Our kids just love water!

This prompted us to book a vacation in the Philippine’s prime summer destination—Boracay! At the start, we were eyeing Coco Beach Resort in Puerto Galera but all rooms were taken. Everyone placed their reservations in advance, which left all weekends of April fully booked. What was left for us was the option to fly to Kalibo.

I secured a booking in Lorenzo Main Resort through AllTravelSpot.com five days before our flight. The package was P7250 for a three-day-two-night aircon accommodation with return transfers from Caticlan to the resort, daily breakfast and a complimentary massage. I was made to pay additional 600 pesos for the transfer from Kalibo to Caticlan because the package does only cover that segment.

Philippine Airlines operates between Manila and Kalibo twice a day but during summer it has additional flights. The only disadvantage of flying to Kalibo is the extra one and half bus travel to Caticlan where the jetty port is located. There are also alternative carriers that operate directly to Caticlan and this saves the bus ride. Another choice to budget conscious travelers is the roll-on-roll-off (RORO) service provided by Philtranco from its Pasay Terminal. Fare is about P630 or P420 for aircon and ordinary liner respectively. The only drawback to this option is the eighteen-hour travel time. I haven’t tried RORO but I heard it’s okay. Negros Navigation also offers The Boracay Funship with P3888 for its Barkadahan Promo.

In Kalibo, there are buses that ply the route to Caticlan on regular schedules. There are also vans for chartered service. There was no hotel representative from Lorenzo so I called the resort and inquired who would arrange for our transfer. If your package does not cover the transfer, one-way fare to Caticlan is P250; this excludes the boat transfer to Boracay. I heard it's about P20 or P40.

We were only nine in the Southwest bus. Travel is generally smooth. Caticlan Jetty Port should be in a short distance once the bus gets to the coastal area. People from Lorenzo Resorts, whose white shirt is emblazoned with the resort’s logo, were very warm and helpful. They guided us to the private boat that will take us to the resort. Boat travel was barely 15 minutes. We got off at Lorenzo Villas where an equally warm hotel receptionist greeted us with a frosty glass of tea. We waited a little while before a shuttle service took us to Lorenzo Main using the backdoor streets of Boracay.

It was a hot Sunday afternoon when we arrived Lorenzo Main but the greens around the resort sooths the blistering sensation. The kids were weary; all got to sleep.

Lorenzo Main is located five minutes near seaside. The resort is quite old but still has its charm. You’ll find yourself in a landscaped tropic sprawled with thatched huts, swimming pool, lash garden and a quite place to stay. It has a convenient access to Boracay's various interest spots. Lorenzo has two gates, one at the backdoor connecting to a narrow lane, which leads to the main street, and the other that goes directly to the beach.

We went to the shoreline at five in the afternoon to look around. The cool waters, as expected, allured the two little girls. Even at dusk, the girls took pleasure in their fanciful plays while Grace and I, with our youngest daughter Daney, look from afar while seated on the white beach. They got enough of their fun before we returned to our cottage to change their clothes.

At night, the beach is liven up by the music bars, side street vendors, tatoo shops and people that walk from end to end. Everyone is enjoying his own activity. The whole stretch of the island exhibits a variety of foods that are delectable, most of which are exquisitely prepared seafoods. There are of course international cuisines offered by hotels, especially those located at beachfront. There are also restaurants in the inner side roads but most of the night bars are found near boat stations 1 and 2. The cheapest eat-all-you-can is about P185 while set meals vary between P135 and P150. Some charges children half of the price while others have them free. I suggest that you take a walk before settling for a place to eat. You just need to have a good catch of what your really want to dine.

Well, the market side or talipapa and the cafeterias near it have cheaper prices. You can buy here fruits and all assortments of foods and things that you would need.

The next day, while the kids were still asleep, I went out and see for myself how stunning the daybreak in Boracay is. Splendid! The serene and cool waters were inviting. This place reminds me of how beautiful life could be—peaceful and endearing. I told myself, my family and I deserve this good break. I spent an hour looking at how people live their life. Certainly, you’ll catch sight of the usual beach activities like jogging, lazy walking, boating and other water sports.

