Boracay is the Philippines' most popular tourist destination. It is a fantastic tropical island with long white sand beaches that rivals any of the best beaches in the world. The islands facilities and amenities make her a recreational haven. After a swim in the crystal clear waters, you can engage in relaxing activities. Comb the beaches on horseback or play an exciting game of volleyball or frisbee. Ride on an outrigger or locally known as "paraw" and sail to the other side of the island. Or hop around one beach to another and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere.

March to June are the summer months in Boracay with temperatures reaching as high as 28 to 38 degrees Celsius (82 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit). July to October are the wettest months. November to February are spent with pleasant winds, cool nights and occasional rain showers.

Weather in Boracay is divided into two seasonal weather patterns known as the Amihan (cool northwest wind) and Habagat (west or southwest wind; southwest monsoon.).

Amihan and Habagat seasons are commonly associated respectively with the La Niña and El Niño global weather patterns. The Amihan season is characterized by moderate temperatures with little or no rainfall and a prevailing wind from the east. The Habagat season is characterized by hot and humid weather with frequent rainfall and a prevailing wind from the west.

On boracay, the main indicator of the change between the Amihan and Habagat seasonal patterns is the switch in wind direction. In most years this shift is abrupt and occurs overnight. In some years there is a period of perhaps a week or two where the wind will switch between Amihan and Habagat patterns several times before settling into the pattern for the new season. As a general rule of thumb, Boracay will be in the Amihan weather pattern from sometime in September to October to sometime in May or June and the Habagat weather pattern for the remainder of the year. These dates can differ in individual years, though.

The standard voltage of electricity used in the Philippines is 220 volts AC, 60 cycles. However, quite a few major hotels in some areas also have the US-style 110 volts capability.

It is a tropical bone-shaped island located at the northwest corner of Panay Island in the Visayas island group of central Philippines, roughly 300 kilometers from Manila. The island is approximately 7 kilometers long (with the narrowest spot being nearly 1 km wide) and has a total land area of 1,032 hectares (2,550 acres). It is made up of 3 barangays - Manoc-Manoc, Balabag and Yapak which are 3 of the 17 barangays comprising the municipality of Malay. Boracay is under the administrative control of the Philippine Tourism Authority in coordination with the Provincial Government of Aklan.

Most visitors opt for motorized tricycles, which act as the island's taxis and make up most of its traffic. Rides are inexpensive, usually no more than P200 at any point on the island from White Beach and much less for shorter rides, and can be found almost anywhere along the main road.

Other than Tagalog/Filipino, English is widely spoken in Boracay. Aklanon is also spoken, as Boracay is part of Aklan Province. Ati was spoken by the original inhabitants of the island.

Bring a mixture of American dollars in travellers cheques and cash. Change some money in Manila where the rate is better than on Boracay. Credit cards are accepted in some establishments (most charge an additional 6 to 7 percent).

Banking Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
All equipped with Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).

Allied Bank
Main Road, between Boat Station 2 and 3
Tel No. (036) 288-3026

Bank of the Philippine Islands
Located at D'Mall
Tel No. (036) 288-6612

Metro Bank
Main Road, between Boat Stations 1 and 2
Tel No. (036) 288-5868

The island republic is eight hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). When it is 12 noon in the Philippines, it is 3 a.m. in London, 8 p.m. the previous evening in San Francisco and 11 p.m. in New York. With the country lying near the equator, sunrise and sunset are almost equally spread at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. give or take half an hour.

* Attire	The only way to reach the island from Caticlan is by a native motorized outrigger boat or locally known as "banca". Be prepared to get wet, from the occasional splash, rain, or the quick wade to the beach. T-shirts, shorts and sandals/slippers are the favorable attire. However, if you don't want to get wet, don't be surprised because the porters are more than willing to carry you on their shoulders to and from the boat or shore. Don't forget to bring a camera to capture the moment!
* Porters	If you're bringing heavy bags/luggages, there are porters at the Caticlan/Kalibo airports, Jetty Ports and at the Boat Stations on the island ready to provide their services.
* Tipping	The culture of tipping in the service industry is becoming more prevalent with much influence from western countries. Although nearly all major hotels and restaurants have a policy of automatically adding a 10 percent service charge to your bills, a small token to show your gratitude is still expected in the form of a tip. It is advisable to bring small change everywhere you go on the island.

Philippines Country Code	(63) GMT +8 hours
Boracay Area Code	(036)
24th Reserve Airlift & Tactical Support	288-6182 or 911 (hotline)
Bureau of Fire Protection	198 or 288-4198
Bureau of Immigration (Boracay)	288-5267
Department of Tourism (DOT), Boracay	288-3289
Department of Tourism (DOT), Caticlan	288-7108
Hospital	141 (24-hr hotline) or 288-3041
Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary	288-3486
Philippine Coast Guard, Boracay	288-6150
Police Station	135 & 166 (24-hr hotlines) or 288-3066