Boracay Blog Episode 3: Boracay Island Hidden Adventures Unveil (Day 2)
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
Adventure Begins
The real adventure began on my second day in Boracay Island. It was windy and rainy, since it was typhoon season in the Philippines. From the hostel, I headed over to Angol Beach to meet up with my cousin, Limboy. He helped me book a package tour, and it was also a good opportunity to catch up with him.
We had to head to another beach called Bach Beach for the starting point of the package tour. The place was jam-packed with local and foreign tourists. The waves and wind were much calmer at Bach Beach.
Ilig-iligan Beach and Snorkeling
Reaching our first destination, Ilig-iligan Beach, required a boat ride. From Bach Beach, a medium-sized boat was packed with mostly local tourists, and I think two foreigners.
There were simple attractions like the trending 'photo opp on a crystal kayak' and also small stores. I wasn't surprised when I heard about pricey goods on the island. It's an island, and it must have taken extra effort and expenses to bring those goods to Ilig-iligan Island.
After quite some time at Ilig-iligan Island, our boat went to a part of the sea intended for snorkeling. I got to try a fresh coconut drink on the boat in the sea; the idea felt unique and refreshing. Snorkeling is an activity that I enjoy the most whenever I have a beach trip. I was planning not to try snorkeling in the seawater of Boracay Island because I had to pay extra for the environmental fee again.
The under-the-sea experience is always scary for me, but the view is divine.
ATV, Zipline, & More
On this day, it was my second time experiencing ATV. I was still a little nervous, since it had been a while since I had gone to Bohol to do ATV in the vast land of Chocolate Hills. That was a good and fun memory. It wouldn't be a bad idea to visit Bohol again.
ATV was tiring, but enjoyable. Moreover, the zipline was scary, but humans are scarier. Jump diving and kayaking are the inclusions of the package tour I got to try, which were not new to me, but still fun to do.
My cousin gave me a free 'photo opp on a crystal kayak' experience at Bach Beach. The photos turned out well, and I must say he's good with this kind of touristy activity.
To be continued...
Many Transfers of Transports
Today was the start of my adventure going to Boracay. I didn't expect it to have a lot of transport transfers going to the main island of Boracay.
Airplane to bus. Bus to tricycle. Tricycle to boat. Boat to tricycle. That was a lot and tiring. Yes, I was tired. But I had hope; it was all worth it.
I met another Filipino traveler on my tricycle ride going to the ferry terminal. I remember he had been to Boracay more than once, probably three or four times. It was nice to meet a fellow traveler on a trip. He gave me some heads up on what to expect on the island, and helped me through the registration process and payment at the tourist center. I admit that I didn't expect a lot of fees as a local tourist of my own country, but I guess that's how the economy was built on the island.
After paying all the fees for environmental protection and more, it was time for the ferry ride. I was excited to see my accommodation at Shoretime Dormitel. Here I come, Boracay!
Food trip at Shortime Dormitel & Angol Beach
I was hungry, and I needed something to fill my grumbling stomach. But I was really careful not to trigger my stomach sickness and migraine. I tend to vomit and have a headache if traveling on a red-eye flight, and that happened too during my Taiwan trip. Thankfully, I prevented the same unpleasant experience from drinking warm water.
Breakfast was hearty at Shortime Dormitel restaurant. They offer sumptuous silog breakfast meals and light sandwich snacks, and I enjoyed them.
Angol Beach was a sight, a breathtaking place worth visiting! It was also one of the reasons why I chose my accommodation, since Shortime Dormitel was within walking distance of Angol Beach. It was still a bit of a walk, and I considered it as part of my exercise routine.
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My expenses:RT Plane Ticket - P2,986.50 ($54.30)Shortime Dormitel (3 nights) - P997.83Total is P3,984.33
I am sharing with you my journey from waiting for the bus to spending the night at Terminal 2 before my early morning flight to Boracay. I talk about the quiet atmosphere, my impressions of the terminal, the challenge of printing my boarding pass, and how I pass the time with snacks while feeling sleepy yet excited for the trip.
While waiting for the bus, I sat inside the car waiting for the “ube car.” I noted the last bus leaves around 9 p.m., and it’s cold, so I wore a jacket. Upon my arrival at Terminal 2, I was amazed by the structure and roof design. I headed to the AirAsia counters, thinking Royal Air is located there. I noticed it felt quieter compared to Terminal 3.
To make sure I won't be late for my early flight, I spent the night at the airport. My flight is at 5:15 a.m. tomorrow. Since there were no P2P buses at dawn, I arrived early. I enjoyed the calm atmosphere with fewer people around. I had trouble printing my boarding pass when I realized there were no kiosks available for self-printing. I asked for help and was directed to Counter 4. I prepared to check in with Royal Air.
Snacks are always a must during travel, so I made sure I had some with me during my trip. Food can be more pricey in a commercial or touristy area. I ate Nissin butter coconut biscuits and hazelnut milk chocolate. I had to admit I was sleepy and even had a slight headache. I planned to brush my teeth and rest before the flight.
My Day 0 captures my anticipation, small struggles, and little joys as I prepare for my Boracay adventure. Would you like me to continue the story in Episode 2, where I start the actual journey with multiple transfers on the way to Boracay?
All along, I thought I had only spent more or less P10,000.00 for my July 21 to 24 Taiwan trip. Behold, let's reveal the accurate computation cost on this blog episode.
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I tried my best to remember some of my expenses during this trip and I just estimated some of the amount or prices. Below is the list of my expenses:
Day 0Plane Ticket (RT) - P6,077.50 ($110.50)
Hostel (2 nights & 1 day) - P1325.50 ($24.10)Bus Fare (to NAIA) - P300.00
Fruitas Smoothie - P200.00
Travel tax - P1,600.00Day 1Taiwan Fun Pass - P3,994.00Bus fare - P 300.00Food - P200.00Food - P1000.00Day 2Food souvenirs - P1300.00
Food - P400Day 3-4Food souvenirs - P200.00Express train - P210.00
Burger King meal - P378.00
Bus fare (to my hometown) - P300.00Total is P17,785.00
I also used Google Sheets to present my expenses hoping it would present clarity.
I think I went over my budget on this trip. Hopefully, next time I'll be able to spend less on my next trip.
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Please use my Trip.com and Klook code if need to purchase anything on these travel apps. I hope this information is helpful if you are planning a trip to Taiwan.
Do you think I spent a reasonable for this trip or not?
Let me know what you think.
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