D.I.Y. Boracay and Antique: Itinerary and Expenses

The seemingly endless stream of tourists would forever distort prices in Boracay. Along with rise in fame came the surge in prices. Be forewarned, travelers. Beautiful as it may be, Boracay isn’t as cheap as other Philippine destinations. Activity and food costs were the budget busters here. If you could steer clear of touristy activities and gimmicky restaurants, your wallet wouldn’t break.

The dent that Boracay left in my pocket was balanced by our day in Antique. The visit to the province was a bit rushed, given we only had a day, but it was a great introduction to this unspoiled paradise. I could only wish that I could go back someday, and that when that day comes, it would still be as lush as it is today.

Feel free to use this guide in planning your trip to Boracay and Antique. I strongly urge you to give Antique a shot (it’s really, really nice out there).

Itinerary

Here is our short but sweet stay:

Expenses

Airfare

We scored these cheap tickets to Boracay late last year, but our flight was supposedly both to and from Kalibo Airport. At the last minute, Cebu Pacific decided to rebook our flight to Caticlan instead. Thank you!

Transport

Transport expenses were relatively low, especially around Boracay. You can even travel on foot along White Beach to most places in town. Of course, you’d have to take a tricycle to Puka Beach and Mt. Luho (if you’re not riding an ATV like we did).

If you’re traveling from Kalibo to Caticlan, the cost per head is around P200 one-way.

We rented a van from Caticlan ferry terminal to Culasi and Tibiao and onto Kalibo airport. Rental was P3000 plus gas. Note: Fuel expense was less than P1500, but we opted to round it off since we were nine in the group.

Total amount in this category does not include my expenses going to and from NAIA.

Food

The amount stated above is a rough estimate. It was a pain to keep track of our food expenses. Our hotel provided our breakfast, so we were able to save a bit. However, a night in dampa cost us around P500 per head (we spent two nights in D’ Talipapa), and even the simplest fruit shakes were P100 to P150 a glass. A typical meal would range from P200 to P500 per person, but for those wary of their budgets could easily opt for a basic meal from one of the side alleys.

Accommodation

We stayed in Boracay Holiday Resort for two nights and got a discount from Agoda. Hence, each person only spent P900 per night, but we had to pay P400 for the unused room we had in Kalibo.

The facilities in the said hotel were adequate : hot shower, air-con and cable TV. The hotel was not beachfront, but it was on the main road and close to D’ Talipapa. The hotel staff were nice; they even packed our breakfast to go.

Activities

In Boracay, we didn’t spend a lot on activities, largely due to the disappointing attitude of most tour operators. We haggled hard for the price of the paraw ride, and were dismayed by the changing prices in the ATV Ride. If it weren’t for the powdery white sand, I’m certain that I would never go back to Boracay. Skip the tourist traps. Stay in White Beach and enjoy the sand. 🙂

In Antique, we spent minimal amounts to see more of Malalison Island and to do Kawa Hot Bath, the touristy thing in Tibiao. If you have time and money, stay a night and kayak the Tibiao River.

Miscellaneous

Oh environmental fees, I wish you really were spent on preserving the environment.

On the other hand, I got suman (sticky rice) and a magnet for pasalubong and souvenir. 🙂

Until the next adventure. Happy travels! =)