With a somber mood, I offer you the news that Boracay will be closed from tourism activities for 6 months. The closure order will start this April 26. This was already confirmed by the Palace spokesperson Harry Roque. 6 months is a long time especially for an island as active as Boracay. But this step has to be done to ensure that the island's natural resources can be preserved and protected from further damage. While I love Boracay and I agree that claims of it being one of the most beautiful islands in the Philippines are warranted, I would like to bear the good news that it isn't the only beautiful island or beach in the Philippines. With over 7,000 islands, there are many other good (and some would argue, better than Boracay) beaches to choose from.
1. El Nido
You cannot talk about the best tropical destinations in the world (yes, not just in the Philippines) without talking about El Nido. This gorgeous group of islands is best known for its steep karst cliffs, secret lagoons, and pristine white sand beaches. The Small and Big Lagoons in Miniloc Island has been snapped in many Instagram photos and featured in numerous travel magazines (both in print and online). There is no word fitting to encapsulate the beauty of El Nido. We also found this interesting guide on what you need to know before going to El Nido to ensure a hassle-free trip planning.
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2. Coron
Coron is another popular destination also located in Palawan, Philippines. Even though it is not as popular as El Nido, it is slowly gaining its fair share of fans who are delighted to explore the stunning islands, lagoons, and cliffs of the island minus the flock of tourism. Mind you, more people are now finding themselves heading to this island because of the irresistible desire to set foot on one of the most beautiful tropical paradise islands you will lay your eyes on.
3. Bantayan Island
I've only been to Cebu once and I was lucky enough to visit the beautiful Bantayan Island. As I've said in this post, I highly recommend a visit to Bantayan Island if you want to experience the same gorgeous white sand beaches that Boracay has to offer minus the crowd of tourists.
4. Panglao Island
I've never been to Panglao or Bohol, but it's on my bucket list. The beauty of the island struck me the first time I saw photos of it online. Specifically, I will want to visit Alona Beach because that is one that keeps popping up in many travel reviews that I've read.
5. Palaui Island
I am embarrassed to admit it but it wasn't until the Survivor show filmed at Cagayan province that I discovered this secret gem of a tropical paradise. It is located at the northeastern extremity of Luzon. Hence, the remoteness of the island can be one of the reasons why it is not as crowded by tourists yet. But for those who brave the travel to get to these remote island see their efforts pay off because it is truly a tropical haven unlike no other.
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6. Caramoan
The Caramoan islands are on my bucket list and it should be on yours too. If you are constantly seeking out beautiful beaches that are isolated, this one right here ticks off that item in your bucket list. From secret lagoons, to turquoise waters, and untouched beaches, you will fall in love with Caramoan! The islands of Caramoan is quite remote, so don't forget to read this handy guide I found to get here.
Which of these Philippine islands or beaches do you have on your bucket list? If I missed anything, do let me know as I would like to explore more of our beautiful country!
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Aria Cucina Italian is a contemporary and modern Italian restaurant chain. Their branch in Boracay Island was among my must-try list of restaurants on our return trip last December. Many say that Aria Cucina Italian elevated the standard of restaurants in Boracay and we couldn't disagree with that. The tropical interiors, cozy ambiance, and excellent food truly satisfied hungry beach-goers like us!
While we were tempted to try as many items off of their menu, we felt like the best way to gauge the quality of an Italian restaurant is with their pizza. Hence, we quickly glanced over their pizza selection on the menu. In keeping with the tropical setting, we picked Frutti Di Mare (PhP 540 or US$ 11). This pizza consists of tomato sauce, garlic, seafood, and mozarella - basically everything I want in a pizza!
We both loved the pizza. Just look at our reactions, LOL! I love that they didn't scrimp on the seafood - we got a plentiful serving of shrimp, calamari, and fish! Same goes with the mozarella cheese too. I was in my happy place. I could have opted to eat here during the entire time we were in Boracay if not for my desire to try many other restaurants!
I couldn't resist sampling their Mousse ai Due Cioccolati (PhP 200 or US$ 4-5). It is a dessert filled with layers of white and dark chocolate mousse and topped with ground hazelnuts. This is supposed to be their house specialty. This was my least favorite part of the meal, though. For this price, I expected more and it was somewhat of a disappointment.
While dining at Aria Cucina Italiana is not inexpensive, they give you good value for money. Their dessert was subpar but the pizza was definitely a winner. I can't wait to try their pastas when we go back - hopefully soon! Do yourself a favor and dine here when in Boracay.
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Dahilayan Adventure Park is not a new name in the tourism industry of Mindanao. In fact, it is one of the most popular tourist destinations. Tourists from all over Mindanao come to Dahilayan Adventure Park to experience the cold weather and to enjoy the many activities that it has to offer. As the name implies, it is an adventure destination with plenty of activities for those who wish to get their craving for adrenaline rush.
The allure of the cold weather was part of the reason why we were keen to visit Dahilayan Adventure Park. For those living in Luzon, it is like visiting Tagaytay or Baguio. It is the perfect escape from the heat of the city. At the same time, you can experience plenty of fun, adventure-filled activities to enjoy a bit of a rush. Dahilayan Adventure Park is located in Brgy. Dahilayan in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.
The Accommodation
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| view from our room |
During our trip to Dahilayan Adventure Park, we stayed in Pinegrove Mountain Lodge. It is an excellent choice for those visiting the park for a few days and want a comfortable place to stay. The pine lodge concept facilitates in a relaxing atmosphere so you can have a place to rejuvenate after a tiring day of adventure activities. Our room also has a balcony that fronted various palm trees to welcome you with a gorgeous view upon waking up.
