AzoresLover From United States, joined Jun 2004, 651 posts, RR: 12 Posted (4 years 10 months 1 week 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 2782 times:
Boracay is a small island in the central Philippines. It is an internationally known resort island, with a fantastically beautiful white sand beach, clear blue and turquoise water, nothing swimming in the waters there to hurt you, outstanding snorkeling and scuba, pretty much paradise for me!! Getting there was the most unusual trip I've taken to get anywhere.
The only access to Boracay is by boat. You must fly to a neighboring island and get a boat over from there. I checked in at the domestic terminal of the Manila airport, for my flight on Asian Spirit Airlines to Cataclan, about an hour's flight. The aircraft was a DeHaviland Dash-7, my first opportunity to ride that type. Very comfortable plane. Airlines don't have individual gates in this terminal, there is a long counter in front of 4 doors which all airlines use. Finally my flight was posted and we walked out to the plane.
Landing in Cataclan was my first unusual experience of the trip down. There is just one narrow runway, I don't know the length. We landed, reversed the props, and as we were coming to a near stop I was thinking that the pilot hasn't yet feathered the props, we're still reversed. We rolled to a stop, then started backing up; I'm thinking, "OK..." We backed up the runway quite a distance to the only taxiway off, a 90 degree turn off the runway. We backed up until we were past it, then stopped, then taxied forward off the runway to the terminal. It was kind of like backing my car out of the garage onto the street, then driving away.
We got on a little shuttle bus to go to the boats. Next surprise: no docks. The boats were all small out-riggers. As they are unable to reach the shore, it was necessary to bare my feet and legs below the knee and wade out to the boat and walk up a narrow gangplank to get aboard.
Because of high seas at the time, the normal 20-minute trip took 30, as we had to go in a wide arc rather than more directly. Of course, once at Boracay I had to jump down off the boat again and wade ashore. Fortunately, the boat crew carried my luggage each time.
Now was a little truck trip across to the other side of the island, and finally into the resort I stayed at, Willy's Resort for anyone here who is familiar with Boracay, right on White Beach. I noticed that there are no walls around the resort lobby or the restaurant off the lobby. There is no way to enclose it at all...but the weather is never cold at any time of year, so I guess they feel walls are unnecessary!
Right after checking in, I put on my suit and went wading up the beach in water above my knees, and I knew I was in Paradise!!!
Three days of swimming, boating, walking, exploring, and then back to Manila. Way too short of a visit, but what a way to get there!!!
Has anyone else here ever been to Boracay? If so, I'd really like to hear your impressions!!
Airbus340 From Spain, joined Dec 2000, 126 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (4 years 10 months 1 week 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 2700 times:
What a funny back-up of that plane! I never in my life heard of such a thing-backing up by reverse engines... Did he have a back mirror to see if any plane was landing or someone getting into the runway?
AzoresLover From United States, joined Jun 2004, 651 posts, RR: 12 Reply 2, posted (4 years 10 months 1 week 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 2690 times:
AirbusA340,
Yeah, It cracked me up, too. I was completely surprised when that happened! I guess they just have their own way of doing things in the Philippines!! Cataclan is a very small airport, the only commercial carrier there is Asian Spirit; there were a few small planes parked on the ramp, but I never saw any other flight activity except my 2 flights in-out. I assume the pilot just kept looking forward and let the disappearing runway guide him. Or do you suppose he was hanging out the window and looking back as if in a car?? That image is just TOO FUNNY to me!!
Kl808 From United States, joined May 1999, 1545 posts, RR: 9 Reply 3, posted (4 years 10 months 1 week 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 2422 times:
Hey azoreslover, great to hear you enjoyed your trip to Boracay.
Ive been to Boracay only once, and this was back in 1988. I flew PR though from MNL-KLO-MNL on a B737-300. It was a great trip.
Back then though it wasn't really much commercialized and it was much more beautiful, than what ive heard from my friends who've been there recently.
Yes the outrigger was great and it does take quiet a while. However from KLO to the boat took an hour by bus, so I guess caticlan is a much better destination.
Future wise I wouldn't want to return to Boracay just because its too commercialized.
Here are some islands I would recommend to you which Ive been too.
2001 CEBU, take the bus to the resort of MOALBOAL, you need to be a diver though, not a great beach but great diving. Near by there is a waterfall called kawasan falls. Very beautiful.
