Hi everyone! It's been a while since my last travel post. With this ongoing pandemic, having trips and doing some adventures can be cumbersome. I haven't left the house for long for almost 4 months now. With *Travel Memories*, let me share to you as I reminisce my past travels. In the *new normal*, trips like these might not be the same again. Hope you enjoy!

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**Boracay**, is an island in Aklan, Philippines  that is known for its pristine beach and powdery white sand. It is famous for both local and foreign tourists. Even with the influx of vacationers, you can still find a spot along its main beach shoreline that stretches up to 4 kilometers.

<center>![boracay (36).jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmUZSgLhqhjEMyn2Q2ZTJMRHDWfkAqprtqhV8x7YSQW4iC/boracay%20(36).jpg)</center>

### How to get there?

From Cebu, it was only an hour flight to Caticlan airport. We were lucky we booked using a promo fare with only around 1,000 each for a round trip ticket. Normally, it would cost twice as much. When we arrived at the Caticlan airport, we rode a tricyle to Caticlan Jetty Port. In the Caticlan Jetty Port, you need to present your hotel bookings and log your name. Other than the boat fare (P30), you need to pay other fees (terminal and environmental-P175). From Caticlan to Boracay port, it was only 10 to 15 minutes travel via a pumped boat. We also rode a tricyle from there to our hotel.

<center>![boracay (1).jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmbJa9Ygr8Tvu93bArC2xo1c8JJh3B1zx5Z5bVu7WYu2B4/boracay%20(1).jpg)</center>

![boracay (5).jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmeLNB4jzpzKtAEwW8A5uGpayBVJ9CUmyFyzHHSUDN7xWC/boracay%20(5).jpg)
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### Where to stay?

There are a lot of hotels and inns along the beach. You just need to choose based on your budget and comfort. Though there are also cheaper ones that is a bit away from the shore. For our trip, we chose a hotel where we can go swimming right away when we go out of our rooms. Though it was a bit pricey, but we were able to find cheap deals using a travel app. 

<center>![boracay (49).jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmXALjS76tSKeDfS685kTVqrfDeM8p6CY3ucV4AKnJxMb1/boracay%20(49).jpg) </center>


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### What to do?

Since Boracay was closed on April 26, 2018 for massive clean-up and reopened on October 26, 2018, there have been stricter rules to maintain cleanliness in the island.  There were police scattered everywhere to implement the rules. Usually when we go to the beach, we enjoy eating along the shore or even while swimming. In Boracay, you can't eat very too close to the water to avoid trash from thrown everywhere. 

<center>![boracay (44).jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmWUC8HXJKuJk2YYDfX3Wn7zz8bUhxWzGPpmRSRx5D6f8v/boracay%20(44).jpg)</center>

There are various activities where we can enjoy the breath taking scenery of Boracay. Here are just some things we did during our 3-day trip: 

* **Helmet Diving**

Helmet diving is the best to do if you don't know how to swim but you want to experience the underwater.  I really enjoyed going into the bottom of the sea and getting up close to the schools of fish. Though I was not a diver, at least I was able to see the colorful marine life.

<center>![boracay (20).jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmdiqdcjBxk7KcuJFv1jRfX8twFaC39W6QR7R1DwLxXcA3/boracay%20(20).jpg)</center>

* **Swimming (Lots of it!)**

What I love about Boracay is how white the sand is and clear the sea is. When we went swimming I was not afraid to step on some sea urchins or rocks. I can just see everything at the bottom, unmindful that the water was already deep. 

<center>![boracay (22).jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmPNE1tthapk1czcXAT2PR9ejwJtDduhGmgYgTMivh3Ffp/boracay%20(22).jpg)</center>

Swimming in Boracay can still be enjoyable despite having a lot of company of vacationers. You just find the time where people won't go out, like very early in the morning or at noon time where people stay inside their hotels in restaurants to eat. Just be ready with that sunscreen to avoid being burnt.

<center>![boracay (23).jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmeeQykZnT45KG19KjipFQHXNhGQobVDxRcQQzkGw9ZHRN/boracay%20(23).jpg)</center>

Sunsets are really great for taking that dramatic pictures. But of course, it's difficult to avoid photo bombers. We just tried taking a lot of pictures at different angles.

<center>![boracay (21).jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmWvjQRJRk6nq9pzyd5YbFPtAuw2dNiG1aJ8FcobG7FMDy/boracay%20(21).jpg)</center>

While swimming during the late afternoon, we saw some crew and tourists flocking on the far-end of the shore. We checked it out and saw a lot of *paraws*, a local boat with 2 sails and 2 outriggers, docked and prepared to be sailed.

<center>![boracay (18).jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmcFDs3PkTJuCoLo6sKB22ZEQYEodBdS4fGh6xnZkuKc1E/boracay%20(18).jpg)</center>

As the sun was about to set, the *paraws* started to sail and lined up along the shore. It was so nice to look on how those little boats moved across the view of the sunset.

