As Boracay’s pride and joy, White Beach steps up as one of the most picturesque stretches of sand on the planet. Stretching for 4-kilometres along the coast, White Beach is the beating heart of Boracay’s tourism scene, and is lined with a colourful array of restaurants, bars, nightclubs and shops.
Thanks to its location on the western side of the island, White Beach is sheltered from the wind, making its waters wonderfully calm and a mecca for swimmers, snorkelers and off-shore divers. There’s accommodation for every budget, from luxury oceanfront hotels to simple guesthouses.
White Beach is small, and the best way to slip into island time is simply to stroll along the sand or the oceanfront path. For those who want to get places fast or explore the rest of the island, motor-tricycles, pedicabs and motorbike rentals are also a popular option.
While today White Beach is considered one of the world’s most coveted beaches, it wasn’t always such a guidebook worthy destination. It was originally home to the Ati people, who lived simply and had never set eyes on foreigners before the arrival of the Spanish. At first Boracay’s population was just 100 people, who spent their days cultivating rice, raising goats and enjoying a laid-back island lifestyle. Today the atmosphere is much livelier, though Boracay still manages to retain its easy-going attitude.