Boracay Island Hopping Review: Lunch and Zipline Fun
Boracay, it’s known, as one of the Philippines’ most popular destinations, so naturally offers a huge array of activities. Island hopping tours, it seems, are super popular, and when you throw in lunch and, say, a zipline experience? I mean, that sounds just perfect, you know? This review gives you like, a close look at the Boracay island hopping trip that, too, features both of those things. I’ll walk you, you know, through my own day, the destinations, the food, the adrenaline rush, and of course give you some tips that’ll, well, help you make the most of it too. Let’s, for example, figure out if this excursion really is worth your hard-earned vacation time.
Getting Ready for Adventure
The day usually begins early, you see, probably because everyone else wants to be out on the water too! You’re going to want to book with a tour operator ahead, that’s pretty common, actually they all want you booking ahead, like your hotel will likely want you to book it with them or recommend someone, because it is often easier than trying to haggle, too. That said, it is still possible to do it yourself, right? After you have decided on an agency you will be told where to meet, which is pretty convenient. Typically you’ll meet on the main beach – Station 1 is very, like, very, central – so it’s easy enough to find. A quick briefing, and you’re onto a boat, so you too, are ready to go, huh? Make certain you have sunblock and a hat with you and that you charged your camera, you know. Trust me on that! Also, you could probably use a waterproof bag if you don’t want your gadgets going for a swim.
Exploring the Islands: Breathtaking Spots
The highlight of any island hopping is often about, like, you get to see multiple amazing spots, I guess, instead of being stuck on just one bit of sand all day. Most tours in Boracay, it tends to be, feature a combination of a few destinations, you see, and they might swap it up from day to day depending on the water or the weather. Here’s a bit, you know, about the places I visited, okay?
Coral Garden
First up, that will almost always be the snorkeling spot – Coral Garden. So, too, it’s known for its rich marine life, apparently, with plenty of colorful coral (as the name kind of suggests, you know?). Even if you’re kinda new to snorkeling, then that might be the thing for you, like the water’s often calm and clear, so in some respects it’s really ideal for a bit of splashing about and peeking at fish. Most tours should offer you the gear, so that, at the end of the day, is pretty standard. Still, if you too, like me, prefer your own equipment, because like, other people touched the stuff the agency has?, then bring that with you, okay? So if you’re doing an ethical thing and slapping on the reef-safe sunscreen beforehand, the better.
Crocodile Island
Don’t worry – no actual crocodiles here! The island, like, has that name just because it’s shaped like the big reptile, apparently, anyway. The waters there are really a favorite for snorkeling and scuba because you could easily be bumping into so, so many different species of fish. If the current’s up, even a little, this might be one you only see from the boat and then head off to a different location, anyway. And that’s a good thing, in my view, because nobody wants an unplanned drift into open water, you know?
Diniwid Beach
So, this is a far, far quieter alternative to the main beaches. Like your typical, busy beaches on the main strip, because too it’s quite secluded. Some tours, naturally, drop anchor here for a bit, just so people could swim in or even walk on over from Station 1 – that’s about a 15-20 min walk or so, depending on how quick you are. It’s also one spot on the west side where you could often get really gorgeous sunset views without, you know, so many crowds around.
Puka Beach
Up north you can find the beautiful Puka Beach, still offering you like a more secluded feel than the very, you know, popular White Beach on the west coast. It’s called Puka because there are a lot of puka shells that wash up on the sand, so too, it’s become a great place to grab some really striking souvenirs, I guess. You could expect slightly bigger waves here, apparently, that’s down to the exposure of the beach, still. Some island tours, well, might stay here a while for people to swim, sunbathe, or simply grab a coconut from one of the stalls on the beach. It is pretty nice just kicking back under the shade of a palm tree, to be fair.
Lunch with a View
No island hopping adventure, you find, would be complete without food, basically, and most tours typically include lunch at one of the islands or beaches along the route, right? The spread may often vary, but expect, anyway, something that features like grilled seafood, rice, and local Filipino dishes, which, too, can give you a feel for local cuisine, obviously, So, too, I felt the lunch stop was just the opportunity to, like, recharge before moving on to the afternoon’s activities.
Zipline Adventure: A Bird’s-Eye View
The zipline activity often forms, I think, the grand finale to many of the island hopping packages out there. Located, seemingly, on one of Boracay’s higher points, it offers pretty awesome views of the island. The feeling of soaring above the trees, it feels quite special, in some respects it just elevates the whole trip. This bit might not be for everyone – people can be scared of heights – but for those who don’t mind, that can add some serious thrill to an already awesome day. At the end of the ride, like, tour operators should organize transport back to your hotel or a central location, naturally. Oh, and if you have a fear of heights? Maybe think about skipping this one, obviously. Otherwise, make sure, if you are going, that your GoPro’s charged, okay?
Essential Tips for an Incredible Experience
Here, by the way, are some points to consider, because island hopping and ziplining involves more than just signing up. You really do want to think this through, obviously.
- Pick the Right Tour Operator: Really spend the time researching and reading reviews before settling on a tour group, you see. Make certain they’ve, well, got good safety records and happy customers. You could usually find, alright, reviews online or get recommendations straight from your hotel, you see.
- Pack Smart: Do bring lots of sunblock (preferably reef-safe), alright, hats, shades, swimwear, plus a dry bag to keep all the gadgets safe, definitely. It might sound too, like, like your Mom is talking, but trust me, okay?
- Stay Hydrated: When it’s so very hot, so that can lead to you not feeling all that fresh, right? Remember that!
- Respect Marine Life: Resist that, really, and don’t even think of touching any corals or sea creatures if you are doing the snorkeling thing, because this maintains all the lovely nature that it is that people love about Boracay in the first place, right?
- Listen to the Guides: Like seriously listen to everything they have to say, since their local insights on the areas really, really, helps in ensuring you’ve, basically, a great time in total safety. I’m sure their jokes will be quite entertaining. Okay, maybe that’s optimistic.
Is the Boracay Island Hopping Tour Worth It?
Well if you enjoy getting out onto the water and experiencing new places, you may be one of the very many folk that end up feeling this tour is something worth doing, honestly. Even though that’s quite a bold claim. Like what the tour offers in general, that includes sightseeing, activities, and cuisine – makes for something special, in a way, because too it hits every travel wish anyone ever might have. Sure, like that’s going to depend on how you feel about ziplining, obviously. Even the zipline adventure may not be for all of the people. Boracay island hopping featuring lunch and zipline is, though, probably an excellent way of spending a day for all travelers seeking excitement blended with picturesque views, still.
