Boracay Adventure 2014

15 Things we did in Boracay
April 6-10, 2014

1.  Willy's Rock
2.  Helmet Dive
3.  Island Hopping
4.  Banana Boat Ride
5.  Beach Combing
6.  Zipline
7.  Zorb
8.  ATV and Buggy
9.  Mt. Luho Viewpoint
10. D'mall
11. Jet Ski
12. Parasail
13. Wave Rider
14. Fire Dance
15. Food Trip

Photos

Boracay Adventure 2014 Music Video

Trip Notes

• Manila-Kalibo round trip airfare is P4,007 via Airasia with 20 kls baggage and insurance.
• Caticlan Airport is a better choice for Boracay but air fare is more expensive.
• Hotel booking at La Carmela de Boracay via Agoda for four nights is P26,098 for Premier Ocean View and P14,079 for Executive Deluxe, both rooms max 4 persons with breakfasts for 2.
• Kalibo-hotel round trip transfers was arranged through La Carmela for P1,150 per pax including environmental and terminal fees, boat and public coaches.
• Booking your transfers with La Carmela is a good idea because they have their own boat and terminal at the port so you don't have to queue and wait for scheduled public boats at the main Caticlan port.  Other hotels have this kind of service too.
• Kalibo to Caticlan port takes 2 hours by bus.  Boat ride and van from port to hotel is approximately 15 minutes each.
• Main transportation is tricycle, tourist fare is P20 and P10 for the locals.  Take the ones passing by the high way, not the ones in terminals 'cause they charge more.    
• Try to avoid the guides offering activities along the way, they are legit but their prices are steep.  For water sports activities, they have their desks in a tent at station 1, in front of Astoria and station 3, just after Sands hotel.
• Advantage of having a guide, hand him your camera and let him cover for you.
• Boracay is not a good place for snorkeling and helmet diving. Poor sea life and fish are scarce.  
• US$1 = PHP45.

April 6

Arrived at Kalibo airport at 8am then took the bus to Caticlan.

Arrived in Caticlan atfer 2 hours of bus ride.  This is La Carmela's own terminal in Caticlan, away from the crowded Caticlan port.  We will take the boat from here to Boracay Island.

We are now officially in Boracay Island.  Waiting for La Carmela's van to pick us up.

La Carmela de Boracay.  Finally, we arrived at the hotel at 11am.  Standard check-in time is 2pm but out Premier Ocean View room is already vacant so they let us for early check-in while waiting for the 2 Executive Deluxe rooms become available at 2pm.  It's Sunday and very busy that we got all our rooms at a later time.

Executive Deluxe

Executive Deluxe

Veranda of Premier Ocean View

• Both rooms looks the same except that the Premier Ocean View has an ocean view of course and a nicer bathroom.  They all have TV, air-conditioner, refrigerator, closet, free coffee and desk.

After checking in, everyone seem very tired from the trip and just stayed at the hotel while I stroll around the beach looking for things to do during our stay.

It's dinner time and looks like everyone is still tired to move around, they decided to eat near the hotel while I, my brother and nephew went to D'mall to eat at Tres Amigos.  We ordered shrimp taco, beef burrito, chicken fajitas and cheese quesadillas.  Check out our dinner here. 

After this authentic Mexican dinner, we called it the night and prepare for the next day.

April 7

Our first sunrise in Boracay, but some of us are still too lazy to get up, so only 5 of us went out, walked the stretch of White Beach from La Carmela to Willy's Rock in station 1.  Took some pictures and tried the famous Jonah's Milkshake.  It's truly delicious, we all ordered Avocado smoothies.

Willy's Rock

Jonah's Restaurant

When we got back to the hotel, everybody is now excited and ready to take on Boracay, this is where the adventure really starts.  After talking to several guides who offers activities in the island, we met Mark (+639107625684), who gave us the cheapest package.  For P1,500 each, he included helmet diving, island hopping, zipline and banana boat ride.  I know this is not the cheapest way to try them all, I should have arranged directly to the operators of the activities to avoid the additional amount the guides put on top of the prices, but I can't find their stations at the beach and on the net, especially the ones inland like the ATV, zorb and zipline, but for water activities, they all have their desks at stations 1 and 3, so you can't go wrong with water sports prices.  Anyway, seems we find Mark's offer cheap, we took the deal.  

Helmet Dive.  We started with helmet diving first.  The operator is Shingley, this is a different operator from the first one I tried 5 years ago, White Blue Water. Between them, White Blue has better helmets, with Shingley's, we have to hold down our helmets to keep them from tilting back.  Unlike the other, their helmet has a bigger visor and is sitting perfectly on my shoulders that I can use both of my hands to feed the fish and make crazy antics.

From the beach, they will take you to the site via boat where you will have your orientation and the helmet dive itself.  The whole experience is about 30 minutes and about 15 minutes walking under the sea and feeding the fish.  Photos and video included.

