Boracay Island Off The Beaten Path

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This day trip is done best by an boat trip from Boracay. You even can ask around in Boracay`s dive shops, since Buruanga is one of Boracay`s favorite dive spots - may be you can ride with there boat even your are not planning to dive.
You will sail along the coast line of Buruanga, unspoiled beaches, high cliffs, small fishing villages, tropical forests - there are still wild monkeys - the landscape reminds me to the area around Krabi in Thailand and it is very beautiful there. To your surprise, even it`s so closed to Boracay, by banka not more than 40 minutes, there is no touristic development at all. It`s like Boracay 30 years ago. Stop at Tuburan Beach, a small romantic unspoiled White Beach. There is even an fresh water spring near the cliff at the end of the beach. From here you can visit Batasong Point. An old man build some ways around this cliff leading you through an cave to the Blue Lagoon. You can walk for hours along the White Beaches there, passing some sleeping fisher villages with friendly locals. You will find caves, water falls and may be get the chance to watch some wild monkeys. Tuburan Beach has it`s own house riff - perfect for swimming and snorkeling. Find your place under an large tree, just relax or read a book, make a beach BBQ or camp fire but please: Leave nothing back but your foot prints in the sand. Other travelers like to enjoy this Eco paradise too.
The friendly fisher man on Tuburan Beach, Raul, can bring you to the nearby small town of Buruanga - Alegria where buses and jeepneys bring you back to Caticlan. It`s only 18 km by road and you will have an beautiful panorama view over Boracay.

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Most who visit boracay go to the white beach, puka beach, cystal cove... 'forgeting' to see what's in Bulabog, just a short walking distance from the White beach. This other side of the island is known to be "the Windsurfing And Kiteboarding Capital of Asia", might be a little unconventional for some but still a must-see!

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The carabao (Asian Water Buffalo) is supposed to be the national animal of the Philippines, and if you or hiking or biking around the island you may come across one wallowing around in a muddy field.
They are commonly used in farming - as draught animals in rice fields - and are sometimes eaten.

Supposedly the highest point on the island, Mount Luho affords some excellent views of Boracay and the surrounding area. Buy a map from the tourist centre, and you can hike or mountain bike to the site, or ask a motorbike driver to take you there (in which case you won't need the map). Refreshments are served at the top.

Who said Boracay is spoilt?! Could this be the next White Beach? So far there is only one hotel on this beautiful stretch of sand, and not too many people around. Take a sailboat trip and bring a picnic. You can buy drinks at the hotel bar but the prices are absolutely ridiculous. Bring your own, and ask the boatman to stop off at the far end of the beach.


UPDATE!
This beach (and neighbouring Punta Bunga beach) is currently being utterly destroyed by the Shangri-La hotel development. What a shame. (5/18/2005)

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This is a tiny little beach at the South end of the island. Not usually frequented by daytrippers, it's a nice place to go for a picnic. There are no bars, restaurants or facilities there - even the little hut in the picture doesn't exist any more. Bring everything you need, and be sure to take all your trash home with you. There is some pretty good snorkeling in this area too.
UPDATE - this area has sadly (and some would say illegally) been privatised.

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We sailed with the Red Pirates paraw (native sailing boat) to Baling Hai Beach, a quiet little private beach far removed from the busy White Beach. There are 4 or 5 little cottages on the hillside, and a small restaurant at the top of the cliff serving lunches and fruit shakes. If you don't fancy taking on all those steps (there are a lot) your food and drinks will be lowered down the cliff-side in a basket. This little beach is very peaceful, and lovely for swimming and snorkeling. You won't be bothered by vendors here as it's a fair way from the main road and hard to access on foot. It's a great place to spend an afternoon - you won't want to leave - but better not to bring the kids as its a haven for people who need quiet relaxation.

Hire a boat to take you to Crystal Cove, an island at the southern end of Boracay. The main attraction is the caves (there are two), but there is also a picnic spot, a nice walking trail around the island and some good look-out spots (bring a camera). For some reason, someone has seen fit to construct possibly the ugliest concrete animal statues you'll ever see at various intervals along the trail. They are quite surreal.
They don't serve food, so you'll need a picnic and some cold drinks. Bring your own, or ask your boatman to arrange it for you.