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Friday, February 24, 2012

Trip: Boracay Travel

Date Budget: PhP 2800
Actual Spend: PhP 2718
Quality: 3/5
Service: 3/5
Accessibility: 3/5
Fun Factor: 4/5
Overall Experience: 3/5
Highlights 
  • Piso Fare: AirPhil Express  flight to Caticlan
  • Caticlan (Boracay) Airport: small airport, great facilities, great service!
  • Fast Craft ferry from Montenegro Lines at just PhP 5 more than pump boat fare
The Experience

For the first installment of our six-part Boracay series, we decided to start with the very basic element: getting to and around the island. 

We got to Boracay via an AirPhil Express flight to Caticlan. It was our first time to board a small aircraft with big propellers (as the Caticlan runway cannot accommodate large jets) but the smooth ride of the Bombardier Q400 turboprop sent our fears away.

Crusing at an altitude much lower than that of a jumbo jet, we were able to enjoy the spectacular view. It was also pretty fast as we were able to get to our destination in about an hour. To add to this we got this during a Piso Sale last year. We just paid taxes and fuel surcharges worth PhP 579 per person.

Of course, you need to add the airport terminal fee of PhP 200 for each side (i.e. NAIA3 and Caticlan Airport). Both airports offer good service and facilities but Caticlan offers a different experience. 
The small but wonderful airport is staffed with well-trained service-oriented personnel (we even saw the ground crew waving goodbye at a departing CebuPac plane). The only thing that we find a turnoff here is the guy at the counter who offered us tricycle service for the whopping price of PhP 250. We, of course, declined as we got advance info that the sea port was just a few meters away. 
When we got to the Caticlan's Jetty Port, we bought a regular pump boat ticket going to Boracay for PhP 25. Going back to Caticlan, we were surprised to know that a fast craft ferry ticket from Montenegro Lines costs only PhP 30 each! For an additional PhP 5, you'll enjoy an air-conditioned cabin, cushioned seats, faster travel time (5 minutes versus 15 minutes), and a TV screen showing Robin Padilla movies.

To get to La Oviedo Villa, our home for three days, we hired a trike for PhP 100. It was worth it as the place was a bit far. Unlike before, no boat from Caticlan can go directly to White Beach due to a government ordinance. 


Going back to the port was a different thing. Things were pretty normal until the tricycle we were riding drove through metal bars being carried by a careless construction worker. The driver go a scratch and nasty bump in his head. We advised him to go to a health center to have it checked.

We literally had metal bars in front of us. We are very thankful to God to get through it unscathed, and very much able to share this story to everyone. God has been good to us.
Spend Breakdown
AirPhil Express Piso Sale (579*2)
1158
Terminal Fee - NAIA3 (200*2)
400
Regular Pump Boat - Caticlan to Boracay (25*2)
50
Terminal Fee - Caticlan Port (50*2)
100
Environmental Fee (75*2)
150
Tricycle (Boracay Port to Hotel)
100
Tricycle (Hotel to Boracay Port)
200
FastCraft(Montenegro Lines)- Boracay to Caticlan (30*2)
60
Terminal Fee - Boracay Port (50*2)
100
Terminal Fee - Caticlan Airport (200*2)
400
Actual Spend
2718
How to get there

  1. Get a flight going to Caticlan (via CebuPac or AirPhil's small but powerful Bombardier Q400 Turbo Props). These flights hardly go on sale so you might also want to consider traveling via Kalibo (where Boeing 737 jets can land).
    Note: If you choose to Kalibo, prepare to travel about 2 hours to Caticlan and pay transfers costing PhP 200 (up) per person.
  2. From Caticlan Airport, walk to Aklan West Road. Walk to your right until you reach the first major intersection.
  3. Turn left. You will see Caticlan Jetty Port at the end of this side road.Note: If you are too lazy to walk or the sun's heat is just too much, you may consider riding a "tourist-priced" tricycle for PhP 250 paid at the airport.
  4. Buy the following from separate windows near the port's facade:
    • Ferry Boat Ticket (PhP 25 per person for a regular pump boat, PhP 30 for an air-conditioned fast craft ferry)
    • Environmental Fee (PhP 75 each for non-Aklan residents)
    • Terminal Fee (PhP 50 each)
  5. Once you reach Boracay, you may ride a tricycle going to your hotel/resort. Accommodations are usually far from the drop-off port since boats can NO LONGER unload passengers at the white beach (Stations 1, 2, and 3).

    Address:
    Boracay, Municipality of Malay
    Aklan, Philippines


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