Boracay

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Boracay
Geography
Location	South East Asia
Coordinates	11°58′N 121°55′E
Archipelago	Visayas
Major islands	Bohol, Cebu, Leyte, Masbate, Negros, Panay, Samar
Area	10.32 km²
Administration
Philippines
Region Province Municipality Barangay	Western Visayas Aklan Malay Manoc-Manoc, Balabag, and Yapak
Demographics
Population	census unavailable
Indigenous people	Ati, Bisaya (Aklanon)

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.

1 Geography
2 Facilities
3 Events
4 History
5 Languages
6 Weather and Climate
- 6.1 Amihan and Habagat
- 6.2 Impact on Tourism Operations
7 Transportation
- 7.1 Getting there
- 7.2 Around the island
8 Gallery
9 References
10 External links

[edit] Geography

Boracay Island is located off the northwest corner of the island of Panay, and belongs to the Western Visayas island-group, or Region 6, of the Philippines. The island is approximately seven kilometers long, dog-bone shaped with the narrowest spot being less than one kilometer wide, and has a total land area of 10.32 square kilometers.

South-facing Cagban Beach is located across a small strait from the jetty port at Caticlan on Panay island, and the Cagban jetty port serves as Boracay's main entry and exit point during most of the year. When wind and sea conditions dictate, east-facing Tambisaan Beach serves as an alternative entry and exit point.

Boracay's two primary tourism beaches, White Beach and Bulabog Beach, are located on opposite sides of the island's narrow central area. White Beach faces westwards and Bulabog Beach faces eastwards. The island also has several other beaches.

White Beach is the main tourism beach. It is a bit over four kilometers long and is lined with resorts, hotels, lodging houses, restaurants, and other tourism-related businesses. In the central portion, for about two kilometers, there is a footpath known as the Beachfront Path separating the beach itself from the establishments located along it. North and south of the Beachfront Path, beachfront establishments do literally front along the beach itself. In past years, Boracay entry and exit was done through three boat stations located along the Beachfront Path, but that practice was discontinued in 2007 in favor of the single-point entry and exit mentioned above. Several roads and paths connect the Beachfront Path with Boracay's Main Road, a vehicular road which runs the length of the island. At the extreme northern end of White Beach, a footpath runs around the headland there and connects White Beach with Diniwid Beach.

Across the island from White Beach is Bulabog Beach, a secondary tourism beach and Boracay's main windsurfing and kiteboarding area.

[edit] Facilities

Boracay is the site of Fairways and Bluewater -- a world-class 18-hole par 72 golf course designed by Graham Marsh.

[edit] Events

Boracay is one competitive venue for the Asian Windsurfing Tour, with the week-long Boracay International Funboard Cup competition usually being held on Bulabog Beach each January..

The well-known Ati-Atihan Festival takes place each January in Kalibo on nearby Panay island. A much smaller Ati-Atihan festival is celebrated on Boracay, usually in the second or third week of January.

Dragon boat races are held annually on Boracay under the auspices of the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation, with teams coming from around the Philippines and from other asian nations to compete. The races usually take place sometime in April or May.

The Olympic Council of Asia has announced that Boracay will host the 2014 Asian Beach Games.[1]

[edit] History

The island was originally home to the Ati tribe.

[edit] Languages

Other than Filipino, English is widely spoken in Boracay. Aklanon is also spoken, as Boracay is part of Aklan Province. The Ati language was spoken by the original inhabitants of the island.[2]

[edit] Weather and Climate

[edit] Amihan and Habagat

Weather in Boracay is generally divided into two seasonal weather patterns known locally as the Amihan and Habagat seasons. In the Tagalog language, Amihan means a cool northeast wind, and Habagat means west or southwest wind; south-west monsoon.^[1] Amihan and Habagat seasons are generally associated respectively with the La Niña and El Niño global weather patterns. The Amihan season is characterized by moderate temperatures, little or no rainfall, and a prevailing wind from the east. The Habagat season is characterized by hot and humid weather, frequent heavy rainfall, and a prevailing wind from the west.

On Boracay, the main indicator of the switch between the Amihan and Habagat seasonal patterns is the switch in wind direction. In most years this transition is abrupt and occurs overnight. In some years there is a period of perhaps a week or two where the wind will switch between Amihan and Habagat patterns several times before settling into the pattern for the new season. As a general rule of thumb, Boracay will be in the Amihan weather pattern from sometime in September or October to sometime in May or June and in the Habagat weather pattern for the remainder of the year. These dates can vary in individual years, though.

Daytime temperatures on Boracay generally range from 77-90º F (25-32º C) from the beginning of the Amihan season into February or March, increase to the 82-100º F(28-38º C) range until the onset of the Habagat season, and moderate back to the 77-90º F (25-32º C) range with the start of the Habagat season. During Tropical Storm periods, temperatures can fall below 68º F (20º C). Tropical Storms can impact Boracay at any time of year, but are most likely to be seen during the Habagat season.

[edit] Impact on Tourism Operations

Partly because of its wind and weather patterns, Boracay tourism is heaviest during the Amihan season. During Amihan, the prevailing wind blows from the east. Boracay's main tourism area, White Beach, is on the western side of the island and is sheltered from the wind. During the Amihan season, the water off White Beach is often glassy-smooth. On the eastern side of the island, hills on the northern and southern ends of the island channel the Amihan season wind from the east onshore onto Bulabog Beach in the central part of the island's eastern side, making the reef-protected waters off that beach ideal for windsurfing and kiteboarding / kitesurfing.

Most Boracay hotels and resorts have Low and High Season price levels with High Season prices generally coinciding with Amihan Season dates. Some have additional Peak Period pricing during periods of heavy tourism (usually including Christmas / New Year, Easter / Holy Week, and Chinese New Year periods).

[edit] Transportation

[edit] Getting there

[edit] By Plane

From Manila’s domestic airport or from Cebu airport, take flights to Boracay either via Kalibo (45 minutes away) or via Caticlan (30-40 minutes away). From Kalibo airport, air-conditioned vans and buses for hire will take you to the Caticlan Jetty Port, where boats are stationed to take you to the island. Motorized tricyles will take you from Caticlan airport to the jetty port, 3 minutes away. From Caticlan jetty port, boat ride will take 15-20 minutes to get to Boracay.

Airlines serving Kalibo and Caticlan include the following:

Manila to Caticlan:

Manila to Kalibo:

Cebu to Caticlan:

Asian Spirit
South East Asian Airlines (SEAir)

(Some of these air carriers may provide only seasonal service on the listed routes)

[edit] By Boat

Several ferries sail between Manila and Caticlan. The journey takes between 12 and 16 hours.

Ferries from Manila to Caticlan:

(Some of these sea carriers may provide only seasonal service on the listed routes)

[edit] By Road

Buses and cars run from Manila to the Southern provinces by means of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway. A nautical system conceptualized under the term of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Buses leave from the Philtranco terminal in Cubao and Pasay City throughout the day. The journey by bus takes approximately 12 hours. Caticlan is the fourth seaport encountered along the SRNH while traveling south from Manila.

[edit] Around the island

On the island, the two main modes of transport are via motor-tricycles along the main road or by walking along the beaches. Pedicabs are also available for transport along the Beachfront Path. Other means of transportation include mountain bikes, quadbikes and motorbikes, all of which can be rented.

To explore around the island's coast, motorized bancas and sailing paraws are available for rent. These are outrigger canoes, and are common sight in waters around the island. The sailing paraw is a narrow hulled boat with outriggers either side and with passengers sometimes seated on a trampoline platform between the outrigger supports. These are extremely fast off the wind, but can be unwieldy for inexperienced sailors.