San Vicente, Palawan

Palawan has always been my favorite destination (a dream destination, actually). I was fortunate enough to explore Coron and El Nido previously and both towns were undoubtedly wonderful. But, I've recently read blogs about San Vicente being promoted as the new  "Boracay." Most articles described San Vicente as a quiet, unexplored and scenic vacation spot.

Airswift plane

So, we booked a flight with Airswift that lands directly at El Nido. There are available flights operated by PAL from Clark to San Vicente but, we did not pursue it anymore due to the recent earthquake incidents in the area. 









Can I just mention that Airswift flights were surprisingly smooth and on time? I would highly recommend flying with them if you're El Nido-bound. 

Dropped off passengers at the newly-opened San Vicente airport

El Nido airport (part of Lio Estate by Ayala)

From El Nido airport, we hailed a tricycle (350 pesos) going to the van terminal that will take us to Club Agutaya in San Vicente. Take note that van from El Nido to San Vicente has one trip that leaves at 8am. Luckily, we were able to ride in time for the van departure and paid 600 pesos each. Since it was a means of public transport, there were several stops to pick up and drop off other passengers along the way. It took us 3 hours to reach Club Agutaya, located in Long Beach, San Vicente. 





CLUB AGUTAYA - THE RESORT

Club Agutaya's lobby

Club Agutaya's beachfront

Club Agutaya is quite pricey but definitely worth every penny. Luckily, we were able to get a discounted rate through Agoda and even got upgraded accommodation upon arrival (there were not many guests that day). I love Club Agutaya for its excellent customer service. The staff was very courteous and warm. The rooms smelled and looked good, even the bathroom was squeaky clean! We were provided with fresh towels, toiletries (except for toothbrush and toothpaste, I guess they encourage you to bring your own), and a cabinet for your clothes and a vault inside to keep your valuables.  

Swimming pool

I also love the swimming pool and the restaurant (Cafe Lily) which served really delicious meals (price range is about 300 to 800 pesos, suitable for sharing)! And most of all, the beach was really calm and ideal for swimming. Club Agutaya has day beds and hammocks in the beach area where you can just lounge all day. It was simply P-E-R-F-E-C-T! 

pork sisig, fried rice, squid in curry and coconut sauce, breakfast spread

breakfast on our last day

Club Agutaya in Long Beach San Vicente

ISLAND HOPPING TOUR


We availed of the Combo Tour where we get to visit 7 sites, arranged through Club Abutaya's front desk and paid 2,500 per pax. I must commend Club Agutaya for arranging everything, from our snorkeling gears, life vest, cold water and soda, lunch and snacks! Even our fellow tourists were surprised at how the resort took care of us. Special mention to Kuya Mackie for driving us to the dock area. I can sense his pride and passion from the way he tells us numerous stories (both life-saving facts and effortless jokes haha!).

First stop is the Exotic and Maxima Island. It was a good place to swim and snorkel. 

Exotic and Maxima Island

Our tour guides/boatmen took us to Inaladelan Island, another snorkeling and picnic site. It was an ideal place to relax after your sumptuous meal since there were beach huts along the shore.

Inaladelan Island

clear waters of Inaladelan Island

A little bit farther from Inaladelan is the Turtle Sanctuary. Too bad our underwater shots were corrupted so, I cannot share photos of the sea turtles we saw. It was such a delight seeing them in action, crawling/swimming underwater. After that, we stopped by the Twin Reef. We braved the strong current and snorkeled with the help of our tour guide pulling us towards the coral garden. San Vicente has a vibrant marine life. The corals may not be as colorful or grand as those in Coron but, I still hope they maintain and protect the magnificent view/creatures underwater. 

Next stop was Port Barton and the Sandbar. Port Barton was surprisingly full of foreigners, not even a local or Pinoy tourist in sight. Residents and resort-owners in Port Barton heavily rely on solar power. Hence, electricity is limited. The atmosphere was very relaxing. There were several restaurants where you can grab a bite or get fresh fruit shakes and coffee. 

seashore at Port Barton

Our last stop was Bigaho Falls. You need to walk for about 15 minutes before reaching the falls. Halfway through the hike, you need to register and place a voluntary donation for the maintenance of the area. Tip: If you are not a good swimmer (like me), I would suggest bringing your life vest so you can enjoy swimming in the cold, fresh water of Bigaho Falls. 

