Going to Boracay

What to do in Boracay

by Matt Link

Of the more than 7,000 islands in the Philippines, this small dumbbell-shaped speck off the northwest corner of the island of Panay in the Western Visayas gets a lot of the attention. A backpacker secret until the 1980s, the isle has seen more than 300 resorts and hotels sprout up, with the sometimes-undesirable travelers and businesses newfound popularity attracts. But Boracay retains its air of tropical remoteness, because it is indeed remote, lying about 200 miles south of Manila. In fact, most tourists still approach the island via small boats and wade through the surf to get to the beach. And despite the expansive outdoor pedestrian malls and the plethora of shops, bars, and restaurants, the island is still laid-back, with casual volleyball games and sun worshippers reading novels all day on chaise lounges. And, of course, the...

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