Off Season in Boracay

After 4 months I’m back to Boracay again! Many are actually saying that summer is the best time to visit Boracay but for those people whose in a tight budget but still want to experience that “BORACAY EXPERIENCE” then why not visit on an off season. Though I would be very honest that Boracay is much better on a peak season , I would still prove that you could still experience that BORACAY EXPERIENCE on an off season 😉

It started when MY SPECIAL SOMEONE (MSS) booked a flight from MNL-BCD-MNL. MSS told me that its my duty to find places we could visit that he’s never been (actually this is the 4th time he visited me here in BCD). So while I was searching for places to visit in Bacolod, places to visit in negros occidental, I accidentally read a blog that going to Boracay from Bacolod isn’t that costly. And I began searching for tips and blogs about Bacolod to Iloiolo to Caticlan. As soon as I gathered enough info, I asked MSS if its okay with him? (bahala daw ako, kasi pag ginusto ko daw wala na siya magagawa) hahaha 

August 2, 2012– I fetched MSS at Bacolod-Silay Aiport, I was at the airport already at around 5:45am (ZZzzz…) But MSS arrived at exactly 6:00am, yehey! No delayed flights! We arrived at BREDCO Port at around 7:00am. We are going to ride a fastcraft to Iloilo. Shipping lines that offer fast craft are Supercat, Ocean Jet, Weesam Express. In our case we chose Ocean Jet since I have experienced riding at it before. Estimated time of departure is 7:45am so we still waited for about 45 minutes. It costs us a total of Php640 (Php320/head), but you could avail their promo which is the Libre na Balik mo Promo which will cost you Php500. Travel time is 1 hour and 30 minutes, but we arrived at Iloilo at around 9:00am.

Boarding time at Ocean Jet 🙂

Iloilo!!! 🙂

We arrived at Iloilo around 9:00am. Upon arrival at Iloilo Port there are ‘manongs’ who will shout and offer you “Ma’am! Sir! Boracay! Php350 lang! Hi-Ace van!”, but since we haven’t researched on it. We declined their offer. Instead we took a cab to Tagbak Terminal that costs us Php180. At Tagbak Terminal buses to Caticlan are everywhere, we’re so lucky that when we arrived the bus will already leave in 5 minutes 😀 It costs us a total of Php690 (Php345/head). We departed Tagbak Terminal at around 9:50am and arrived at Kalibo at 1:00pm to have our stop over for lunch. We ate at a small carinderia which costs us Php300 for 3 viands, 3 cups of rice, 1 gatorade, and 1 bottled water. Pricey for a small carinderia but the food is sumptuous 😀

Hello there Boracay! 🙂

So we arrived at Caticlan proper at around 3:30pm. We ride a tricycle to Tabon Port and costs us Php20. We payed a total of Php250 (Php125/head) for the terminal fee, boat fee, and environmental fee. They also gave us maps and books as guide in Boracay. We arrived at Boracay Port at around 3:45pm and took a tricycle ride to Station 2 which costs us Php100 for a special ride according to manong driver 😀 Upon arrival at station 2 we went at Tan’s Guesthouse if they still have vacant, unfortunately there are no vacant rooms so we decided to ask at their neighborhood inns, Villa Simprosa and Eriko’s House they had vacant rooms but located at their annex building which is at the back part of station 2, fortunately Shenna’s Resort which is beside Villa Simprosa still have vacant room. We payed Php3,000 only for 2 nights stay 😀

Guide to cheap accommodation in Station 2
source: http://www.senyorlakwatsero.com

Shenna’s Resort is actually a beach front inn but still they offer a very inexpensive accommodation. I’m just so happy that there is a Wi-Fi connection at Shenna’s. Thumbs up!

Sunset at Boracay

We spent the afternoon walking at the shore and had some photos taken while watching the sunset.

Jonah’s Shake

While walking from station 2 to station 1, we saw Jonah’s Fruit shakes which is really popular in many blogs. I ordered Choco Banana Peanut while MPS ordered Avocado Mango. It costs us a total of Php220 (Php110 each). My judgment? The choco banana peanut isn’t refreshing and it made me full immediately. It’s good if you want a food and a drink in one. For me it’s not something I would go back to again and again. While according to MSS the Avocado-Mango is really creamy but just like what I said it’s not something that he would also go back for.

We had our dinner at Andok’s for we already have no time to still find good restaurants to eat at and at the same time its raining!!!

Moshi Manju, Cheesefloss, Hot choco from Sbux

What I had for midnight snack! yehey!!! such a spoiled brat! Thank you MSS ❤

Early morning walk..

We decided to roam around stations 2 and 3 to find a restaurant that would offer quality food + affordable meals 😀 We went to D’Talipapa but the stores there are still closed.

Lunch at Smoke

Typhoon Gener is on the way 😀

After lunch we mutually agreed that we wanted to swim but upon seeing those waves and nobody seems enjoying the beach. We just decided to swim on the afternoon instead.

So we just decided to walk AGAIN 😐

I’m so tired naaaa!!! 😀

Swimming!!!

Yehey! Swimming! MSS really enjoyed the waves while I’m just staying at the sand playing 😀 I’m afraid of the big waves!!! :)) While MSS is swimming, I keep on making “sitsit” to make sure he’s still alive! 😀 (kidding)

After swimming…

After swimming, I got hungry!!! 😀 So we decided to go to Smoke and have dinner for I really like to taste their sizzling bulalo 😀

Early morning walk before going home, we decided to walk AGAIN and go to Willy’s rock to pray and thank God for this wonderful vacation 🙂

Going hoooooommmmmeee 🙂

Checked out at Shenna’s Resort at around 9:30am then take a tricycle to Boracay Port. Then take a boat to Tabon Port. At Tabon Port there are transportation to Sm Iloilo which costs us Php350/each. And also the travel time is only 5 hours maximum, there are no stopovers as well. We really regretted that we took the Ceres bus to Caticlan 😐 We rather opt to ride the Hi-Ace van to Caticlan which only cost Php350 plus we saved time pa 😀 Sayang! At least we’ve learned something! We arrived at SM Iloilo around 2:30pm and decided to have lunch first. Then from SM Iloilo we took a cab to the port where fast crafts awaits us 😀 Unfortunately, there are no trips at Ocean Jet (luckily we didn’t buy their LIBRE NA BALIK MO PROMO, hmp!) So we bought ticket at Weesam Express which cost us Php350/head. We even had a little fight for he wanted to buy the business class but I told him that its the same as the economy. Pero sobrang INIT pala sa economy, GRABE! 1 fan for almost 40 persons, but I didn’t get to experience that for I’m asleep the whole trip 😀 When we arrived at Bacolod, he told me “Sabi sayo mag-business class tayo eh! Ang init init kaya!” HAHAHA! Another thing that we’ve learned 😉

How to go to Boracay in a tight budget?

– Take a for hire van from Iloilo city (with other tourist if you’re in a small group) which will cost you only Php350

– Research or read some blogs prior to the date of vacation

– Find affordable restaurants

– Avoid fixers

– Enjoy the beach! It’s free! 🙂