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G U I D E T O F U N I N T H E P H I L I P P I N E S
BORACAY
Our guide:
Lara Parpan
Editor-in-chief of
Women’s Health
magazine and triathelete, Lara first set
foot on Boracay island 23 years ago
and has since made regular twice-
yearly visits. For the the party-loving,
sun-worshipping adrenaline junkie,
here’s a 36-hour itinerary.
1
Check-in at Boracay Beach Resort,
run by long-time Boracay residents
Nenette Aguirre Graf and Nonoy
Aguirre (www.boracaybeachresort.
com). Sign up for Stand-Up
Paddleboarding (SUP) lessons on the
following day, where you’ll receive a
few pointers on balance and steering,
before paddling the White Beach. It’s a
great workout for your core.
2
Hungry? Settle for dinner at Kasbah
for a sumptuous Moroccan feast
3
Start the next day at 6am with a run
along White Beach — tide is low at this
time and you can ease the impact on
your feet by running on the shoreline’s
compact sand. From Boracay Beach
Resort to Station 3 and back is 4.5km.
4
Want a run that’s longer, more
scenic, and challenging? Take the alley
next to the resort and make your way
to Bulabog beach (the opposite side
of the island). Upon hitting the beach
make a left, follow the shoreline until
you hit a cemented road that leads up
to Mt Luho.
5
See Boracay from the island’s
highest point, then make your way
down until you hit the main road. Make
a right, run past Fairways and Blue
Water, and after about 1.5 km, turn left
on a road that takes you to Diniwid
Beach. From Diniwid, follow the
shoreline that takes you back to White
Beach. Total distance: almost 10km.
6
Grab a hearty breakfast at Real
Coffee (watch for the signs along White
Beach) of calamansi muffins and coffee
in between SUP sessions.
7
Still hungry? Grab a croque
monsieur or any of the other filling
dishes available next door at Ti Braz.
Take a nap under the shade. The
rest and the carbs you consumed
for lunch will fuel you for the two-
hour mermaid swimming class at
the Philippine Mermaid Swimming
Academy. They meet around 3.15pm
right on the Ti Braz beachfront (www.
philippinemermaidswimmingacademy.
com).
8
After all that action, grab dinner at
Alchemy, run by Filipino-Swedish chef
Josh Boutwood (+63 917 304 1570).
9
10
Get your marathon party started
at Exit Bar (you won’t see any signage,
just a bunch of people spilling out from
a small shack booming with reggae
or house music), followed by a stop
at Area 51 (southern end of Bulabog
Beach).
11
The following day, start your after-
party recovery with brunch at Lemon
Café (D’Mall) before heading off to
catch your flight.
Cebu Pacific flies to Boracay (Caticlan)
from Manila and Cebu.
