Boracay Facts & Worksheets

Boracay is a resort island that can be found in the Philippines and is known as one of the most popular tourists spots in the country. It even landed on Time’s list titled “The world’s greatest places of 2022: 50 extraordinary destinations to explore.” 

See the fact file below for more information on Boracay, or you can download our 26-page Boracay worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

INTRODUCTION

• Boracay is a tropical island located in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines.
• Boracay is known for its resorts and beaches, especially the white sands of the island.
• Other than the stunning white sand beach, azure waters, and stunning sunset view, Boracay has a lot to offer including nightlife
  and other fun adventures to visitors / tourists of all ages.

HISTORY

• Aklan, the province where Boracay belongs, became an independent province in 1956.
• Before Boracay became a top tourist location, it was largely an agricultural community with copra production as one of their major
  industries.
• However, due to overfishing, coral reefs destruction, and the decline in copra pricing, the island shifted its focus to tourism as their main source of income.
• In 1978, Boracay experienced an influx of Western tourists after Jens Peter, a German writer, identified Boracay as “Paradise on Earth.”
• In 2005 and 2006, Boracay was declared a Special Tourism Zone and the Philippines Tourism Authority (PTA) was given administrative control over the island, respectively.
• In 2012, Boracay was reported to have been named as the world’s second-best beach.
• Early 2018, due to the worsening environmental issues of the island, Boracay was forced to close for rehabilitation.
• October of the same year (2018), Boracay was reopened to the public with infrastructure works on the Island still in progress.
• In 2020, in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, Boracay was closed to tourism. 
• In October 2020, Philippines’ Department of Tourism (DOT) announced that Boracay island will be reopened to public but with strict protocols and requirements as the country is still facing the global pandemic. 

GOVERNANCE AND LOCATION

• Boracay island is under the jurisdiction of the Municipality of Malay, Aklan.
• The island is comprised of the three (3) barangays of Manoc-Manoc,
  Balabag, and Yapak.
• Boracay island can be found around 0.8 kilometers off the northwestern corner of Panay Island; around 50 kilometers from Kalibo, Aklan; around 150 kilometers from Iloilo City; and around 300 kilometers from Manila.
• Boracay island belongs to the Western Visayas region or also known as Region VI of the Philippines.

ENVIRONMENT

• There are at least three (3) species of flying foxes which were identified to inhabit Boracay island, namely the giant golden-crowned flying fox, the giant fruit bat, and the small flying fox. The population of these species is highly concentrated on the northern part of the island which is covered by Barangay Yapak.
• Following the study led by the Japan International Cooperation Agency regarding the drop in coral population in Boracay from 1998 to 2011, the Boracay Foundation Inc. (BFI) launched projects to resolve this situation. In 2017, BFI has reported that there has been a significant increase in coral population in Boracay since 2015 due to the projects that have launched.
• In addition to the problem of the island related to coral, Boracay has also been experiencing an increase coliform bacteria population.
• Coliform bacteria increase is often associated to low sanitary quality of foods, milk, and water. 
• In 2003, potable water supply, a solid waste disposal system, and a sewage treatment plant were installed to the island to remedy the situation regarding increasing coliform bacteria.
• In 2009, a contract to improve supply of potable water and to install efficient sewerage system has been granted to the Boracay Island Water Co. (BIWC).
• In 2018, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has reported that around 60 percent of the establishments in the Boracay were already compliant to the Clean Water Act of 2004.

TOURISM

• The main tourism area of Boracay is the White Beach which is located on the western side of the island.
• During Amihan season (season dominated by trade winds), the eastern side of the Boracay island is ideal for scuba diving, windsurfing, and kiteboarding or kitesurfing.
• Other than the White Beach, which is a probably the most popular among all the beaches in Boracay, there are also other beaches in the island.
• The Puka Beach or also known as Puka Shell Beach is the beach area where water tends to be deeper which makes it easier for corals and shells to mix, hence, the name. The sands in these areas are also not as fine as the sands in White Beach.
• Diniwid Beach is usually the go-to beach of tourists that want to have a calm and relaxing experience provided by the lesser crowd in this area.
• Other beaches in Boracay include Tambisaan, Ilig-Iligan, Bulabog, Lapuz Lapuz, Tulubhan, Lugutan, Sugod, Cagban, and many more.
• Boracay island is also home to luxury hotels and resorts offering first-class hospitality services. Topping the list of Boracay luxury hotels and resorts would be Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort and Spa, which is a 5-star hotel. Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort and Spa is followed closely by Coast Boracay which houses 71 stunning rooms of various styles and designs ranging from loft-style to suites. 
• Other notable hotels and resorts in Boracay include Crimson Resort and Spa Boracay, Discovery Shores Boracay, Movenpick Resort and Spa Boracay, The Lind Boracay, Henann Crystal Sands Resort, and many more. 
• Other beaches in Boracay include Tambisaan, Ilig-Iligan, Bulabog, Lapuz Lapuz, Tulubhan, Lugutan, Sugod, Cagban, and many more. 