<center>![boracay (19).jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmaAqWjmtZtmJvFaW2Kp5ySscJZBmcQk3P79bWqMk4Ac6j/boracay%20(19).jpg)</center>

* **Food Tripping**

I can say, you'll never go hungry in Boracay. This island is like a food city by the beach. Along the shore there are lots of restaurants available. Even your favorite fastfood is around, you just name it. 

<center>![boracay (48).jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmWSsc4PxzuxPHZMM8HhN6tYYsz7PDrs5MbJuL8g2WqbKk/boracay%20(48).jpg)</center>

I even posted before in my food-ventures: [Takeaway: Coco Mama at La Isla Boracay](https://hive.blog/tasteem/@wandergirl/tasteem-1a1d42) and [Sunny Side of Life 🍳](https://hive.blog/tasteem/@wandergirl/tasteem-393fff).

* **Night Life and Parties**

As the sun started to fall, several restaurants and hotels were prepping up for those night lights. We passed by a restaurant having their Latin Dance Festival. Guests were dancing in pairs swaying their hips effortlessly to the beat of the sexy Latin music.

<center><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mTbbkjDv4V8" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></center>

For those who have a heart for extreme rides, Boracay has also this reverse bungy. Your placed in a cage attached to stretched cables, then after its engaged, you'll fly as if your a stone from a slingshot. Can't imagine how my tummy would feel!

<center>![boracay (30).jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmXrsxQr9Ksc1Z2hMVm4ynRptR22Ta5q957WYm9RjaZZDq/boracay%20(30).jpg)</center>

Near our hotel, there was a restobar with a live band playing outside. So that we don't have to spend much, we just bought some beer from a nearby store and just listened to the music from afar. Though it was not as cozy since we were just standing, the cool breeze and calm music vibe just made the night perfect. 

<center>![boracay (14).jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmSWkXDpUYDv3yNyiM6t83KKBL3QApKjfbB98eF5kzxJ2G/boracay%20(14).jpg)</center>


* **Strolling**

Though it's a bit tiring to walk along the beach, especially under the scorching sun, but I think it would still be worth it when you're able to capture those amazing view of the clear blue sky. turquoise sea and milky white sand. 

<center>![boracay (28).jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmSsSm2nbhaXTjYUKqneF4992iQDMjzZkEWvb8HEsuRif6/boracay%20(28).jpg)</center>


<center>![boracay (45).jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmb7i8TSfa9wpVn68SBrsrHWMWH46uSRW7iSCPr8NKefLT/boracay%20(45).jpg)</center>


<center>![boracay (29).jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmT7fYiL4nsoRo5Xm1UpTssMxiZhUUzH2GPH8phKP7XaZ4/boracay%20(29).jpg)</center>

Souvenirs shops and photo booths were also everywhere. Almost every corner we had to stop to take pictures. So its best to have those back up batteries and memory cards to have unlimited photo shoots.

<center>![boracay (35).jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmcunrB2DLH47K65XUDggUQVh82L7gNHZn9bbM7vtXiwBV/boracay%20(35).jpg)</center>

<center>![boracay (25).jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmYoEZC8tXEn7qXPj722CuCCLHYKJxk3MDobhFiMicopXK/boracay%20(25).jpg)</center>

Aside from Boracay's famous *White Beach* with the longest sand strip, Boracay also has other beach spots that you can visit. We visited **Puka Shell Beach** and **Ilig-Iligan Beach**.  Puka Shell Beach was second to White Beach in terms of number people visiting the place. 

![boracay (37).jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmTA4p5zDyR9fNu99TX9Yz4Pyfq2XKEWjyodgwjvXPGC5D/boracay%20(37).jpg)

I love the calmness of the Ilig-Iligan Beach. Only a few people were there. I think I had more pictures taken there than the Puka Shell Beach. 

<center>![boracay (36).jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmUZSgLhqhjEMyn2Q2ZTJMRHDWfkAqprtqhV8x7YSQW4iC/boracay%20(36).jpg)</center>

<center>![boracay (38).jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmNzddjYaLnzeddmvgE84Hrfi4jD2D3aFS7ZSRjEKDCVea/boracay%20(38).jpg)</center>

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Travels are not just for the picturesque scenery but the memories we make along the way. Even though we are at home for most of 2020, we can still make new memories with the people who matter. 

<center>![2020-08-02 11.28.51 1.jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmNwzyV7n2mhwveoxJMSFjjwPjbYTZLrin1hoQWeW9fdYH/2020-08-02%2011.28.51%201.jpg)</center>


#### Love Lots,

@wandergirl ❤️


*Where is this? [//]:# (!pinmapple 11.963345 lat 121.922859 long  d3scr)*