2003 DAVAO, beautiful and great city. Take the boat to talikud island, great diving again.
ALONA BEACH in PANGLAO BOHOL, great island, beautiful mountain formation called the "Chocolate Hills", great white sand beach at Panglao, and great diving at Balicasig island (20 min boat ride from Panglao island).
very little tourist less comercialized = much more fun, pristine conditions, cheaper.
My future plan is to go to TAWI TAWI heard its very beautiful. Palawan seems to be beautiful too.
Trickijedi From United States, joined May 2001, 3266 posts, RR: 6 Reply 4, posted (4 years 10 months 1 week 7 hours ago) and read 2333 times:
I find your title very appropriate. Getting to Boracay is indeed a multi-step process!
Sounds like you had a lot of fun on your trip! Good times can always be had on that island.
I just came from Boracay myself a coupe of months ago (first week of July). Although when my gf and I went, it rained and stormed for three straight days with the ocassional peeks of sunshine during midday. Although we still managed to jump in the water, we were actually glad it rained because it allowed us more time to spend indoors . I must say though, the view of the water as well as the surrounding islands is pretty incredible after a thunderstorm and once the sun comes out.
We took SeaAir from Manila to Caticlan and flew in a much smaller plane (a 19 seater LET-410). It was a great ride and the plane handled itself extremely well despite turbulent weather. We were shaken pretty bad on the way there as we flew at a fairly low altitude (9,000 ft) while dodging thunderstorm clouds. Landing was a bit of an adventure as well, due to low visibility. After landing, our taxi from the runway to the gate (if you can really call it a gate) consisted of a complete full stop after landing, temporary idle and then a complete 180 degree turn in the middle of the runway and then used the runway to taxi to the gate. The airport had no taxiways... it's basically just one long strip of runway ground.
We then took a tricycle to the docks and jumped on the boat to take us to the island. Our route was also slightly diverted due to high waters. Normally, we would've been deposited in any of the three designated boat stations. However, due to high waters, we were instead dropped off on the other side of the island so we had to take another tricycle to the boat stations where the waterfront hotels and villas are located. Since we did not have any hotel reservations (it was low-season anyway) we walked around for a bit and eventually settled on a nice little villa facing the water called Villa Camilla in Boat Station 3 (the quietest, least crowded and most chill area of all the bpat stations). I am Filipino so I was able to bargain down a good price for our 4 night stay... although IMO I'm sure they would've given even foreigners the discount as well since activity on the island was extremely slow due to it being rainy-season. As they say on the island, low-season, high-water.
Yes, it's better to go to Boracay with minimal luggage since more than likely, you will get wet getting there. We took a mid-sized backpack each and sometimes that was even a hassle to tug around - both getting on and off the boat and on the tricy. We did see a group of Japanese tourists carry huge amounts of luggage but had no place to put them since those boats are not very wide. And also those planks they use to actually get onto the boat are very thin and requires a good amount of balance and strategic maeuvering to avoid falling. I can imagine huge rolly suitcases being a hassle in getting them on the boat. The locals I'm sure made some pretty good money off of them, assisting them with ther luggage.
One of the reasons why Boracay is such a pain in the ass to get to is because well, it's an island... although thankfully it's not too far off the coast thus negating a long and sometimes nauseating boat ride (during high tide). Although when the waters are calm, it makes for a fantastic experience, as was thew case on the way back to Caticlan from Boracay. Another reason it's such a hassle is because the closest airport to Boracay with a paved runway is still a few kilometers away from the coast, thus requiring about a 20 minute tricycle ride to get to the docks. But it is worth it however. People from all walks of life and different countries visit this island. Some even say the island has already run its course and is getting overcrowded and dirtier and dirtier by the minute. In the meantime, local carriers such as Asian Spirit, Seair and PAL (although they fly to Kalibo requiring yet another 2 hour bus ride to get to Caticlan) keep adding more flights to get there.
I'm guessing more and more people will continue to visit Boracay while the island gets more and more exploited. But hey, it's the Philippines! No one cares about overcrowding and polluted islands there! As far as the locals are concerned, there's about 5,000+ more islands to discover and for the tourist to lay their eggs.
My next Philippine island hopping adventure will be Palawan, probably Puerta Princessa. It's a more chill location. Or as Kl808 mentioned, there are some great places and diving locations in Cebu that I have yet been to.
Its better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air than be in the air wishing you were on the ground. Fly safe!
