Mistakes To Avoid While On Vacation In Boracay (Do Not Do This Travel List)
If you have not been to the Island of Boracay just yet, now is the time to tick Boracay off your travel vacation bucket list. You will not regret it because Boracay is more than just a destination, it is an experience. If you have been there before, it is time to go back and enjoy it once more. With a host of activities and adventures, or just sedately enjoy nature at its best, a leisure stay to Boracay is a great way to create more happy memories.
The jewel in the crown of the Philippine tourism industry, Boracay is the beau ideal of tropical islands. With several beaches and coves that promise a lot of fun in the sun, sea, and sand, Boracay indeed is the place to be. And speaking of Boracay’s velvety white sand, it is the result of crushed corals that tides over the centuries by nature itself. Even at high noon, Boracay sand is cool to the touch. This is one of the unique charms of this island paradise.
When in Boracay, you will have a lot of fine choices, from accommodations, food options, and activities. There is also a superabundance of accommodations on the island. From the in-the-lap-of-luxury hotel chains and charming boutique hotels to the basic but comfortable rooms of an unpretentious but restful inn or a cozy Bed and Breakfast, you get to choose based on your budget. As to food, the options are plentiful. From elegant restaurants with well-trained chefs and impeccable service to an unpretentious hole-in-a-wall operated by self-taught cooks who know how to tickle one’s palate. The wealth of activities available is a whirl of possibilities for you to embark on.
Your adventure begins with planning your trip
Once you set your sight on Boracay, you need to decide on when to go, how to get there, what type of accommodation you prefer, activities you would like to enjoy, and the budget you need to allocate.
The best time to go is during the dry season from mid-November to April. This is when the wind, called Amihan (northeasterly winds) is most favorable for water activities and optimal enjoyment. You can travel by air or by sea, as there is an airport and a seaport just a couple of minutes away from Boracay. As to accommodations and activities, it will depend on your budget. Adventures and enjoyment always go hand-in-hand no matter your budget because Boracay is egalitarian when it comes to hedonism.
You can reserve your travel tickets, block off your hotel dates, and even book your activities in advance. Remember, the more you plan the details of your trip, the more enjoyable the adventure becomes. Simply put, planning your travel vacation to Bocoray help optimizes your enjoyment.
Know what not to do in Boracay
Since you will be on the beach a lot, and on a popular tourist spot at that, you need to be aware that there are certain restrictions and prohibitions while leisurely vacationing on Boracay.
Sands are not souvenirs
First, do you know you should not be collecting sand, no matter how small the amount? Imagine the destructive effect it can have on the island when thousands of daily tourists take a small amount of sand to bring home with them. Collectively, such small amounts can add up, from a molehill to a big hill. A small amount of sand, taken away, can contribute to erosion and gradually wreak havoc on Boracay.
No smoking on the beach
Second, the beach area of Boracay is a No Smoking Zone. And thus, having a portable ashtray, no matter how seemingly efficient, is not an excuse to smoke on the shoreline. No ifs, no (cigarette) butts. Cigarettes and cigarette butts poison not just your health, it also affects the condition of the environment as well. If you really cannot resist the urge to smoke, leave the beach and look for an area where you can smoke.
The beach area is not a bar
Third, bear in mind that the beaches of Boracay are best enjoyed sober. Like cigarettes, no alcoholic drinks are allowed to bring on the beach. People under the influence tend to leave their bottles and it could cause accidents or injuries. Alcohol can also alter your state of mind and lead you to trouble, particularly when you are a new tourist. While on your travel vacation on the beaches of Boracay, it is best to stay sober.
Other things not to do in the sands / beach area
Be aware that there are local laws, rules, and regulations set to protect the island, locals, as well as tourists. You can no longer even build sandcastles, and if you happen to rent a motorbike, do not park it in the beachfront area. Violators will face fines and possibly even imprisonment for a certain period, depending on the violation, especially for repeat offenders.
Boracay is a world-famous tourist spot, but it is still in The Philippines
Also, you need to understand that the locals, though used to the cosmopolitan lifestyle of most of their guests, are still very conservative in their ways. Swimsuits that leave nothing much to the imagination are best to use in private areas. As such, there were instances when complaints were filed against those who flaunted the cultural taboo of indecent exposure, offending the sensibilities of the locals. A couple of female tourists have been invited to the Police Station because of this. Regardless of how courteous the Police Officers may be, being in a police station is not at all a pleasant experience.
Offending the locals
Be very careful about uttering disparaging remarks about the locals. The same goes with being courteous when dealing with the elders, even when you are sure they are at fault. Filipinos are genuinely friendly and aim to please to the point of being obsequious. However, some easily lose face over being confronted by foreigners who are too forward and brutally frank. Chill, your issues and concerns, no matter what they are. They can be resolved without torching your hosts.
Help protect Boracay, be an Eco-Warrior
Do not trash the environment
You can do your share in ensuring the protection of our environment by being more eco-friendly. When you travel to Boracay, or anywhere for that matter, avoid single-use plastic like primary packaging materials for convenient items such as shampoo and coffee in sachets or soap in plastic wrappers. Some commercial establishments still use plastic to bag your purchases, so bringing a recyclable eco-bag is ideal.
Single-use plastic is banned by a new ordinance created by the town of Malay, where Boracay is located. But some tourists still bring them because of the convenience it affords them. Bringing one’s stuff to the beach, such as a towel, suntan lotion, or sunscreens, using plastic bag carriers should be exercised carefully. The plastic usually finds its way into the ocean, and invariably, you don’t spot people going after them. You can just imagine what happens to marine creatures and the environment as a consequence.
Help push the rehabilitation, not pull
The National Government closed Boracay in 2018 for six months to work on its rehabilitation from a hellish situation, with untreated sewage draining into the beach and the sea. Some establishments also encroached and violated the designated easement area to protect the beach.
One way that you can help preserve Boracay Island is by bringing a refillable tumbler for your water and other beverages. Having drinkable water whenever you travel to Boracay for a vacation will keep you hydrated and get to enjoy the sceneries more. With a tumbler, your cold drink stays cold and your hot drink stays hot for a longer time. And you don’t add to the volume of trash and the ensuing pollution.
Another way is for you to bring your stash of favorite shampoo, conditioner, liquid soap, and other essential items in small, reusable, and convenient plastic containers. Your body will appreciate what it is used to, rather than strange brands in new places. Bringing your most-liked brands need not take up so much weight and space in your luggage.
Have a CLAYGO Carrier for your trash whenever you are outside and there are no trash bins. Clean as you go along, temporarily stashing your trash in your CLAYGO bag, and bring it with you until you can dispose of it in the correct trash bins or dumpsters.
In conclusion
When you travel to experience a vacation in Boracay, you will know for yourself why it is more than just a destination. The island is a mere slice of paradise in the Philippines. Therefore, it would be best to preserve it for the next generation of nature-seeking adventurers. By abiding by the regulations of what not to do while on Boracay, you are already doing your part to help conserve its state and charisma. So what are you waiting for? Come, the southeasterly winds are wafting. Boracay beckons you.
This article first appeared on Pinnacle Boracay’s website.