The kids must be awake that time so I went back to get them. Ideally, morning swim, while the sun has not come to its scorching heat, is the best unless you intend to tan. What I hate most about swimming are the sunburns. Coppertone sunscreen lotion works well on our skin and a must have for swimmers. At the end of the activity, you will almost not feel the burning sensation, especially at the shoulders. My kids are water lovers but a bit afraid of the vastness of the sea. They would always cling to my shoulders and hug my arms even if they have floaters. Daney also enjoyed her dip. We transferred to the hotel’s pool after two hours but quitted just before noon.

It was really hot and the girls had a good reason to stay in the cottage; I explored the island alone. It takes more than an hour to walk the whole stretch. It may be very hot and tiring but it’s worth your time because you’ll find interesting things about the island and its people. After this walk I went to Lorenzo South to try the complimentary massage. Among the three Lorenzo resorts, I find Lorenzo South the best. It is situated on the beachfront with very good hotel landscape and structure. The place too is perfect for an afternoon nap and massage.

I recommend that you stay at least four days to enjoy Boracay. The three-day booking we had was not enough so we stayed for another day. One thing in Boracay that you shouldn’t miss is the island hopping. You can join an arranged group tour or rent a private boat for you and your family. The later would cost about P1500 or P2000 depending on the size of boat you wish to rent and how many people will be onboard. Usually, private tour takes about three or four hours while group tour last for about seven hours. There are locals who will approach you with this offer and some other water sports and rides like parasailing, snorkeling, banana boat, sailing and others. These rides are not too expensive. Banana boat for instance is P200 per person but you have to wait for others to join you otherwise you need to pay for the entire banana, which is P800.

We opted for the group island hopping. We find traveling with other people more interesting. Sunny Fun Tour is located between stations 2 and 3 and offers P500 island tour per person (P250 for children). The boat leaves at 10:30am at boat station 2. The operator provides snorkeling equipment but I suggest you bring your own snorkel tube for sanitary purposes and borrow just the goggles. It was my first snorkeling experience and it took me a little while to manage positioning because water fills my tube every time I take a dip. The seabed has a stunning marine view but I felt a sense of dread every time I look below. It seemed that the waters would engulf me.

The tour includes a buffet lunch with cold beverages at a nearby house opposite the Shark Cave. There were grilled tanigue, barbecue, mixed vegetables, rice and fruits prepared for the group; we were about 23.

After an hour, we went back to the boat and heeded to Crystal Cove. This is a private island with P150 entrance fee (P75 for children). This place has a footpath that goes around the island. The landscape is good enough with a spectacular view of the sea. But you have to be cautious because there are open cliffs with no railings.

From Crystal Cove, the boat took us to an area near Crocodile Island. It is said to be a very good snorkel site. We even brought some biscuits for the fishes to draw them near. The waters are slightly rough and the current is strong. This is the reason why most small boats operate only in the morning; they try to avoid the big waves in the afternoon. I managed to take a look what’s below while clinging to the boat’s outrigger. Indeed, there’s a nice view.

One thing that caught our attention was the ice cream and buko (young coconut) vendor paddling towards our boat. We were amazed to see them! Where else can you find them in the midst of the sea? Just in Boracay, I suppose.

We still had an hour so the group insisted of going to Puka Beach instead. But not soon enough when everybody realized that the waves on the way to Puka Beach were much more rough. The boat struggled with big waves that prompted some to grab life jackets. Grace was afraid; I asked her to calm down so the kids won’t be alarmed.

Puka is a deserted beach. People just come and go to this place probably just to take a look. You would only find a nipa hut with few locals selling buko and ice cream. The waters were clear and no strains of seaweeds. They say that the sand used in the controversial Boracay Mansion was taken from this area, which made the water level high.

As we move back to boat station 2, the view of some other villas impressed us. They are beautifully arranged along mountainside. They look magnificent from afar and I think some people prefer the spot that lies far from the busy Boracay.

The hub for nightlife is near boat station 1. There are good bars in the area where you can enjoy live bands or simply listen to music. You will also find lots of stores here where you can buy souvenirs, beach outfits, and the likes. It is also a fun place to dine. The distance between boat stations 1 and 3 is relatively far, you can take a ride but you have to walk from the main road to the beach because tricycles are generally not allowed along the beach area.

We went back to Manila the next day. Boracay was the best thing we had this summer!

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