Click here for Summer 2012 Boracay Itinerary Part 1 (Preparation & Day 1)

 

Day 2:

We started the day with the inclusive breakfast in Tan’s Guesthouse’s roof deck. It was a plated breakfast with different silog meals to choose from. It actually used to be a buffet breakfast on my previous stays; no biggie considering the competitive accommodation price we had. I had tapsilog that morning :).

 

For our first activity, we headed to White Blue, a reef walk provider, located in Station 3. By the way, reef walk is also known as helmet dive (just in case you’re confused). Ang aga namin gumising ‘coz they say it’s better to have this activity early in morning, like 8 or 9AM, when fishes are most active.

Good morning Boracay, we’re so ready for the day ahead!

 

Reef Walking was regularly priced at P450 per head but we got it at only P375 since we were seven, deal! It was actually slightly more expensive than the competition. But what White Blue boasts is that they only use oxygen tanks for the air supply under the sea which can provide a more natural breathing than an air compressor.

the barge where reef walks are conducted – a 3 to 5-minute boat navigation from the shore

 

Tama ng introduction. This is it!

mmm… ang konti ng isda that day compare sa previous reef walks ko
Tip: The CD containing the pictures and video can be claimed the day after the activity; so do this NOT on your LAST day in Boracay.

 

feeding the fishes with monay :)

 

For lunch, we headed to D’ Talipapa in Station 3 for the paluto experience. The wet market section almost have it all – from fishes, shells foods, poultry and pork.

you buy your own meat here – in fairness, lahat fresh!

 

This was already my third time in Boracay but only my first time to try paluto – hangsarap at ang hangsaya! We had our food cooked in Sababi Boracay which is just in front of the wet market.

 

All of these, plus soft drinks and the cooking charge, for just P1,855! This is one of the perks of traveling in a group – you can order different dishes and have them shared.

super sulit; a must-try in Boracay

 

We just took a rest at noon time then did mostly beach bumming along the shore that afternoon. Of course, kasama na run ang harutan at kulitan :).

best thing to do in Boracay – UBE: Ultimate Bonding Experience – and it’s free!

 

And just when the sun was about to set, hindi kami nakatiis… nag-banana boat kami for just P120 per head :D.

last time our group did this was in Puerto Galera; and we say Boracay’s muchie much more fun
’yung tipong tumatagilid kau tapos madadaganan ka nung nasa harapan mo

 

Our contact person/agent for Banana Boat is Mang Niño. He was also my contact person during my Boracay 2011 trip. He is well-recommended by forum members in PinoyExchange. For your reference, his contact number is +63-915-8722855. By the way, he referred us to Diamond Water Sports, one of the most reliable activity providers in Boracay, for the Banana Boat.

banana boat will always be a classic beach activity – approved ;)

 

Ahhhh… lovely Boracay sunset (andaming lumot)

we call ourselves the Tictac Gang (sana kumpleto na next time)

 

ciempre may solo shot ako

 

sunset is perfect for silhouette shot

 

For dinner, we tried Hawaiian Bar-B-Que’s Baby Back Ribs. We also had their pineapple rice, and garlic mushrooms for side dish.

everyone agreed that the baby back ribs, though not the best, is really good nevertheless

 

Late in the evening, we went to Cocomangas along the main road in Station 1. The bar is famous for its “Still Standing After 15” challenge.

view of the dance floor from our elevated couch (invaded ng Taiwanese at Koreans)

 

Mechanics: “Cocomangas has a shooter list of 15 drinks. Drink the shooters and if you’re Still Standing After 15, you’ll have your name engraved on Boracay’s Wall of Fame and win a Cocomangas T-Shirt.”

15 shots for P1,200+

 

One of my friends took the challenge. And yes, he was still standing after 15!

inuwi na namin siya after this bago pa mahuli ang lahat while he was still standing :p

 

Day 2 Expenses:
Reef Walk by White Blue = P375
Lunch (Paluto at D' Talipapa) = P265 (P1,855 divided by 7)
Banana Boat by Diamond Water Sports = P120
Dinner (Hawaiian Bar-B-Que) = P275
Miscellaneous (Chori Burger, Tricycle, Water) = P115
Total = P1,150

 

Day 3:

Our third day in Boracay happened to be a Palm Sunday. So after breakfast, we went to Holy Rosary Parish located along the main road in Station 1.

