Hurom-Hurom in Nabas, Aklan

 Hurom-hurom

Pools of varied depths allow you to choose between merely dipping your ankles and submerging your entire body in water that flows directly from a mountain spring. You’d think you were bathing in some Banawe or Sagada stream—swimming in the water for half-an-hour straight will numb your nerves.

This natural bounty doesn’t seem to run out, as the clear water spreads over much of the resort’s grounds, enveloping your feet before spilling over to the neighboring natural brook.

Boracay Island in Aklan

Out of all the islands in the world, Travel+Leisure Magazine chose to name Boracay as its Best Overall Island of 2012.

Located in Malay, Aklan, Western Visayas, Boracay is just seven kilometers long, and less than a kilometer wide at its narrowest point – a postcard-sized tropical paradise.

White Beach is composed of three sections.

The northernmost section – Station 1 – has the widest beachfront. This has the best (and most expensive) resorts and hotels.

The center of White Beach is Station 2. People come here to eat, shop, and party.

If you’re looking for a quieter area, then Station 3, the southernmost section, is for you.

Because the waters off White Beach are calm during Amihan season (November to May), tourism is at its peak during these months when the northeastern winds blow. Conditions reverse during the rainy season, when the Habagat or monsoon winds blow.

Bulabog Beach, on the eastern side of the island opposite White Beach, has large waves and strong winds year-round. This makes it a hotspot for windsurfing and kiteboarding. In fact, Bulabog Beach is considered Asia’s top kitesurf destination.

Whichever side of the island or end of the beach you choose, there’s a room for every type of traveler here. Budget accommodations start at around US$ 17, and can go all the way to US$ 300 per person at prime resorts like Discovery Shores.

And because Boracay gets tourists from different parts of the globe, you’ll find a wide variety of food choices: Chinese, Indian, American, Mexican, French, Italian, Swiss —even Moroccan food! Fresh seafood is a given.

There’s no shortage of activities for you at this island paradise. Boracay has around 25 dive sites that cater to all levels of experience. You can go parasailing. Take a paraw (native outrigger boat) for a tour of the island. Go waterskiing. Or cliff diving.

After all the sports, indulge in a luxurious massage right on the beach or at one of the spas. Enjoy a healthy fruit shake at Jonah’s. Take a relaxing dip at the infinity pool of the Shangri-La Resort and Spa, with its mesmerizing view of the sea. Shop for shell jewelry. And when the sun goes down, you can head to any of Boracay’s bars for a taste of the island nightlife. Cocktails, draft beer, and imported ales flow nightly as live bands and pounding disco music entertain you.

Most importantly, don’t forget to soak up some rays and lounge around on the fine white sand that made Boracay famous.