Boracay ~ Island Hopping (Day 3)

I think, I failed to soak in enough sunshine in our 2 days in Boracay.  Still NO sun-kissed skin and we only have a full day left in our vacation.  So for our last day, we went Island Hopping.  We wanted a relaxed pacing so we got a private small boat for our party of 7.  

We started the day with yet another hearty buffet breakfast at Two Seasons' Bar Lo Restaurant ready for today's physical adventure.

Then with a few more minutes left ~  we decided to get braids....  We thought, it would be nice for picture taking 😏😏😏

 

Our boat waits at Bulabog beach...

We kept our Island Hopping itinerary light and went for:

• Puka Beach
• Crocodile Island (for snorkeling)
• Helmet Diving

Helmet Diving

We ended the tour early, as we were worried my parents are already missing us...

Here is our welcome party, my parents having a grand swimming (from the looks of it,  they were not missing us at all)...

One good thing about, Two Seasons is its location which is literally just a few steps away from the famed White Beach...

  For our last night, we went the Real Coffee for light dinner (sandwiches, coffee and of course, their famous calamansi muffin).

Then back to D'Mall to buy "pasalubong".  

Here are pictures from our last day in Boracay...  we will surely miss....  

#AuraModeON 

If you missed our Day 1 and Day 2

Boracay - Day 1

Boracay - Land Tour (Day 2)

Boracay ~ Land Tour (Day 2)

One of the reasons of our Boracay travel is to take my senior citizen parents on a getaway, having been confined at home due to Covid for such a long time. 

We have decided on a Boracay land tour as it was easier for seniors than island hopping (hoping on and off a motorized banca).  

I found a local tour guide ("Alex") in one of Boracay DIY groups, that I have joined online preparing for our Boracay trip. Alex is such a sweet heart.  He is our driver, tour guide and photographer rolled into one.   He is pleasure taking to and it was apparent that he really loves his job.  We enjoyed our tour and did not feel rushed at all.  A big plus, he also takes real good pictures! The only problem though is he has taken hundreds of them (all beautiful), it was so hard to edit and decide which ones make it to my social media pages.   

You can contact him through FB Messenger>>> Alex Canindo

We started our tour at 8am, after a hearty buffet breakfast "Two Seasons".  (Breakfast starts at 7am, so we have an hour to fill our tummies and dirty our feet with a short beach walk as we waited for Alex).

(Check here my review of Two Seasons Boracay by clicking the link below>>> Boracay ~ 3 years after (Day 1)

Our Itinerary included: 

• Tambisaan Beach
• Mangrove
• Sinagpa Beach
• Diniwid Beach
• Keyhole - Boracay New Coast
• Puka Beach

We reserved two e-trikes (my parents, my sister and her family shares the other one).  TIP: If you are travelling with seniors, request for lowered rides, so they can hop on easily.

So many pictures ~ can't decide which to post :D

Our first stop is the Tambisaan Beach

At the Mangrove Park

Bulabog Beach

Sinagpa Beach is about 10-15 minutes picturesque stroll.  

You can see Station 1-3 from here. 

Note: It will be a bit difficult for seniors to walk as some of the steps were steep and will be slipper when wet. 

Keyhole ~ New Coast Beach

Puka Beach

We ended our tour with lunch at Sugba de Boracay at Station 1.

Our Tour Highlight... (hahaha)

This was a good way to end our day's tour.

Good service. Food fresh and delicious!  

This restaurant is A++ approved by my family...

Part 2 of our Day 2 is a Sunset Cruise.  

For this trip, we left the 60+ at the hotel to relax and recharge; and enjoy the white powdery sand of Boracay.

Now about our Sunset Cruise ~ for this tour we travelled via e-trike to Bulabog Beach where our cruise awaits.

I booked a sunset cruise, but unfortunately (yes, you read that right) got upgraded to a Party Cruise, with cocktails, beer, cheese and crackers to go.  I was told it was a lot more expensive than our original planned tour, but it was also loud with lots of young party people on board...  And we just wanted some quiet time ~ gazing at Boracay's beautiful sunset (which I think got scared of all the chaos on board, and did not show).  

