Tara Gumala: September 2014

Aklan is famous for Boracay, a resort island one kilometer north from the tip of Panay. It is known for its white sandy beaches and is considered as one of the more prominent destinations in the country. Because of this, there is frequent air travel to the province’s airports in Kalibo and Caticlan. Also, Aklan is very famous for their Kalibo's Ati - Atihan festival.

This is the most popular tourist spot in the Philippines. Every year, millions of local and international tourists visit this lovely place for its festive vibe, food, and white sand beaches. This is a haven for those people who love this equation (PARTY + BOOZE + WHITE SAND BEACH = PERFECT WEEKEND) but for those who like it simple, this is not the place to be. It really gets crowded especially during LABORACAY (labor day every 1st of May).

I have been to Boracay twice and I must say, at first I was impressed (wala pa naman akong ibang napupuntahang iba noon). HAHA. On my second visit, a lot of things changed. The shoreline is shorter, there are lots of establishments (there are 2 MCDOs in the area), sand is not so white anymore, there is no proper waste management. Oooh! Everything is so expensive!! This broke my heart. (Tumaas na din siguro standards ko when it comes to beaches)

Anyway, I do not want to ruin your mood. I am here to give you my itinerary on a weekend getaway to the famous BORACAY! :) (because, yea, this is perfect for the "working class" / "weekend warriors")

HOW TO GET THERE??

It is an easy-piece of cake. There are daily and hourly flights going in and out of Boracay. You're jump off point could be Caticlan or Kalibo. Caticlan is the nearest jump off point to Boracay but airline tickets are way more expensive. If you are a thrifty traveler like me, Kalibo will be your jump off point (it is just one hour ride away to Caticlan). Don't worry I am always for the comfort but not spending too much.

From Kalibo, there are lots of transport groups outside the airport waiting to assist you. Since, I am a bit OC when it comes to my trips, I always book ahead of time. I chose Southwest Tours as our transfer from Kalibo going to our hotel because of the following reasons: They provide transfers from 5 am up to 11pm, you will be treated as a VIP, they are on - time, Their buses, vans and boats are very spacious. Their roundtrip transfer from Kalibo costs 975 Php (this includes all necessary fees). Pwede na! I mean, you are safe with them specially if you are traveling on wee hours.

WHERE TO STAY??

There are lots of hotels and inns at Boracay! Anyway, if you are looking for a budget friendly, I recommend that you stay at Villa Simprosa. It is a simple boutique hotel, right in the middle of the action (station 2) and offers pasok-sa-budget accommodation. Hmm. Still better than La Carmela! Though, they do not provide breakfast or any meals but you have an option to cook your own food, they have gas stove and utensils for cooking. :)

We only paid 1,800 for a room that is good for 3 and we had early check - in. Since they are small, they do not have receptionist at night. So better contact them if you are coming late. Nevertheless, they are very accommodating and will assist you early in the morning. I advise that you choose the room that has the balcony and kitchen. Below are some pics on our first room, we have to transfer because the room assigned for us was not available when we arrived.

This is our first room when we arrived. Small and so simple.

WHERE TO EAT??

There are lots of food chain restaurants in Boracay, specially in D'Mall. You can choose from MCDO, Shakeys, Yellowcab, Starbucks, Sr. Pedro, etc. Also, during night time, most of establishments set up tables in the shore and prices may vary from 200 - 2,000 Php. You can choose from fine dining to buffet. We dined at Le Soleil de Boracay, their buffet costs 900Php per person. :) Their ambiance is so laid back and perfect way to end your weekend!

WHAT TO DO??

There 101 things to do in Boracay, but when time is of the essence, you would only want to do things that will fit your lifestyle, as well as your budget. For me, I recommend that you visit Arial's Point if you are up to partying all day and cliff diving ;) but if you are not into adventure, you could visit Puka Beach and Diniwid Beach via land (do not succumb on the tours that they are offering as it is really expensive). Yes, you heard it right, you can visit these beaches via land, just one ride of tricycle and presto you are there. This is only for 20 Php.

There are various activities available at the other side of the Boracay. They have Helmet Diving, Fly Fish, Banana Boat, Parasailing, ATV, etc. :) Of course all of these comes with a hefty price

TOP 3 things I enjoyed doing when I was in Boracay:

1. Explore the whole stretch of Boracay shore. Photo Op! Selfie as much as you can!

2. Ride a tricycle going to Puka Beach.

Puka Beach may not be as fine as with Boracay but it offers a more serene and peaceful place to swim and enjoy the sun, sand and sea. Ohh, don't worry if you get hungry, there are a restaurants nearby.