The leading party isle in the archipelago, Boracay has developed a reputation for being a hedonistic paradise where people come for a good time in the sun.

The island earned its fame initially due to its beautiful beaches, regularly cited as some of the best in the world - and you certainly won't be disappointed with the soft white sand surrounding the island. There's certainly plenty to keep you entertained here after nightfall too - local entrepreneurs haven't been slow at realising how much potential tourist cash there is to be had and there is an inordinate number of bars and clubs to keep the most party-frenzied visitor dancing till dawn.

The island is rapidly being taken over by tourism, though, so although a great place to come and enjoy the sun, don't expect to see a typical slice of Filipino life in Boracay.

Boracay is one competitive venue for the Asian Windsurfing Tour, with the week-long Boracay International Funboard Cup competition usually being held on Bulabog Beach each January..

The well-known Ati-Atihan Festival takes place each January in Kalibo on nearby Panay island. A much smaller Ati-Atihan festival is celebrated on Boracay, usually in the second or third week of January.

Dragon boat races are held annually on Boracay under the auspices of the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation, with teams coming from around the Philippines and from other asian nations to compete. The races usually take place sometime in April or May.

Since 2003, the Philippine Ultimate Association has been organizing the Boracay Open Asian Beach Ultimate Tournament which is usually held during the summer.The Olympic Council of Asia has announced that Boracay will host the 2014 Asian Beach Games.

Either from Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila or from Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Cebu, take flights to Boracay either via Kalibo (45 minutes away) or via Caticlan (30-40 minutes away). From Kalibo airport, air-conditioned vans and buses take passengers to the Caticlan Jetty Port, where boats provide transport to the island. Motorized tricyles will take passengers from Caticlan airport to the jetty port, 3 minutes away. From Caticlan jetty port, boat ride takes 15-20 minutes to get to Boracay.