Must-Do Things in Boracay

Boracay is a paradise for relaxation and partying. Whatever your idea of a vacation is, you can absolutely experience it in this island.

Here are some of the things to do in Boracay (especially for first-timers):

1. Just hang out at the beach. Either strolling or sun-bathing, the fine white sand and the sound of the waves are the perfect combination for a relaxing vacation.

2. Check out the nightlife. There are a lot of bars along the beach to choose from. My favorites would be Cafe del Mar and Hey Jude. I especially love Cafe del Mar's appetizer called Humus.

3. Island Hopping. No island getaway is complete without visiting the smaller neighboring islands. I have to confess that I've been to Boracay four times already but I've never tried this one. I'll definitely do it on my next trip. My friends said they enjoyed the lunch buffet in one of the islands.

4. ATV (All-terrain vehicle) Adventure. This is the best way to go up Mt. Luho. It's exhausting, but the view from the mountain is worth it. You could see the other side of Boracay (the part where Bulabog Beach is) where kite boarders train for their yearly competition. You can find a lot of ATV rentals along the road. Take a tricycle from the main road to take you to the row of ATV rentals. You have a choice of driving a single or a two-seater ATV. Usually, the ATV trail to Mt. Luho will take you about 2 hours (that's already back and forth).

5. Water sports and activities. Jet-skiing, parasailing, wake boarding, banana boat ride, Flying fish, etc. These are must-try activities for first-timers. If you are the I-wanna-be-safe type of person, try the banana boat ride and parasailing. For the more adventurous type, try flying fish. It'll surely be a "rough" ride.

6. Jonas' Shakes. This is my favorite hangout place in Boracay in the afternoon. I always order their mango milk shake and I feel like the taste just gets better every time.

7. Dos Mestizos Restaurant. This is a Spanish restaurant with a buffet dinner every Saturday. The food and ambiance are great. This is located near the tourist center and the police station.

8. Crabhouse. This restaurant is in Escondido Resort, near the town plaza. Just ask the tricycle driver to take you there; most of them are familiar with the resort. I am allergic to crabs but I tried their garlic crabs and they really taste good! Another mouth-watering dish here is their "bagnet" (grilled pork [or fried? I'm not quite sure...sorry guys!] originally from Ilocos).

9. D' Talipapa. This is Boracay's version of Dampa. You can buy seafood and meat from their market (the so-called talipapa) and have it cooked in a restaurant of your choice around the area.

10. Have breakfast at Real Coffee. They have a lot of omelets to choose from. I always order their tuna omelet with cheese. I really like their brewed coffee and the toasted bread that goes with the omelet. Oh, and don't forget to try their calamansi muffin. It'll be one of the best muffins you'll ever gonna taste. I always order this as pasalubong for my family.


I can think of a million things to do in Boracay, but just walking on its powdery sand is more than enough to put a smile on your face and say to yourself: "This is definitely one of my best (if not the best) vacations..."

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This site contains a personal account of my travels in Bohol and Puerto Princesa. Here you can read useful travel tips if you are planning a vacation that's out of the ordinary.

 BOHOL PICTURES

Loboc River

A Tarsier

The Hills at Sagbayan, Bohol

 

Virgin Island

 

 PALAWAN PICTURES

Baby Crocodiles at the Crocodile Farm

The View of Hunda Bay from Mitra's Ranch

The Entrance to the Underground River

The Countryside

Escape to Palawan

DAY1

When the plane landed in Puerto Princesa, it was hard to believe that we are in a capital city of a province. Almost everything you see is green. It's clear that one of the major priorities of its local government is protecting its natural resources. A drive through the city will give you a site of litter-free streets, with trash bins situated on the sidewalks every 100 meters. The garbage bins were, according to our friend, ordered from Australia.

After freshening up in our hotel, we proceeded with the city tour. First stop is the Cathedral. Our tour guide made sure that we visit and pray first before we begin the tour. Just beside the church is Plaza Cuartel where hundreds of Filipino and American soldiers were burned in the tunnel by the Japanese during WWII.

