Hello, Hive!
I’ve been seeing a lot of photos of flowers and trees in full bloom which indicate that spring has finally arrived on your side of the world. As for us here in the Philippines, the weather bureau (PAGASA) just recently announced the start of the warm and dry season. On the good side, it means less rainy days and more time outdoors. On the bad side, it means low water supply due to dry spells and drought — and heat index reaching as high as 40 degrees celsius.
Technically, we have no summer season in the country but we consider the months of March to May as summertime. And what better way to beat the summer heat than a trip to the sea?
In my past post, I’ve talked about my first major climb of the year which was in Mt. Madjaas. You’ve read about our experiences climbing this mountain categorized with 8/9 difficulty level, as well as our unsuccessful attempt to reach its summit. What I was not able to share with you that time was how a beautiful island in Aklan took away the aches and heartaches after our Mt . Madjaas climb.
So here goes the second part of that summit to sea trip.
Exploring the beaches of Boracay
After descending Mt. Madjaas, we headed right away to Caticlan. Some of our colleagues decided to go back to Cebu, while others like James and I opted for a sidetrip to the world-renowned Boracay Island.
I hope it’s not condescending to say that Boracay needs no introduction, even to non-Filipinos. This tropical island dream is one of the best travel destinations in Visayas and the Philippines as a whole. In fact, Boracay was even voted as the top island in Asia at the 2022 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, and was described as “Paradise Reborn” in TIME magazines’ World’s Greatest Places of 2022.
Despite being a small island stretching 7 kilometers long and 1 kilometer wide, Bora has a massive variety of resorts and hotels (from budget to upscale), dining choices, bars, and water sports hubs. It has two primary tourism beaches, White Beach and Bulabog Beach, which are located on opposite sides of the island’s central area. And we're glad to have the chance to explore the two — and more!
The crystal clear water and fine sands of White Beach
Facing westward is White Beach, the island’s commercial center. This four-kilometer beach strip is divided into three stations.
Station 1
Station 1 is where most of the expensive resorts are located. It also has the widest beachfront and the finest and whitest sands.
Unfortunately, the weather during our two days in Boracay was gloomy. The sky wasn't as colorful as what most people see in photographs but I was still amazed by its clear waters and powdery white sands. As there are less tourists here during the morning, the sands remain unspoiled. It can be a little painful to the soles though if you walk in these hardened sands barefoot for a long time.
Here in Station 1, you can also find a rock formation called Willy’s Rock that protrudes from the shallow waters. Aside from its unique shape, Willy’s Rock became a popular attraction, especially among Catholics, due to the grotto erected in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
And, while White Beach as a whole offers the best sunset view, Station 1 is the go-to spot for those who want to capture the famous paraw sails cruising the waters. The sun was already setting when my friends and I arrived in Boracay and we only got a quick glimpse of it from Station 2.
If I could describe this section in one word, it would be LUXURY.
Station 2
Station 2 offers an assortment of upscale, mid-range, and budget hotels for tourists. Being the center of White Beach, this section is the busiest of the three and where most of the crowd is.
James and I booked two hotels here and were able to explore what Station 2 has to offer. Along the beach path, there is a wide range of shops, stalls and boutiques that sell just about anything you’ll need to get that “island vibe” going. The most famous of which is D’mall where you can find variety of food, souvenirs, outfits, swimming gears, etc.
The sand in Station 2 is white but grainier compared to Station 1 due to the number of tourists walking on its shores. We spent most of our time swimming and watching the sunset here. The only downside this section has is its tendency to get too crowded. Other than that, it offers gorgeous views.
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Here in Station 2, you’ll also find tourists opting for some water activities such as crystal kayak and stand up paddle boarding. Of course, I did not miss the chance to get some instagrammable shots for myself too. Dzaah. The design is very auntie. HAHA!
By dusk, Station 2 slowly turns into nightlife hostspot where wild parties, bar hopping and live bands are seen everywhere. Mind you though, prices for drinks are 2 or 3 times higher than the regular price. My friends and I tried going to a KTV bar and we ended up paying ₱4000 for just two hours! Anyway, we sang our hearts out so I guess it's fine. Hehe.
If I could describe this section in one word, it would be CONVENIENT.
Station 3
Being the tip of White Beach, Station 3 is the least crowded of the three. This section is the closest to the port and is known to offer the most budget-friendly accommodations. Though we spent the least amount of time in this area, I could say that it has a charm of its own.
If I could describe this section in one word, it would be TRANQUIL.
The exciting winds of Bulabog Beach
The second main tourism beach in Boracay Island is the Bulabog Beach. Facing eastward, this 2.5-kilometer beach strip is the water sports capital of the island. Aside from sunrise view, Bulabog Beach is known for its strong winds making it an ideal spot for kite boarding and windsurfing. P.S. excuse the blurry photo below. This is a screencap from a shaky video I took featuring the many kite surfers in the area.
It's also in Bulabog Beach where you can find the iconic leaning coconut tree which attracted a lot of tourists, local and international. There were many people lining up for a photograph that time so Anj and I had to make do with the lesser famous leaning tree. Which still looks awesome!
Bulabog Beach falls short when compared to White Beach’s powdery-fine sands. It also tends to have a lot of seaweeds, especially during the months of November to June. Still, those who want to steer clear of the loud and crowd will find this "other side of Bora" a very chill place.
Puka Beach, the gem of the north
Puka Beach is located in Yapak district, north of Boracay. At 800 meters, it is Boracay’s second longest beach, boasting its white sand peppered with puka shells. The water here is deeper than White Beach, and the currents are stronger.
When we got there, they raised the no swimming signage so we had no choice but to just enjoy the view and take pictures at the famous sand castle and Puka arc.
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Diniwid Beach, an unexpected hidden paradise
Truth is, we discovered Diniwid Beach by accident during our morning walk from Station 2 to Station 1. We saw a passing taho vendor heading to the big cliff at the end of Station 1 and we decided to follow him thinking that there’s a trail that leads to the other side of the beach. And indeed there was.
We followed a paved pathway which led to a small and secluded pocket beach called Diniwid.
Just next to the cliff was a young man building a sandcastle for tourists to take picture with later. We watched in amazement at how patient and in control he was making those intricate sand details.
It was high tide at that time and the current was strong, yet James and I were still able to play around and take a quick dip. However, we didn't take long since our flight schedule back to Cebu was in a few hours.
We traced our way back to the hotel, packed our bags, and headed to the port. While walking along the shore, I couldn't help but wish we had more time to enjoy the beauty of Boracay. I want to witness the sun rise in Bulabog and watch the sunset longer in White Beach. I'd love to swim the waters of Puka Beach and spend quiet hours in Diniwid. Funny how we only realize the things we haven't done when our time's running out.
Until next time, Boracay! 👣💛
Hello! I'm Maria, a hopeless romantic who travels in pages and places. I hope to share my love for words and the world with you here in HIVE.
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