Trip: Boracay Activities

Date Budget: PhP 3000
Actual Spend: PhP 2940
Quality: 4/5
Service:5/5
Accessibility: 4/5
Fun Factor:5/5
Overall Experience: 5/5

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Highlights 

• Breathtaking Boracay sunset on board a Paraw sailboat
• Walk with fishy friends while wearing a dive helmet
• Enjoy a 6-hour island hopping tour with native buffet lunch
• Experience natural beauty combined with man-made art at Crystal Cove
• Get a glimpse of controversial Boracay property allegedly owned by Manny Pacquiao

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The Experience

Yes, we spent PhP 3000 on a date. It was well spent though as we were able to explore Boracay and nearby islands with best value package we can get.

While walking through White Beach, we bumped into Kuya Toto (see contact details below) and got a really good deal: six hours of island hopping and snorkeling with buffet lunch plus reef walking at PhP 1000 each. We thought it was a steal.

It was a little late though so we had to wait until tomorrow to get hold of the great deal we've sealed. To start off, we decided to ride the paraw sailboat first. The timing was perfect as the sun was already starting to set.

Paraw sailboat rides are normally pegged at PhP 1000 per person. However, we got a good bargain by asking around: only PhP 500 for both of us (only PhP 250 each). That's 75% off!

The boat ride was really nice (though Kirsten finds it a bit scary). Combined with the breathtaking sunset, it is the most romantic thing in the island... and the romance went on full bloom as we reached the shore. 

As it was already getting dark, and no further activities were possible, we had to eat for nourishment, try some sweet stuff in the beach, and retreat back to La Oviedo.

After enjoying the sand the following morning, we met Kuya Toto for the payment of the full amount. We then headed for our first activity: reef walking!

Reef walking (commonly known in the island as 'helmet diving') lets you get a taste of underwater fun without much scuba know-how. You just have to wear an space-like helmet with air pumped into it. The important thing here is to follow the diver's instruction on how to "equalize" and to take note of the standard hand gestures (as you will not be able to hear one another underwater).

The friendly fishy friends greeted us a good morning. We're lucky we were part of the first batch for the day as the fish were still hungry and were coming for the bread crumbs brought by the divers who assisted us. 

We had much fun underwater that Kirsten doesn't want to go up anymore. She's even considering learning to dive in the future. We'll do that once we've got enough resources. For now, we'll just enjoy the underwater pictures and video they burned for us in a CD.

After having fun underwater, we walked to Station 3 to start our island hopping tour. Like our airplane ride, most of our companions were foreigners and the rest were balikbayans (and their personal local companions).

We started off with snorkeling near Crocodile Island. We did see a few fish (just a few, a bit disappointing in fact), but this guy got our attention:

The tour guide caught this blow fish. He was an instant superstar for the Chinese girls after doing this. He eventually let the fish go as we headed off for Crystal Cove.

Crystal Cove is a beautiful private island off Boracay. You have to pay an entrance fee of PhP 200 each to enjoy its natural beauty complemented by man-made art. 

We also enjoyed a great view of the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

It is best known for two caves encasing chunks of crystals (hence the name). You must take caution though as the rocks become slippery when hit by the waves.

After taking tons of pictures in Crystal Cove, we headed off to another island (forgot the name) for our buffet lunch. It was simple but delicious. Both the vegetables and shrimps were fresh. I enjoyed eating a lot of shrimps without getting an allergic reaction (yes, it was that fresh). We also enjoyed their barbecue (I finished up 11 sticks). 

With our tummies filled and energy level up, we conquered another scene: Pucca Beach. As the name implies, it is best known for the pucca shells in its shores. It was a really sunny afternoon so we had to stay in the shade. There Kirsten, Buddy the pig, and I enjoyed watching foreign folks enjoy the heat.

Pucca Beach was nice but we had to leave to keep the schedule up. Our guide then suggested we take another snorkeling session. Unfortunately, they found the waters jellyfish infested upon checking. The group decided to look around Boracay Island instead.

As we were looking around the island, we got sight of exclusive hotels and resorts. One particular attraction is Boracay West Cove which is allegedly owned by Manny Pacquiao.

This property is a bit controversial as the owner was able to acquire a land title even if it is located within a protected area. You can see how the rock was carved to fit the structure. Yes, the architecture is nice but the natural beauty is now gone. This speaks of a critical issue in Boracay: maintaining the balance of progress and taking care of nature which fuels it.

After going around the island by boat, we were back to White Beach. It was a tiring day, but was all worth it. We had an experience that made memories that would last a lifetime. 

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Spend Breakdown

Paraw Sailboat Ride (for 2)	500
Reef Walking / Helmet Diving (300*2 persons)	600
Island Hopping w/ Lunch Buffet (700*2 persons)	1400
Crocodile Island Snorkeling Fee (20*2 persons)	40
Crystal Cove Island Entrance Fee (200*2 persons)	400
Actual Spend	2940

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How to get there

1. Click here for the guide on how to get to Boracay. 
2. Once you reach Boracay's port, you may ride a tricycle going to Station 3 (Station 1 for Reef Walking).
   Note: Boats can NO LONGER unload passengers at the white beach (Stations 1, 2, and 3) due to government regulations.
3. Tell the driver to drop you off near Queen's Resort (Station 3). Paraw sailboats are usually lined up along the beach. This is also the usual meeting place for group tours. For Reef Walking, you may ask the driver to drop you off at Station 1.
   
   Landmarks: White Beach, Station 3, Queen's Resort
   Address:
   D'Mall, Station 3
   Boracay, Malay
   Aklan, Philippines
   Contact Person:
   Kuya Toto
   Contact Number:
   (63908) 922-2717
   
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