A 4.5 mile stretch of silken sand, clear waters, good food, the enduring magic of wind and waves. Be a sybarite, and don’t forget the sunscreen.
1 Deep sea walk
Walking on powdery sand on the beach is passé, try walking deep below the surface. The undersea walk is really easy, what looks intimidating is the colossal Star-Trek-type helmet that you have to wear before stepping down the ladder onto the seabed. Thankfully, you do not have to get into tight Speedos; the only accessory you need is the helmet and nylon shoes. And yes, the kick to defy gravity. Ten feet under, the corals look unreal, the anemones mischievous, and fish swarm around, eating straight out of your hands.
2 Massage on the beach
You sure have been paying through your nose for those massages in ritzy spas. On the 4.5-mile stretch of Boracay beach, masseurs abound and massages are cheap. Real cheap. Walk around and get caught up in the din of all that is offered: foot massage, full-body massage, head massage, hour-long, 30-minute, coconut oil, lavender, special oil… No nattily dressed therapists, no well-appointed rooms. You could lie on a wicker chair, or hide in a tiny gazebo with white curtains or get comfortable on the sand. A full body massage would cost about Rs 400; if you can haggle, perhaps Rs 300. Did a massage ever come so cheap?
3 Food haven
Sliced raw mangoes dressed with spicy salt, deep fried potato whorls on a stick, shakes, juices, chorizo burgers, ice creams on display make the entire beach look like an extended food court. For gastronomes, however, it is the dinner buffet that is really special — for Rs 300, you can dig into a lavish spread including tiger prawns, shrimps, pork chops, steak, fruits, rice, noodles, munchies, desserts and bottomless iced tea. The vegetarians might not have too much on their platter, but then there’s True Food, an Indian restaurant, where the waitresses wear sunflower yellow and the view from the first-floor setting is spectacular. You even get masala chai!
4 Shop
D Mall is the place to be. This is no air-conditioned mall — it consists of lanes flanked by shops and more shops. From small knick-knacks to snazzy brands, you find them all. Put away your calculators, for the Philippines’ peso is almost equivalent to the Indian rupee. That’s quite a respite for shopaholics! At Boracay, everyone buys pearls; they are cultured but they surely make for great gifts. Or, you could get your name printed on a t-shirt for Rs 299.
5 Watch the sunset
The romantically inclined may talk of walking into the sunset hand in hand; here, you look at the sunset a tad differently. Rent a sailboat (also known as paraw) to sail out to the best viewpoints and watch the sun melt into the sea. The colours are mesmerising — as the burnished orange of the sun meets the sea’s endless aqua blue. Boracay is known for its unforgettable sunsets — do not miss this one.
6 Just laze
Everyone loves the clamour of a beach; I love its laziness. Curl up on a bean bag, watch the fire jugglers eat, what else, fire; croon with the local Presleys; make a sand castle; watch sand artists carve art out of crumbly sand; dip your feet in the salty sea; just laze. Want to hide from the world, yet be there? Get buried in sand. In Boracay, that is the closest approximation to nirvana.
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Preeti Verma Lal is a Delhi-based freelance writer
| FACT FILE GETTING THERE |
Fares start from around Rs 28,000 (including taxes) for New Delhi-Manila-New Delhi. Mumbai is around the same, Kolkata around Rs 30,000.
WHERE TO STAY
Regency Lagoon and Boracay Regency are walking distance from the beach
CURRENCY
Philippines Peso (100 Indian rupees = 96 Pesos)
VISA
Indian tourists must apply for a visa at the Philippines Embassy in New Delhi.
WHEN TO GO
December-April is peak season. But you can enjoy the place at any time of the year. July to November is likely to have great deals as it is the off-peak season.