There is a market for this kind of tour, but it was obviously not ours.  This tour left our eardrums numb :D

Alas, no Sunset too...

The tour ended 6pm and we took an e-trike back to our hotel. Ordered room service for Two Seasons' Four Cheese Pizza and Fruits shakes while we dipped and relaxed by the resort's pool.  

If you missed our Day 1 >>>>> Boracay Day 1

Follow my blog for our Day 3 in Boracay.  

Boracay ~ 3 years after (Day 1)

This Boracay Trip has been three (3) years delayed due to Covid.  

We originally booked a family trip for my parents, my sister's family, my brother and his wife (who were coming from the States) and my family of 4.  It was supposed to be a quadruple celebration,  our Parent's 50th Wedding Anniversary which was same day as my husband's birthday, our Wedding Anniversary the day after and my brother's Wedding Anniversary on the same month. We were crestfallen, Covid 2019 lock down took away what should have been a grand celebration.

An all paid for vacation turns to "travel fund".   

So when borders eased up this year (2022) ~ we booked our flight, called our hotel and went!  Unfortunately, my brother and his wife were not able to join (sad...).

Here enters Boracay....

Sharing here our 4day/3nights Boracay Adventure (near Post Pandemic style):

We left Manila via AirAsia for Boracay noon time and arrived at Caticlan at about 2 in the afternoon, it would take another hour and half to reach Boracay Island.  Transfers to Two Seasons from the airport was part of our package so everything was smooth sailing.

Though we had meals on board, the long travel made us all hungry :P 

So first order of business is FOOD!!!

We are staying at the Two Seasons, so it was a given that our welcome meal upon arrival was at the Bar Lo Restaurant.  

WELCOME TO BAR LO RESTAURANT

We ordered their much celebrated and Instagram famous Four Cheese Pizza, which many swore by as the best in the island.  Did I say we were hungry?  So we got 2 of those (finished everything), got their equally famous Oyster Sisig (which my mom can't stop raving about), a couple of Pasta sharing size (which were okay) and Calamares.

For dessert we ordered Halo-halo and Mais Con Yelo. 

I really liked both, but preferred the mais con yelo more.

How cool is this... with the white sand and beach as your view! #sarap

Be warned though that in our 3 nights stay at Two Seasons, the queue of guests eating at the BarLo Restaurant is no joke.  As we were hotel guests, getting seats was easy, however, can't say the same for the walk-ins.  Be ready for long wait!

OUR ROOM

We got 3 rooms for our group of 9 pax.  My parents stayed on the ground floor next to our room, while my sister got a room at the 2nd floor.  

We have a family suite with 3 queen bed (with one of the beds in a private room) with direct access to the pool.  The pool is just a dipping pool though, but was a welcome respite after a a busy day of beach frolicking.

The rooms are clean, linen and towels soft and nicely laundered. Beds were firm and comfortable to our liking.  The rooms and bathrooms are spacious. However, I find the rooms poorly lit and the fixtures a tad old, but it was not a big issue as the rooms were obviously well maintained. 

Hotel staff were friendly and courteous but not nosy. Room service was fast and efficient. 

That being said, I am generally happy with Two Seasons, location was perfect and that is all we really need.  

After we have rested, we took a walk from Station 1 to D'mall, portions of our walk barefoot and all! After all, this is why we came to Boracay!

At the D'mall in the hunt of Halo Mango ~

We can't seem to get enough of this fine stretch of white sand... 

(Me, my husband, plus my eldest walked our way back to the hotel, 

while my sister took the trike)

Click here for my post on our Day 2 - Land Tour >>>> Boracay Day 2 ~ Land Tour and Sunset Cruise

Our Bicol Itinerary and Travel Tips

Travelling via air (especially if you plan to go abroad) can be bit worrisome at the moment, given all the pandemic fuss.   But being natural born wanderers (makati ang mga paa sa Tagalog), my husband and I, we simply can't say "no" to travelling.  So we did the next best thing ~ we decided on taking Luzon road trips. 