STATIONS

• Boracay island is around 3.5 kilometers long and is divided into three (3) boat stations, or more commonly referred to as just stations. These stations are referred to as Station 1, Station 2, and Station 3. 
• Station 1, according to classification, has the best and finest stretch of white sands among all stations. This is also the station where majority of the luxury hotels and resorts are located.
• Station 2 is known as a busy area, this is also the station where most shops and restaurants can be found.
• Station 3 is a lot quieter than Station 2. This station houses the mid-range and more affordable hotels and resorts.

ACTIVITIES

• There are multiple activities that one can do while in Boracay.
• These activities include horseback riding, scuba diving, diving helmet, snorkeling, windsurfing, kiteboarding, cliff diving, and parasailing.
• There are also leisure rooms or activity areas inside around 300 plus hotels and resorts on Boracay island where one can spend time. 
• There are also bars, pubs, and nightclubs that adults can visit while staying in Boracay island.

CULTURE

• Apart from the tourists and strangers visiting the island, Boracay island is the home for Ati, a group of Negrito people who were identified to be the first settlers in the island. 
• Ati are commonly found in Visayas, and their population is concentrated not only in Boracay but also in Panay and Negros.
• Genetically, Ati are related to other Negrito ethnic groups in the Philippines such as Luzon’s Aeta, Palawan’s Batak, and many more.
• Every January, a well-known festival / fiesta called Ati-Atihan takes place in Kalibo, Aklan. In line with this, a smaller version of the Ati-Atihan festival takes place in Boracay around a week or two after the main festival.

TRAVELING TO BORACAY

• There are no direct flights to Boracay, therefore, travelers must first fly to either Caticlan or to Kalibo.
• One way to get to Boracay is via plane. If you are coming from either Manila or Cebu, you must ride a plane to Caticlan or to Kalibo. From there, you can take a bus or a van to go to Caticlan Jetty Port. If you are coming from Iloilo, you can ride a van or a bus to go to Caticlan or Kalibo.
• Once at the Caticlan Jetty Port, you have to take a boat to reach Boracay.
• You can also take road trips to reach Boracay. There are buses from Manila to Caticlan but this travel will take around 12 hours or half of your day.

FOOD STOPS IN BORACAY

• If you want to have Spanish food while staying in Boracay, you can visit Dos Mestizos. Some of the staples and crowd favorites include their paellas, tortillas de patata, and salpicao de vaca.
• If you want to taste authentic Latin American cuisine with a local flair then Mosaic Latin American Grill is your destination. This restaurant is one of the three dining options at Crimson Resort and Spa.
• Are you a fan of burgers? SteamPunk is where you can find the biggest burger in Boracay called the Triple X which has a 500-gram patty and is served with fries or potato wedges on the side.
• From Spain to Latin America, let’s go to Italy. If you want to taste some Italian dishes, go visit Aria Cucina Italiana which serves authentic Italian cuisine that includes wood fire oven pizzas.
• In the foodie map, Boracay Mango is one of the staples in Boracay. Jonah’s Fruit Shake and Snack Bar located in Station 1 has been serving visitors since the 90s.
• One more shop that offers a menu with mango is Halomango, a halo-halo (Filipino shaved ice dessert) and ice cream shop. Their most popular menu item is the Mango Ice cup which is a soft-serve ice cream made from Philippine mangos.
• On the other hand, if you want to have a taste of local cuisine then you should visit Subo. Subo is a Filipino restaurant which promotes Filipino traditional cooking methods. 

Boracay Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Boracay across 26 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching kids about Boracay, one of the most popular resort islands in the Philippines.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

1. Boracay Facts
2. What You Know
3. Jumble Down
4. Let’s Go!
5. Ideal Escape
6. Name That Station
7. Ready, Wet, Go
8. Have You?
9. Oh, Complete!
10. So Great!
11. Island Time

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Boracay best known for?

While the clear white beaches of Boracay are well-known, the island also offers exciting water activities and outstanding nightlife experiences.

What is the history of Boracay Island?

The Ati tribe once inhabited Boracay Island. Boracay is in the Aklan Province, which became a sovereign province on April 25, 1956. It wasn’t until the 1970s that tourism began to grow on the island, and it became popular with backpackers in the 1980s.

What language is spoken in Boracay?

English is widely spoken in Boracay, although Tagalog or Filipino is more popular. Because Boracay is located in the Aklan Province, Aklanon may also be heard.

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