Vital statistics Dumbbell shaped island 7 kms long and 1km wide at its narrowest point. Land area is 1,083 hectares.

Location Off the northwestern tip of Panay island in the Visayan region of the Philippines, 300kms south of the capital, Manila.

Beaches Boracay actually has 30 beaches and coves, but the daddy of them all is White Beach, a 3.5kms ribbon of powder white sand and getle, warm water.

Resorts There are about 200 on the island, mostly on White Beach, ranging from humble nipa cottages for few hundred pesos a night to five-star, air-conditioned luxury.

The word Boracay is said to have come from the local word borac, meaning cotton, a reference to the sand's colour and texture.

Getting there Seair and Asian Spirity have several flights daily from Manila to Caticlan. From Caticlan it's a 5min tricycle ride and 20 min boat ride to Boracay.

The palm-studded island of Boracay - with its white, talcum-fine beach, balmy weather and warm, crystalline waters - is like a hypnotic magnet that lures many to a lotus existence.
In this tiny, butterfly-shaped island at the northwestern tip of Panay in Western Visayas, days can be spent by simply lazing on the beach and nights are for indulging in the tropical party lifestyle. Boracay is an anchor tourist destination and one of the 7,000 times more islands that make up the Philippine archipelago. Barefoot in the Beach

The code in Boracay is strictly informal.

There is an undeniable easy atmosphere in Boracay where walking barefoot than shod is the rule rather than the exception. White Beach is so, soooo fine, it feels like treading on miles of baby powder! No wonder, even swinging discos have the beach for a floor, giving dance a new twist. There are no hang-ups either in this island. At daytime, tourists having a soothing massage under the shade of a coconut tree beside the shoreline is a common sight. And from dusk to dawn, Boracay turns into one big party place where everyone is welcome to join in…But first, let’s toast that sunset cocktail!

Diversions are certainly no problem in this tropical eden with leisure activities calendared throughout the year and amenities offered by some 350 tourist establishments.