So, here comes in our Bicol adventure.  

Bicolandia is a huge region, encompassing the southern part of Luzon and nearby provinces.  It is composed of six provinces: Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Masbate and Sorsogon.  The nearest province Camarines Norte is roughly 340 kilometers from Manila (which translates to 8 hours of continuous driving).

Knowing how big the region is and with limited time at our disposal, we decided to focus on Albay ~ the home of the magnificent Mayon Volcano and one of country's popular attractions, gracing our Isang Daang Piso (P100.00).

If you are planning a long drive to Albay, here are some tips on how to get the most of your vacation.

WHAT TO BRING

1. Pack light clothes.  Bicol gets pretty humid especially mid-afternoon.  Always pack an extra shirt for changing.

2. Bring mosquito repellant and sunscreen. 

3. Weather could get unpredictable so you might want to bring a light jacket, a cap (or if you may mini-umbrella).  The jacket would also come is handy against the scorching sun if you intend to do ATV.

4. Bring loose change for tipping.  

5. Wear comfortable shoes, hiking shoes or shoes with tractions that you don't mind getting wet or dirty.  Most of the attractions require a bit (or a lot) of walking dirt pathways/roads.  

6. Bring a water bottle and keep yourself hydrated.

DRIVING ALL THE WAY

1. Ensure your driver gets enough sleep before the long drive.  Albay is about 465 kilometers from Manila and total driving hours will take roughly 10 hours.  Assign a navigator who will stay up together with your designated driver.  If there is  another driver in the travel group to switch with though this would be better. 

2. Come up with a Spotify playlist. Travel is long and a nice well planed background music will be appreciated by all.   

3. Leave Manila at 4:00 to 4:30am.  Depending on traffic, you are likely to reach San Pablo in Quezon in an hour or two.  This will a good place to have breakfast and do some stretching.

4. Do pitstops, stretch your muscles and have bathroom breaks at least every 2-3 hours.  Even if you don't feel tired, don't push it and do the breaks. 

5. Here is a tip you might want to consider,  get a local tour guide/travel agency.  Depending on your budget, you can join a group or hire a van exclusive for your use.  

• We opted to hire our own van, since we wanted a customized trip. 
• With a local guide driving for us, my husband also gets to relax and enjoy the trip.
• Internet connection is spotty in many areas and I doubt we would make it to most of our stops without getting lost.
• We got tips on where to eat and shop.

OUR TOP TO DO AND TRY LIST

1. Must visit:

• Do the ATV.  We tried the Green Lava Trail and it was well worth our money. 
• Camalig Ruins 
• Lignon Hills
• Daraga Church (one of the oldest churches in Bicol) 
• Solong Eco Park if you are into hiking trails and spelunking
• Sumlang Lake with a nice view of the Mayon across a lake  
• If time permits, squeeze in  a day trip to Sorsogon or Naga

 2. Must try:

• Skip the fast food and get a fixing of Bicol local delicacies. 

3. Must buy:

• Handicrafts (the Legazpi to Sorsogon roadside handicrafts were pretty good value)
• Ceramics at the PhilCeramic in Tiwi Albay 
• Pili Sweets at the House of Pili in SM Legazpi OR Ibalong Pasalubong Center.  
• Check out cottage industries. If you are in Tobaco City area they make very good "bolos (tabak)".

   

Check the links below for more trip inspirations:

Legazpi - Day 1

Legazpi - Day 2

Legazpi - Day 3

Sorsogon Day tour - Day 4

I found my Honey in Sorsogon - Day 4

Time travels faster when you are having fun :P

Can't believe, this is our last full day in Bicolandia.  With a day left to our Bicol holiday, we tried to squeeze in a day tour to Sorsogon.  Sorsogon is famous for its stunning sceneries and emerald blue beachlines.

