B oracay Your visit to this stunning island will be Boracay is a paradise of plenty, one to remember forever! providing everything the traveller could possibly want from a holiday. Getting There Boracay Dazzling beaches, crystal waters and Major Airport Gateways: azure skies supply the backdrop for Caticlan (MPH) and Kalibo (KLO). Distance between Caticlan and Kalibo is relaxing or partying, solitude or 63 kilometres. company. With a seemingly endless Air Transport: list of sports and activities on offer, Various domestic carriers fly to Boracay’s areas of outstanding beauty to visit major gateways from Manila (20+ flights and hundreds of places to eat, drink daily), Cebu (daily flights) or Busuanga (only once a week). and be merry. Water Transport: Regular commuter ferries from Manila Fast Facts or Cebu have scheduled stops in Dumaguit (30 minutes beyond Kalibo) Time Zone: GMT + 8 which take around 15 – 17 hours. Visa: Only required if staying more than 30 days Upon arrival in Caticlan: 5-minute tricycle ride to jetty port, Climate: November to February – cool 15-minute outrigger boat ride to White and mostly dry; March to June – warm Beach (Station 1, 2 and 3). and mostly dry; July to October – warm and mostly wet with conference facilities and gyms Upon arrival in Kalibo: Average Temperature Year-round: 1 through to spas to boutique resorts. 1 /2 hour bus ride to jetty port, 15-minute 24°C – 32°C Most are located along the four outrigger boat ride (Station 1, 2 and 3). Attire: Light casual clothes all year round kilometre White Beach in the West. Transfers: A few more are interspersed along the Money: Philippine Pesos. Check with the For easy transfers, find out beforehand North and East coasts as well as the local banks for current exchange rates. which boat station along White Beach is All major credit cards accepted island’s interior. nearest your hotel/resort location. Some Water: Bottled water available in resorts, resorts offer free transfers for guests. restaurants and convenience stores Eating Out and Nightlife Communications: International and Hotels and Resorts There are more than 200 restaurants and direct dial phone and fax. Internet cafes Philippines Department of Tourism eateries on Boracay offering food from are widely available 10 -11 Suffolk Street London, SW1Y 4HG Boracay Island has accommodations to around the world and suiting every budget. Tel: 020 7321 0668 Fax: 020 7925 2920 What to Bring: Sun block, tanning lotions, suit all budgets, from the rustic "nipa hut" Pork and chicken are the most popular insect repellant, personal medication, E-mail: [email protected] www.itsmorefuninthephilippines.co.uk (bungalows made of bamboo and nipa meats, but fresh seafood is simply swimwear and accessories, etc. palm leaves) to modern luxurious hotels delicious and available everywhere. For local colour, small market-based ihaw- Useful Websites for the Region: ihaw (bar-b-q) restaurants are well worth Boracay www.myboracayguide.com http://www.boracaytrip.com/ a visit. For the adventurous and sturdy www.boracay.com.ph stomach, try balot, a boiled fertilized Aklan www.aklan.gov.ph Antique www.antique.gov.ph chicken or duck egg widely believed to be Capiz www.capiz.gov.ph an aphrodisiac! All Filipino dishes are best Iloilo http://www.exploreiloilo.com served with the world-famous San Miguel Negros Occidental https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Negros_Occidental Beer, ice-chilled! All Regions http://www.visitmyphilippines.com/ Many night spots for drinks, dancing and Useful Contacts: karaoke with numerous bars and discos Department of Tourism Offices: London +44 (0) 20 7321 0668 litter amongst the resorts. Some are [email protected] open 24/7. The diversity of marine life and corals all Halaran (first week of October; Roxas City, www.itsmorefuninthephilippines.co.uk around Boracay makes it one of the finest Capiz); Masskara (third week of October; Caticlan +63 (0) 36 288 7108 Iloilo +63 (0) 33 337 5411 / 509 3550 dive locations in the Philippines. There are Bacolod City, Negros Occidental). [email