Palm Sunday – the start of the Holy Week

 

After hearing mass, we headed to Jonah’s Fruitshake to beat the morning heat.

chikka minute

 

Oh, wag kalimutan mag-picture sa grotto ha, abot-tanaw na ‘yun from Jonah’s.

the grotto at the back is one of Boracay’s landmarks

 

Last day na ng friends ko, so it was beach bumming the rest of the morning. Btw, nagpa-henna pala ako for P250 – a little pricey but I loved the outcome.

stars are in, tribal is so out!

 

Before my friends headed to the airport, we had lunch together at Ole Restaurant in D’ Mall.

Spanish-themed restaurant with, of course, Spanish-themed interiors (and pa-sexy waitresses)

 

food is pricey but is really good nevertheless

 

My high school friends left for Manila after lunch while I was left alone in the island – looking forward for some “me time” - to reflect and ponder. My heart was actually breaking back then coming from a long term relationship that eventually didn’t work. In short, gusto ko mag-emote hihi. Anyway, this marked my first ever solo travel.

 

I moved accommodation to Boracay Beach Resort in Station 1 for my last night in Boracay. I got a native style room with a hammock outside.

relaxation on the hammock was such a bonus treat for me; didn’t know my room has one
and of course, beach bumming just before sunset – a relatively quiet afternoon for me
Click here for my full review of Boracay Beach Resort Standard Bungalow room

 

To be honest, I was not really that alone. My college classmate (who was also my officemate) was there. So sweet of her to invite me to join them for dinner para hindi ako loner hehe. I had dinner with the rest of her family at Gasthof. Bestseller here is their Baby Back Ribs.

dinner by the beach
I was not a loner after all

 

For dessert, we tried my well-recommended Mati Cholocated Sin in Zuzuni located in Station 1. It’s a little pricey at P272 each but you must still try it at least once in your life!

sinful yet heavenly

 

And there was this surprise gift for my upcoming birthday…

Lacoste Essentials – love the subtle scent! Thank you :)

 

Alone again by midnight, I just spent my last night in Epic Bar located in Station 2. I just had a bottle of Red Horse (P70) and Tanduay Ice (P80).

it was a Sunday night (Monday morning??) and the bar wasn’t really that full

 

Day 3 Expenses:
Tricycle to Church = 10
Palaspas (for Palm Sunday) = 20
Morning Merienda (Jonah’s Fruitshake) = 110
Henna = 250
Lunch (Ole) = 270
Dinner (Gasthof) = 0 –> friend’s treat
Dessert (Zuzuni’s Mati Chocolate Sin) = 272
Epic Bar = 150
Total = 1,082

 

Day 4:

For my last day in Boracay, I had my accommodation-inclusive breakfast at Café Del Mar which is just in front of Boracay Beach Resort, same owners I believe.

it was a filling breakfast with these two eggs

 

I just spent the rest of the morning walking and beach bumming along the shore. Beach bumming again?? Oh yes! It’s something that you won’t get enough when in Boracay ;).

 

I skipped lunch and rather just had another round of Jonah’s Banana Choco Peanut shake instead. For souvenirs, I would still recommend D’ Talipapa over D’ Mall. A wider variety of items plus cheaper prices.

D’ Talipapa souvenir shops

 

Day 4 Expenses:
Lunch (Jonah’s Fruitshake) = 110
Souvenirs (D’ Talipapa) = 935
Miscellaneous (tricycle, water, etc.) = 30
Total = 1,075

 

I still prefer traveling to/from Boracay through the Kalibo Airport – allows me to choose a flight that utilizes a jet type plane.

bound for Manila (ang cute ng katabi ko sa plane hihi)

 

Going Home Expenses:
Tricycle (D’ Mall to Cagban Port) = 100 –> chartered trip
Cagban Port Terminal Fee = 50
Pump Boat (Cagban Port to Caticlan Jetty Port) = 25
Van (Caticlan to Kalibo Airport) = 175
Kalibo Airport Terminal Fee = 40
Merienda at Kalibo Airport = 95
Tranpo Expenses in Manila (taxi, MRT, van, etc.) = 239
Total = 724

 

Grand Total = P15,600 ALL-IN from tickets to solo accommodations, transportation, food, activities, etc. for 4 days and 3 nights – or P11,548 excluding the flight tickets. This budget could have been lower if I had a roommate for those 3 nights. But it’s ok, at least I had some privacy… if you know what I mean, lol.