Posing right next to a giant pili-nut at Sorsogon Baywalk :D 

Barcelona, Sorsogon

The town was named after Barcelona, Cartonia (Spain) after a Spanish official saw some similarities between the two.  

The Ruins

Across the Ruins is the century old Barcelona Church, which is one of the oldest in the Bicol province.  

Next stop is the Paguriran Beach

A rock islet with a natural pool formation.  During low tide, you can literally walk towards the island.

I was a bit disappointed that we were not able to dive and get ourselves wet, but promised to come back soon and spend at least 3 days in Sorsogon just to enjoy the beach and the crystal clear water.

Lunch was at Balay Buhay sa Uma Bee Farm

Bulay Buhay is an agri-tourism farm-site with lodging facilities.  This is the place to stay if you wish for peace and quiet.

  

A natural spring pool comes as a bonus.

Bulusan Volcano Natural Park was supposed to be our last stop in Sorsogon, however it was still only partially operational due to Covid restrictions. They were only allowing limited guests at a time to enter and wait time is about 1-2 hours.  Another disappointment, still another reason to come back to Sorsogon.

There are still so many to discover in Bicol, 4-5 days is not enough to fully experience it beauty.  

With the country opening its ports and loosening travel restrictions, plus the reopening of Bicol railways, we will definitely start frequenting the beautiful Bicolandia!

If you missed Day 1-3, please check the links below:

Welcome to Legazpi Day 1

The Best of Albay Day 2

The Best of Albay Day 3

Welcome to Legazpi - The Best of Albay - Day 3

Day 3 of our Bicol vacation starts with a quick trip to 

Lignon Hills

It is the 2nd highest point in the city of Legazpi, rising about 512 feet overlooking the Mayon Volcano and the Albay Gulf.  The view on top (even after the 3km walk) was worth it.

Next stop is Daraga Church.

Our Lady of the Gate Church or more commonly known as the Daraga Church is located on a hilltop with a majestic view of the Mayon Volcano. The people of Cagsawa transferred their town center here to avoid the eruptions of Mayon Volcano and flooding of Yawa River.

Daraga Church is famous for its Baroque architecture.  Its façade and walls are made out of volcanic rocks, coated with lime for protection from deterioration.

From Daraga we travelled about 14kms to our next destination located in Camalig.

Solong Eco Park

It is 6.5 hectares eco-park known for its outdoor activities such as hill trekking and spelunking.  

We were assigned a park guide who helped us reach Solong Crystal Cave through a great deal of hiking.  The uphill climb was a real challenge, while the about 10 minutes stay inside the cave felt like you are inside a sauna. Must have lost 10lbs (or more).  

(Perfect end to all that climbing.... refreshing buko juice)

Farm Plate

Our next stop is the Farm Plate. It is huge Instagrammable farm for picnics and just to breath in fresh air.  

Socorro's Lakeside Restaurant

Hands down one of the best meals we have had in Bicol is here at Socorro's Lakeside Restaurant.  If not for the long wait (which we were not prepared for, otherwise we should have grabbed a bite at the Farm Plate) I would have rated it A++.  Two hours wait time for hungry people (after a hard day of hiking and spelunking at the Solong Eco-park) is an outrage (uhm, you know what I mean).

We ordered big time and finished everything... (What? We were hungry!)!

(Socorro's Fried Rice, Bagoong Fried Rice, Ginataang Laing, Crispy Bicol Express, Mixed Seafood in Chili Sauce, Honey Glazed Chicken)

Sumlang Lake

Must try activities at Sumlang Lake includes aqua activities such as balsa and kayaking.   

While in the area check out the Nappa Food and Craft Pasalubong Center.

If you missed our Bicol Trip Day 1 and Day 2, you may click on link below:

Welcome to Legazpi - Mayon Volcano (Front Seats) - Day 1

Welcome to Legazpi - The Best of Albay - Day 2