Boracay General Information

Visa Services

Philippines Visa Services for Boracay Philippines can be obtained at the Bureau of Immigration Philippines (BOIP) office, located on Boracay Island. Boracay Visitors can extend their visas and process other changes in visa status. The Bureau of Immigration Philippines staff will also provide advice and assistance with other questions and issues.

For your Philippines Visa extension, bring photocopies of the pages of your passport that show your personal information, date of passport issue / expiration date, and the Bureau of Immigration Philippines entry stamp received on arrival in the Philippines.

The Fee for a Philippines Visa extension depends on the length of extension requested. Most extensions in the Philippines are granted on 90 day intervals. If you are planning a stay on Boracay Philippines longer, perhaps for more that 1 year, it will be required that you leave the Philippines for a short period and then re-enter.

While on Boracay Island you may ask your local Boracay Hotels or Boracay Resorts for information and guidance.

Safety and Security

Boracay Safety and Security, is provided by the Boracay Resorts and Boracay Hotels on Boracay Island. Boracay Island Philippines is safe and generally you here of NO problems. If you are planning a Boracay Vacation, and have any questions or concerns about traveling to Boracay Philippines, you are welcome and encouraged to contact us, WOW Philippines Travel Agency for more information, contact our Personal Security & Safety Firm Directly at www.asia-secure.com.

Drinking Water: Boracay is hot, so when out and about, carry or buy bottled mineral water. Drinkable water form the Boracay Water System is used in the better Boracay Resorts and Boracay Restaurants.

Food: Boracay Island offers many small family type eateries and most offer very good food, although freshness and quality are quite good during high season when Boracay Island is busy. During the low season, do check the displayed seafood: IS IT REALLY FRESH!

Swimming: Boracay Islands sea off Boracay Beach during high season is mostly calm, and even children can safely bathe under the watchful eyes of parents. But watch out for careless speedboats and jet skis! The sea is often rougher during the low season and off other beaches. Always check the direction of the tide and any currents before swimming offshore.

Walking Barefoot: Boracay Island offers the absolute softest sand you have ever put your feet on, tourist love to walk barefoot immediately after getting off the boat and many people do it. They feel like Robinson Crusoe! But it's better to walk barefoot only in the sand on Boracay Beach. On paths and roads, wear slippers or sandals. A small cut very quickly becomes infected in the tropical climate of Boracay.

Sunbathing: Boracay Island offers the sun worshiper the best beach in the world to tan on it's nice, but dangerous. The tropical sun of Boracay is much stronger that most have experienced. Stay in the shade during the first few days of your Boracay Vacation, and try to keep your children in the shade as much as possible. Even there you will get good and bronzed. If you want the Boracay Sun, always use sun block!

Valuables: Boracay is quite safe. Passports, money and other valuables, however should be deposited upon arrival for safekeeping at you Boracay Resort or Boracay Hotel. Boracay Resorts large and small offer safe deposit boxes for fee upon check in, others can be rented at the Boracay Tourist Center. Take nothing of real value with you when you go to the Boracay Beach to swim and sunbath, and don't leave anything unattended on Boracay Beach. Sunglasses and other unattended items sometimes go missing.

Carrying Money: Boracay Island is SAFE but NEVER carry to much money with you - even on Boracay one never knows....

HELP: Boracay Island offers a very capable Police force, call the Police if you need help, and always keep your discussions calm, serious and respectful. Boracay Emergency Services.

Do's and Dont's

Boracay Island Dos and Don'ts, do embrace the wonderful Filipino style of declining an offer or invitation with a friendly smile and a politely joking manner. Use it to decline invitations to join people who obviously have had too much to drink. Don't ever argue or raise your voice in conversations with such people. Do be wary of people you don't know offering overly friendly invitations to join them; as in many other tourist destinations, such overly friendly strangers have been know to slip a sedative in a visitor's drink and later rob them. Also be wary of attractive individuals asking to join you for an especially good time together. Sometimes that attractive girl approaching you may not be a girl at all, but a boy that looks very convincingly like a girl.