Next, we went to Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm. It was a 20-minute rough ride from the city. There is nothing much to see there actually. Just the prisoners who were very insistent in selling their handmade key chains. Next stop is the Crocodile Farm. I really enjoyed looking at the baby and adult crocodiles. I had the chance to hold one - a baby crocodile named Kikay.

We then went to Baker's Hill where we took pictures in its mini-park. We also bought some baked goodies. Don't forget to buy hopia here for pasalubong. Just a few hundred meters away is Mitra's Ranch where you get a breathtaking view of Hunda Bay. You also get to peek inside Mitra's house, which is not open to the public.

We had our dinner at Ka Lui's. I've heard some good things about this restaurant and I was not disappointed. Their meals were reasonably priced. Servings are good for 1 and a half persons so make sure to be really hungry before dinner. I also loved the paintings on the walls. We posed for pictures in their very nice and cozy waiting area while waiting for our meals to be served.

It was a long and tiring day so we headed back to the hotel after dinner because we had to wake up really early tomorrow for the Underground River.

Day 2

We started our trip to the Underground River at 6AM. It was a 1 and a half hour road trip where you can take in the beauty of nature. When we reached the pier at Sabang, we rode a boat to get to where the underground river is. We docked in a beach with fine light brown sand and walked through a trail leading to the entrance of the river. When we got there, we put on our life vests and helmets, and rode a small banca which will take us inside the cave. It was really dark inside. If you turn off the spotlight, you will never see a single spark of light. No wonder they use a motolite battery for the spotlight because you'll be really scared and unable to navigate your way out the cave.

It's really different when you get to experience going into the cave. At first, when I was checking out pictures of the underground river, I thought that it was just mediocre. But when I saw it with my own eyes, it was then that I understood why it was voted as one of the new wonders of the world. Be sure to be really early so you can fully appreciate the underground river without the annoying lights from other small boats. We were the second boat to enter the cave that day so we practically had the cave all to ourselves, feeling like it was an exclusive tour for us.

We were back to the city at lunch and went straight to Badjao Seafront Restaurant. Coincidentally, the mayor of Puerto Princesa, Mayor Hagedorn, was also dining there so we had the chance to take some pictures with him.

We spent the afternoon shopping for pearls. Cultured pearls vary in price depending on their quality. You can find pearl earrings as cheap as P10!

After that we went back to our hotel to rest and get ready for our buffet dinner.

We had our dinner at Skylight Apartelle where they serve buffet dinners on Fridays and Mondays. Their buffet that night had 40 dishes. It was both challenging and satisfying at the same time.

Day 3

We again took off from the hotel early, about 6:30 AM for our island hopping. We went to the wharf and paid 1,300 for the boat rental. you'll have to pay additional for snorkeling gears. I think the mask and snorkel cost P100 and booties also cost the same. Just don't lose them as they will charge you P1000 for lost items. Most of the islands have entrance fees too, which will be paid upon docking in the island.

It was a fine day. The weather was perfect. First stop is the Pambato Reef where we saw magnificent corals and different colorful fishes. Our guide, who we refer to as "kuya", even lectured us on the different types of corals while guiding us around the reef. He even showed us a giant clam and held it up from the water for us to see it clearly.

Next, we went to Lu-Li Island, short for "lulubog, lilitaw". We took pictures, which lasted about 20 minutes. I was surprised and happy that the boatmen did not complain that it was taking us so long to take in the beauty of the island, considering that we still have three more islands to see. That was a plus point in our island hopping experience - no pressures from other people for you to hurry. It was great because we really get to appreciate the sites.

We then proceeded to Starfish Island. I did not see any starfish on the shore. The boatman just appeared out of nowhere holding three starfish for us to take pictures with! The sand in this island is also white, which look great for picture-taking purposes.

Next island - Snake Island. The sand here is fine and white, like in Boracay. There is no entrance fee in this island. There is a snorkeling site near the shore where you can feed the fish. Most of the people also stop here to have their lunch.

Our last stop is Pandan Island. So far, the sand in this island is the closest to the quality of Boracay's sand. There is a mini bar in this island and some cottages where you can enjoy your lunch.

When we were on our way back to the wharf, it started to rain really hard. Surprisingly, the waves were not big. The sea remained calm. The rain lasted for only a few minutes and the sun came out again.

