BORACAY, Philippines (Reuters Life!) – Boracay is not the secluded, quiet island it used to be, but its picture-perfect White Beach still can’t be beat for a weekend getaway.

With over 150 resorts, restaurants and bars cheek-by-jowl on the sands, tourists are spoilt for choice.

Here are some recommendations by Reuters correspondents with local knowledge on how to make the most of a weekend on Boracay:

Saturday

8 a.m. – Get as early a flight as you can out of Manila to Caticlan, a small town on the island of Panay, about 300 km (186 miles) to the south. Only small planes operated by Air Philippines, Asian Spirit and SEA Air land there, but it’s only a short 40-minute flight.

If you are checking into one of the upmarket resorts, transfers will be arranged. Otherwise stroll down to the pier about 500 yards (meters) away and get into one of the many pump-boats that will take you to Boracay in a short 15-minutes.

11 a.m. – Check in, dump your bags in the room and make your way to the beach. No shoes, and wear little besides your trunks or bikini and suntan lotion. There’s no dress code on Boracay.

1 p.m. – Walk barefoot along the beach to Lemon Cafe inside D’Mall, a grouping of shops, restaurants and bars. It offers an excellent lunch — pizzas, sandwiches, juices and light mains.

3 p.m. – Time for a massage. The top-of-the-line Mandala Spa, on a hill in the centre of the island and at the Discovery Shores resort on the beach, offers several treatments, including the traditional Philippine hilot massage. There’s a vegetarian restaurant at the hillside location, and also rooms to stay.

5:30 p.m. – Get back to the beach for the best time of day. Boracay’s sunsets are legendary, and almost the entire island seems to be on the beach as the sun sinks and the boats are brought in. It’s also the best time of the day for a swim.

7:30 p.m. – A quick shower and then decide on dinner. Choices are manifold along the beach — grilled seafood at Gasthaus, steaks and sausages at the Steakhouse Boracay or fine French food with a bottle of wine at La Reserve, complete with a mini-Eiffel Tower at the entrance.

10 p.m. – On weekend nights, the beach throbs to music from several impromptu discos set up near the water. Places to be seen include Cocomangas bar or the nearby Club Paraw and partying continues into the wee hours.

Sunday

6 a.m. – If you can do it, a walk and a swim in the morning can be a tonic after the previous night’s excesses. Later, make you way to Cafe del Sol for a pep-me-up breakfast of omelettes, pancakes, fresh juice and coffee.

9 a.m. – A sailboat around the island is an extremely relaxing way of spending the morning. If you are more actively inclined, there are excellent dive sites within a kilometer (a half-mile) or so of the shore, and also snorkelling spots. Talk to your hotel’s front desk or to one of the operators strung out on the beach.

12 noon – Walk through D’Mall for knick-knacks, stone necklaces, pearls and beachwear. Or get a henna tattoo on the beach.

1 p.m. – Lunch is good at Aria, an Italian restaurant at the corner of D’Mall and White Beach. Or pick up something to go at Heidiland Deli within the mall.

3 p.m. – The Fairways & Bluewater Golf & Country Club is an 18-hole par 72 course set across the northern part of the island, from coast to coast.

If golf is not your thing, try a ride on an all-terrain buggy over mud tracks in the interior of the island.

Back in the water, there is kite-boarding and windsurfing at the Bulabog Beach, on the opposite side of the island to White Beach. Both sports require prior training, but a number of shops will offer beginners’ courses.

7 p.m. – To round off a memorable visit, try dinner at Friday’s resort. Staff there will place a table on the beach and serve a four-course candle-lit meal with wine.

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