 

sunset after our trek to Bigaho Falls

During our stay, the town was celebrating the Summer Festival and had several programs lined up like a band concert, bikini contest and basically a party at the beach. We would have gone and checked out the activities, but we were too sleepy after eating dinner, and Club Agutaya's staff were very encouraging in their invitation. 

Come to think of it, partying at the beach with all the loud sounds was something I was not looking forward to. After all, I visited San Vicente for its calm, tranquil and peaceful environment. I just wish it would remain that way. There's a certain charm in simplicity that will naturally make you fall in love with San Vicente. 

Club Agutaya - view from our room

fine sand and clear water in Long Beach

Boracay Trip 2019

It's been YEARS since I last posted an entry. I think it's high time to revive my blog and what a better way to start by posting about my recent Boracay trip. I was actually inspired by the improvements (still ongoing in some parts of the island) in Boracay that I thought are worth sharing. 

I was already impressed with Boracay even way back, the first time I visited the island. Now that it re-opened, I appreciated it even more after its rehabilitation. Many people said that the newly-revived island looked like Boracay in the late '90s to early '00s--- less crowded, more organized, more peaceful and cleaner!

So let me share with you about my Boracay Trip 2019! For someone like me who lives in the South, Ube Express and P2P buses are such blessings for daily commuters. This transportation system is highly commendable as they provide safe and comfortable transportation in going to the airport (Ube Express) and Makati area (P2P bus). From Nuvali-Sta. Rosa, we hopped on the Ube Express bus going to NAIA Terminal 3 for our Manila to Kalibo flight. So, I texted this Ube Express contact number 0915-654-6115 to "reserve a seat" for two persons just to be sure. Somebody actually replied and reminded me to be in the Nuvali terminal (near Robinsons Nuvali) before 5am. The fare from Nuvali to NAIA Terminal 3 is 190 pesos per person. You can pay either in cash or by using your beep card. I would recommend paying via beep card to avoid the hassle, but, if you are going to pay in cash, it's always better to prepare the exact amount. Since we boarded the early bus trip,  travel time took about one (1) hour or so since the Ube Express bus dropped off passengers at all NAIA Terminals. The last stop was  Terminal 3 so, you better allocate a few hours lead time for the check-in process.

Nuvali to NAIA Terminal 3 is 190 pesos

Inside the Ube Express Bus in Nuvali

Upon arrival at Terminal 3, we grabbed a quick bite and proceeded to the check-in counter, waited for a bit, and finally boarded the plane. 
It was actually my first time at Kalibo airport because the last time I went to Boracay was via Caticlan airport. You may check out my first Boracay blog entry here to make your comparisons as well. 

Counters for Bocaray Island Transfer

Upon arrival at Kalibo Airport, you can immediately see several transportation providers for your Kalibo to Boracay Island transfer. Based on my research, the most recommended was Island Star Express since they have a shuttle bus which was more comfortable for a 2-hour ride, unlike others who only have vans. We paid 650 pesos for one person, which included the bus ride, boat ride, e-jeep ride and environmental fees (from Kalibo Airport-to-Cagban Port-to-Station 1 Royal Park hotel). 

Kalibo Airport

Take note that you need to go through a verification process in Kalibo airport to check if you have a hotel reservation and if the hotel is accredited by the Department of Tourism. It's important that you have a printed copy of your hotel reservation because the assigned staff will place a stamp on your voucher after the verification process.  

verification form

hotel voucher

We made reservations at the Royal Park Hotel located at Station 1. I got a good deal from Agoda where we got a 23 % discount for the 4 days and 3 nights stay (breakfast included). We only paid approximately 10,000 pesos and even got upgraded to a Suite Room considering that Station 1 hotels are really, really expensive! The Korean lady who was always present at the front desk as well as the front desk staff was very cheerful and accommodating. Even the other hotel staff were all warm and courteous. The hotel itself would probably need some renovation in terms of pest control ('heard rats in the ceiling) and repainting. But overall, I would still recommend staying at Royal Park Hotel because of its strategic location, reasonable price, and pleasant atmosphere. The hotel food was average, but for less than 10, 000 pesos with breakfast buffet, it was okay, I guess. I've shared some photos below for your reference. 