After island hopping, we went back to the hotel to shower. Then we went to a small restaurant to have a taste of Chaolong. The taste was not disappointing. It was a mix of sweet and sour that I could not understand but it was OK. Their garlic french bread was good. After our lunch/merienda, we went back to Baker's Hill to buy some pasalubong. Then we went to the local market to buy daing. The daing from Puerto Princesa is one of the best I've tasted so far. So make sure to buy before you leave.

Day 4

We were scheduled to go back to Manila but due to radar problems, we had to extend our stay. We had dinner at Balay Inato and I can confidently say that it is the best chicken barbeque restaurant I've been to.

Our Palawan experience was a blast! I will definitely go back again and see other places in the province like El Nido and Coron. If you love nature, go to Palawan! It is the best place to explore!

Puerto Princesa Restaurants

Here is a list of Restaurants in Puerto Princesa that you might want to check out while you're there:

1. Ka Lui's

• This restaurant has the best ambiance in the city. You have to take off your shoes when you dine in. Large paintings adorn its walls and the colorful "banig" in the waiting area is an eye-catcher. Prices are reasonable as servings are hefty. Don't forget to try their "naughty dessert". It'll be fun for the whole barkada.

2. Balay Inato

• This is the best, as in THE best chicken barbeque you'll ever gonna eat. Promise! Plus they have nice rooms for rent at very affordable prices.

3. Badjao Seafront Restaurant

• This also has a good ambiance. Food is very affordable. Food tastes ok :)

4. Skylight Apartelle

• They have buffet dinners during Fridays and Mondays. Their 40 dishes are a challenge!

5. Balinsasayaw Restaurant

• Chicken barbeque is their specialty. Food is great and affordable (Chicken bbq with rice costs P69).

6. Bilao at Palayok Restaurant

• Try their seafood platter. It's the best!
  

7. Lastly, don't leave Puerto Princesa without trying "Chaolong" (Vietnamese noodles).

Review on Alona Tropical Beach Resort

We booked a standard room since it's the cheapest. It has 2 single beds, air condition, and toilet and bath. The room was quite neat but the floor needs to be shined often. Bathroom is OK but I think they should equip all their rooms with hot and cold shower. The staff were approachable and friendly. The room is cleaned every time we would go out for our tours and new towels were provided everyday. Shampoos and soaps are also provided. The restaurant has a nice ambiance and has a big flat screen TV. Since the standard rooms have no TV, I watched in the restaurant to keep myself updated of the news and soaps (you can watch TV even if you don't order). Food is a bit expensive. Their banana split tastes really good (what others have said about it is true). Alona Tropical has the widest beachfront of all the resorts along Alona Beach. Their lounges look nice but were not very comfortable (but as Filipinos say it, "pwede na rin"). The shore was full of weeds but the resort hired people to clean them up. However, in a few hours, the beachfront was full of weeds again.

The only thing that really disappointed me was they didn't have wifi. Yes, I know that people go to the beach to be free from the fast-paced life of the city but internet is already part of people's lives (like cellphones). I think they should get wifi this year or they'll lose a lot of probable guests.

All in all, I would recommend this resort especially to families and friends who plan to stay in Panglao during their Bohol trip. It offers good value for your money, especially if you are on a budget trip.

Bohol Adventure 2009

It was my first trip to Bohol and I had it arranged by a friend who runs a travel and tours agency. We arrived in Tagbilaran after a 1hr and 10-minute flight from Manila. A car (arranged by my friend) picked us up at the airport to transport us to our resort in Panglao Island, which is 20 minutes away. If you don't have a round trip transfer (from the airport to your resort and vice versa) arranged, you can take a mini bus (P20) from the central terminal at Tagbilaran (near Island City Mall or ICM). You can also hire a tricycle (P200) to Panglao or if you're feeling adventurous, you can hire a motorcycle which you drive on your own and use it to go to Panglao and around Tagbilaran.
We spent our first day hanging out on the beach, checking out other resorts and restaurants. Most of the resorts look nice. I guess some of the bad reviews on some resorts that I have read from other sites are exaggerated. Food along the beach is a bit expensive but there is one place that offers cheap meals (Trudis' Place), without the five-star ambience of course. But it's still on the beachfront anyway, plus they have free wifi :)

After an hour, we decided to check out Hinagdanan Cave. We rode on a motorcyle (P150) and arrived there in about 30 minutes. Entrance fee is P15. In the area are numerous shopping stalls which sell cheap souvenir shirts and items.

