BORACAY TRAVEL

Centennial Airport, Philippines

Last  December, me and my fiance went to Boracay via Philippine Airlines("PAL").  Boracay is best known for its pristine beaches and remains to be one of the most visited tourist spots in the Philippines. It is located in Caticlan, Panay Island, Visayas, Philippines.  My friends always tell wonderful stories of their trip to Boracay and being a beach buff myself, it has always been a dream of mine to one day visit Boracay. I got my best post-Christmas gift when my fiance invited me to visit their hometown Iloilo, which was a bus ride away from Boracay. He listed Boracay beach in our itinerary and was I excited? But of course, I was ! ! I packed my shades, swim wear, sun block lotion, slippers, and aloe soothing lotion and with a big smile on my face went with my fiance to the Centennial Airport bound for Kalibo airport. 

I love traveling but this was the first time I ever rode an airplane.  Our boarding time at Centennial Airport, Philippines was scheduled at 8:50 a.m. and we were supposed to arrive at Kalibo airport before 9:00 am.  However PAL announced that two (2) Korean businessmen wanted to exchange seats with two (2) passengers at our flight. We went to PAL office inside the airport and  PAL arranged our swap of flight schedule from 8:50 to 4.30pm with the Koreans. Me and my fiance  just signed a "denied boarding compensation agreement " and  were paid equivalent to one way fare going to Kalibo, Island. At  that time the one way fare was  Php 3,000++ per person.  As an additional compensation, we were given stubs for "free" lunch since we'll be staying at the airport until 4:00 pm. So while waiting, we used our pocket money and ate breakfast. We spent around Php 150.00 for a toast, choco and boiled egg using our "pocket money"/compensation. 

 This was our breakfast at"Ya Kun Kaya" cafe. 

My first airplane ride went out fine, although there was slight turbulence while going to Kalibo Island,since it was a bit rainy. I would look at my fiance with "big" wondering eyes and he would look back with big eyes and smile and that would immediately take away my fear that the plane would crash any time soon. The flight took about one hour. I would always look at the safety guidelines. I opened the window and saw it  it was still drizzling.  We arrived at Kalibo airport around 5:30 p.m. and rode a van going to Kalibo and stayed at the first inn we found. I forgot the name of the inn but I never forgot the Chicken Inasal we ate at RML Manokan. Chicken Inasal or barbequed chicken is a native delicacy in the Visayas region and one of my favorite. 

Chicken Inasal at RML Manokan

The following morning, we rode a van going to Caticlan, Boracay Station 2. At Caticlan, we rode a Montenegro fast craft. It was a fast 15 minute ferry ride to one of the Boat Stations of Boracay. We went to Station 2. There are three famous boat stations to Boracay beach--Stations 1,2 and 3. Station 1 is for the upper class because the accommodations there are quite expensive. Station 2 is for the middle class and Station 3 is for those who are not so choosy and with low budget. 

 Montenegro Fast Craft

We went to Station 2 at Boracay and once we docked, there were lots of hawkers asking us if we already have a place to stay. We viewed Alice Boracay Hotel and chose it because it's  near the beachfront, the room looks nice and cozy and  the rate was quite reasonable considering that December is peak season at Boracay. We got our room for only Php 3,00.00++.  It looked like a new condominium unit  and was overlooking the police station, so we felt secure and safe.  

Our pictures of Boracay beach, Station 2 , nearby Puca beach and Mt. Luho Viewpoint.  

 Station 2, Boracay

  

  

 Puca Beach

  Mt. Luho Viewpoint

Your Philippine trip would not be complete if you do not visit beautiful Boracay. Happy trip!




Here's How to Go to Boracay:


Travel by air 
(Main Routes)


1. Manila - Caticlan
a) Sea Air
b) PAL Express 


2) Manila - Kalibo
a) Philippine Airlines
b)Cebu Pacific with
c) Air Philippines


3) Cebu - Caticlan
a)Asian Spirit
b)Sea Air
c)Caticlan - Busuanga (Coron Isl./Northern Palawan)


Alternate Arragements (Land or Sea) 


From Iloilo to Caticlan


1)Ceres Bus has regular bus schedules, some of them air conditioned, from Iloilo to Kalibo and three times daily directly to Caticlan.


2)GM Liner is another bus company plying the route Iloilo - Caticlan with air-conditioned buses twice daily in both directions.


3)Alternatives are the mini-vans from Iloilo to Kalibo and another mini-van from there to Caticlan. Another alternative is to rent a taxi from Iloilo directly to Caticlan. The trip Iloilo to Caticlan takes between 4 to 7 hours.


From Kalibo to Caticlan


Southwest Tours, Star Express and 7107 Island Tours ply the route from Kalibo Airport to Caticlan with air-conditioned buses or coasters. Included in the price is also the boat transfer from Caticlan to one of Boracay's boat stations. Other means of reaching Caticlan are mini-vans, which are a little cheaper, but don't provide boat service to Boracay. The trip takes one to 1.5 hours.


Ship Manila to Caticlan


MBRS Shipping Lines have two boats plying the route from Manila to Caticlan. The ships leave Manila's North Harbor, Pier 8, every Friday, Monday and Wednesday at 5 PM. Arrival time in Caticlan is the next day between 6 and 8 AM.


Other shipping companies service the route Manila to Dumaguit, half an hour east from Kalibo. The companies are WG&A and Negros Navigation.

By Car from Luzon
 

Caticlan, the entry point for Boracay, can be reached also by private cars or air-conditioned buses, via the 'strong republic nautical highway', stretching from Batangas, Luzon, to Cagayan de Oro, Mindanao. A RoRo (Roll On - Roll Off) vessel leaves Batangas daily at 8.30 AM to Calapan, Mindoro. From there drive your own car or board a mini-van or air-conditioned bus to Roxas, Mindoro, where another RoRo vessel leaves at 2 PM for Caticlan, where the boat arrives at 6 PM. Private cars can be parked at one of the many shady and secured parking lots for a fee. No cars are allowed on Boracay Island. The same RoRo vessel leaves Caticlan daily at 9 AM. Contact number: Montenegro Shipping Lines, Inc., Main office Batangas City, Tel.: 043 723 7975/ 723 7598 and 723 2964.


Source: www.boracayisland.org