We’ve seen pictures and heard about the wonders of Boracay - azure waters, white sandy beaches, paddle-pop sunsets… but we're not going to believe it till we see it!
[Looking for other underrated islands in Southeast Asia to visit? Check these out!]
Travelling to Boracay was no easy feat. We had to take the plane down to Kalibo International Airport, go on a 2-hour bus ride to Caticlan Port, and sail away in a boat that took us to Boracay island.
T’was an arduous journey.
But definitely a worthwhile one.
#nofilter
The beaches in Boracay were simply breathtaking.
The sunsets were jaw-dropping gorgeous.
We fell in love, instantly.
Boracay was everything we ever imagined a perfect beach getaway to be (But really, so is Maldives). The beaches were pretty, but the island had much more than that. It was bursting with life and good vibes!
If you're still not convinced, we explored the island and found 6 things that you have to do when you’re in Boracay!
1. Go Island Hopping
Island hopping is a popular activity among tourists, so we had to go on our own island hopping adventure too!
Photo by: Audrey Kwok
We spent most of our time on Crystal Cove Island Resort where we explored the caves, sang songs and took lots of pictures.
Crystal Cove Island Resort
Where: 10 - 20 minutes away from the main land of Boracay
Price: 1280 PhP
Opening Hours: 7:00 am till 5:00 pm every day from Sunday to Saturday
If you do not have a tour guide with you, we would suggest that you check with the receptionist of your hotel or sign up for an Island Tour at Crystal Cove in the link above!
2. Snorkel in the Sea
We spent some time snorkelling in between our island hopping adventure and it was great fun just swimming around and feeding the fishes.
One of the best things about snorkelling in the sea? Fresh coconuts and ice cream sold to you on a boat!!!Yam flavoured ice-cream. Yumz ??
Credit: @barcodephilippines
Credit: travelandbeyond
3. Experience all the crazy water sports (In order of the level of excitement)
Banana Boat
Where: Boat Station 1
Price: 200 PhP
You basically just sit on an inflatable boat and get dragged by the speedboat for this one. But it’s definitely worth trying, and a great introduction to the Fly Fish. If you’re afraid of fast speeds, take the banana boat!
[Check out these 8 exotic Malaysian islands you probably didn't know about!]
Helmet Dive
Credit: karthlake
Where: Pick-up at Boat Station 1
Price: 750 PhP
The Helmet Dive was an interesting experience and definitely a level up from snorkelling. The best part about it was being able to come eye to eye with all the fishes!
How it works: The helmets are attached to an air cord that is linked to a mechanical air compressor. It is perfectly safe and water does not enter the helmet at all.
Find out more about helmet-diving here.
#HHWT Tip: Hold the piece of bread (that the instructors will give you) at your fingertips. Be amazed as you watch the brightly-coloured fishes gather right before your eyes and nibble the bread crumbs away. (Warning: It can get ticklish!)
Don’t worry about missing the chance to capture the moment. The instructors have waterproof cameras with them and you can take the CD with all your pictures back as a souvenir! (No extra charges for CD.)
Parasailing
Photo By: Audrey kwok
Where: Boat Station 1
Price: 1200 PhP
Everyone should try parasailing at least once in their lives. If you haven’t, why not try it in Boracay?
We took a boat to the other side of the island due to bad weather, but parasailing is usually located around Station 1. If you’ve got a fear of heights, you can always stay in the comforts of the speedboat and enjoy the sea breeze as it manoeuvres across the sea.
Oh yes, if you are prone to motion sickness, we’d advice you to pop a pill before you ‘take flight’.
Flyfish
Photo By: Audrey Kwok
Where: Boat Station 1
Price: 500 PhP
By the time we were done with the Banana Boat, we had little hopes for the Fly Fish. BUT WE WERE WRONG. This was by far the craziest ride of all!
Warning: Hold on to the handles with all your might because you really can FLY in all ways possible!
But have no fear, the vests will help keep you afloat when you fly off into the sea.
4. Cliff Diving at Ariel’s Point
Price: 2000 PhP
The only way to get to Ariel’s Point is to take a 35-minute boat ride from Station 1.
You can choose to practise on the 5 metres high cliff before advancing to the 8 metres and the 15 metres. Luckily for people like us, they had lower platforms for jumping that is about 3m high.
If you aren’t one to enjoy the thrill of jumping off a cliff, it is also entertaining to watch people conquer their fears.
5. Try the Best Fruitshake of Your Life
Price of fruitshakes: 75 PhP - 160 PhP
Where: Station 1, Boracay, Balabag, 5608 Malay, Aklan
Jonah’s Fruitshake has been claimed to be the best on the island and indeed, we haven’t found any other that sold better fruit shakes.
Our favourite? The Vanilla Shake, all day every day.
They have so many variations and they all taste so good! You have to try it to believe it.
6. Finally, Seafood Feast at D’Talipapa
Photos By: Audrey Kwok
Where: D’Talipapa Wet Market, Station 2
D’Talipapa wet market at Station 2 sells really fresh seafood. This is THE place for a seafood feast in Boracay. All you need to do is to buy the seafood that you want and bring it to a nearby restaurant where they will cook it however you like!
We recommend Khalil Muslim Food Stall, which is an eatery located behind Kim-Nor Souvenir Shop at D'Talipapa, Station 2.
They serve their own dishes, but you can also bring the seafood that you have purchased from the wet market and request for the chef to prepare it for you.
If you’re looking for your next island getaway, Boracay is the place to be! (Maldives is pretty awesome too) If you’ve visited Boracay, share your experience with us and the HHWT community in the comments below. We would love to hear from you! ?