Our second day is spent touring the countryside. First stop: Chocolate hills. The view is spectacular. We spent about an hour taking pictures of ourselves and the hills. Next, we stopped by the road to take pictures of the man-made forest. We then went to the butterfly sanctuary then stopped by a small cottage by the road to look at tarsiers. After that, we went to a hanging bridge then we were off to have lunch at the Loboc River. The buffet lunch was OK, though I expected more delicious food. Anyway, I was hungry so it did not matter that much, especially when the floating restaurant started cruising its way to the river. At some point during the short cruise, we stopped by a group of locals by the riverbank who did a little presentation, playing their guitars, singing and dancing. I'd say that I enjoyed the river cruise as much as I enjoyed seeing the Chocolate Hills. Next stop was the Baclayon Church, the second oldest church in the Philippines (the oldest is San Agustin Church in Intramuros). I was awed by the old relics and how the walls of the church have been preserved. Last on our itinerary is the Blood Compact Site, which was not so impressive. It was included in the tour primarily because of its historical significance but i think the site has to be improved to be worth seeing. Our arranged countryside tour lasted the whole day. We were brought back to our resort at 5PM.

Our third day in Bohol was supposed to be spent island hopping but due to a low pressure area that brought in big waves, our boatman had to cancel the tour. My friend and I were now clueless on what to do. We heard of the zipline adventure in Danao and decided to go.

From Panglao, we rode a mini bus to Tagbilaran. From Tagbilaran, you can take a bus to Danao which will take up to 3-4 hours. But after asking around (asking from the security guard at ICM), we learned that we can take a bus to Sagbayan, which is 1 hour away from Tagbilaran, then take a motorcycle ride to Danao which lasts about 40 minutes. That saved us a lot of time! When we arrived in Sagbayan, we rode a motorcyle (with a driver of course) to a tourist attraction in the area, the Sagbayan Peak. In Sagbayan you can see other hills that look like the Chocolate hills, but they are closer. The Sagbayan Peak is the highest hill in the area.

After that, we rode the same motorcyle to Danao. We just made a little deal with the driver, about P500, for the gas and his "services" (aside from being our driver, he also acted as our tour guide) ;) The road to Danao is mostly rough, with some parts that are cemented (typical of roads in far-flung areas in the country). On our way, rain poured, soaking us wet, so we had to stop in a house along the road until the heavy rain stopped. We reached Danao and was excited to try the zipline adventure (or what they call the "Suislide"). But when I saw how high the steel cable was, I decided to just take pictures and videos of my friend who was very eager to try it. The cable is 480 meters long and the height is 200 meters, with a river full of big rocks below. They said it was much more challenging than the zipline in Davao. There are other adventures to try but we were running out of time. We had to go back to the city because we might miss the last bus. It was an exhausting day but the experience of riding the motorcycle while raining, reaching Danao, riding the small buses and seeing the countryside, were all worth it :)

On our fourth day, the sky was still cloudy but we insisted to go island hopping. Due to time constraints, we only went to Balicasag Island and did a little snorkeling. The waters were not that clear due to the weather. The sand was white but there were a lot of weeds. We checked out the village, which has an elementary school, a plaza and some sari-sari stores. On our way back to Panglao, we passed by Virgin Island which is smaller but has whiter sand and clearer shores than Balicasag.

It was time to go but we still managed to squeeze in some time for pasalubong shopping. The most famous pasalubong from Bohol is the "peanut kisses". There's also the "kalamay" and, depending on the season, you can buy lanzones which come from Camiguin.

Our 4-day trip to Bohol was indeed an unforgettable experience. Some parts of our itinerary were planned while others just came up - you just have to have that adventurous spirit to really experience what the place has to offer.