If I could paint a picture of a dream destination on a blank canvas, I would paint a seaside scene –rendering gradual shades of blue and turquoise to portray the soothing gradients of the clear seawaters, interspersed with gentle swirling blobs depicting the mild crashing of waves that juxtapose white sandy beaches imprinted with footprints; applying stiff bristled strokes of green and brown delineating sleek palm trees and the striking lush foliage; and smothering the remaining space on the canvas with a thin wash of baby blue, chaperoned by a nimble dabbing of white to represent the wispy passing clouds against the baby blue sky.
This is exactly how I would describe Boracay.
I blogged about how much I was looking forward to my trip to Boracay (read here), and coming back to Singapore, I bring with me an abundance of memories of that beautiful island, and I hope to share that with you through a series of blog posts.
In this post, I will share some general information about Boracay and the available routes from Singapore to Boracay.
The journey from Singapore to Boracay used to be a long and daunting one. There were two options available back then:
1) Via Cebu: Travellers had to take a 3h45min flight from Singapore to Cebu, take a 2 to 3 hour transit through the airport, travel from Cebu to Caticlan (1 hr), travel to Caticlan Port (15 min), take a boat ride from the port to Boracay (15 min), before finally hopping on a vehicle to reach the resort, which takes another 15 minutes. This route will take a total of approximately 8.5 hours.
2) Via Manila: Take a 3h40min flight from Singapore to Manila, followed by a 2 to 3 hour transit, then travel from Manila to Kalibo (1 hr), followed by a 2-hr drive from Kalibo to Caticlan Port, a boat ride from Caticlan Port to Boracay (15 min), and finally a 15 min drive to the resort. This route will take a total of approximately 10.5 hours.
With the launch of Tiger Air’s direct flight from Singapore to Kalibo International Airport, travellers can save up to 5 hours of waiting and travelling time.
I had the privilege of flying on Tiger Air’s maiden flight from Singapore to Kalibo, along with 9 other bloggers –Atsuko, Catherine, Christina, Clara, Han Joo, Karen, Jerome, Valyn and William.
Travellers can now fly directly from Singapore to Kalibo, which takes approximately 3h40min, and take a 2hr ride from Kalibo to Caticlan Port. Following that, it will take the same amount of time to get to the resort from the port. This route will take a total of approximately 6 hours and 10 minutes.
On the way from Kalibo Airport to Caticlan Port.
The journey is less mundane thanks to the scenic views of vegetation, mountains, and waters.
The sun was beginning to set, and by the time we reached Caticlan Port, the sky was robbed of light.
At Caticlan Port, about to board the boat en route to Boracay.
Many hotels and resorts provide airport transfer, inclusive of coach and boat ride. Do request from the hotel upon booking. A two-way transfer should cost roughly SGD60 or PHP1,700-2000.
We were hosted at Boracay Regency located at Station 2, in the middle of Boracay’s long stretch of white sand beach. (More on accommodation in my next post!)
Climate –March to June are the summer months in Boracay, with temperatures reaching as high as 28 to 38 degree Celsius. The wettest months are from July to October. Months with pleasant winds, cool nights and occasional rain showers start from November till February.
Getting around –motorised tricycles are aplenty. They’re the Philippine’s equivalent of taxis or how Thais would call their version ‘tuktuks’. Rides are inexpensive, costing no more than P200 across the island. They can be found almost anywhere along the main road.
Language –Locals converse in Tagalog/Filipino and Aklanon, but English is widely spoken in Boracay, therefore communication is not an issue.
The friendly and amiable locals are just one of many factors that amplify the joy of our vacation.
The gorgeous environs and laid-back vibes make for an ideal travel destination.
There are innumerable activities to keep one occupied. I will be blogging about all the fun happenings in my other post, so do check back for updates!
I miss you, Boracay…