|
A mecca for wining, dining and partying, as well as for a full range of
outdoor activities, Boracay is perhaps the Philippines' premier
entertainment center outside Manila.
While most people come to this tropical island to simply relax and commune
with nature, there is plenty to occupy those who would rather do more than
just sit in or out of the shade. The island is dotted with some 10
different beaches, all within reasonable commuting distance of the main
tourist area. The most famous of these is White Beach, which is largely
the reason why most people come to the island in the first place.
 This
four-kilometer stretch of powdery white sand hugs the western shoreline
and is a favorite spot for swimming, strolling or just hanging out. All
sorts of marine sports are available here, such as snorkeling and scuba
diving. Many of the island's 20 or so dive shops are located nearby.
Outlets such as Calypso Diving School (PADI), Victory Divers and Aquarius
Diving offer a wide variety of programs, from half-day courses to full
PADI diver certification. Some, like Fisheye Dive Safari, also organize
outings to explore undersea coral, or longer trips in search of sunken
galleons from days gone by.
 If you like sailing, Boracay is certainly the place for you. You can sail
around the island by yourself or with some excellent local boatmen as
crew. A trip around the island will take you about three hours in a paraw
(a native wooden sailboat with outriggers), but budget for a longer time,
especially if you wish to stop off at some of the more interesting places
along the way. Most people circumnavigate the island in a clockwise
direction, so Puka Beach makes a good stopping-off point.
Hobbie cats, modern sailing craft based on the design of a catamaran, are
available by the hour--as are jet skis, water skis, speedboats and banana
boats--from Tommy's Sea Sports. A banana boat is an inflatable towed at
high speed through the water. The object is to stay aloft without being
thrown off as the craft twists and turns. This ride seems to be
particularly popular with girls. Windsurfing can be enjoyed on both sides
of the island, depending on which season the wind blows best. Sunset
cruises are available from some of the resorts, and from time to time a
parasail can be seen plying through the sky.
 If your daytime entertainment preference leans more toward land-based
operations, there is tennis at Lorenzo Main Tennis Court and Tirol and
Tirol Tennis Club, golf at Fairways & Bluewater, horseback riding at
Boracay Horse Riding Stables, bowling at the town's "bowlodrome," and, of
course, beach volleyball. You may also rent a motorbike or mountain bike
to roam the island and explore its scenic beauty.
There is certainly
plenty to see: The Bat Caves, Dead Forest and Mount Luho are main
destinations, but you can make equally interesting trips to lesser-known
places. For a look at local history and culture, visit the Gloria &
Roberto Tirol Heritage Museum or the Shell Museum overlooking Ilig-Iligan
Beach. There are also intra-island extreme sports such as trekking and "canyoning"
(rappelling down a canyon) under the supervision of Panay Canyoning Tours.
A favorite late-afternoon occupation is to stroll along White Beach Path
and check out your fellow travelers. Talipapa Market is full of people
browsing the local shops like Habagat. Boracay lamps, colorful bags,
accessories and native handicrafts can all be found here. You might even
want to drop in for a body tattoo at Noel's Tattoo Studio.
Head for the beach as twilight descends. It is an opportune time to cool
off with a sundowner. Watch the last scarlet and crimson rays of the
tropical sun from a favorite venue. Charl's Bar and Wahine Beach Bar are
two places that readily come to mind. Many of the establishments along the
beach have happy hour, which offers patrons free seconds of beers and
selected local cocktails. Salut! Or, as the locals say, Mabuhay!
After dinner, you might want to look into one of the many Internet cafes
on the island--Inso Internet Cafe and Alice in Wonderland Internet Cafe,
to name but two--to check your e-mail or just surf the Net.
Or you could
go for a stroll and drop by one of the island's many bars to listen to
mellow sounds at Tawo Bar or Bom Bom. As the night wears on, the younger
crowd usually makes for the discos (Bazura and Beachcomber Bar & Disco) or
the rowdier bars like Summer Place Bar & Restaurant, where loud techno
music is played. Now is the time to dance the night away under the stars!
Dawn brings out the early birds in this tropical island paradise, some
jogging along the beach. But the late-night revelers still have a ways to
go before they find their promise of another day!
Text by Peter Oxley
|
