With the whole world to explore, and so many paradise holiday destinations to visit, choosing the ideal one can be surprisingly challenging. Mauritius and Boracay are both exceptional in their own ways, but definitely cater for different tourist types.
This article will provide a comparison of Boracay with Mauritius and help you to identify which is the better destination for your paradise holiday.

A honeymoon - Mauritius
A backpack or inexpensive trip - Boracay
The 5-star treatment - Mauritius

Boracay (area 10km²)
Boracay is a small paradise island found within the Philippines archipelago. There is just a single resort town which spans the length of the beach, and this is where all of the tourism development is found. The 4km beach is divided into three sections (named “stations” as boats historically moor here); Station 2 is the lively central area, Station 3 is calm and peaceful, while Station 1 is where the luxurious hotels tend to be situated.

Mauritius (area 2,040km2)
Mauritius is a dormant volcanic island found in the southern Indian Ocean. This is a sizable island, with multiple white sand coastlines, a mountainous interior and numerous resort towns.

The main tourist areas tend to be along the sheltered northern coastline and include Grand Baie, Trou-aux-Biches and Balaclava. There are hotels and tourist areas dotted all over Mauritius and are found on almost every beach, and there are many outstanding beaches!
The capital city, Port Louis, is a residential and commercial hub, not really designed for tourists on a holiday.

Mauritius is the paradise island where you would take older parents or younger children, or for a truly hassle-free holiday. There is considerably less risk from food illness, petty crime, or annoying tourist exploitation, such as overcharging or endless haggling.

Mauritius is one of the safest (based on illness, crime and hassle) holiday destinations in the Africa, India, South East Asia region. If you want an exotic destination but with the comforts of home, then this should be your choice of destination.

Mauritius may be perfectly safe but it far from dull, there are towering volcanoes to explore, reefs to snorkel and forests to hike through.

Encircling Mauritius is a coral reef, and this provides soft white sands and calm sea waters, along with countless snorkelling locations. The south of the island is dominated by huge dormant volcanoes, and the Black River Gorges National Park provides wondrous natural scenery along with challenging hiking trails.
There is a lot to discover while on holiday to Mauritius, and is an ideal holiday destination if you want more than just beaches.
Related articles: Guide to Flic en Flac

Boracay is a heady mixture of so many great things; tropical paradise, vibrant nightlife and social atmosphere. It is easy to understand why it is the most popular beach resort of the Philippines.

By day Boracay is relaxed and laidback, but once the sun sets the bars fill and the energy of the island grows. Boracay knows how to party!

Boracay attracts an eclectic mixture of visitors, from tight budget backpackers through to 5-star aficionados, along with a multitude of different nations. There is the vibe of a backpacker hangout but the caterings for the modern tourist.

There are snorkelling and diving excursions and trips other smaller islands but you mainly come to Boracay spend time on the beach. Boracay is the destination for you if you what a chaotic mixture beaches, nightlife and unpredictable excitement…..

Insight: Most visitors to Boracay combine the island with a secondary destination in the Philippines, and the lack of an international airport often forces this.

Mauritius offers almost perfect weather for nine months of the year from April through to the end of December. At the tail end of the hot and humid southern hemisphere summer, is an unpredictable rainy season with constant rains from mid-January until the end of March.

The winter months of Mauritius (June to September) offer slightly less humid weather and is the best season to visit. During July and August, a powerful seasonal wind blows in from the Indian Ocean, and the eastern coastline is exposed to these strong winds. At this time of year, plan your holiday around the more sheltered western or northern coastlines.

Boracay has two distinct seasons Habagat (wet - June to October) and Amihan (dry November and April) – and the dry season is the much better time to visit! Both seasons are tied to the wind direction with Habagat experiencing moisture ladened northeast winds, while Amihan has drier northeast winds. Typhoons are difficult to predict but can form any time from July to October. The peak season is around Christmas when hotels will be fully sold out.

The beautiful beach of Boracay was the sole reason that the island was transformed into a major tourist destination. This is a paradise beach.

Mauritius
Mauritius has a coastline which extends for over 183km and more than 70% it is formed of white coral sand beaches.

With an island as diverse and varied as Mauritius there is every style of beach possible. There is the picturesque cove Beach at the centre of Grand Baie, the tranquil setting of Balaclava or the 4km long beach at Flic en Flac. The one trait which is true of all of Mauritius beaches are the calm sea waters, which are protected from the waves and currents of the Indian Ocean by the coral reef which encircles the island.

Along with being calm, the sea waters are invitingly warm year-round at 24-28C. The only consideration is that the lagoon waters between the beaches and coral reef are scattered with fragmented corals and it is advisable to bring some water shoes.
As noted in the weather section, the eastern coastline is exposed to a strong breeze during July and August.

Mauritius

Boracay - Boracay’s small size means that day trips and alternative activities are slightly limited. There are boat tours (often sold as island hopping tours), but the highlights are Magic Island and Crystal Cove, where there is good snorkelling at both. A popular evening activity are the sunset cruises on the Paraw Sailing boats.

Boracay - The lack of an international airport is a major consideration for any trip to Boracay. Most visitors have to fly into Manila, then take a domestic flight to Malay, and from here it’s a short ferry to Boracay. There is horrendous traffic around Manila airport and making domestic connections can be nerve-wracking. Unfortunate this often means that a night is needed in Manila, which is a polluted and chaotic city with very little to see and few positives.

Mauritius is served by a modern international airport which is on the southern side of island. Transfers take around 90 minutes to the northern resort towns

Boracay - The island is safe, but there is always the very slight threat from terrorism or extremist. To compensate there is a high level of security to reach Boracay, with metal detectors and a high (but subtle) police presence. There is almost no crime, and most issues are from visitors doing silly things.

Mauritius is a very safe holiday destination, and is a comparatively wealthy country. The ideal destination for families or more mature visitors.

Boracay may be small, but it punches well above its size. The beach front, known as the Path is lined with multiple bars serving inexpensive drinks, and then later in the night, social night clubs partying late into the night.