Boracay secrets I didn’t know about!

In 2004, I went to Boracay for the first time and became a beach snob.

Nothing compared to its wide, long, and flat stretch of white powdery sand that was never too hot for my bare feet, there were no beach bugs that just got in the way, and the water was always inviting (both to the eyes and touch), even during typhoon season!  Add to it the row of restaurants, beachfront hotels, and sports–it was a city on the sand, and whether you’re looking for quiet or noise, you were bound to find it in Boracay.  I considered it the only real walkable town in the Philippines, and I loved, loved, loved it.

Just this week, I chanced upon Australian Andy Tucker’s couchsurfing profile where he lists  the TOP 10 Things to do on Boracay Island.  Considering I’ve been going there at least twice a year for the past 6 years, I thought I would’ve checked off every item on this list by now!

Boracay Boxing Classes
Free Boxercise training
Lugutan Beach, South End of Bulabog Beach or Via Kingfisher Road. Ask locals for directions.
twice daily 9am to 11am and 4.30 to 6.30
Get fit and learn the basics

Jungle Bar FullMoon Party
The best fullmoon party in S.E Asia
Starts around 10pm drums and fire every hour
Bulabog Beach, South end. Tricycle via Kingfisher road or walk along the Bulabog beach front past the rock to the end of the beach.
Try the “fuckyouarchie” super cocktail,  i bet you dont remember a thing about it!

Iligiligan Secret Beach
A great place for BBQ fish lunch at one of two beachside bamboo restaurants.  Ask a tricycle driver to take you,  should cost P100. Arrange for a pickup or take a Banka boat back to Bulabog P500.

Balinghai Secret Beach
Definitely the most beautiful place on the Island. You can go by Paraw sailing boat for P500 or Tricycle for P100. There is a bar & restaurant complete with treehouse basket winch that delivers your orders. If you have ever wanted to feel like a castaway this is the place.

Sail around the Island on a Paraw sail boat
2 to 3 hours stopping at Puka Shell Beach P1500

Scuba Dive with the Dive Gurus of Station 3
Cheap dives and training. Recommended dives; Channel drift, shipwreck, batcaves, yapak coral gardens. Or a half day trips with BBQ.

Ride the ZORB, you are strapped into a giant inflatable ball and rolled down a grassy hill. There is an optional aquatic ball that allows you to swish around in water while you roll down the hill. EMPTY STOMACH rec.  WHen you are at that end of the Island there is also a new zipline ride at Fairways & Bluewater Resort. Strap in and fly down a mountain on a cable line, Big RUSH!.

KiteBoard at Bulabog
The Islands back beach Bulabog is a Kiteboarding Mecca. Cheap rates from expert instructors a regular strong breeze allows you to kite around
a large shallow lagoon. Try “Hanging kite school” or “Freestyle Kite Schools”.

Get OFF the Island and head to the mainland for an overnight trip to Iloilo. An old seaside town with some of the oldest Catholic Churches in the Philippines. Try lunch at “Breakthrough Restaurant and Gallery”. (5hrs bus each way).

Bamboo Pubs Crawl to experience tattoed bodies and tribal drums. Start: Exit Bar, BomBom Bar, Bolero Bar, Cocoloco, Red Pirates
Jungle Bar, Conga Bar.

Night Clubs Crawl. Sweaty Bodies & Funky Tunes. Start: Hey Judes, SummerPlace, Juice Bar, CocoMangas and Guilly’s.

All the Churches on the Island hold large services – for worship – every Sunday!

Andy also recommends the facebook group, Boracay Major Events, for updated daily events in Boracay.

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All this Boracay talk got me sentimental, huhu!

I scoured old albums, sharing some of my favorite pics below:

More Boracay pics in my Boracay albums:
Boracay Scenery, November 2006
More Boracay Scenery, April-May 2007
Seagreen in Boracay, October-November 2007
Boracay backdrop, again, January 2008
Boracay Skies, October-November 2008