Hi, I’m Sandra!
After traveling to over 60 countries and living on four different continents, I can honestly say I’ve found my paradise right here on Boracay Island.
My Story
I spent most of my twenties and thirties with a backpack, constantly chasing the next adventure. From the beaches of Thailand to the mountains of Peru, from bustling markets in Morocco to quiet temples in Myanmar – I was always on the move, always looking for that perfect place that felt like home.
Along the way, I collected stamps in my passport, stories to tell, and a pretty good sense of what makes a destination truly special versus just Instagram-worthy.
Then I found Boracay.
Why Boracay Became Home
I first came here in 2018, planning to stay for two weeks. That was supposed to be a quick stop before heading to Australia. Five years later, I’m still here, and I can’t imagine being anywhere else.
What kept me wasn’t just the obvious stuff – though yes, waking up to that view of White Beach never gets old. It was the way this small island manages to be both incredibly beautiful and genuinely welcoming. The way you can have a world-class beach experience in the morning and be sharing dinner with a local family by evening.
I’ve seen a lot of tropical paradises get ruined by tourism. Boracay has its challenges, sure, but there’s something resilient about this place and its people that gives me hope.
Why I Started This Guide
After living here for a few years, I realized that most visitors were missing out on so much of what makes Boracay special. They’d spend their entire vacation on one stretch of White Beach, eat at tourist restaurants, and leave thinking they’d “done” Boracay.
Meanwhile, I was discovering new beaches, finding incredible local food spots, and building relationships with people who’ve called this island home for generations.
I started writing about these experiences to help other travelers dig deeper. Not because White Beach isn’t amazing – it absolutely is – but because Boracay has so many layers that most people never peel back.
What You’ll Find Here
This isn’t your typical travel blog with perfect photos and fluff pieces about “hidden gems” that aren’t actually hidden. I write about Boracay the way I wish someone had written about it when I first arrived.
Real experiences: I’ve been to every beach, eaten at the hole-in-the-wall places, and made my share of mistakes so you don’t have to.
Local perspective: Living here means I see how tourism affects this community, what works, what doesn’t, and how visitors can travel more responsibly.
Honest reviews: Some beaches are overrated. Some restaurants aren’t worth your time. Some activities are tourist traps. I’ll tell you which ones.
Practical advice: How to actually get around, where to find the best deals, what to pack, and how to avoid the common pitfalls.
My Travel Philosophy
After all those years on the road, I’ve learned that the best travel experiences happen when you stop trying to check boxes and start paying attention to the place you’re actually in.
That might mean skipping the sunset sail to have dinner with your tricycle driver’s family. Or spending an extra day at a beach you weren’t planning to visit because the vibe just feels right. Or learning a few words of the local language because it opens doors you didn’t even know existed.
Boracay rewards this kind of curious, respectful approach to travel. The island has plenty to offer the quick visitor, but it reveals its best secrets to people who take the time to look deeper.
Living the Island Life
These days, my routine is pretty simple. I wake up early and walk one of the beaches – different one each day because I’m still discovering new details after all this time. I work from cafes around the island (the wifi is better than you’d expect). I practice my Tagalog with anyone patient enough to help. And I spend my evenings either exploring new spots or hanging out with the mix of locals and expats who’ve become my island family.
It’s not always paradise – island life comes with its own set of challenges, from power outages to typhoon season to the occasional bout of homesickness. But it’s real life in one of the most beautiful places on earth, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Connect With Me
I love hearing from fellow travelers, especially those who are thinking about visiting Boracay or who have their own island stories to share.
You can usually find me somewhere on the island – probably at a beach you haven’t heard of yet, or at one of the local eateries I’m always raving about in my posts.
If you’re planning a trip to Boracay, have questions about the island, or just want to share your own travel stories, don’t hesitate to reach out. After all these years of wandering, I’ve learned that the best part of travel isn’t the places you go – it’s the people you meet along the way.
Welcome to Boracay. I hope you fall in love with it the way I did.
P.S. – If you end up staying longer than planned (it happens more often than you’d think), drop me a line. I know all the best long-term accommodation deals on the island.
