Years ago, Boracay Island was a well-guarded secret, almost possessively so that only a few knew of its existence. It was only in the 70's when, it is said, a foreign movie crew accidentally "discovered" this island paradise. Others maintain that it was the German traveller, Jens Peters' book, which included rave reviews of Boracay that changed the island’s pace from that of being a quiet secret to eventually being voted (like many other beaches in the Asian region, such as Railay Beach in Krabi, Thailand, to name but one) as having the best beach in the world.
Whichever story is true, it was around this time that Boracay Island slowly ceased to be a private travellers hangout and eventually became a favourite tourist destination in the Philippines. In a span of a mere 10 years, the whole world, it seemed, discovered Boracay and the once, nearly deserted stretch of beach became 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 3.5km White Beach along the west coast. There are restaurants, disco's and bars plus souvenir shops and others selling local bric-brac and the inevitable dive shops catering to those interested in the underwater splendours as well as those on land.
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 serves as an added attraction for both old-timers and newcomers, enhancing rather than diminishing its allure.
The serene ambiance of the place commands respect 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 when a reef platform attached to north-western Panay Island rose and revealed two islets. Located at the north-western 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 km long and only one km across its narrowest point. Its has 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, sometimes lead to lush tropical jungles, a rich and crucial attribute of Boracays ecology and one that like its underwater treasures, beg discovery.
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