Boracay is no paradise
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A bora visitor wading into the emerald hued waters.
This is the 15th and 2nd to the last installment of the Luzon - Visayas - Luzon Loop series. Click the image on the right to check out the rest of the posts.
“…NO. Its overhyped, too commer- cialized and a tourist trap. A huge one at that.” Well, I’m not really a beach person and when I do want to go to one, I do prefer the more rustic, less crowded and less developed shores. But will Boracay be an exception? During the 1 hour and a couple of minutes I was there, its a NO. Its overhyped. Its too commercialized. Its just one huge tourist trap. There are far more superior beaches in the country that travelers like me would find relaxing and enjoying.
Boracay is just too crowded. Thousands of people descending on a small island that you cannot have that spectacular view of the sea and sands without someone blocking the view. Other than the people, there are just too many small boats, pumpboats and bancas that are anchored at sea, a fixture in the horizon and even at the shores with their obligatory Asians queuing up to board for their dive.

Beyond Boracay’s sand and sea, its just a typical Filipino town center where real life thrives.
And can anyone forget about the touts, watch and shades sellers hawking with their glass topped boxes neatly lined with their merchandise suddenly and persistently egging you to buy? Or the man who walks up to you offering his boat for a cruise? Not to mention, the plethora of shops, eateries, henna tattoo shops and the usual overpriced souvenir items and trinkets that I just don’t find appealing.
But then, it was just an hour. Perhaps there is another facet that I might find within the island that may counterweight the negative impressions that I have.






donG hO
15 April 2008 13:32it surely is crowded. i don’t know if you have been to Calaguas already. never been there either but they say it’s a virgin islands in the Camarines area with pristine white sands. you might want to consider it in one of your trips.
estan
15 April 2008 13:37Dong, I’ve heard about that island and so they say about Caluya which is just near Boracay. There are still too many places to go, too little time
Sidney
15 April 2008 21:20What about Boracay’s beach babes?
tutubi
15 April 2008 23:46too commercialized indeed. btw, my calaguas trip’s re-scheduled to may 1 -4 if you’re free on those dates
cedsaid
16 April 2008 0:53We are going to Calaguas Apr 25-27! Woohoo!
estan
16 April 2008 6:02sidney, people watching is another thing
tutubi, cedsaid, wow, mauna na lang kayo guys. your accounts and photos will suffice for now
Ferdz
17 April 2008 7:23Boracay’s not really a place for solitary travelers. It’s more of a party place island.
estan
17 April 2008 11:18you’re right Ferdz. Its a party place.
dodong flores
22 April 2008 19:04I agree with Ferdz. We travel photographers share the same sentiments. That’s the reason over and over I was telling everybody who’s into travel that I prefer El Nido than that of Boracay…