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There is only one way to tour Boracay—a slow, leisurely stroll. To some there is also only one place for such a tour: White Beach, the island's celebrated four-kilometer stretch of fine, powdery white sand.
If you are billeted at Lorenzo South, Titay South Beach Resort or one of the hotels and resorts around boat station 3, start the day with a visit to the Live Coral Beds at the beach's southernmost tip. At low tide, you can observe myriad species of colorful coral and other fascinating forms of marine life that thrive in the warm tropical waters.
From there, turn back and proceed northward, on either White Beach or White Beach Path, which runs alongside the beach. If you wish to commune with nature, stick to the former and revel in the softness of the white sand under your feet, the soothing hues of the azure sea on your eyes, the caress of a cooling breeze on your face, and the delightful thought that this is your first day in paradise.
If, however, you prefer to communicate with your fellow visitors and plunge into the thick of beach life, then head for White Beach Path. You could start your search for someone to take you into the deep by dropping in at White Beach Divers, though as you move along you will find there are many more of these diving outlets around. Do take note of the location of La Capannina, which serves the best Italian food in town; you just might want to come back for lunch or dinner. The local office of Asian Spirit is also here, so if you need to confirm your flight back to Manila, now is the time to get that little task out of the way.
As you proceed, you will come across spots of activity that are palpably higher than Boracay's usual laid-back atmosphere. The local markets, remnants of the larger but now burnt-to-the-ground Talipapa market, house stalls and shops selling clothing, jewelry, food, diving equipment, knick-knacks and anything else that tourists will buy, which is quite a bit. Take a few moments to wander through and see if anything catches your eye, but don't get too distracted from your tour.
If you can resist the temptation of the markets, then head back to White Beach Path. An outlet of the English Bakery (there are three on the island) offers real English tea and other refreshments to help you catch your breath. Or you could find refuge at the nearby Tourist Center and obtain some postcards, stamps, bottled mineral water and various necessities, or inquire about marine tours around Boracay and to other islands. Alice in Wonderland, a popular 24-hour eatery next door, operates Alice in Wonderland Internet Café, where you could drop in for a quick surf online or to check your e-mail.
Having lingered in some of those places, by now you should be ready for lunch. Banza, which figures high on everybody's list of restaurants in Boracay, serves Portuguese delicacies as well as various preparations of local seafood. Mediterranean cuisine, including a tasty version of seafood pasta, is likewise available at The Rendezvous. At Mango-Ray Bar & Restaurant you can divert yourself with a game of chess or backgammon (the table tops are designed as game boards) while waiting to be served. All three restaurants are located around boat station 2, as is Victory Divers, one of the bigger dive shops.
Whichever restaurant you choose to patronize, make it a point to have your coffee at Stables Real Coffee. The American lady who owns this nipa-hut coffee shop makes a mean cup of espresso while regaling you with amusing tales. While here, make a mental note that Summer Place Bar & Restaurant and Bom Bom, two lively nightspots, lie in the vicinity.
You will pass many more shops, bars, restaurants and diving centers, plus a new mini-mall, before White Beach Path terminates around the Spanish restaurant El Toro and boat station 1. You may then continue your tour by either proceeding on White Beach or going up to Boracay Main Road. Beachcomber Bar & Disco and Cocomangas Shooter Bar, also popular nightspots, adjoin each other on the main road. On the other hand, if you carry on along White Beach, you will come to several beachfront cafés such as Jony's Restaurant and Wahine Beach Bar. All these places are recommended stopovers for enjoying some further refreshments, taking temporary shelter from the sun, or just lazing around. The waiters are invariably friendly and will leave you to enjoy your one order of mango or pineapple shake for as long as you like.
Sunsets are one of Boracay's glories. There is probably no better place for a sundowner than a thatched-roof cabana on White Beach. In the lingering afterglow of the setting sun, just think of it: When the sun rises again, it will be heralding another day in paradise.
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 Boracay Island Hotels Guide
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