resort, Boracay. Your own beach and golf (of) course

Palawan – The Last Ecological Frontier of the Philippines

Apo, a small island, big diving, and beach chill-out

Apo is a South Asian gem and breathtaking coral reef

Apo is a South Asian gem and breathtaking coral reef

You start and end up safely in Manila, so take a few days off. The city has both lots of history, delicious restaurants and growing, as was the new Singapore, which is also the ambition.

Paradise islands with Traveltalk

Map overview

Latest travel articles