About

Boracay Island

Touted as one of the Philippines’ premier tourist destination, Boracay is a tropical paradise located 1 km. northwest of Panay Island in the Visayas Region. It is about 7 km. long and 1 km. wide at its narrowest point. The island’s largest barangays are Manoc-manoc, Balabag, and Yapak. It is under the administrative control of the Philippine Tourism Authority in coordination with the Provincial Government of Aklan.

It wasn’t until the 1970’s that tourism invaded the island. Word of its pristine beauty was spread by European Backpackers until mainstream tourists started to take notice. In just a span of 10 years, the whole world, it seemed, discovered Boracay. The once, nearly deserted stretch of beach became a swarming vacation and leisure spot for upscale tourists from all over the world. Five-star hotels and resorts soon sprouted along Boracay’s famous “White Beach”– A 4 km. stretch of beach, so called for the fine, sugary white sand along its coast, framed by clear blue waters around the island.

Yet despite its rapid growth and commercialism, Boracay has managed to preserve some of its beaches. A good example of this is Yapak Beach located at the back of the crowded White Beach. There, it is still possible to walk on a deserted beach and enjoy peace and solitude. It is more popularly known as Puka Beach from the shell that was once endemic to this part of the island. Jewelry fashioned from these Puka shells enjoyed tremendous popularity in the 70’s when Hollywood personalities such as Elizabeth Taylor would mix and match them with her trademark diamonds. Sadly, the unrestricted sale of these gleaming white shells that once littered the shores of Puka Beach has made it a rare and endangered species.