Drugs

Boracay Island has a strict prohibition of all illegal drugs and is aggressively enforced with a "ZERO TOLERANCE" policy by Boracay Philippines authorities. Being caught with even a small amount of illegal drugs can result in either life imprisonment or the death penalty. Possession of only a joint will have severe consequences. Use of " SHABU " (methamphetamine) is the most severe drug problem in the Philippines and is closely watched

Boracay Beaches

Boracay Transportation on Boracay Island is mostly by "tricycle" (motorcycle with a sidecar). The daytime passengers is Php ??? for any trip in the flat area between Boat Stations 1 and 3. Fares are higher, and often negotiable, for trips beyond Stations 1 and 3. If you will be taking a tricycle, ask yours or any of the Boracay Resorts or Boracay Hotels for the current price to pay.

Boracay Pedi cabs are available on the southern part of Boracay Beach part of the White beach path. Daytime fares per person range form Php ?? to Php ?? pesos, depending on the distance and your negotiating skills. Nighttimes fares for both Motorcycles ("tricycles") and Pedi cabs are higher the later the hour.

Vehicle

Rental Boracay Island has a comparatively good road network, so most of the interesting Boracay Attractions can be reached by either mountain bike or motorcycle. Both can be rented by hour or by half day / day form numerous rental operators, especially along the Boracay White Beach path. Prices vary. "Tricycle" (motorcycles with side cars )can be rented for about Php ??/ hour to tour Boracay Island but they can travel only the main roads.

Boracay Packages

Boracay Electricity was first installed on Boracay Island in 1991. Today electricity is stable and good. There are sometimes blackouts (called "brownouts" in the Philippines), however, but they seldom last longer that an hour. Most Boracay Resorts and Boracay Hotels located on Boracay Beach have back-up generators. Some of the smaller Boracay Hotels Resorts and Boracay Cottages may not have a back-up generator. If this is an important feature for you, ask your WOW Philippines Travel Agency and they can let you know.

Voltage is 220 Volt with 60 cycles. Plugs follow the US standard. Adapter plugs are available in larger cities, like Manila, at hardware and department stores and in shopping malls. On Boracay Island some types of electrical adapter plugs can be purchased at the local hard-ware stores.

Medical Services

Boracay Island Medical Services are basic and for relatively minor illnesses and injuries are available on Boracay at the Boracay Island Hospital and at several private clinics.

Boracay Island Hospital and clinics provide emergency services, and some clinics are open 24 hours. In case of any serious illness or injury, treatment at hospitals in Kalibo, Iloilo or Manila is recommended. Several drugstores serve Boracay, some located near the private clinics.

Boracay Island Hospital:
Phone: +63-36-288-3041 (Local Residents call 141)
Main Road - Center of Boracay Island

Metropolitan Doctor's Medical Clinic:
Phone: +63-36-288-6638 ( Balabag Plaza ), and +63-36-288-6357
Main Road - near Talipapa ( Both Offices Open 24 hours )

Money Exchange

Boracay Money Exchange on Boracay Island for major international currencies can be exchanged for pesos at local Boracay Banks, the Boracay Tourist Center and at some Boracay Resorts, Boracay Restaurants and bars.

Boracay Money Exchange rates are lower than in Manila Philippines. Credit cards are accepted at most

Boracay Hotels, Boracay Resorts, Boracay Restaurants and bars, but a surcharge for credit cards is sometimes added to your bill. A service charge of 10 to 15 percent of the cost of your order is added to your bill at some Boracay Restaurants and bars, but an extra tip is always appreciated.

Telephone Services

Boracay Telephone Service provides several public telephone boxes may be found along the Boracay Beach path. These Boracay Telephones are operated by Smart, a mobile phone company, and require a "Smartalk Payphone Card" for both local and international calls. These cards can be purchased at numerous shops, particularly in D' Mall Boracay, just ask around.

