Road Travel from Iloilo to Boracay Island

Name of Trip: Panay Island Adventures 2010
Date: June 13 - 16, 2010

Destination: Iloilo City, Capiz, Aklan (Kalibo & Boracay) and Guimaras Island

Travel via: Air (Philippine Airlines & Airphil Express), Land (van, tricycle, multicab), Water (motor boat)

Boracay, here we come! :)

We were very excited to see the Philippines' number one tourist destination: BORACAY! It is famous worldwide because of pure white sand along the coastline of the island. It was the common impression of the foreigners who visited the Philippines. We were also eager to see the beauty of the island and show what will it offer on us. 

Boracay Island.  Source: Wikipedia

Boracay Island is located off the northwest corner of Panay Island, and belongs to the Western Visayas island-group, or Region VI, of the Philippines. The island is approximately seven kilometers long, dog-bone shaped with the narrowest spot being less than one kilometer wide, and has a total land area of 10.32 square kilometers. Boracay Island and its beaches have received awards from numerous travel publications and agencies. The island comprises the barangays of Manoc-Manoc, Balabag, and Yapak municipality of Malay, province of Aklan. Administered by Philippine Tourism Authority and the provincial government of Aklan. In 2012, Boracay has been named the Best Island in the World by an international travel magazine, Travel + Leisure. (Source: Boracay Island)

We left Iloilo at 3AM and we rented a van going to Caticlan port. Actually, it was a roundtrip van that fetched us from Iloilo going to Caticlan and back to Iloilo the next day. We passed different towns of Iloilo, Capiz (for quick stop over) and Aklan. It was a 5 hour rod trip until we reached Caticlan port at 8AM.

waiting for our van

excited to Boracay

look at our smiles! :)

onboard the van

stop over at Capiz

excited! :)

Welcome to Aklan!

at Caticlan Port

entry to the port

We paid PHP80 pesos which the fare and environmental fee of PHP50 was included to the ticket. One of the team was from Aklan was exempted on paying the environmental fee. Actually, looked like airport because it has security checks and gates for departing passengers.

Registration at the port

The Map of Boracay

Other tourist destinations in Aklan

pre-depature area

to the gate

boat ride

our boat

all aboard!

Boracay, here we go!

Welcome to Paradise!

It was a short 15-minute ride from Caticlan port to Boracay. We were fetched by the husband of my friend which was also my officemate and we took tricycle and headed to Station 3 for our accommodation. We rented 2 rooms for PHP2500 each so we have a share of PHP500 since we were 10 in a group. He suggested to have island hopping and snorkeling around Boracay Island and all of us agreed since we were excited of doing it. We rented a motorboat which it was lowered to PHP3000, thanks to him and we only paid PHP300 pesos each. We also rented goggles worth PHP100 and we went to Bulabog Beach for our boat ride. It was situated on the other side of island opposite the White Beach and facing Sibuyan Sea. This place was famous for windsurfing and kiteboarding.

Welcome to Bulabog Beach!

Waiting to ride a motor boat

ready for island hopping

All of us were very excited as the motorboat started to roam around the island. We went to different places and this was the start of our Sail Away adventures! :)

Snorkeling along Tambisaan Beach

It was our first stop and we were at the middle of the sea. According to our guide, it was hundred meters deep and we were a bit scary because none of us know how to swim! But they were supported and guided us. We had our life jackets and started to do snorkeling.

swimming time!

have fun

time to snorkle

some view along the island

some islets along Boracay

swimming!

clear waters

Adventures never stopped since we enjoyed snorkeling and swimming along the clear waters of Boracay. I find it cool to see them enjoying the beauty of the island. We went on the different area to take swimming and we had fun! :)

Continue to the next blog for more Boracay Adventures! :)