Boracay: When to go

The high season is from December to April.

Christmas is popular - but you may have trouble finding accommodation.

May to June is ideal but rather hot.

July to November is the low season and therefore the cheapest time to go.

October and November have the best sunsets.

For many certified sun-worshippers the world over, paradise goes by the name Boracay. For indeed, many visitors have come back to Boracay year after tear. Some have even chosen to live in this paradise island.

Sheltered from the fierce easterly typhoons, Boracay can be found at the northwestern tip of Panay, in the west Visayas region, off the Sibuyan Sea. Boracay has managed to pack its thousand-hectare area with all the elements of a tropical paradise--crystal blue waters, powder white sand, liberal doses of tropical palms and flowering plants, and a healthy marine life underneath the seas.

Boracay is made up of three little communities: Yap in the north, Balabag in the middle, and Manoc- manoc in the south. Hilly elevations up to 100 meters above sea level characterize Yapak and Manoc-manoc. Intertwining trails link the small villages together but may sometimes lead to lush tropical jungles. Electricity and public transportation remain relatively scare.

Boracay would have remained a national secret if not far a few foreign travelers whom accidentally stumbled upon the place. Some say it was a movie crew, which spread word about Boracay to other sun worshippers. Other swear it was German traveler Jens Peters' book, which included rare reviews about Boracay, that sent tourists on their way. Whichever tale is true, Boracay has become a melting pot for beach loceers. At any point in the islands, visitors can hear English, German and French spoken fluently. More importantly, visitors respect the serene quality of the place, and pay tribute to native Boracaynons by behaving according to local behavioral codes-which means no nudity, no fighting, and no loud commotion's.

Not surprisingly, the culinary fare at Boracay is as diverse as the nationalities of its visitors. French, Australian, Belgian, German, Spanish and Thai-they're all here side by side the native cuisine. Lending ample support to this virtual rainbow of fruit shakes: from sweet yellow mango, greens tart.