I'm not in the picture....:(

Shingley's Helmet Dive

This was my White Blue Helmet Dive 5 years ago.  We paid P700 each for this one with photos and video.

White Blue Water Helmet Dive

Island Hopping.  Island hopping in Boracay includes snorkeling(gears included), visits to different beaches of the island itself plus the Crystal Cove in a different island.  Unfortunately, the weather is not on our side, it's wavy and windy, we can't reach the other side of Boracay where Crystal Cove and the other beaches are.  We can't do anything and are just stuck on the boat most of the time.  The only thing we did is snorkeling, they look out for a big rock to anchor beside it where it can shield us from the wind and waves.  This island hopping is a fail.  This was around 2 in the afternoon, better do it in the morning where the weather is usually calm.

Island Hopping - Snorkeling

After island hopping, we realized we haven't had our lunch yet.  Walking by the beach we passed by Casa Pilar with the picture of crispy pata on their menu.  My OFW cousin, who hasn't eaten pork for years can't pass it up.  She's drooling already, so we had our lunch here.

  

  

Banana Boat Ride.  Our third activity for the day, the banana boat ride, operated by Diamond Water Sports.  It cost P250 per pax minimum of 5 and ride time is about 15 minutes.  Flipping over is not allowed anymore.

Whew!  This day is loaded, after the banana boat ride, we hang out at the beach until the sun sets.

Everybody had fun today but exhausting, when we went back to the hotel to wash up, they were too lazy to go out anymore for dinner.  Some of them went straight to bed or had their dinner at the hotel but me, my brother and nephew went to Jonah's.  Check out our dinner here.

April 8

Our third day, knowing that most of them will get up late or use their hotel breakfast vouchers, I woke up early and explore what else I can eat.  I went to station 1 and spotted Cozina, I saw them on TV and their famous dessert, Mati Sin.  It's unusual for breakfast 'cause it's a dessert, but it's loaded with calories and that's what I need.  Reviews also claim it's the best dessert on the island so I grabbed one and committed the food-mortal sin of my life, holy goodness.  Must try.

Mati Sin

Chocolate lava flourless cake with vanilla ice cream, some kind of cream cheese and some kind of rolled wafer.....forgot to ask what exactly are they.

• Cozina is the restaurant of Zuzuni hotel.  Some people refers to Zuzuni for the dessert.
• Cozina is quite expensive but they serve really good food, Mati Sin cost P290++

When you break the cake, hot molten chocolate oozes out complementing the ice cream and cream cheese and when you put it in your mouth, take a bite of the crunchy wafer for texture.......oops, can't stop talking about it, moving on.

Fairways and Bluewater Zipline.  It's 10am and everybody is up and kicking, we met our guide in front of the hotel for the last activity of the package.  We were picked up from the hotel to the location.

Agnes and Janet who also tried the zipline but without video.

• This is longer than Mt. Luho's but only goes one way. 
• Takes 20 seconds to reach the other side.
• Spectacular view of the beach.
• Don't know how much it cost because it's a package, but I believe it's P700.

Zorb.  Instead of returning to the hotel, our zipline shuttle dropped us off at Zorb park.  This one is not included in the package so we paid for ourselves.  The only available ride is the hydro zorb, you ride inside a zorb with water.  You will get wet here so bring extra clothes.  It cost P350 each and it can do up to 3 persons at a time depending on your size.

Allan and Me

Camille and Mike

Janet and Agnes

Zorb Park Video

This is my second time to do this here in Boracay.  When we arrived at Zorb Park, I asked our guide to bring us to Ride The Zorb because I thought it is better.  But he said it is closed already.  But when I checked online afterwards it is still open.

Difference of Zorb Park and Ride the Zorb

• Ride the Zorb has 2 types, hydro and harness.
• Ride the Zorb has longer track and slower but Zorb Park is steeper and faster, both has about 10 seconds of roll time.
• You don't end up in a pool at Ride the Zorb.
• Zorb Park put's too much water, you won't be able to scream, open your eyes and breathe for a while.  I drowned a bit here.  At Ride the Zorb, we enjoyed our roll downhill and still aware of what's happening.
• Prices are just about the same for the zorb rides but Ride the Zorb has combination promos with other activities in the island.

Ride the Zorb Video

ATV and Buggy.  After our zorb adventure we were dropped off at Zetro.  Only 3 of us tried this and the rest went back to the hotel.  I rode the ATV and my brother and nephew were in the buggy.  It is a 1 hour ride with guide and 20 minutes stop over at Mt. Luho.  

• ATV cost P350
• Buggy cost P700 
• Mt. Luho entrance fee is P120
• Operated by Zetro

Mt. Luho Viewpoint

After our wheelie adventure we were dropped off at the hotel, with my nephew still high in energy he started swimming at the hotel's pool while I gathered the rest for our late lunch.

