The cruise is one of the highlights of any trip to the province, where guests enjoy a sumptuous lunch while listening to a serenade of local songs. As the motorized boat gently sails through the river, it passes lush nipa and coconut trees, and other tropical flora and fauna.

Another key attraction is the local communities who entertain guests through dance and songs on floating docks, locally known as the balsa. Tac-an and the association uphold the traditions of folk dances.

Tinikling itself is a sight to behold, with some saying that the dance represents the resilience of Filipino people.

The dance mimics rice-preying birds, which must walk over grass and avoid bamboo traps set by farmers in fields. In the performance, clappers hold two to four bamboo poles, which they knock together rhythmically. Dancers follow the tempo of the poles as they gracefully hop and skip over it to avoid getting their ankles caught. Apart from the tap-tap-tapping of the bamboo poles, this mesmerizing dance is accompanied by the melody of the rondalla, a stringed instrument.

Ripples of joy

It’s this resilience that Tac-an must channel outside of work as she faces the devastating effects of the pandemic, including losing her job.

Her work as a dancer already had its challenges. She doesn’t have a salary or a regular fee, and instead relied on donations and tips from tourists. The work is also grueling, and a typical day can run up to seven hours on the job. It can extend if there are more guests in the floating restaurant, and it takes one hour for them to prepare.

Despite the lack of salary and the long hours, she is happy with her work because she sends ripples of joy to the guests who watch them perform.

“The pandemic affected me and our group because the tourism industry stopped. We lost our source of income,” Tac-an says. The impact of the pandemic hit her twice as hard, since she is supporting two kids in college

“I am struggling because my family members have no work and no income. And we know that we have daily expenses, especially food and utility bills. There is also debt to pay,” Tac-an adds.

Luckily, she has a monthly income as a barangay kagawad [councilor] but according to her, “my salary is not enough for our expenses.” To cope, the group used funds allotted for the maintenance of their balsa [floating dock] to share rice with each other. Their community also gave relief goods.

Amid the pandemic

Bohol is one of the most visited destinations in the Central Visayas region. In 2019 alone, the province drew 1.58 million tourists, a 5.6 percent increase from the arrivals in 2018. Prior to the pandemic, 30,000 go in and out of the island-province per day. This March, the number is around 1,000 per month.

The result was destructive, with many tourist destinations closing down. The Bohol economy lost Php 10 billion. Tac-an is one of the 200,000 workers in the province who lost their source of income.

To help, the local government distributed cash assistance under the Department of Social and Welfare’s (DSWD) social amelioration program. As early as May 2020, 17 towns in Bohol have finished doling out cash assistance to families. This May, the Department of Tourism (DOT) partnered with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to release funds for displaced tourism-related workers.

Tac-an may still be unemployed now but there is hope on the horizon. Bohol is reopening to tourists. This June, at least 20,000 residents have been fully vaccinated. Soon, she will be able to overcome her challenges with the same grace, passion, and determination she shows while skipping over the tap-tap-tapping of the bamboo poles.

The post The Loboc River Cruise Longs to be Filled with Music Again appeared first on 7641 Islands of the Philippines.

Sinugdan Quincentennial Tour: Seven Heritage Stone Churches + Limasawa Island. Travel back in time through this tour which highlights the role the Eastern Visayan islands of Samar and Leyte played in the historic first contact with the West. It is a three days and two nights tour that incorporates pilgrimage, historical and cultural experiences, as well as a taste of natural adventure.

Guiuan-Balangiga Ancestry Tour. This four days and three nights tour will bring guests to the historical towns of Guiuan and Balangiga, Eastern Samar, highlighting the following nationally-significant events: the first landing of the expedition crew of Ferdinand Magellan in Philippine soil (Homonhon Island) in 1521; the Balangiga Incident during the Philippine-American War in 1901 where the Americans suffered defeat, but in retaliation, they “burned” Samar and plundered the land, carting away the three Bells of Balangiga as war booties; the American Forces took Suluan Island in Guiuan, where they fought their first battle in the Philippine territory in 1944 during the Leyte Gulf Landings; and the arrival of thousands of White Russians who took refuge in Tubabao Island also in Guiuan after President Elpidio Quirino allowed them to seek asylum in the Philippines following the fall of Kuomintang Government in China in 1949.