protected] Shops, Markets and Crafts BORACAY over 30 dive shops with high quality www.westernvisayastourism.com.ph Historical Landmarks: Kalantiaw Shrine Boracay +63 (0) 36 288 3689 Boracay’s markets will take you to a equipment and good scheduling of dives [email protected] (Aklan); Pan-ay Church and Bell Tower Manila +63 (0) 2 459 5200 world of new and exotic sights and and instruction. Island and cave impressions where you can buy souvenirs, exploration tours are also enjoyable and (Capiz); Malandog Marker (Antique); Airlines: local delicacies and much more. The easy to organize. Day trips to uninhabited Fort San Pedro, Museo Iloilo; Miag-ao Church, Philippine Airlines +63 (0) 2 855 8888 www.philippineairlines.com largest is the Talipapa, a flea market islands close by offer scenic views and Molo Church, Jaro Cathedral (Iloilo); Naurlas Cebu Pacific +63 (0) 2 636 4938 which covers 4,000 square metres pleasant discoveries. Church (Guimaras); Victorias Sugar Plantation, www.cebupacificair.com Air Juan Aviation, Inc. +63 (0) 2 718 8111 Spanish Ancestral Houses of La Carlota, between White Beach and the Main Other traditional sports available for those www.airjuan.com Road at the centre of the island. Silay and Talisay (Negros Occidental). Air Asia +63 (0) 2 722 2742 who prefer an active holiday are: tennis, www.airasia.com Another shopper’s haven is called D’Mall badminton, beach volleyball and football, Natural Attractions: Isla Naburot Ferries: which houses some 100 stores neatly laid bowling, fishing, golf, horseback riding, (Guimaras); Mt. Madia-as, Kalamasag Falls, SuperFerry http://www.superferry.com.ph out among coconut trees. White Beach particularly the Bat Cave, home to the hiking, sailing, boating, skimboarding, Negros Navigation +63 (0) 2 243 5359 Igpasungaw Falls and Natural Pools Moreta Shipping Lines +63 (0) 2 721 6480 also has a number of shops selling flying foxes of the island. wind and kite surfing. (Antique); Suhot Cave, Igang Cave (Capiz); MBRS Shipping Lines +63 (0) 2 921 6716 everything from beachwear to art and Be delighted by the many species of Numerous Caves and Waterfalls along the Other useful Contacts: antiques. Many items are sold at Attractions within the Region butterflies on show at the Butterfly Garden Kalibo-Caticlan Route (Aklan); Bucari British Embassy Manila +63 (0) 2 816 7116 unbelievably-low prices. British Consulate Cebu +63 (0) 32 346 0525 Boracay is situated in the Central Visayas Highlands, Nadsadjan Falls (Iloilo). and Butterfly Farm. The Dead Forest where Boracay Island Municipal Region (Region VI), which as a whole offers a Hospital +63 (0) 36 288 3041 dead mangrove roots reach strangely out Best Buys: Guimaras Mangoes; Buri Hats; Sports Activities and of the waters is an impressive and slightly wide array of interesting attractions and events Banks: Capiz Shellcraft; Piña or Sinamay native Allied Bank +63 (0) 36 288 3412 Exploration bizarre experience. For stargazers, the for all to enjoy. Here are some of them: weaving fabrics; Antiques. Landbank +63 (0) 36 288 6021 Metro Bank +63 (0) 36 288 5868 There are many attractions on the island negligible light and air pollution mean the Festivals: Ati-Atihan (third week of January; Bureau of Immigraton +63 (0) 36 288 5267 to explore, from villages to the stunning night skies are clear and afford Kalibo, Aklan); Dinagyang (fourth week of Bureau of Fire Protection +63 (0) 36 288 4198 white sand beaches to viewpoints such as spectacular views of the Milky Way, January; Iloilo City, Iloilo); Paraw Regatta Police Station +63 (0) 36 288 3066 Philippine Coast Guard +63 (0) 36 288 6150 Naked Rock and Mount Luho 100 metres Jupiter and Venus. There is even the odd United Tourist Promotions (UTP) produces a more (movable in February; Iloilo City, Iloilo); detailed and accurate map of Boracay. Please visit 24th Reserve Airlift above the sea. Visit the many caves, and shooting star on which to make a wish. their website at www.ezmaps.info Binirayan (movable in April; Hamtic, Antique); & Tactical Support +63 (0) 36 288 6182 PDP Digital Photos by.