Trickijedi From United States, joined May 2001, 3266 posts, RR: 6 Reply 5, posted (4 years 9 months 3 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 2277 times:
I finally got around to doing this...
Here are some pics from Boracay.
Seair flight from Manila to Caticlan. It was a 19-seat un-liveried LET410. Flight was delayed at least two hours due to bad weather in Caticlan... and Boracay! Great plane although it still shook us to death en route. Taken at Manila Domestic Airport.
Final approach into Caticlan. Clouds covered most of the flight at around 9,000 as well as the initial approach. Finally cleared at about 1,000 feet and shortly thereafter boats and other details started to become visible.
Took a pic of an inbound Asian Spirit flight. This should give you an idea of how windy it was when we were there and how tough the landing was for our flight crew. Check out those trees!
One of the many boats that shuttle tourists to and from the island.
Another banka on the shores of Boracay.
Its better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air than be in the air wishing you were on the ground. Fly safe!
Trickijedi From United States, joined May 2001, 3266 posts, RR: 6 Reply 6, posted (4 years 9 months 3 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 2270 times:
The boat ride back to Caticlan from Boracay was much, much better thanks to calmer waters. Quite relaxing actually.
One of the many smaller boats hanging out around the shore. On our way back to Caticlan, we stopped a little short of shore and had to hop into one of these tiny things and pay an additional 5 pesos for those guys to paddle us to shore. I'm not sure why this was necessary other than perhaps to take more of our (albeit measely) money. I'm guessing our bigger boat had to dock elsewhere.
Jeepneys were in line all over the place to shuttle people to other parts of the province. Most common destination was Kalibo where PAL flies. There was also an air conditioned bus waiting further down the road headed towards the same direction.
Bunch of tricycles lined up to take tourists and their luggage for the 20 minute ride to the Caticlan Airport. It's amazing how skilled these drivers are maneuvering their way on many of the unpaved and half-done roads. Especially with a heavy load. The guy in front of us carried 3 people plus 4 huge bags and worked his tricy with ease! Amazing!
Our plane going back to Manila. I didn't want to know what the fire extinguisher was doing on the tarmac and the storage compartment opened.
Headed back to Manila over calmer waters and friendlier, smoother skies.
Its better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air than be in the air wishing you were on the ground. Fly safe!
AzoresLover From United States, joined Jun 2004, 651 posts, RR: 12 Reply 9, posted (4 years 9 months 3 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 2164 times:
I've enjoyed reading these comments about Boracay. Trickijedi, those pix made me really miss being there again. Thanks for posting them, I saw some familiar boats, etc, in them.
Yes, it is getting commercialized, even pouring concrete to improve the muddy, rutted roads. I love riding the tricycles, and the jeepneys are unique. In Manila I really didn't want to ride them, though, but that's another story.
I also shared my trip back to Caticlan with a group of Japanese, and you are right about the luggage!!! I was amazed!!!
Palawan is another place I hope to get to in the future, as mentioned here. Tawi Tawi, too. I'm not sure about Davao, though.
The most relaxing thing about being in Boracay, though, was the complete lack of the stress of life in Manila...politics, impossible traffic, continual news reports of doom and gloom and government corruption, etc. It just seemed like those things were far off and forgotten in Boracay. It was wonderful!!
YYZPHIL From Canada, joined Nov 2004, 12 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (4 years 7 months 2 weeks 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 1903 times:
Hi,
My first post here. I visited Boracay in 2001 and I was immediately
hooked. The flight from the Manila Domestic Terminal on Asian
Spirit was great as the weather was perfect and we had a great
view of the island.
We stayed at the Club Panoly which is on the quieter side of the island
with a private beach, it was heaven. It was only a 5 minute ride to the
more touristy area where the clubs were.
The snorkeling was truly amazing with all kinds of marine life.
The people were extremely friendly and the service at the resort, bars,
restaurants etc. was excellent.
I highly recommend Boracay. I will post some pics later.
My trips getting from Toronto to Manila are other stories to be told later.
Sponsor Message: 
From United States, joined Jun 2004, 651 posts, 
From Spain, joined Dec 2000, 126 posts, 
Did he have a back mirror to see if any plane was landing or someone getting into the runway? 
. I must say though, the view of the water as well as the surrounding islands is pretty incredible after a thunderstorm and once the sun comes out. 
From Canada, joined Nov 2004, 12 posts, 
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