Boracay Budget Trip: Day 4

And we've finally come to our last day here in Boracay.

Basically, all we have time for is breakfast, and we're off to another land trip to Dumangas -- with a short side trip to Sampaguita Gardens Resort in Kalibo, of course.

So basically, our day started with a hearty breakfast at the hotel, followed by a short tricycle ride to the jetty port to Caticlan.  Of course, we are again feeling so lucky that Eric, our trusted bellhop, led us through a pathway by the side of the hotel which is all paved (not sandy) and shady (full of trees).

It was more of a shortcut, actually.

Anyway, we then got the car from the parking area, then we headed to Kalibo.  We had lunch there, and then drove to New Washington, Kalibo, where Sampaguita Gardens Resort stands.

Ella Sancho Parking Service

Sampaguita Gardens Resort is a resort owned by Samuel Butchers, the one who created Precious Moments.

the famous Jojo's house in Sampaguita Gardens

So, when you're there, expect to be transported to a world of Precious Moments characters and dolls. :-)

We had a great time there, but unfortunately it rained really strong, my camera ran out of battery, and time was not our friend.  It was already 3:00 pm and we had to make it to Dumangas by 7:00 pm!  So, off we drove away... :-(

the directory :)

So between getting lost on the way to Dumangas port and getting so nervous that we won't make it, we are so relieved when we got there just in time for us to make it for the 7:30 pm trip. yay! :-)  The trip back to Bacolod was nice.  The water was calm and the trip was stable.

When we arrived at the Bacolod port, we were so happy to be home.  So all we had to do was to pay the fee at BREDCO port which was about Php300++, and then we drove home, can't wait to hit the sack!

So total amount spent for the day is:

Expenses:     Breakfast (2)              : (Php)  300
                   Hotel bill (2 rooms)     :         9,000
                   Tip to Eric (bellhop)    :           100
                   Tricycle to port           :            30
                   Parking Fee (3 nights)  :          400
                   Lunch (4)                   :          415
                   Sampaguita Garden (4) :          200
                   RoRo/Bacolod port      :        1,600 
                                                     Php 12,045


To sum it all up, the entire trip cost us Php 26, 775.50.  And divided equally, each of us spent Php 6, 694.00 for the entire trip (everything included).  

And of course, this amount got us all the activities we needed, got us to eat at nice restos like Cyma -- without the budget limitation, and got us to have side trips too.

It's a pretty good amount for an activity-filled, food-filled 4-day trip to Boracay!  *big smile*

Boracay Budget Trip: Day 3

It's day 3 in Boracay – which means it's our last "full" day in Boracay, and the last day for us to do whatever we want on the island. So to make the most out of it, we decided to do the following: land tour, boating, snorkelling, and eat at Aria (our favorite Italian resto in the island).

Day 3 basically started with a yummy breakfast drink of pineapple shake in the hotel. Trust me, it's the yummiest pineapple shake ever! I usually don't like pineapple shake – but I ended up drinking 2 glasses! DeParis Hotel's pineapple shake is really something I look forward to when going to Boracay.
                                                                                                     After having a relaxing morning, Edwin (our activities contact person), who was hanging outside the hotel, arranged an island land tour for us. We opted to go around the island by renting a multicab (in Boracay, it's either you go around in tricycle or multicab – we like the latter, it looks like a baby truck!) Anyway, our pick up point was at the alley beside Boracay Regency.

From there we first headed to Mt. Luho, which is actually the highest point in Boracay Island. The view from up there was wonderful. They had some animals, a preserved sand castle, and it is something different that visitors of Boracay should see.

the view from Mt. Luho

From there, we then headed to Puka Beach – where the puka shells are taken from. It is the other side of the island which is accessible both by land and by boat. Vendors lined along the path to the beach, selling necklaces, bracelets, anklets, paper weights, and religious artifacts made of shells and other local materials. 

From there, we then headed to the other tip of the island, overlooking Crocodile Island. No, it doesn't have crocodiles roaming around. The island is shaped like a crocodile, thus the locals named it such. There we met Ella and Marvin, two children, locals of the area, selling beads and shell products too. However, since we have bought some at Puka Beach already (since there are more choices to pick from there), we bought a shell paper weight from them.

Nor with local kids Marvin and Ella

local children swimming

stairway leading to the deep waters

Expenses: Land tour (4)                         : 1, 500        
              Mt. Luho Entrance Fee (4)         :     200
              Anklets (3)                           :       30                                                   Paper weights                       :       50
                                                   Php  1, 780

That was the end of our land tour. From there, we were then dropped back at the alley where they picked us up, giving us a couple of minutes to get ready for our snorkelling!

Our friend Nor snorkelling

All we had to do was to buy bread from stores by the beach to feed the fish and everything was included in our snorkelling deal – the boat, the guide, the snorkelling masks and all...
It was fun~ the colorful fishes, the clear waters, the friendly boatman, the pleasant guide... after snorkelling, they even brought us for a quick boat trip of the island from tip to tip – it was a nice sunset sailing moment.

                                                                                             Expenses: Bread                     :       25

                   Tip to boat guide :       50

                   Snorkelling           : 1, 200

                                         Php 1, 275

carbonara

pizza: frutti de mare and 
salmone e pesto

And then, it was time for Aria! We saved the best (resto) in Boracay for last. We ordered our favorite carbonara, pomodoro e basilico (San Marzano peeled tomatoes, basil, & parmesan), salmone e pesto (Canadian smoked salmon, pesto, & mozzarella), and frutti de mare (tomato, garlic, seafood, & mozzarella). It was absolute heaven – for us, at least...

pomodoro e basilico

We wanted to go and eat Spanish cuisine at Dos Mestizos but our stomachs could only take so much. So perhaps on our next visit to Boracay. There are so many good restaurants in Boracay!
Expenses:    Carbonara                  : 345
                      Pomodoro E Basilico : 350
                      Salmone E Pesto       : 540
                      Frutti de Mare           : 480
                                             Php 1, 715
After that, let us call it a day, then...
Total expense for the day is Php 4, 770. Again, it will still be divided into 4.
'Til Day 4...