Years Ago, what is now known as the finest beach in Asia
and one of the best in the world, Boracay Island was a
well-guarded secret, almost possessively so that only a few knew of its
existence, its pleasures whispered from one privileged ear. Back then, it
was virtually deserted, a true hideaway indeed
Until the 70's when, it is said, a foreign
movie crew accidentally "discovered" this island paradise. Although others
maintain that the one that really let the secret out was German traveler
Jens Peters' book, which included raving reviews of Boracay. Whichever
story is true, it was around this time that Boracay Island slowly ceased
to be a private travelers hangout and eventually became a favorite tourist
destination in the Philippines. In a span of a mere 10 years, the whole
world, it seems, has discovered Boracay, and the once - nearly - deserted
stretch of the most spectacular beach in Asia with lantern-lit bungalows
is now a teeming vacation and leisure spot for upscale tourists from all
parts of the world.
While its powder-soft white sand beaches and
clear cool waters provide the main attraction, tourists and guests
will be relieved to know that Boracay's allure does not end there.
Modern-day facilities now line the 3.5-kilometer White Beach along the
west coast, the island's longest stretch of white sand; comforts such as
fancy, air-conditioned bungalows, nightly buffets of fresh seafood, guitar
music, and massage. There are also restaurants, shops, even disco's and
bars for a bustling night life. Year after year, vacationers trip to
Boracay for sun, sea, and life along the beachfront, and hundreds of local
and foreign tourists a day on the beach is a pretty common sight,
especially during the peak months.
While its powder-soft white sand beaches and
clear cool waters provide the main attraction, tourists and guests
will be relieved to know that Boracay's allure does not end there.
Modern-day facilities now line the 3.5-kilometer White Beach along the
west coast, the island's longest stretch of white sand; comforts such as
fancy, air-conditioned bungalows, nightly buffets of fresh seafood, guitar
music, and massage. There are also restaurants, shops, even disco's and
bars for a bustling night life. Year after year, vacationers trip to
Boracay for sun, sea, and life along the beachfront, and hundreds of local
and foreign tourists a day on the beach is a pretty common sight,
especially during the peak months.
Boracay is literally teeming with life. Some of
its privacy may have been lost with the deluge of visitors it attracts
every year, but it doesn't seem to matter. People from as far as Europe
continue to flock to its brilliant shores and aquamarine waters. Its
popularity seems to serve as an added attraction for both old-timers and
newcomers, enhancing rather than diminishing its allure. Perhaps this is
because even with the increased number of visitors in the island, the
serene ambiance of the place commands respect, making each and every
guest behave accordingly, and this allows for true relaxation and some
semblance of privacy, too, since there are no loud commotions and aside
from lapping of the waves and the distant drone of the occasional
motorboat, virtual quite is still prevalent.
The island paradise was born in prehistory
when a reef platform attached to northwestern Panay Island rose and
revealed two islets. Sand accumulated between the twain, wedding them into
a Philippines contribution to the worlds natural treasures
Located as it is as the northwestern tip
of Panay, in the west Visayas region, off the Sibuyan Sea, Boracay Island
is naturally sheltered from the fierce easterly typhoons. It is seven
kilometers long and only one kilometer across its narrowest point. Its
thousand-hectare entirely is distributed among three villages, namely;
Yapak in the North, Balabag in the middle, and Manoc-Manoc in the south,
and numerous small sitios, all linked together by a maze of paths. Rolling
terrain, with hilly elevations of up to 100 meters above sea level,
characterizes Yapak and Manoc-Manoc. The intertwining trails, while
connecting the villages together, may sometimes also lead to lush tropical
jungles, a rich and crucial attribute of Boracays ecology. |