Sogod Bay Dive Site Tours. Nature and adventure lovers, you would want to check out the Sogod Bay Dive Sites, which have been dubbed as the rising star of Philippine dive destinations. This relatively undiscovered divers’ paradise has something to suit every diver’s level of experience, preference, and expectations.

More good news: Divers also get to swim with the whale sharks. DOT said that the activity is 100% sustainable and ethical because artificial feeding is not allowed.

Leyte Bike Tours. These aim to introduce circuits, including the Leyte-Samar Interface and the Northwest Leyte Corridor Leyte Biliran Tour Circuit, among others, that are positioned to become the bike tour routes in the region for both bicycles and motorized bikes. This program targets to promote health and wellness among the bikers as well as to give them the opportunity to visit different points of interests within the bike loops.

The DOT reminds the public to always wear a face mask and practice social distancing when outside. For up-to-date information on open destinations and the safety protocols and requirements needed for each location, you may visit www.philippines.travel/safetrip or download the Travel Philippines app at app.philippines.travel or the Google Playstore.

The post Perspective-Changing Eastern Visayas Tours to Take Note of appeared first on 7641 Islands of the Philippines.

Historic Capiz

Capiz is a blend of rich history and natural God-given beauty. After Cebu, Capiz became the second Spanish settlement. During the second world war, the region was occupied by the Japanese Imperial forces and in 1945, liberation came to the province through the joint effort of American troops and Filipino guerrillas. 

Mystic and Mysterious

Capiznons, as the locals are called, are known to be gentle, affectionate, and hospitable. This is reflected through their artistic creations, soothing music, colorful artworks, and even their oral lore and beliefs, which have been handed down through generations. Myths and legends add to the mystic beauty that is Capiz.

The Land of Ethnic Fusion

Commune with nature and get to know more about the Capiznon heritage at the Capiz Ecology Park and Cultural Village. The Cultural Village boasts of several ethnic houses from the indigenous tribes that have lived in Capiz such as the Aetas, the Tumandoks, and the Panay-Bukidnons. Each house showcases the day-to-day lives and traditions of these indigenous people including mat weaving, cooking, songs and dances.

One of the more exotic dishes demonstrated here is how to make Binakol sa Pasok, where a whole chicken is prepared with libas leaves, a souring agent, and other spices and then pressed into a bamboo tube that is placed over a grill. 

The Eco-Park is a blend of lush vegetation with its own vermin-composting site, especially created for the care of various plants and herbs. It is also a perfect venue for picnics, retreats, seminars, team-building activities and camping.

Preserving Traditions

Within the Capiz Eco-Park and Cultural Village is a structure known as the Institute of Living Traditions. This serves as a cultural education facility intended to preserve and promote the province’s cultural heritage, such as basket-weaving and the preparation of local rice cakes such as baye-baye and ibus.

Fishing – the Capiznon Way

The Palina River Cruise takes you along the stretch of a fishing community where you may also find several native fishing contraptions such as the surambaw, a metal and bamboo apparatus designed to catch huge batches of fish at nighttime. Along the way, you will find mangroves and fish ponds dotting the river where fisherfolk grow fish and shells. If you get there before dusk, you might be able to catch a glimpse of the Sunken Galleon, a memento from the Spanish era.

A Seafood Fare to Remember

If you take the cabana, a bamboo raft with a nipa hut atop it, you can get the chance to enjoy an unforgettable seafood feast. Forget the utensils and feel free to eat with your hands — this is the traditional way to enjoy a seafood meal while enjoying the sights along the river.