Yeah I know, it’s 2014 already and I’m blogging my 2012 Boracay itinerary. Eh di ako na po ang tinamad mag-blog! Sorry, I was so busy sa pag-emote then eventually sa pag-flirt love life (btw, I’m technically single as of this writing lol).

 

Anyway, this was actually my third time in Boracay but this was the first time for me to be with a group – my high school friends. So for this trip, there were things that I was finally able to try for they’re more practical to be done when you’re a group of, say, at least four (we were seven). This also marked my first solo travel as I stayed for one night in the island alone (not quite actually). More of these as we go through the itinerary ;).

 

Preparation (including Tickets and Accommodation):

Part of any trip is the preparation. We had this vacation end of March 2012 and we actually booked our tickets September 2011 (hindi kami excited). We got:
Manila to Caticlan via AirPhil Express = P2,200 per pax
Kalibo to Manila via Philippine Airlines = P1,852 per pax
Surprisingly, AirPhil Express (now PAL Express) and Philippine Airlines had (and still have) better rates than Cebu Pacific.

the new Godofredo P. Ramos Airport a.k.a. Boracay Airport
ang lakas maka-photo bomb oh

 

Click here for a more detailed guide on How to Go to Boracay (Directions and Fees)

 

For the accommodation, we reserved at Tans Guesthouse located in Station 2 for the first two nights – the same guesthouse where I stayed in my past Boracay trips. It’s no luxury accommodation but has all the basic amenities that a traveler needs for an affordable price, not to mention the very strategic location. We distributed our group into four rooms since we were consisted of couples, sisterettes, and yours truly. I decided to have my own room for 1,500 per room per night.

Tan’s Guesthouse Room 9: my simple little room for my first two nights
Click here for my full review of Tans Guesthouse Room 9

 

For my last night, I transferred to Boracay Beach Resort and got a Standard Bungalow room for P3,361 per room per night; a bit hefty since it was already Holy Week (Palm Sunday) then which is considered a “super peak” season. What I like on this hotel is its central location – very near D’ Mall in Station 2, and is a beachfront property. Reservation was done through myboracayguide.com.

Boracay Beach Resort Standard Bungalow
it’s a native style old room but is maintained and clean nevertheless
Click here for my full review Boracay Beach Resort Standard Bungalow room

 

Ticket and Accommodation Expenses:
Round-trip Airfare = 4,052
NAIA 3 Terminal Fee = 200 –> no need to pay this separately starting July 2012!
Tricycle: Caticlan Airport to Caticlan Jetty Port (50/chartered trip) = 17
Environmental Fee = 75
Caticlan Jetty Port Terminal Fee = 50
Pump Boat: Caticlan Jetty Port to Cagban Port = 25
Tricycle: Cagban Port to D' Mall (100/chartered trip) = 34
Tan's Guesthouse (1,200 for 2 nights) = 2,400 –> solo in the room
Boracay Beach Resort = 3,361 –> solo in the room
Miscellaneous (bottled water) = 17
Total = 10,231 –> or 6,179 excluding the airfare

 

Day 1:

My friends left me the responsibility of picking the must-try food places. Our first stop was at the famous Smoke Resto which is actually more of a carenderia than a restaurant.

 

I recommended them Chili Chicken which is one of the bestsellers and they like it. It has always been my favorite dish in Smoke Resto. Beef Salpicao is also really good and my second favorite here ;). Another bestseller is Sizzling Bulalo but I personally find it as just average.

a Smoke Resto must-try! affordable at just P100
[picture grabbed from my 2011 Boracay post]

 

Strolling around D’ Mall after lunch para matagtag ang kinain.