Royal Park hotel

the beach right at your doorstep

egg, longganisa, stir fried veggies and fruits

pansit, tocino, egg, watermelon, pineapple, coffee

longganisa, galunggong, veggies, salad, fried rice

Aside from swimming and beach bumming, I was honestly looking forward to eating at one of my favorite restaurants in Boracay, Real Coffee(home to the famous calamansi muffin). They moved to a new location in Station 2 near D'Mall and they also have a new product, the mango muffin which was a bit expensive compared to the calamansi muffin. Real Coffee now has a second floor where you can just chill with your favorite meal or simply enjoy the sea view. If you're planning to take home some calamansi or mango muffin from Real Coffee, you have to order at least one day in advance.

Real Coffee kitchen

waiting for a spot by the window

 calamansi and mango muffin plus iced coffee

new location at Station 2 near D'mall

Another one of my favorite places in Boracay is Smoke. It's probably one of the original establishments on the island, however, they are now in D'Mall and has a smaller space, so you have to wait for a little while until you get seated. But, the food didn't change a bit... still tasteful and served hot, not to mention one of the most budget-friendly places to eat. One meal usually costs an average of 250 to 350 pesos--picture is posted below for your reference. 

kao pad and beef salpicao

It was very obvious that Boracay is also a good place for business. I actually think some foreigners go there not to enjoy the beach, but to look for business ventures. So, we found these two dessert places in D'Mall which is Coco Mama and Halo Mango. Both have long cues at any time of the day! It was crazy how people would patiently line up just to buy these two delightful desserts.

Coco Mama was basically coconut ice cream with shaved coconut, mango slices and rice crispies placed in the actual coconut shell. For a dessert-lover like me, I was looking for that certain sweet taste. A bit of brown sugar or condensed milk would probably make it better. Nevertheless, it was refreshing and the presentation was really interesting. The price was 150 pesos per serving (if I remembered correctly). The picture was from my Instagram (with filter) to make it look brighter.



Halo Mango, on the other hand, I think was more worth it lining up to. It's soft-served, mango-flavored ice cream. What probably made it special is the base ingredient, which was genuine mango puree. When we were in line, I actually saw gallons of mango puree placed inside the ice cream machine which made me kind of curious. The thought of eating an all-natural, pure mango ice cream was exciting because usually mango ice cream sold in stores or supermarkets was processed with other ingredients. You can also choose from the many sizes available, but we opted to buy the cheapest one at 180 pesos. It was indeed SWEET, PURE MANGO ice cream! I was very proud because it was the real Philippine mango. No wonder people just waited patiently to grab this dessert.

menu with prices

regular size

large (-est) size

Meanwhile, we came across this restaurant named HOY PANGA. It was right at the beachfront between Station 2 and 3 (or so I think). The interior was very nice and well-ventilated. The food tasted really, really good and the price was not that expensive. A budget of 1000 pesos for two persons would be enough.

liempo, tuna belly, salted egg salad and frozen ice tea

grotto

view from Station 2

Station 2 - paraw sailboats area

Police enforcers were more obvious in the new Boracay. It gives a sense of security and you really get to appreciate that they are doing their job watching over the violators. So, better be conscious that eating on the beach area is not allowed anymore, there are designated areas for smoking and most especially, throw your trash in the proper bins.  A little research will guide you a lot if you're planning a  trip to Boracay.


  

Station 1 at sunrise

It only takes simple steps to make a big difference. I just hope they will be able to maintain this renewed Boracay and take care of it. After all, it's one of the most beautiful places on Earth!