The Capiz Legacy

In the heart of Roxas City lies the Roxas City Heritage Zone, the historic district that is made up of the Immaculate Conception Metropolitan Cathedral, the Roxas City Fountain, the Capiz Provincial Capitol, the Roxas City Bridge (formerly known as the Capiz Bridge), the Panublion Museum, and the Roxas City Bandstand.

If you take the Heritage Walk Tour, you will be introduced to the historic structures such as the Immaculate Conception Cathedral which dates back to 1698, considered as one of the oldest churches in Panay Island. This is where one of the major festivals of Capiz, the Sinadya sa Halaran (“Joy in Sharing and Thanksgiving”) is held every December.

Just in front of the Immaculate Conception Metropolitan Cathedral and the Capiz Provincial Capitol lies the Roxas City Fountain, a rotunda situated right in the middle of a busy intersection. Built in 1925, it is considered to be the heart of the city plaza. Its focal center marks Kilometer 0, the point in determining the road kilometer distance from Roxas City to the different locations within the city or outlying municipalities. Colored lights surrounding the fountain add to the beauty of playful water spouts at night time.

The Capiz Provincial Capitol is a well-preserved structure in the city plaza built in 1911. Designed in the neoclassical style, the Capitol is one of the 31 provincial capitols that followed the plans of American architect William Parsons.

The old and imposing Roxas City Bridge is one of the most iconic landmarks of the city. Built in 1910, it crosses the Panay River with one end facing the Roxas City Water Fountain. It connects the commercial center of the city to the main thoroughfare. 

What was once a circular water tank built in 1910 was repurposed in 1993 as the Panublion Museum. Panublion is a Hiligaynon term that translates to “guardian of precious things.” The museum displays artifacts from one of Capiz’ indigenous tribes, the Panay-anon Bukidnon, photo exhibits, antique furniture, collections of stamps, currencies, and shells.

The Roxas City Bandstand was built by the first Filipino principal of the Capiz Trade School, Jose S. Roldan, in the early 1920s. The bandstand became the venue for political rallies and launches of government programs for the city and the province. 

The Famous Pan-ay Bell

Built in 1774, the Sta. Monica Church is considered to be an excellent example of the Filipino colonial baroque style architecture. In 1997, it was declared a National Landmark by the National Historical Institute of the Philippines. It houses the biggest Catholic church bell in Asia, known as the Pan-ay Bell, which was cast in 1878 using 70 sacks of coins. It measures about 7-feet in height and 5-feet in diameter, weighing 10.4 tons.

Stop and Rest a While

In the town of Panay lies an enchanting Spanish-inspired structure called the Istorya Forest Garden. This is a romantic venue for weddings and other special occasions, surrounded by various varieties of plants and a swimming pool. This is a quiet place to enjoy culinary treats prepared by the kitchen staff and comfortable rooms overlooking the garden for overnight stays.

A Must-Do for First Timers

Proudly the only one in Western Visayas, the Capiz Tourist Information Center and Specialty Shops houses the different products and tourism services from the city and the other municipalities of Capiz. This is the best place for you to find out more information about where to go, what to eat and activities to try when in Capiz. 

The next time you decide to take a trip, make sure you capture Capiz!

The post Capture Capiz: Rich Cultural Heritage and Gastronomic Haven Rolled Into One appeared first on 7641 Islands of the Philippines.

The Farming Life

Iloilo’s Farm Circuit is a farm tourism promotion that gives tourists a glimpse of life on the farm. It is an experience worth trying to see how local farm products are produced and made into mouth-watering delicacies.

A Certified Organic Farm

Since 2011, the Orchard Valley in Pavia has been the first and only certified organic farm in Iloilo, recognized by the Negros Island Certification Services. The Orchard Valley farmland stretches behind the Tigum River, an ideal site for visitors to learn about organic farm practices. This is also Orchard Valley farmland’s contribution to the promotion of responsible tourism. 