The Food
The food at Pinegrove Mountain Lodge was amazing. Needless to say, the restaurant was not inexpensive. However, the quality of the food was up to par. We have no complaints during our 2-night stay at Pinegrove Mountain Lodge. They also have a great selection of dishes from all kinds of menu - from Filipino, Asian to Western cuisine. Hence, you can have your culinary cravings satisfied, whatever it may be.
The Activities
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| our souvenir |
For the thrill-seeker, the range of activities available at Dahilayan Adventure Park is the main reason to go. On our visit, we were able to try all three of their zipline rides (you can purchase a ticket for all of these rides at a discount). This combo zipline ride allowed us to try all three zipline rides at Dahilayan Adventure Park: 150-meter, 320-meter, and the longest dual zipline at the park at 840 meters. All of these rides gave us quite the rush and is therefore highly recommended for anyone who wants to seek out the thrill.
Another one of their attractions that we had the chance of trying is the Python Roller Zipride. This was the most enjoyable ride that we experienced in Dahilayan Adventure Park. This ride is 500 meters long and combines the features and experience of a roller coaster and zipline ride in one. You will zip, slide, swing, roll, and drop throughout various portions of the ride. It is an exhilarating experience to say the least.
The Ropes Course is another fun attraction that you should try if you like a bit of a physical challenge. The website describes it as a "12-stage High and Low Wire obstacle course complete with a Multisided Rockwall". It is the ultimate obstacle course that you need to challenge yourself with.
Other noteworthy attractions at Dahilayan Adventure Park that we recommend (though we couldn't try them all) are Skytower Base Jump, Flying Lizard Canopy Glider, and Dropzone (a 150-meter freefall ride!).
If you are interested to learn more about the attractions at Dahilayan Adventure Park, you can check more at their website.
Have you been to Dahilayan Adventure Park?
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Puka Beach is one of the must-see beaches when you visit Boracay Island. Although not as powdery fine as the white beach of Boracay is, I still highly recommend it for those who want to explore and spend time in an undeveloped yet pristine beach. It is surrounded by forested cliffs and majority of this beach is kept untouched. This is the perfect place to go for a quiet swim - if you want to take a break from the crowd of the White Beach, or if you want to enjoy other water activities.
On our recent trip to Boracay, we made sure to visit this quiet beach again and we had fun taking photos of this gorgeous beach. We tried our best but felt like we still did not do it's beauty justice. Hopefully, these photos will convince you to add this to your itinerary on your next visit to Boracay.
Have you been to Puka Beach? What other white beaches have you been to in Boracay?
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The mere mention of Boracay inspires ideas of white beach and pristine, turquoise waters. It is no surprise why Boracay Island is touted as one of the top tourist destinations in the Philippines. This tropical paradise is located on an island in the province of Aklan. The powdery fine, white sand beaches of Boracay is known internationally, not just in the Philippines. In fact, international magazines such as Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler has cited the island as one of the best beaches/resort islands in the world.
We were fortunate to have traveled to this beautiful tropical paradise twice now. And we were impressed by its natural beauty both times. Hence, we couldn't recommend it anymore for anyone wishing to experience the tropical beauty that the Philippines has to offer. The White Beach is the most popular of the white sand beaches in Boracay. This is a 4-kilometer stretch of pristine white shore, which also makes it one of the longest white beaches in Asia.
For our first blog post, we wanted to showcase to you, our readers, the beauty of this tropical paradise, and why we think this won't be our last visit there:
What We Loved About Boracay
During my first visit to Boracay, I won't deny that I was a bit turned off by the crowd. But when you get over that, you come to realize that it is actually part of what makes Boracay what it is. You have to learn to embrace it and just enjoy the fun and festive atmosphere that comes with this tourist destination.
It is also worth noting that aside from the White Beach, there are more beaches you can explore in Boracay (especially if you want to get away from the crowd). Beach hopping is definitely one of the things that I would recommend anyone try if you ever go to Boracay.
Another thing that we did enjoy in Boracay is the food. There is a hefty amount of selection to choose from - basically any cuisine that you could imagine, you will find in the island. As a food lover (and one who likes to sample food when we travel), food trip in Boracay was something that we enjoyed dearly. We will have a separate post for each of the places we've tried to eat from so you can learn more about our dining experience. However, some of our favorites would be Aria Cucina Italiana, Cafe del Sol Boracay, Lemoni Cafe Boracay, and Cyma.
There are also plenty of activities to enjoy in Boracay. Island hopping is a perennial favorite and is a must for first-timers. Adventure water sports and activities are also available for you to choose from such as helmet diving, parasailing, sunset sailing, and more.
Finally, shopping is another fun activity in Boracay. We did lots of souvenir shopping on our second visit. D'Mall is the perfect place to go to if you want to find different shopping spots in one destination.
How to Travel to Boracay
If you want to visit Boracay Island, you can travel to any of the main international airports in the country. You can travel via the Ninoy Aquino International Airport or via the Mactan Island International Airport in Cebu. There are flights available from any of these airports going to Caticlan or Kalibo so you can get to Boracay. Do note that from Caticlan Airport, you will only travel a few minutes to a jetty port wherein you can take a jetty or private boat transfer to your hotel on the main Boracay Island.
On the other hand, if you choose to fly via Kalibo Airport, it will take 1.5-2 hours of travel via bus or van to get to Caticlan. Hence, you can choose which airport you book your flight to depending on your preferred method of travel.
For our own trip, we booked via Caticlan Airport to save on travel time and to avoid the hassle of further transfers to get to Boracay.
Have you been to Boracay Island? What was your favorite activity/attraction there?
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