This photograph was taken in the picturesque island of Boracay, in the Philippine archipelago. After three fast-paced weeks travelling through South-East Asia, Boracay seemed the perfect place for our family to wind down for a few days. It didn’t fail to disappoint. My three year old brother can be seen here soaking up the relaxing tropical atmosphere.

In Boracay, there are many beaches just like this one, with coral reefs, fine white sand and beautiful balmy weather. It is a place you can do as much or as little as you choose.

On Boracay’s 11 or so kilometre long shoreline, there are two main beaches, White Beach, known mostly for tourism and its famous white sand, and Bulabog beach, known to be well suited to kite surfing and windsurfing. There are a number of other activities that can be found in Boracay. Families can enjoy the glass bottom boat tours where kids can be delighted by the sight of real ‘Nemo’ fish (clown fish), starfish and more. They can also choose from other fun activities such as kayaking, snorkelling or beach volleyball. For adventure seekers, jet-skiing and quad biking are known to be popular. But the main attraction is the snorkelling/diving scene.

At night, there is a market along the path facing White Beach. Friendly stall holders sell hand-painted t-shirts, tribal wood carvings and Puka shell necklaces. On the beach, pretty sand sculptures are lit up by candles and bamboo flares. There are many restaurants and bars running along the beach also, with music and live shows such as fire breathing and dancers creating a fun, vibrant night-life.

Boracay can only be accessed by ferry or speedboat, and is about 2 kilometres north from the docks of Panay Island. There are no direct flights to Panay from the rest of the world, so island hopping is essential (Yay ^^). Boracay has often been noted by many (including TripAdvisor) as having the best beaches in the world, and for a good reason, the weather, the sand, the people and the overall atmosphere are simply the best.

Liam dela Fuente is a member of the Youth Travel Blogging Mentorship Program