When in Boracay

October 13th 2011. Thursday noon. Me and my family were on our way to Boracay Island. The country's famed prized possession because of it's white sands and pristine waters. Let me share with you my fantastic experience in one of the world's best beach haven. 

The Ride

We took a plane via Air Phil express. We were lucky to get a seat sale sometime last April. It was a 45-minute flight from Manila to Kalibo. Getting there all the way from the Kalibo airport was a bit tiring though because we still have to ride a van for 2 hours and then take the Caticlan jettyport ferry boat afterwards. The boat ride took 20 minutes. For those who want to cut the hassle, I recommend that you take a flight straight to Caticlan.

We finally arrived in Boracay. There are lots of multi-cab cars and tricycles that can take you straight to your hotels. The fare for the multi-cab is P250 while tricycles charge P200. We opted to ride the multi-cab because there were 7 of us and we had lots of bags at hand. The multi-cab ride took 10 minutes.

The Hotel

We stayed at A-Rock Boracay located in Station 3. It's a non-beachfront resort but it's just one street corner away from the White Beach.

We took the air-conditioned family room with 2 queen-sized beds and one spare mattress. The room is pleasant enough with a clean bathroom, cabinets, a simple couch, mini-veranda and a cable television. There is also a mini restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

Helmet Diving

We spent our second day to try the Helmet Diving. We were charged P350 each. the package includes a 20-minute helmet dive with free pictures and video. We rode a tricycle which took us to the other side of the island then boarded a motorboat which took us in the middle of the sea. There is another boat stationed there. We then hopped into the other boat. The person in-charge gave us a brief orientation about helmet diving and what to do when you're down there.

The helmet weighs 25 kg but it feels nothing at all when you are underwater. It is the best and worse first time experience for me. Worse because I cannot stand the pressure on my ears down there. At some point I had difficulty breathing but when I got the technique of exhaling properly all was okay. And best because I got to walk underwater. It was a dream come true! I took a moment to see the corals and starfishes. I also enjoyed my friendly encounter with fishes I've never seen before. and we got to feed them too!

Island Hopping

We were able to rent a boat for only P1,500. Thanks to my mom's good bargaining skills, the manong bangkero agreed to take us. 

First stop, Crocodile Island. The island's formation really looks like a body of a crocodile. It's a good spot for snorkeling and diving. 

Then we went to a snorkeling site not far away from the island. It was really fun! snorkeling in Boracay is truly one of a kind. And we got to feed the fishes again! We also had a peek at Crystal Cove Island and ended our adventure on a relaxing swim in Puka Beach. 

Boracay beach front. heavenly!

Other things to do in Boracay

Water Sport activities: banana boat ride and fly fish - We tried the classic banana boat ride (P250/pax for 15 mins) while our friends tried the fly fish  (400/pax for 15 mins).

Henna Tattoo and braids- Take a leisurely walk on the island's 3-km stretch. There are lots of tattoo and braid stands to choose from. The price usually ranges from P100-P150 depending on the design.

Shopping!

Of course, your stay will not be complete without this. Boracay has a wide array of goods to choose from and every station has it's own shopping spots. It's best to buy in bulk to get a good discount. Shirts, hats and sarongs usually range from P170-P300.

Bracelets, earrings, keychains and other accessories range from P10-P60. It definitely fits all kinds of budgets.

It was a well-deserved vacation indeed! I'm happy that we were able to maximize the whole island experience. I'm planning to go back but I want to explore the rest of what our country has to offer. So much for our Boracay adventure, We definitely got more than what we payed for!