Divided into sections which include a vegetable garden, fruit trees, livestock, and an organic fertilizer production area, visitors may join in harvesting fresh organic vegetables and fruits in season. These homegrown vegetables and herbs are also available for those who may wish to purchase. The produce from the organic farm are supplied to hotels, restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, and selected groceries and supermarkets. 

Orchard Valley grows a lot of malunggay (moringa) trees cropped with organic fertilizers such as animal manure from the farm’s organic dairy cattle, chickens, and other livestock animals. Aside from selling malunggay leaves to supermarkets, the leaves also serve as feeds to milking cows for higher milk production. The dried and powdered leaves are used in the making of a local delicacy called malunggay pan de sal.

A resident chef prepares salads and other dishes with homegrown produce and products such as kesong puti or white cheese and salad greens. Visitors may also try their fried mushrooms, deep-fried root crops, tempura camote leaves, organic yogurt, and sumptuous desserts.

Orchard Valley is a learning site where students train in organic agriculture. They are taught how to ferment plant and fruit juices to be used for the promotion of plant growth and protection from pests and other plant diseases. Aside from plant care, the students are also given instructions on the care of free-range chickens for eggs and meat, native pigs, and rabbits, along with manure fertilizing and vermicomposting. 

Farm and Resort – The Best of Both Worlds

The Damires Hills Tierra Verde Leisure Farm in Sta. Barbara is a 45-hectare farm with 29 hectares dedicated to a natural forest and for growing crops. It is built around the natural surroundings of verdant hills and forests allowing birds to freely flit and sing amid lush greenery and local flora. It features an aquaponics greenhouse with around 2,500 tilapia fingerlings in a 35-square meter pool. The pool water is recirculated to supply water and nutrients for growing lettuce. 

Doubling as a resort, it also offers various amenities that guarantee a restful and relaxing stay. You can enjoy ziplines, ATV adventure, daytime pools, a 217-meter canopy walk adventure, a locally-inspired spa and a filling meal at Norma’s Coffee Shop and Souvenir Shop.

Where Papayas and More Rock

The Ephrathah Farms of Badiangan is a sprawling resort and farm of rolling hills that is known for its “Red Lady” papaya orchard, the sweet “Pitahaya” or dragon fruit and the Lakatan banana plantations. The farm also features a medicinal herbal plantation, a black and pink rice plantation, a livestock farm, and an aquaculture pond. 

A newly-acquired herbal tea dehydrator is used to dry malunggay, guyabano (soursop) and guava leaves, which have long been known to have medicinal properties, and are sold as herbal teas to the public.

Other products available at Ephrathah Farms include herbal concoctions such as Balanyos, a combination of 15 organic herbs used to relieve muscle and joint pains, rheumatism, muscle cramps, among others.. They also have Passi Herbal Vaporub, RHP Skin Disease Ointment, papaya herbal soap, herbal bath soap, and natural herbal lotion.

The resort’s amenities include a chapel, a zipline, swimming pools, an adventure park, a greenhouse, a vegetable garden, and a mini-zoo.

A Heavenly Farm

Garin Farm’s Heaven on Earth is an interesting pilgrimage resort. It is the only resort in the Philippines that combines agriculture, leisure, and a pilgrimage. Garin Farm showcases viable agricultural livelihood plant and animal culture, product processing, and a zero-waste management program that creates a balanced plant and animal coexistence. Apart from this, the zero-waste management program uses composting and biogas with recycling as the highlight of their Mini Urban Backyard Scrap Garden. The sprawling area houses forest trees, fruits trees, various vegetables, and flowering plants along with farm animals. 

