Enjoy the quiet of our most famous beach in the comfort of Crimson Resort and Spa Boracay
The rains are no match for Boracay’s beauty at the Crimson Resort & Spa Boracay
There is a beauty to visiting the beach this time of year when the cold southwestern winds blow in, bringing with it dark clouds and rain. Vivid colors are muted and the musical noise give way to whistling winds in a desolate shoreline. Even Boracay, the most vivacious beach in a country filled with so many, finds itself pliant to the weather’s moods.
Boracay during the peak of summer becomes Bora, and hordes of sun worshippers and hard-partiers from all over the world descend to its shores. The island hums with a constant buzz fuelled by rum cokes, sugary shakes and tanning oil. During golden hour, when the equator filters the sun’s rays into the
most magnificent light, one can barely see the stunning view with everyone’s camera out, blocking the view of the glittering sunset melting into an opalescent sea, our own Mona Lisa.
During the rainy season, from June to September, the level of human contact and man-made noise goes down, and the island’s own serene melody rises to the fore. Only the waves jostle the sea and it’s mostly locals roaming the shore. This is Boracay for when you want peace and quiet, when plump little children and their bucket hats take the place of hard-bodied teenagers and their itsy-bitsy bikinis.
Crimson Resort & Spa Boracay is the ideal place for Boracay during the rainy season. The brand new resort, which opened only in 2018, is located at Station Zero and shares its beach with a few other select resorts. Far from the hustle and bustle of White Beach, the resort offers a premium holiday experience. Upon arrival at the airport, Crimson’s guests are whisked away for private transfers, which include cold drinks, scented towels, speedboats, and swift checkins.
Crimson has almost 200 rooms, including several suites and villas with their own private pool and priceless views of the ocean. There are three restaurants, several pools, a play area for kids, a gym, and all other amenities one expects from luxurious getaways. Service is gracious and unmistakably Filipino, willing to take the extra step just to ensure that each guest feels pampered. During our stay, they loaned us a deluxe room to rest in as we’d arrived hours before the allotted check-in time. A note—when Crimson opened its doors last year, Boracay was closed down a month later. The island’s rehabilitation is still in the works, but you can feel the sense of relief and the service staff’s joy in getting back to work.
Ensconced in Crimson’s private paradise, it’s easy to forget the unfinished roadworks and other changes brought about by new sustainability efforts, but Crimson is one of the resorts where you can see glimpses of an ideal future for the island. It’s one that is clean, orderly, with enough space for solo tourists, families, and partyphiles alike.
Dining in Crimson is wonderful with its three restaurants and round-theclock room service. Saffron is the buffet area, where the familiar and favorites from world cuisines are found. For breakfast, expect everything from buttery croissants, freshly brewed cappuccinos, delicately flavored noodle soups, hearty curries, and silog stalwarts—beef tapa, bacon, and other kinds of cured meats and fish. Mosaic meanwhile, is a Latin American grill specializing in surf and turf. Try the Australian wagyu tomahawk, which is served fresh from the grill and with an array of side dishes ranging from grilled vegetables to sinful steak rice. Other must-tries include the Ceviche Nikkei with its plump scallops in ginger and banana broth, and the briny Clásico Ceviche Peruano, a mix of mackerel, tiger’s milk and coriander. End the meal with the Classico Baba Flambeado Con Ron—a rum cake that is fired up tableside—or the Dulce de Leche, a wicked combination of sticky caramel milk, sponge cake and crunchy alfajor cookies. For more over-the-top dining, the Azure Beach Club offers a fresh seafood platter—a steal for its price—that includes crabs, juicy scallops, prawns the size of an outstretched palm, and other stunningly fresh seafood. Pair it with a cool carafe of white wine and a view of Crimson’s main pool. Fresh, crunchy salads, spicy noodles, and rich fruit shakes are also yours for the choosing. After all that, all you need a nice stretch in the sun and nap. Perhaps a G&T.
The monsoon is no match for the beauty of Boracay. Even muted under the rain, the spirit and the color of the island shines through. It’s different, yes, but still worth the trip. Whether you’re bobbing in the shore, splashing about in Crimson’s many cobalt blue pools or soaking in a tub, enjoying a view of the sea, Boracay will always, always be a good idea.
“THE MONSOON IS NO MATCH FOR THE BEAUTY OF BORACAY. EVEN MUTED UNDER THE RAIN, THE SPIRIT AND THE COLOR THROUGH” OF THE ISLAND SHINES