Boracay, Philippines

Boracay is a small island about 200 miles southeast of Manila. Its shape is akin to a dumbbell or a dog-bone, and the narrow strip in the middle is rimmed with two of the world’s most beautiful beaches. The name of White Beach, on the western side, is almost an understatement. It is vividly white and the shallow water offshore shines a candy blue. Add lush coco palms and other tropical vegetation, and a burgeoning community of upscale resorts, restaurants and shops, and you have a prescription for relaxation and aquatic recreation. At other spots around the island, surprise! More beaches.