Boracay Adventure (via Kalibo)

Boracay is an island in Western Visayas.You will see pristine white sand, clear blue ocean in a very beautiful island. There are two ways to go to the island, through the sea or through flying.

Here's how we arrived to Boracay from Manila.

MANILA via KALIBO, AKLAN

1. Go to the terminal where your flight is departing. On our case we went to Naia Terminal 4.
2. Pass all the security measures, check in and fly to Kalibo.
   We flew through AirAsia (http://www.airasia.com) since we got a cheap promo there.

Camillle, Veron and Me.

 *If there's an option to buy an airport to hotel transfer's I suggest to avail one for your own convenience.
 (The package includes the following: Bus passes for Kalibo to Caticlan Jetty Port; Fast Craft Ticket for Caticlan to Boracay and Car Boarding Passes from the Port to your hotel, it's quite convenient, right?)
 On our our case, we purchased one for only Php520/pax (rate as of July 2014 from Southwest Tour)

For more information you can visit their website at southwesttoursboracay.com/

Southwest Ticket issued in the airplane.

When you already have the tickets handy, you need to proceed to Southwest Tour booths and they will give you couple of tickets (bus passes, ferry tickets and car boading pass) in exchange of the tickets issued in the airplane.

3. From Kalibo International Airport, find the Southwest Tour booth which is located at the left side of the airport. Register your name there and they will give you a couple of tickets and passes.

If in case, you didn't have a chance to purchase a package like ours, you can proceed to booths who are offering Kalibo to Boracay transfers or you can ride vans or cabs outside the airport. Rate varies per deal so you better have some haggling skills.

4. After getting everything we rode the bus located just in front of the booth. It will take more or less 2 hours from Kalibo to Caticlan Jetty Port. It's a good thing Southwest Tours have one stop-over at Ibajay Rest Area for people who wants to go to the rest room or buy something to eat.

5. When we arrived at Caticlan Jetty Port, we have our bags checked again. After checking the bags, they will ask you to register your name for touristic purposes. (Only one is needed per group)

6. They told us to wait for a while and after a couple of minutes we headed to the port to board the fast craft /ferry. After a couple of minutes, we are already in Boracay Island, it only took like 10 minutes from the port to the island.

7. Upon arriving, there will be vans who will take us to our hotels. *This is still included in the P520/pax package we bought from Southwest Tours.

Finally, we arrived in Orchids Resort where we checked in.

Orchids Resort Boracay, offers affordable cottages made of nipa hut and bamboo, it is located at SA

Boracay Island at night.

Boracay Island in the morning. Everything was beautiful.

 
Few Reminders:
1. Station 1, where most of the bars located. If you prefer night life, discos, loud music and party hard, then I suggest to stay here.
2. Station 2, where bars are also located, every corner you will hear different kinds of music from reggae to love song and acoustics.
3. Station 3, this is the place where people can relax. Unlike those two stations, its quite relaxing and quite here.

Note:
If you don't have a Hotel-Kalibo airport transfer yet. You can book one at Southwest Tours, located on Main Road of Station 2, it is near Red Coco Inn. If you are having a hard time looking for it, you can ask the locals and they know it well. One way rate is Php460/pax, from Boracay to Kalibo airport. They will tell you what time they will be picking you up. It took us 4 hours from Boracay to Kalibo airport.

Rates:
Tricycle - Php60/ride
Pedicabs - Php 100/ride
Hairbraids - Php100-400 *depends on the design
Henna tattoo - minimum Php100 *depends on the design
Flyfish - Php 600/person, rate varies for foreigners
Keychains Souvenirs - Php100 fopr 7 pieces
Fridge Magnets - Php50-75/piece
Souvenir shirts - Php 90-200 *depends on where you are buying

How to go to Camiguin? (A hidden paradise)

Manila to Camiguin via Cagayan De Oro (CDO)
(PICTURES TO FOLLOW)

Manila – CDO – Camiguin

We boarded a plane at NAIA (T3) to Cagayan De Oro (Laguindingan Airport). Our flight last 1 hr 55 minutes.

From CDO, there will be a lot of shuttles waiting outside the airport going to Agora Market which is the drop point for people who are going to Balingoan Port.
rates per passenger: P199 (As of May 2014)

You can get a discount if you are in a group.

On our case, since we are five on our group. We managed to rent an L300 van which cost us Php600.

When we reach Agora Market, you will be welcomed by a lot of men who are asking if you are going to the Port of Balingoan or if youre going to the airport.
(if you already know what to do and you don’t need their assistance, you can just inform them directly. However some are really makulit)

Beware these some guys, because they will ask some charges.

Some of the guys, offered P200/pax from Agora Market to Balingoan Port. You need to reach the port before 5-6pm because they don’t cruise at night.

There will also be buses available from Agora Market to balingoan however it will take 3-4 hours by public transportation because of the stop-overs and such.

On our case, we rented a Starex for Php2000 which will bring us to Balingoan Port/

Since we are only 5 riding the vehicle, we can managed to sleep but if you’re a nature lover then you cna definitely enjoy the view.

We arrived at Balingoan at around 2:30

Good thing the ferry leaves at 3PM.
Ferry cost 200per person.
View from the ferry,

You can chose to seat inside, where the canteen is located but we choose to seat outside to enjoy the view.

Upon reaching Benoni Port…

 

I’ve reserved a room at Pabua Cottage that only cost 800/night for 2 person. They also offered transfers 450/way.

Contact Information for Pabua Cottage:
 http://www.pabuascottages.com/

pabuacottages@yahoo.com

Rochelle Pabua
09177023010
09202328573

When we arrived at Benoni, Kuya Chris (driver) from the cottage where we are staying was already waiting for us.
View from the multicab from Benoni to Yumbing, where we stayed for 4 nights.