Boracay: Why the "Blue Zone" continues to attract dreamers and seekers of meaning

Sun, wind, and community — that’s what lies behind the wave of relocations to the Philippine island. After the world returned to normal life, many asked themselves: why not start anew in a place where the natural way of life aligns with the strictest standards of longevity?

Magnet for a new lifestyle

Kite — one of the first to hear this call. A digital nomad by nature, he realized after quarantine: why stay in bustling Manila if his passion — kitesurfing — and work can be moved to the island? Will, who has just celebrated his half-century, decided to elevate his life further by leading the restoration of the food service and hospitality networks through CaféGotSoul Boracay. Diana from Cebu went against her surroundings, choosing a career in the hotel business, where she now manages Levantin on Bulabog Beach.

And there’s Julia — a Swede with eyes like seashells. Her journey was longer: volunteering in Mother Teresa’s hospitals in India, traveling across the continent, and finally settling on Boracay in 1989. She met her second half here, raised two children, and built a small business empire: Lemon Café in D’Mall, Dinibeach Bar and Restaurant, and the cozy Diniview resort complex high on the hill. From here, you get a full view of the sunset — a moment when the island reveals its true face.

Signs of the “Blue Zone” on Boracay

According to researchers, a “Blue Zone” is a geographic area where people live longer and suffer less from chronic diseases. Diet, movement, and community are the foundations of this phenomenon. Boracay seems to fit this profile.

Island residents naturally walk everywhere. “Everyone here walks, which is very characteristic of the Blue Zone,” explains Julia, taking her daily walks with her dog along the trails of Mount Lucho and cycling around her establishments. The island’s cuisine is built on the principle of maximum proximity to the source: fresh fish, vegetables straight from the garden, no industrial steaks. “The clean air we breathe every day is an additional health bonus,” she adds.

The spirit of community that keeps the island together

On Boracay, there is no anonymity. Will shares the pedestrian path to work with neighbors and sees how the entire staff of his café tirelessly cares for a rescued dog that now lives at the entrance. A foreigner runs past — 18 kilometers a day. A Japanese surfer, 82 years old, regularly heads to Freestyle Academy to perfect his kitesurfing skills. “That’s the life of the island,” notes Diana, whose home is a five-minute walk from the office.

When COVID quarantine hit the tourism sector hard, the community did not fall apart — it united. Although there were no official cases of infection on the island, many businesses closed due to the disappearance of tourists. It was the final blow after the “cleansing” of 2018 and the devastating typhoon of 2019. During the toughest period, there were 40 suicides. Fishermen had to find new sources of income, and those lucky enough to stay in operating hotels did everything — from security to cooking.

But instead of collapse, a miracle of unity happened. Julia and other business owners — Jony’s, The Lazy Dog, and Lemon Café itself — began sharing their staff, helping each other survive. It was a real example of mutual aid.

Protectors of nature, guardians of the island

Julia also heads the organization “Friends of Flying Foxes” (Friends of Flying Foxes, FFF), founded in 2002. This network of volunteers, wildlife specialists, and dedicated island supporters understands a simple truth: fruit bats are responsible for 90% of Boracay’s forest regeneration. They are vital to the ecosystem.

For two decades, FFF has been conducting monthly population counts. The alarm is loud: numbers are falling due to poaching and bulldozers that continue to destroy forests despite petitions from activists. Illegal tree cutting without permits, habitat destruction — all threaten the natural balance.

FFF does not oppose progress but demands development with adherence to environmental standards. The organization conducts extensive awareness campaigns so that everyone understands: Boracay thrives thanks to its natural beauty, not despite it.

Sunset as a promise

“We are so lucky to call this island home,” says Julia, looking from Diniview hill at the sunset today on Boracay, when the sky is painted in colors no artist can reproduce. “The spirit and kindness of the islanders keep us together, no matter what. Caring for the island, its environment, people, and animals — our top priority. We hope you will feel this in our establishments and on the island itself.”

Boracay remains a “Blue Zone” not because it is a geographical fact, but because the people who live here choose it every day: choosing to walk instead of drive, fresh food instead of processed, people instead of loneliness, nature instead of profit. And this choice — is what truly prolongs life.