Skip to main content

Boracay Island Review 2015 compared to 2005

I recently took a short holiday on Boracay, which I first visited back in 2005. Quite a lot has changed in that time so I thought I would do a kind of review combined with a comparison between now and then.

First of all for those that have not heard of Boracay; it is an island fairly centrally located in the Philippines. This means it is hot most of the year, with clearer skies between December and May. The rest of the year is rainy season, but I believe it can be sunny for a week or you may even get caught in a typhoon.

The main drag is called White Beach and the name is prefect. The sand is very white and the water very inviting, with an azure color thanks to the lack of seaweed or coral, and a shallow depth in most places.

I went in March and this is not the perfect time, due to algae. This is especially unpleasant when the tide is out. Take a look at the photo below which I took near Diniwid beach, just north of White Beach:

Algae on rocks north of White Beach 2015

The algae seemed much worse than in 2005 and other years that I have visited. It used to just be a strip of green perhaps 2-3 meters wide at the shore line. This meant you could swim through it or walk around if there was a gap. However this time the algae seemed to be evenly spread in the water, making swimming very unpleasant compared to the past.

The biggest change that we noticed is that north of White Beach is eroding big time! The beach has disappeared in some places, threatening some villas and resorts. If it continues like this the north end of White Beach will soon be very different and some resorts will have to close or at least move back.
Boracay White beach seems to be sinking

The restaurants and hotels that I remember from the past are generally still there, but there is a noticeable increase in larger, more high class resorts. There is also plenty of construction going on. The main area felt rather tired because of this, it doesn't have the fresh feeling of yesteryear.

One thing we always do on the island is take a sunset cruise on a sailing boat. This time we managed to get a spot on the Tamarind, which is a real yacht. Click sailing Boracay for more on this yacht. It is highly recommended as there was around 20 people on board, plus drinks which made it a lot of fun.


Sunset sailing is great on Boracay
Summary
Overall we really enjoyed our trip, although Boracay does seem to be a little overcrowded now. The erosion on Station 1 was not a pleasant sight too. Perhaps there is too much development? 

Nevertheless Boracay is still a wonderful place to visit. Next time we shall avoid the algae season (February to April). When it comes to options of accommodation, food and activities, Boracay is by far the best place in the Philippines and still one of the best destinations I have visited in the whole world. Click here fore more about Boracay.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Lone Worker Protection Devices

Organisations whose employees work alone are becoming increasingly aware of their legal duties toward their staff and that is why more and more employers are looking to buy lone worker protection devices. The number of people who work alone that are being attacked or abused is rising and the risk can come from members of the public or the environment. Businesses that have staff members who are expected to work alone could benefit greatly from making contact with specialists in this field. These specialized groups are able to offer advice and support to people who work on their own, in some cases staff who work on their own may need to undergo training or they may need to use a lone worker device. These devices are very similar to the panic buttons that are placed in banks and stores and when they are worn by people who work alone they can offer peace of mind for both employee and employer. These devices are small and they are worn on the body, if the worker is under threat or in da...
Post a Comment
Read more

3 Christmas Gift Ideas for your Girlfriend - 2026 Refresh

OK guys, you may not be too bothered about Xmas presents now that you have grown up. But women really appreciate nice gifts. For women a gift can symbolize your appreciation, respect and devotion.  What I am saying is that it can create deep emotional feelings. Which can either leave your girlfriend feeling loved and special, or if you don't bother to get something nice it could leave her feeling unwanted or unloved. Whats the Top Christmas Gift for Your Girlfriend in 2026? The number 1 Christmas gift for your girlfriend is not jewelry. You may think it would be a good idea, but unless you are making a statement, such as taking the relationship to a new level, or proposing marriage, I would leave jewelry out of it. Some of my girlfriends have had mixed emotions when receiving jewelry as they try to figure out what it means. You can also ignore clothes- women love to buy and then take back clothes. Females don't make snap descisions like men, so don't risk getting somet...
Post a Comment
Read more

Portugal - a Beautiful Place to get Married

This summer I attended a wedding in Portugal. What a great idea! It was held late September which in the UK is when summer has already finished and autumn has begun. But it Portugal it was still hot and sunny every day. The genius in having the wedding towards the end of September is that the hotel prices and flights were much cheaper than just a few weeks before, when it was the school holiday time. The weather wasn't overbearingly hot too- maybe a few degrees cooler than at the peak of summer. I prefer it this way- it was very pleasant. The wedding ceremony was help on top of a cliff and there was a nice outdoor seating area for the reception. It was a perfect spot with great view. I found the video below which looks like it may of been shot very close by. There was a sea breeze but it was not too much- I heard no complaints from other women. After the reception there was some entertainment like fire dancers, fireworks and one or two other things for the kids. Then we a...
Post a Comment
Read more