• POPULATION 12,000
• SIZE 4 square miles

Despite being one of the smaller islands in the archipelago, Boracay is the Philippine island that makes the most noise, stays up latest and has the groggiest voice in the morning. The epicentre of the party is White Beach (pictured), a 2V&-mile strip of soft white sand that has — over a few decades — morphed from a laid-back hippie hangout to an energetic nightlife capital of Southeast Asia, with countless bars beneath the seafront palms.

There’s plenty to keep hungover souls busy too: try the easy climb to the viewing deck atop Mount Luho (more of a hill really) for views out to the neighbouring islands of Carabao and Tablas, or charter a ride on a paraw – a type of outrigger sail boat that sweeps gracefully along the island’s shore. Set sail at sunset to stand a chance of spotting large fruit bats crowding the skies of Boracay just before crowds of revellers make for the watering holes of White Beach.

• GETTING THERE – Fly from Singapore or Kuala Lumpur on Air Asia to Manila before taking a 35-minute flight on Philippine Airlines to Caticlan-Boracay. A fleet of small boats makes the 15-minute crossing to Boracay itself (from US$4).