The grande dame of Philippines resorts, Boracay is held in high esteem by all Filipinos as representing the ultimate dream escape to paradise, much like Hawaii is to most Americans. While the gleaming white sand will not disappoint, Boracay is very small and very crowded, and power outages are constant as the island continues to be built up and infrastructure struggles to keep pace. A lot is compacted into Boracay's few miles, so there is not much open space. Indeed, the island is too small to have an airport of its own, so it is necessary to fly first to another nearby island (Caticlan airport is the closest) and then take a boat to Boracay itself.

From the air, Boracay is simply breathtaking. The shots below were taken from a helicopter tour of the island. Since I was the only passenger, the pilot and crew were great about letting me dictate the terms of the tour, right down to having the side doors completely removed for better picture taking. Quite a sense of vertigo hanging above the sparkling ocean waters with only a seat belt keeping me from taking the ultimate plunge!

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The view from my hotel balcony, arguably one of the most enchanting views I've ever enjoyed in my world travels.
(Location to be kept top secret in case I ever want to return!)

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It's not all about the water on Boracay. Even above the high tide mark it's a feast for the eyes.

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Some shots along White Beach. No mystery how it got its name!

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Using a long bamboo pole, a crew member pushes our banca off the sand and into deeper water as we get ready to head out into the open ocean for some scuba diving.

click here to see my Philippines scuba diving pictures!