 

For the activities, we initially had a certain Mang Danny as our contact person/agent. He was recommended by another travel blog but I won’t be posting his number anymore as we had a not so good experience with him (details later). We had an hour of ATV ride as our first activity for P350 per head. Our activity provider where Mang Danny referred us was Red Coral.

the ATV site/starting point; and there was an amusement park under construction
[again, this was during my Boracay 2012, this could probably be operational by now]

 

very crappy ATV’s by Red Coral; ask for another ATV provider!
there were instances where our ATV’s stopped along the way, duh!

 

Part of the ATV ride was a stop over at Ocean Tower where we had an overlooking view of Boracay. Entrance fee is P50.

Ocean Tower seemed to had overtaken Mt. Luho Viewpoint as the default place to have a 360-degree view of Boracay

 

We had a free ride from the ATV site going back to the beach through Red Coral’s shuttle service.

 

One of Boracay’s trademarks for merienda – Jonah’s Fruitshake!

 

Most of us ordered the bestseller Banana Choco Peanut Shake; while others preferred the simpler Chocolate Milkshake which they said was like Sustagen hehe. Both cost P110 then.

awww, lost ang diet!

 

At around 4:30PM, we met w/ Mang Danny again for our Paraw Sailing activity. I was very excited as I wasn’t able to try this on my previous Boracay trips. We were seven so we were given a bigger than usual paraw boat for 1,200 (price per boat, not per head) for an hour of sailing.

you can do this at day time but it’s best to have this approaching sunset ;)

 

Boracay sunset is lovelier watching it while paraw sailing. It was actually a little cloudy the day we had this; we still loved the experience nevertheless. The boat was driven by the wind, no motor at all – which made the navigation calm and serene. It was such a relaxing experience.

this is definitely a must-try activity

 

Now, this is the reason why we don’t recommend Mang Danny, our activity contact person/agent that day. Before boarding the boat, we initially paid him P500. When we gave him the additional P700 to complete the payment, he claimed that he can’t recall that an initial P500 was paid. We ended up paying another P500 (total of P1,700 instead of just P1,200) to avoid further arguments. He actually looked sincere. But whether he was lying or not, what happened was still a big disappointment to us. The two paraw boatmen advised us to deal directly with the boatmen next time. Oh well, charge to experience.

 

Moving forward, we went back to our rooms to have a break and freshen up for the night activities. We then had a buffet dinner at Alf’s Resto located in front of D’ Mall in Station 2.

Whoa, it was already P380 per head! It was just P350 the previous year

 

Dishes were mainly Filipino; and the same with my remark on my 2011 Boracay – the food was just average. But we were so hungry then kaya keri na rin. In fairness, the kaldereta is good. Actually, ‘yun lang ang naalala kong ok.

dinner buffet along the beach front; very common in Boracay at night

 

Of course, always present ang mandatory picture with the very entertaining fire dancers.

these fire dancers perform nightly in front of a restaurant in Station 1
passersby are most welcome to watch

 

Tip: Get yourself BEHIND the fire when having a picture with the fire dancers. Otherwise, ganito ang finish product:

against the light (take 2 please)

 

The fire must be in FRONT of you para maliwanag. Ganito:

maghanda ng barya, tip of at least P20 will do

 

Before midnight, we just passed by Club Paraw in Station 1. We didn’t order anything; as in literally, dumaan lang kami. There was no entrance fee back then, I’m not sure now.

 

Club Paraw used to be my favorite bar in Boracay. But it was getting more of a prostitution den now. So many pokpok (prostitutes) infesting the bar, waiting for their customers – mostly foreigners. It was getting less classier at Club Paraw, ugh!

this used to be the place “where memories are made”
bring back the glory of Club Paraw please

 

The club was so full and we were very tired already. Most of my companions are not also that fond of partying. We decided to just go back to our rooms and have a good night’s sleep.

 

Day 1 Expenses:
Lunch (Smoke Resto) = 100
ATV = 350
Ocean Tower Entrance Fee = 50
Merienda (Jonah’s) = 110
Paraw Sailing = 243 –> 1,700 divided by 7pax (originally at 1,200 only; story above)
Dinner (Buffet at Alf’s Resto) = 380
Fire Dance Tip = 40
Miscellaneous (tricycle, water) = 65
Total = 1,338

 

Click here for the Part 2 of this Boracay Itinerary (Days 2, 3 & 4): Reef Walk, Paluto, Banana Boat, Still Standing After 15, and more! :).