Allan and his son Joaquin

We were so busy today we forgot to have our lunch.  By now it's about 3pm already so we went to D'mall to try out some Thai cuisine at Thai Basil.  Check out our late lunch here.   

Jet Ski and Parasail.  Still up for some adventure, we went to station 3 where the water sports desks are and tried the parasail and jet ski.  It's already 5pm and we thought they will not let us to through but luck was on our side, we were the last ones.  Me and my brother went for the jet ski and 4 others for the parasail.  It's a perfect time to do these things, it's not so hot and with the sunset on your sight.  

• Jet ski cost P2000 for 30 minutes per unit.  My brother and I shared the ride.
• Parasail cost P1500 each person for 15 minutes.
• Operated by Diamond Water Sports

What a day, we managed to do 3 to 4 activities today.  Everyone is exhausted and as I expected, they are too lazy now to go out for a dinner, I think some of them bought some food just outside the hotel and some went straight to bed.  While I'm so anxious for another delightful dinner, I dragged my brother and nephew to Cozina.  I want him to try the one I had for breakfast this morning, the irresistible Mati Sin.  We also tried other dishes.  This is not a place for my nephew so we just brought some McDonald's for him.  Check out our dinner here. 

Good thing Cozina is a hotel's restaurant, my sleepy nephew can't keep up anymore and fell asleep on Allan's arms.  The staff were kind enough to bring some towels for Joaquin to lie on in a make shift bed of chairs.  He's just behind the table sleeping.  And for me, what perfect dinner to end the day.  If I could just eat here every time, but gotta try something else, of course.

April 9

Our last day, seems the rest of the group has no plans for today.  Didn't see them until dinner tonight.  Since my brother hasn't gone to station 1 yet, we went out this morning to visit Willy's Rock.  I took some pictures and bought some refreshments at Jonah's.  My nephew was very excited to swim so we let him play on the beach for a while.

Allan and Joaquin

Me and Joaquin

Nothing to do much this morning, we had our first lunch on time.  We went to D'mall and tried I Luv BBQ restaurant.  Check out our lunch here.

Then, we went to Original Talipapa at station 3 to buy some souvenir shirts.  Prices go as low as 2 for P170.  Bigger shirts are much more expensive.  On the way to hotel we had some ice cream to freshen up.  Back at the hotel, Joaquin swims at the pool while we kill some time for our last activity of the trip.  

Wave Rider.  It's a man made wave with continuous powerful flow that mimics the moving waves of the sea so you can ride or glide on the surface with a board.  It's a fun and great way for tourist to learn and experience surfing without the hazards of the real thing.  It's fresh water, you are stationary, continuous flow and fall with no worries of getting hurt.  Since we are newbies in surfing, we'd rather try this one first.   They offer a 30 minutes and 1 hour rates including instructors fee and boards.  We did this for 30 minutes non-stop and we were pretty exhausted to make it to one hour.  You can pay for it afterwards so that you can stretch your time to one hour rather than paying P1300 again for another 30 minutes.  It's a first come first serve basis so weekdays are a better choice to avoid large crowd.

Some of our best rides @0:07 and bloopers @6:23.

• It cost P1300 for 30 minutes and P1500 for 1 hour.
• In house guest rates are cheaper.
• Pay after you surf so you can upgrade your rate to 1 hour for P1500 instead of paying for 30 minutes first and then pay another 30 minutes if you wish to extend.
• Operated by Crown Regency located at Main Road cor. Sunset Rd. of Station 2.

While we surf, Joaquin is busy at the kiddie pool playing with other kids.  He's very happy today, swimming all day at the beach, at the hotel and at Crown Regency.

 Well, vacation is about to conclude, it's our last night in Boracay, we thought my nephew is really tired today so before going back to hotel, they went for a dinner first and have an early rest tonight while I look for the rest of the gang at the beach.  We watched some fire dancing, took a photo at the sand castle and had our dinner at Jonah's.  Check out what we had here.

Wishing for a perfect day to end but our dinner at Jonah's didn't go well.  All our food choices were crappy, except for the milkshakes.  We all did not finish our food, just had a nice chat, went back to the hotel for a massage and then rest.

....Not for me, feeling so disappointed with my dinner, I went out again to look for some food to eat and to see how's the island at midnight, and to my surprise, there's nothing out there, beach walk lights are out and most of the stores are closed.  The island sleeps.  Some bars are still open but it's not a place for me.  Oh well, this is truly the end, just better sleep this out.


April 10

Time to go home, we were picked up at 7am for a 12:45pm flight.  Overall, we had a wonderful time in Boracay.   We haven't tried everything yet in 4 days, still plenty of reasons to come back, until next time....