The magical island of Boracay in the Philippines

Beautiful white beaches, an active nightlife, and a large number of fun outdoor pastimes are just a handful of things which make the island of Boracay on the western coast of the Philippines an island of paradise among its many visitors.


Website "Johnny Foreigner" gives suggestions and information that should come in handy for anyone who wants to get the most out of their stay in Boracay.

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A Great Online Review of Boracay Tropical Island...

Luxury Villa, snorkelling, white sandy beaches and sitting back to enjoy the sunset at the seaside, Boracay Island in the Philippines is the perfect getaway from the hussle and bustle of the city.

Even famous Hollywood celebrities have holiday homes on this island. Boracay is scenic and boasts luxury condominiums and homes like the Monaco Suites De Boracay for the rich and famous.

Boracay is located in the Western Visayas portion of the Philippines, about an hour by air from Manila.

The island is seven kilometres long and has three main villages — Balabag, Yapak and Manoc-Manoc.

The north and the south of the island are hilly with areas rising up to 100m above sea level. These areas are suitable for hikers. There are numerous inter-twining paths and trails, some leading through tropical jungles.

The best part of the island is White Beach, which stretches four kilometres; the locals call it Long Beach. It is on the western side of the island, facing the Sulu Sea. The water is shallow, making it perfect for swimmers. READ MORE...

UK Minister sees bigger UK interest in the Philippines

Minister of State Jeremy Browne MP spoke before Philippine captains of industry about the UK's advantages as an investment site and its increased interest in Asian markets.

British Foreign Office Minister of State Jeremy Browne MP spoke before Philippine captains of industry about the United Kingdom’s advantages as an investment site and its increased interest in Asian markets.

Read the full story here...

Latest Newsletter from Atlantis Resorts, Philippines

The Atlantis Liveaboard, "The Azores" went exploring some of the Visayan Islands around Bohol as a prelude to upcoming trips.

They found some new dive sites that were well worth the visit and the area proved to be perfect for liveaboards.

Read the full story HERE...

Leonardo DiCaprio is to Visit Albay Province, Philippines, next Month

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio will be treated like an ordinary tourist when he visits Albay province next month.

The Hollywood actor will not be allowed to climb the Mayon volcano or go near the lava front, just like everyone else!

Mayon Volcano, renowned as a "perfect cone" for its nearly symmetrical shape, is a popular spot for nature lovers and mountaineers.

Recently, however, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHILVOLCS) said the area is unsafe for any human activity since the volcano is still emitting gases and lava, following fears of an imminent eruption late last year.

Joyce Ramirez, director for international publicity at PR Asia Worldwide, earlier invited DiCaprio to visit Albay to spearhead an environmental awareness project.

She said the actor will be staying at the Misibis Bay, an "ultra-luxurious" resort.

It is not yet known how long DiCaprio will be staying in the province.

See the article HERE...

Atlantis Dive Resorts' Latest Newsletter

The Atlantis Dive Resorts' latest newsletter has just arrived in our office and you can read it online too.

As usual it's an interesting read, and the "Critter of the Month" featured is the Hairy Squat Lobster, (which apparently isn't really a lobster at all! This sought after critter can be tricky to find. It can usually be found in the folds of barrel sponges but blends in very well so having an eagle eyed dive master is very handy. It tends to be very shy so photographing these little guys is not an easy task. It is one of the most beautiful squat lobsters.

Read the Newsletter Here...

The Philippines - Is it safe?

This is a question that we often get asked, and we have to say that to a large extent the idea that the Philippines is unsafe is a myth.

Of course, like many countries, the Philippines has its insurgents, but any troubles of a terrorist nature are generally confined to the very south western peninsula of the island of Mindanao which is over 1,000 kilometers to the south of the Philippine capital of Manila. (Closer to Malaysia!) The government has been fighting this insurrection for years. It very rarely affects any other part of this vast country, and certainly not the beautiful tourist destinations we mainly promote.

When you see the troubles in Thailand, which has border skirmishes with Cambodia, Bird Flu, the Thai Government declaring a state of Emergency and people dying on the streets of Bangkok amidst grenade attacks, shootings and protests by the Red Shirts, you realise how safe the Philippines is. The people are delightful and very welcoming. If anything, people feel more safe because there is always very attentive security at top hotels, shopping malls etc.

We're also asked about the safety of travel between islands. Again this is a story that has arisen because of the unfortunate sinking of several ferries over the years. These have usually been very old ships ferrying the indigenous population, suddenly caught up in typhoons. Certainly not transport used by tourists.

The only ferries we use are the Supercat fast boat between Cebu and Bohol;  the local bancas that take tourists across the short strait from Panay to Boracay; and the crossing from Luzon to Puerto Galera, south of Manila.

Most transport between main islands is by modern aircraft. Cebu Pacific run modern aircraft similar to our EasyJet. We only book flights with such modern aircraft. 

In summary, most visitors to the Philippines are taken back by the friendliness and welcome from the local people, and have no reason to feel unsafe.

Addition: Let's not forget that Tourism is an ever-increasingly vital part of the Philippines economy, employing ordinary people and families all over the various islands.