IIntroduction
There are countless beautiful photographs of Boracay, but none of them can ever really do it justice. Its somewhere you have to see, feel and experience in person. The moment your eyes first gaze upon the magnificence of White Beach you’re captivated. The sand really is like powder, the ocean is crystal clear and the local people welcome you with a smile that is both warm and genuine. It’s no surprise that this 10.32 square kms island, and its famous beaches, have won numerous awards as the best in the World time and time again.
Getting there
Boracay is 2kms off the northwest tip of the much larger island of Panay, which is in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. Until recently, getting to the island in an aircraft larger than a turboprop (with a very restrictive luggage allowance) involved a one hour flight from either Manila (MNL) or Cebu (CEB) to the city of Kalibo (KLO), from where you then had to travel by road for around 2 hours to the town of Caticlan. From Caticlan it’s then a 15 minute boat trip to Boracay. But as of November 2016 this has all changed..
Caticlan (Godofredo P. Ramos) Airport Upgrade
In November last year, the runway extension at Caticlan Airport was completed, together with new ramps and apron services. This upgrade now means airlines can fly A320’s directly into Caticlan for the first time, dramatically improving the accessibility to the island, as the airport is merely 5 minutes to the port from which the boats depart for Boracay. And that’s not the end of future developments, the next stage involves a major upgrade of the airport terminal, which by 2018 is expected to see the introduction of direct international flights..
Things to do
As you would guess, every imaginable water sport activity is available on the island, which has up to 30 great dive sites within half an hour of its shore. But there’s also plenty of land based activities, including room for a World Class 18 hole golf course designed by Australia’s Graham Marsh. Then there’s the fantastic range of bars, live music, restaurants, cafes and shopping available, many offering breath taking views over the ocean.
