Earth, Wind, Fire…and Water
Speed lovers can take a ride on a jet ski, where you drive your own destiny, speeding up or slowing down while riding each wave. Each jet ski seats up to 3 people and costs P2000 for 30 minutes. For a more relaxing group ride, grab some friends or take the opportunity to make new ones while straddling a giant yellow “banana boat”, skimming the waves at up to 30 kph. Each inflatable, sausage-shaped boat fits 12 people, and with a minimum ride of 5 people, costs P250 per person for 15 minutes.
If you want to feel like you are flying but haven’t found your own wings yet, parasailing is a great alternative. Attach yourself to a harness lifted up to the sky in a speedboat driven parachute and enjoy the island from a different perspective. Parachutes carry 1-3 people at a time and, at 400 meters from the White Beach, can take you up to 1000 feet!
For those who prefer to test their strength and determination, try a ride on the “flying fish”, a towable inflatable device designed to stand up vertically when driven at high speeds. Boats tow you at up to 45 kilometers per hour and at a cost of P600 per person for 15 minutes, each flying fish holds 3-6 people.
In case you find yourself curious about what beauty lies underneath the sea but don’t want to get your feet wet, try the “Nemo” Glass Bottom Boat Ride. Guests enjoy a two-hour leisure boat ride leaving from Station 3 of White Beach and traveling to an area near Crocodile Island while watching the sea life and corals through the glass floor beneath their seats throughout the journey! The 40-seater fiber bottom boat departs at 2 p.m. daily. This unique experience costs P750 for adults and P300 for children age 1-5 years. This price includes snacks, drinks and snorkeling equipment for those who want to take a closer look.
During the moments when you find that you’ve had enough sea and sand, yet still want to explore parts of paradise that others don’t usually see, try a horseback ride! The Boracay Horse Riding Stables caters to all levels, from complete novice to experienced rider, and the main 1 to 2-hour guided trail ride takes you up to the highest point of the island and down to Bulabog Beach. Both English and Western saddles are available, and in keeping with the island theme, all you need is a pair of long pants (jogging pants can be borrowed from the stable upon request) - no special footwear is needed! Group rides of up to 12 people are available and although the best time to ride is during the morning or late afternoon, special trips at sunrise or by moonlight can also be arranged.
If you want a change from the view seen from land, a trip down into the world beneath Boracay is recommended. For those unsure of how they feel about learning to see ocean life close up, try a PADI introductory 2-hour program (P3500). For vacationers who have always wanted to dive but never had the time, spend your seemingly endless hours on the island wisely by taking a 3 to 4-day Open Water dive course (P21,000). Beginner divers can explore Fridays rock, a popular fish feeding spot; intermediates can explore the Camia II, a 30 meter long sunken ship which has created an artificial reef; and for advanced divers, check out Yapak, where sightings of tuna and sharks are common. Fun dives for licensed divers cost P1600 with equipment.
The wind in Boracay is just as famous as the sea, and for those who appreciate a good gust, kiteboarding is a must-do! With flat and shallow warm water, consistent side onshore winds and big reef breaks allowing for radical moves, Bulabog Beach is fast becoming known as Asia’s most popular kiteboarding spot. Best enjoyed during the Amihan season of November until March, beginners will enjoy the wide selection of licensed, multi-lingual instructors available at the many kite schools. Expert kiters will enjoy doing elaborate tricks in perfect kite surfing conditions. Kite and board rentals for a half-day minimum cost P2835 and include free kite caddie assistance plus the use of a locker and shower. Licensed instructors use the International Kiteboarding Association manual and provide certification in all level courses. An IKO level 1-2 course costs P18,303 and is given daily over a 4-day period, depending on wind and tide conditions.
If the idea of maneuvering a kite sounds too complex, try out windsurfing, which feels like sailing, except you become the sail! Beginners take their board and sail into the water accompanied by a teacher and within 5 hours of lessons (costing P5500), they can learn the basics such as balancing, pulling the sail out of the water, riding, steering with the sails and turning.
For adventurers who like to play with fire, take a lesson in the uniquely Boracay created art of “fire dancing”. Originally just traditional moves using a “poi” (a fabric-wrapped piece of metal attached to a chain), the islanders added music to this New Zealand originated practice and turned this activity into one of the most impressive pieces of entertainment on the beach. A 3-hour private lesson for P2500 is a great source of cardio exercise and provides not just toning for the upper body and hips, but also a chance to practice your coordination skills. The price includes your own poi so rest assured that you can take what you have learned on your next vacation. All you need is open space and a mind to move! Call Anne at 0915 552 2463.
Travel Notes
Domestic carriers have several flights daily from Manila to Boracay via Caticlan.
Contact Information for Boracay Activities:
All water sports are available at Diamond Water Sports, open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and located along White Beach near Station 1 (near Jonah’s Fruit Shakes). Call (63 36) 288 6681 for more information.
For the Nemo Glass Bottom Boat Ride, contact Roland at (63 36) 288 4599 or 0918 490 5619.
The Boracay Horse Riding Stables are located just before Fridays Beach Resort on the main road. Call Brenda at (63 915) 564 2427 or email [email protected].
Boracay Scuba is located along beach at Station 1 beside Jony’s Resort. Call (63 36) 288 5780 or (63 929) 5306624.
The Hangin Kite Center has 2 locations- one at the Green Yard Funboard at the south of Bulabog Beach and the other at the Northern part of the same “windy beach.” Call (63 36) 288 3208 / 2662 or check out www.kiteboardingBoracay.com. The Freestyle Kiteboarding Center can be found from November to May next to Gumamela homes on the same beach, and from June to October on Station 1 of White Beach. You may call (63 36) 288 6965 / 288 5780 or visit their website www.freestyle-boracay.com.
The Funboard Center Boracay is located on Bulabog Beach and rents windsurf equipment for all levels. Call (63 36) 288 3876 or visit www.windsurfasia.com.
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