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.

Camiguin Day Tour

Pabua Cottages also offers day tour for their guest using the multicab which is already good for 8-10 person.
It will only cost you Php1,700 (rate as of May 2014), you can contact Kuya Chris +639069272420 to book your tour or just simply ask Ms. Rochelle of Pabua Cottages to avail. The day tour will be from 8am to 5pm.

Before we proceed on the first itinerary on our list, Kuya Chris told us to have photo ops here. You can see Mt. Hibok hibok and the very nice ocean view on the background. 

Ohhhh.. it's me! :D

Here's our itinerary for the day.

• Walkway
• Sunken Cemetery
• Old Church Ruins
• Sto. Niño Cold Spring
• Soda Spring, 
• Katibawasan Falls
• Ardent Hot Spring 

Photo's taken from Walkway.

From here you will be able to see Station of the cross. It is a total 3.0km for you to reach the top of the hill and going back.

 You will be ask to pay Php5.00 for the environmental fee.

Photo's of us trekking the old volcano and some pictures of the stations of the cross.

Me and my boyfriend. Tired but still can pose quite nice, Lol

We are almost halfway.

The very last station on top of the hill.

View from the top. Really amazing!!!

2nd stop: Sunken Cemetery.

Rate: Php10/person

However, if you wanted to go near the cross, you will be paying minimal charge for the boat ride.

On our case we just took a picture and didn't even bother to go near because we can already the beauty of it even from afar. And we still need time to visit a lot of places.

Picture, picture!!!

Me and boyfriend. Photo taken by the guy who's selling coconut juice.

They actually don't require payment but you can give them small amount

.

Another one! We love Sunken Cemetery pose.

Ohhhhhh!!

 Third Stop: Old Church Ruins

Here, you don't need to pay for anything however there will be a donation box displayed before entering. You can drop any amount in the box, you also need to log-in on a piece of paper for tourist registration. Maybe they need that to track how many tourist visiting per day.

My sister walks in the Old Church Ruins.

Old bell tower.

Group picture. The little girl who took the picture told us to pose here because it will looks like we are in a picture frame.

Part 2

How to go to Regina, Rica (Tanay, Rizal)?

How to go to Regina Rica from Cubao via Marcos Highway(Cubao, QC to Tanay Rizal)

1. From Cubao take a jeepney going to Cogeo, Gate 2.
2. Get off at Cogeo, Gate 2 Jolibee.
3. Walk northwards going to ACG Mall where you can find Sampaloc, Terminal.
4. Wait for few minutes until the jeepney gets full.
5. Upon arriving at Sampaloc proper, ride a tricycle and tell the driver you’ll get off at Regina Rica.

When you already reached the green gate, that means you are already there.

You need to walk 5 minutes away to the reception area where you need to logged in your name as the other people in your group. In the reception area, you can also buy souvenirs (T-shirts, handkerchiefs, bracelets, and etc.)

From there, you can already see the 300 stair steps to the sacred Regina Rica.

When you already reached 300 steps, you need to proceed to the briefing area.

Those who are first-timer’s you need to attend a quick briefing just for you to know the things that you should do upon entering the sacred Regina Rica. He/She (depending who’s in charge) will explain those necessary things you need to know.

*Picture-taking weren’t allowed inside the sacred Regina Rica

After venturing Regina Rica, you will be able to see a  certain place where you can light a candle. You can choose from the candles, depending on the color. Some are for success, love, hope, career etc.

Each candle cost Php20.00

Cubao to Cogeo Gate 2 – Php 24.00
Cogeo to Sampaloc Php 61.00
Tricycle from Sampaloc to Regina Rica Php 20.00/pax
One way fare = 105php/pax

My sister, me and my mom. :)