I was captivated by several respected travel magazines claiming that Boracay island resort in the Philippines has one of the best beaches in the world, I wasted no time in traveling to this island resort to experience what many claimed is a tropical island paradise.

Boracay is a lush tropical tourist resort island about 200 miles south of Philippine's capital Manila and is about slightly more than a mile off the northwest of Panay in the West Visayas province. Because of its acclaimed publicity of being home to some of the best beaches in the world, Boracay island resort is naturally one of the Philippine's most popular tourist attraction.

The island is made up by the barangays of Manoc-Manoc, Balabag, and Yapak and is under the administration of the Philippine Tourism Authority. A barangay is also known by its former name, the barrio and is the smallest local government unit in Philippines. The word is a Tagalog term for a village or constituency.

Boracay island was originally the home of the Ati tribe before it became a major tourist attraction. Not surprisingly, the word Boracay is derived from words Bora which means 'bubble' and Bukay means 'white sand'. However, the sand on the main island is not as white as I have expected due to too many tourists and pollutions. Then again, if you visit some of the nearby islands and you will be fascinated by how white the sands on the beaches can be.

Boracay is part of Aklan Province and it was only in the 1970s that tourism industry started to develop. The main tourism beaches on the island are the White Beach and the Bulabog Beach both of which are located on diametrically opposite sides of the island's central area with the White Beach facing towards the west and Bulabog Beach facing east. Of course, Boracay also have several other beaches as well.

White Beach is well known for its white powdery sand and hence its name. The beach is slightly over 4 km long (2 miles) and is populated with numerous beach resorts, hotels, restaurants and shops catering to the needs of tourists staying in the area.

Incidentally, Borocay has more than 300 beach resorts with more than 2,000 rooms ranging from stylish five-star hotels and resorts to budget accommodations for backpackers. Golfers will be delighted to know that Boracay is home to a world-class 18-hole par 72 golf course.

Bulabog Beach, across the island from White Beach is a secondary tourism beach. This beach is a favorite location for windsurfing and kiteboarding because of its seasonal strong winds for these activities.

When is the best time to visit Boracay? Well, you can visit Boracay anytime, however some visitors may wish to visit the island resort for different purposes.

Catch the spectacular world-famous Kalibo Ati-Atihan Festival in January. This festival is Philippine's version of the Mardi Gras which is celebrated on the third week of every January.

If you just want to enjoy the beaches and the sea, then visit Boracay during the 'Amihan' season. This is during northeast monsoon season in the months of March to May when trade wind is at its strongest which is very suitable for activities like sailing, big game fishing, scuba diving, wind surfing and kite-boarding.

The months of June to September are considered off-peak season, however budget conscious tourists and backpackers consider this as the best time to visit Boracay as prices for everything are at its lowest and there are few competition for that precious white sand beach turf to plonk yourself on to enjoy the sun.

October marks the beginning of another peak season. As from October to December, the weather is cool and major sports events are usually held at this time of the year.

If you are thinking of taking a vacation holiday in the Philippines, do head for the tropical paradise island of Boracay.

About the Author

Chris Chew is an avid traveler and owns a website describing tourist attractions in Asia at Phillipines Tourist Information and Tour Travel Japan

 

In the years before St. Augustine became a vacation paradise for families, it became St. Augustine in 1565. The settlement was already forty-two years old when Historic Jamestown was founded, and today as the oldest European town and the oldest port, in the continental United States. Five flags have flown over the city since 1565, The U.S., Confederate, Spanish, British, and the Spanish Burgundy Cross. Now St. Augustine is one of Florida's favorite travel destination with attractions, beaches and historical significance.

The beaches of St. Augustine located on Anastasia Island home of Anastasia State Park. There is pier that is a favorite of fishermen and those who want a panoramic view of the beach. The beaches here are a favorite and considered by many the best Florida beaches

There is also lighthouse on Anastasia Island which favorite for history tourist. St. Augustine Lighthouse is one of the most popular Florida Lighthouses. It's 219 steps the top, you'll get a spectacular view of the surrounding area as the observation deck is 165 feet above sea-level.

The entrance to Castillo de San Marcos is heavily fortified and was surrounded by moat. Six different flags have flown over Castillo de San Marcos and you can view the Spanish and English barracks. On weekends, they fire the cannons in a demonstration. The Castillo de San Marcos, the historic Fort was built after the city was attacked by Pirates. The fort was never taken by force, only by treaty and was built of coquina rock, native to the area.

The St. Augustine historic district is full of restaurants, coffee shops and small shops with craftsmen who are knowledgeable in the trades of the period. Trolley tours offer transportation along a route with over 100 points of interest throughout Saint Augustine. The small narrow streets are a excellent for taking a romantic stroll.

The World Golf Hall of Fame is also located in St. Augustine. The Hall of Fame Museum features a permanent exhibition and many temporary exhibitions. The exhibits are about the game's history, heritage, major players, techniques, golf course design, equipment and clothing.

Flagler College is also a St. Augustine must see. The school is located on 19 acres, and was built in 1888 as luxury hotel, the Ponce de Leon. Designed by John Carrere and Thomas Hastings, and working for Henry Flagler, the industrialist, oil magnate and railroad pioneer. Flagler College is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

St. Augustine is home to the Fountain of Youth National Archaeological Park and a tribute to the spot where Ponce de Leon is traditionally said to have landed. Now a tourist attraction, the fountain that is there is not "the" Fountain, but this doesn't keep tourists from drinking the water. The park features native and colonial artifacts to celebrate St. Augustine's Spanish and Timucuan heritage. As the story goes, Ponce de Leon heard of the Fountain of Youth from the people of Puerto Rico that he'd conquered. He was dissatisfied with his material wealth and launched an expedition to locate it, and that's when he discovered Florida. Though he was one of the first Europeans to set foot on the American soil, he never found the real Fountain of Youth.

Families and couples will find many things to keep occupied with the attractions like The Fountain of Youth, San Sebastian Winery, Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum and The Alligator Farm. St. Augustine is a perfect place to spend a vacation

About the Author

Your travel source for St. Augustine and many other Florida vacation spots.