Boracay Island offers two major mobile phone operators in the Philippines: Smart and Globe. Both Philippines Companies operate a GSM International standard system with cell sites throughout the Philippines. Prepaid cards for Globe and Smart can be purchased in numerous shops - just ask, everyone knows.

Philippines Trivia: The Philippines Islands are the world leader in text messaging with over 40 million messages sent everyday.

FROM OUTSIDE THE PHILIPPINES
Philippines Country Code: +63
Domestic Area Codes: Boracay = 36
Manila = 2 - Kalibo = 36 - Iloilo = 33

FROM INSIDE THE PHILIPPINES
Domestic Area Codes: Boracay = 036
Manila = 02 - Kalibo = 036 - Iloilo = 033

Directory Assistance: Dial 114

INTERNATIONAL OPERATOR-ASSISTED CALLS: Dial 108

DOT and Tourist Center

Boracay DOT and Tourist Center has had a field office on Boracay Island since tourism began on Boracay Island in the early 1990's. The Boracay office has two main functions: to facilitate tourist / guest - related Boracay Activities and to monitor tourism projects on Boracay Island. It also assists with special projects and Boracay Events aimed at promoting and developing Boracay.

Boracay D.O.T personnel will provide tourist with information about Boracay Travel and transportation cost and schedules, tourist destinations on Boracay Island and in nearby areas, visa requirements, Boracay Accommodations, Boracay Hotels Resorts, Boracay Cottages and other services and facilities on Boracay.

Boracay personnel can also furnish WOW Philippines Travel Guide services.

DOT, Boracay Field Office, D' Mall
Open: Monday - Friday ( Except Holidays ) 8 -12 a.m. / 1 - 5 p.m. Phone: +63-36-506-0094 Phone / Fax: Boracay Office +63-36-288-3689

Emergency Services

Boracay Emergency Services by government authorities and the business sector on Boracay Island both operate search and rescue groups: the 505th RATS Squadron (505th Search & Rescue Reserve Airlift Tactical Squad of the Philippine Air Force) and the P.C.G.A Rescue (Philippines Coast Guard Auxiliary). Both work together closely and can call on support from the Philippines Coast Guard and the Association of Boracay Scuba Diving Schools (BASS).

Helicopters for search or medical rescue missions can be organized within a couple of hours.

Police Station maintains a 24-hour telephone hotline. The Barangay (Village) of Balabag also has a 24-hour hotline for its auxiliary police, called tanods (Barangay Police). Visitors, however, should always exercise appropriate safety measures when participating in any Boracay Events and insist on being provided necessary safety equipment, especially for diving, boating and other Boracay Activities.

PCGA Rescue: +63-36-288-3486
Philippine Coast Guard: +63-36-288-6150
Police: +63-36-288-3066 or ( Local Boracay Residents - Dial - 166 )
Balabag Barangay Hall: ( Local Boracay Residents - Dial - 194 )
Boracay Island Hospital: +63-36-288-3041 ( Local Boracay Residents - Dial - 141 )

Massage

WOW Massage Services, Inc. offers our Asian massage home service in the following areas.

Manila
Makati City
Pasay City
Pasig City
Mandaluyong
Muntinlupa
Quezon City
Paranaque
San Juan
Taguig Rizal
Marikina

Gyms

Boracay has several well-equipped gyms with free weights and most of the standard exercise machines, such as Stairmaster, treadmill, stationary bicycle and the elliptical cross-trainer. Prices for one visit vary between Php150.00 and Php300.00.

Boracay Gym Locations:

Contact Information:

Muscle Tribe Boracay Gym is beside Paradise Garden Boracay Resort
Patio Pacific Boracay Beach Resort - Phone - 036 288 3999
Regency Boracay Beach Resort - 036 288 6111
Seraph Boracay Hotel Health Center - 036 288 6672 to 76

Travel Tips

Boracay Travel Directory offers in-depth information on Boracay Trips, just general information on Boracay Island, Boracay Travel, Boracay Hotels, Boracay Resorts, Boracay Activities and Boracay Events.

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