What’s all the hype About Boracay?

Is Boracay truly the best beach in the world? In 2007. Yahoo ranked Boracay Island the no. 1 in its list of Best Beaches in the World. While most of the Philippines rejoiced at this development, some were skeptical about whether or not the island truly deserved this distinction; considering that it bested the best beaches of the Bahamas, Hawaii and Puerto Rico which are considered tourism top draws in the world. What makes for the best beach in the world? Is it the quality of the sand? Boracay has one of the finest and most consistent powder white sand stretching for about 4 km. in length. Is it the clarity of its ocean? Boracay has one of the clearest and calmest waters I know. Neck deep into the water, I can still clearly see my toes. Is it the 300 plus hotels and resorts that make Boracay such a convenient vacation spot? From the snooty Shangri-la to the humble yet popular inns, everyone has a place to stay under the Boracay sun. Maybe it’s the variety of the international cuisine the island offers? The island is teeming with Eat all you can buffets, Fastfoods, and Fine Dining restaurants featuring Filipino, American, Korean, Japanese, Greek, Italian, German, French, to Indian food. Perhaps it’s the dynamic nightlife in the island that begins with Boracay’s dramatic sunset? Wild rave and foam parties and exotic fire poi dancers make for an unforgettable Boracay clubbing experience. Yet, most of these remarkable features can also be found in other beaches as well. Some say Fiji has the best sand quality in the world, others say the waters in the Maldives are equal to none. The Bahamas in the Carribean boast of having more of the world’s finest hotels like The Four Seasons. The beaches of Thailand claim to have a more colorful and exciting nightlife than all the Stations in Boracay combined.

Is Boracay’s ranking as one of the word’s best beaches (if not the best) much deserved? Or is it all just a product of media hype? For a Boracay fan like me, Boracay as a personal experience is more than the sum of its parts. Boracay is not just about its beaches, various hotels, exciting water sports, clear blue waters, and wild parties. It is about experiencing the beauty of an awesome sunset with someone you love. It is about being reduced to tears and thanking God for the pristine splendor of Puka Beach, It is about being able to share this God-given gift with people from all stations in life and allowing yourself to be embraced by the sea of humanity that is for that moment—your community.

For 2008, Yahoo demoted Boracay from no. 1 to no.7 of the world’s best beaches. Askmen.com ranked it at no. 8. Naysayers are quick to point out rampant commercialism, environmental problems, and the country’s economic situation as the cause for the decline. But I am not the least bit worried. Surveys are just numbers. They don’t really mean anything. My Boracay is the best beach for me because its beauty, warmth, and people has touched me and made my life better. So what is your personal Boracay?

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.