Beach, Please: Discovering Boracay Island in The Philippines

Boracay Island in the Philippines that’s known for beautiful beaches and resorts. Honestly, one look at the beaches here and you’ll want to book a trip to Boracay yourself! The cool thing about social media content creators and travel influencers is that they can give us real feedback on international travel tips and destinations around the world; You’re not getting a sales pitch – you’re getting genuine experiences and information. We enlisted the help of Ruben Arribas @gamintraveler, who, along with his life partner Rach, travels the world to many exciting locales. So, what do you need to know about Boracay, Philippines travel? Read on to find out more about Boracay, and insider tips on how Ruben captures their epic travel adventures.

What To Do

It’s funny how vacations can sometimes feel as busy as a regular work week. We’re trying to cram a million things in during a short span of time. Boracay, on the other hand, is an ideal place to travel to if you are truly looking to take it easy and have a relaxing trip. Ruben tells us the best thing about Boracay is exploring the beaches. Diniwid Beach and Puka Beach, in particular, are two spots where Ruben says, “spending the day is quiet and peaceful.”

Now, if you’re looking for where there’s a bit more going on, you can head to White Beach. This is the main beach on Boracay Island where the majority of hotels and restaurants are located.

Staying Active

Staying active while traveling is important, especially after those long flights. For Ruben, exercise is also a great way to start the day. “I was going for a run or going to the gym before breakfast and I think that’s the best way to stay fit before starting your day.”

Even if you don’t have the time to hit the gym or go for a run, simply walking around cities and beaches will keep you active too.

Socializing

When it comes to meeting cool people during your stay in Boracay, Ruben says there are many places where you can do just that. It all depends on the activities you’re interested in, so the good news is you have options. If you’re looking to make new friends to party with, hostels and boat parties are a great way to connect with others. Another way to meet people is island hopping.

For many travelers, meeting members of the local community is also important. Ruben tells us, “I always love interacting with locals when looking for directions, going to local restaurants and public transportation.”

Fine Eats

Ruben’s favorite place to eat in Boracay is a smaller, more quiet restaurant called Pampanga’s Cuisine. The food and prices here were so good that once Ruben found it, he kept going back. Ruben says the owners here are “talkative and friendly” and even shared a story about how they offered to cook his food that he had gotten during a wine tasting, since the place he was staying at didn’t have a kitchen. They’re also a great place to visit if you’re in need of some travel tips while you’re in Boracay, as they are more than happy to help you out.

The food is here mostly Filipino and consists of vegetables, fish, meat, and rice. Ruben’s favorite dish was the “Torta Talong” – or eggplant.

Lodging

While hotel prices in Boracay aren’t cheap, they’re not really expensive either. Ruben adds that the quality of the hotels in Boracay and their service is “great”.

For those traveling with kids, you’ll want to look into staying at Discovery Shores, especially since they offer services to watch your kids as well. This resort is very modern, and features rooms and villas with nice views of the beach. They even have a rooftop pool, where “the views are perfect at sunset”. Boracay Island is making big steps at protecting the environment, and Ruben tells us Discovery Shores is “doing a great job in this”. The resort also has lots of diverse food, including Filipino, Chinese, Korean, and even Western options.

A few other options are the Hampstead Boutique Hotel, which is a quiet spot with great food. There’s also the Seabird International Resort, which is ideal for those of you who want to be in the heart of the action. The Seabird has a “super friendly and accommodating” staff and is just a one minute walk from White Beach.

Equipment & Editing Tips

Ruben and Rach shoot with a mix of devices that lets them tell their travel story the way they want to. “We currently bring with us our DSLR Camera Nikkon D 750 with a few lenses and iPhone X to produce high-quality social media content, photos, and videos.” They also shoot with a Drone Mavic Air and bring underwater cameras as well as a Go Pro and dome to get every angle possible.

“We use mostly Lightroom and Moment when shooting with the iPhone videos and Instagram Stories.”