"World famous for its beach and soft sand" Boracay Island by joiwatani

Boracay Island Travel Guide: 1,619 reviews and 4,460 photos

Boracay Island, Philippines - Boracay Island
Boracay Island, Philippines
Boracay Island (Circa 1989)

Introduction:I came to this island when it wasn't fully developed yet. So, don't rely on my tips as it is probably obsolete! I am just writing this based on my recollection of my trip in Boracay Island. I was in the island when the local tribes "Manokmanokan" were still living close to the beaches and not displaced by this so-called "development" for tourism.

I heard from many people who just went visited the island that it's not like that anymore. What can I say? I was there 20 years ago! What I mean is- there were no big hotels then. There were only small cottages made of local materials. And, most of the owners then were the local residents who care about their island.

At that time I was there, there was no electricity, no telephone, or any motorized vehicles on the streets. It was a quiet little tiny island where you can have an undisturbed vacation! I was here in the month of January to the beginning of February, 1989- I was with the U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers! We decided to go to Aklan for the Ati-atihan in January and ended up in Boracay for two weeks!

I had absolutely so much fun in this island. I truly remember how peaceful life then. The beaches were aqua green -filled with yellow butterfly fish. It was absolutely a paradise for scuba divers, snorkellers and windsurfers!!!

I rented a tiny cottage in the middle of the island, probably about 15 minutes walk from the beach. It was cheap. The owner allowed me to cook my own food and shared cooking. Before it got too dark, there was a peddler who sold barbecued chicken! We bought from him for dinner. The owner provided the cooked rice. The local residents were very friendl. They were curious why we visited their island. They told us the latest news: Ho a British, who owned a bakery in the island. The story was that he was visiting the island. He fell in love in the island and ended up staying there. He even put a bakery. He then marketed the island in Europe. I never visited him though. My friends went and bought some fresh baked bread from him. Because of this connection, Boracay island became a word of mouth among European travellers. Boracay became very famous to local Filipino actors as a vacation destination and then picked up by the local tourists.!

The most interesting thing that my fellow visitors did in Boracay was eating the mushrooms the local kids gathered in the fields. I tell you, those mushrooms made them wasted! They ended up laughing the whole night. I didn't realize those mushrooms gave them the all time high they needed! (Ooops! I squealed!). The next day, I found all of them sleeping on the beach!

The third day, I snorkelled. It was amazing to see the tropical fishes in Boracay. It was spectacular. The fourth day, I swam to the left side of the island and tried to sneak to the nude beach and nearly drowned!)

Oh la! la! la! My first time to be in a nude beach! Our boat was just getting into the island and I already see a lot of women topless!

The water is warm. It's color, mint green. The sky is blue and the clouds are as white as cotton! The beach sand is very soft, in fact, as soft as a baby talcum powder!

My impression of the island is already looking great. And, I can't wait to explore the whole island!

This was the fourth leg of my Philippine tour.

After spending three days in Aklan for the famous Ati-atihan Carnival, I decided to join the US Peace Corps volunteers to vacation in the island!

We rented a nipa hut located way, way back inside the island - where there are local kids playing and our neighbors are the local residents!

The amenities of the nipa hut? It has a small bathroom, a sleep area with a comfy bed, and best of all, it comes with a small kitchen separated from the hut. Wow, we can cook here! I can definitely save money!

Yes, I had been travelling for a long time now and my logistics is getting slimmer!

Staying in this little hut with a kitchen is definitely a bargain. It is far cheaper than paying a hotel or a lodging at the front of the beach! It didn't matter even if I had to walk a long ways to reach the beach.

The nipa hut is located in the heart of the barangay. This is a good experience for me because I needed to feel the culture of the people.

Before I head to the boat enroute to the island, I shopped first. I bought some rice, fish, vegetables, eggs, cooking oil and other spices. I was ready to stay in Boracay for two weeks!

Pros and Cons
  • Pros:It's a getaway. Then. Now?
  • Cons:There's not a lot of boats that comes out from the island. I felt trap!
  • In a nutshell:If you needed to getaway from people, this is a place to be!
  • Last visit to Boracay Island: Jan 1989
  • Intro Updated Nov 11, 2011
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Comments (5)

  • Reply
    Waalewiener's Profile Photo
    Sep 22, 2011 at 7:17 PM

    Wow Jo 1989 pic of Boracay
    It looks so nice and relaxing ,but it is not like that anymore eh
    Can`t wait to check it out ourselves

  • Reply
    mircaskirca's Profile Photo
    Sep 22, 2011 at 1:58 PM

    Great memories Jo, sounds like a paradise! Would gladly stay in a little nipa hut by the sea :)

  • Reply
    aussirose's Profile Photo
    May 6, 2009 at 6:57 AM

    Oh Jo....what a memory!! It's a shame that beautiful natural places like this get built out.... Enjoyed reading your memories about the untouched Boracay...and the magic mushy story ;o) xx

  • Reply
    georeiser's Profile Photo
    Dec 11, 2008 at 6:58 PM

    I was in Boracay in 91. It was no electricity, only the beautiful beach. When I returned in 2007, the place was changed. Hotels all over the island. Coated roads & shops where you had bamboo cottages for the local citizens. I miss the old Boracay

  • Reply
    sirenna's Profile Photo
    Jul 27, 2007 at 7:06 AM

    "No noise. No phones, no electricity, no cars" You can't be talking about Boracay, surely? We have all those things here!

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