The entrance is a welcoming canopy covered in vines. At the restaurant area, you can have a glorious view of a manmade lake and witness hundreds of white doves during feeding time. The restaurant offers a host of Garin Farm organic products such as organic coconut sugar, coco vinegar, virgin coconut oil, fresh coconut water, bananas, farm-fresh eggs from chickens, ducks and quails, fresh cow, carabao and goat milk, processed meats, homemade ice cream, fresh fruit juices, and other local snacks.

The Hydroponics Building has plants growing in a multi-level system without the use of soil. Indigenous microorganisms are prepared in the probiotics area. There are over 26 farm animal buildings and over 33 vegetable gardens using organic fertilizer and various watering systems for pesticide-free produce. The Agro-Forestry Building propagates forest tree and fruit tree seedlings.

Across the restaurant is a long flight of steps that leads to Heaven on Earth. This area symbolizes what one will have to go through in life before entering the Pearly Gates. At the top is the Dark Meditation Tunnel where you will blindly walk through a long dark hall. This is deemed as the moment in life where a person recalls past sins and repents for them. 

At the end of the tunnel, a blinding light awaits, representing what entering Heaven could possibly look and feel like. While in this area, you will be welcomed by angels and saints in the form of bright white statues, with a white cross as the focal point. Accompanied by Handel’s Messiah in the background, this is what they call Heaven on Earth.

The many farms of Iloilo can give you a farm life experience of a lifetime. Make sure to experience Iloilo farms on your next visit in the city of love!

The post Come and Explore the Fun Farm Life in Iloilo appeared first on 7641 Islands of the Philippines.

But it’s this diversity that makes Filipino cuisine what it is: a vast, textured landscape of styles and techniques and flavors. It’s something that’s inspired not only by local culture and customs, but also by local ingredients and climates. You could spend years in the country and still discover something new to eat each time you go out. People who’ve lived here still do. 

So how does Margarita Fores—one of the Philippines’ most familiar culinary personalities—address this diversity? 

The answer is: she makes it even more diverse. 

A Margarita Fores meal is marked by something unusual—a twist in the recipe using an unlikely technique, or a local ingredient in place of another. And so you have dishes like ravioli with calamansi cream, or Biti fish chicharon (a crispy delicacy made from the swim bladder of the local abo fish) sprinkled on fried rice or on top of a fish. These twists draw from her experiences living across the Philippines and throughout her lengthy stays outside the country. And these experiences began when she was just a child who liked to eat. 

“Well, as a young girl, I was a real lover of eating,” Fores says. “I think that a real prerequisite of being a good chef is really loving to eat.”

But isn’t just her love of eating that makes Fores an exceptional chef. She’s an accomplished culinary artist with multiple distinctions in the field. 

In 2016, she was named Asia’s Best Female Chef—an award that’s part of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. As a list that’s curated by culinary industry experts across Asia, this is no small honor. Because, if anything, Asian cuisine has some of the most distinctive palates in the world.

Fores was also later inducted into the Order of the Star by the Italian government for her role in promoting their cuisine, making her a knight in Italy. And throughout her career, Fores has been a restaurateur who owns and operates several popular establishments across the Philippines, aside from running her own catering company.  Still, she continues to produce new ways to appreciate food by introducing new concepts.

But while she’s both an internationally renowned chef and an Italian knight, Fores got her start the way every Filipino child gets their start in cooking: by preparing the rice for the family meal. 

In Negros she made rice over a wood fire, using a traditional clay pot called a kulun-kulun. 

“I think that that one was the most vivid experiences that had to do with cooking food,” she says. “So being Negrense and visiting Negros as a child a lot, I kind of like imbibed the love for the food of my home province whether it was chomping on a piece of sugarcane or eating piaya or seeing them make inasal.” 

Fores never lost the curiosity she had when she was a little girl, and has since gone across the world to add even more experiences that would shape her cooking as she grew older.

In Negros, she watched her nanny and the family cook wrap fresh spring rolls, make vats of kadyos (a soup with pork and pigeon peas), and prepare kilaw (a ceviche-like dish using vinegar). While living in New York in the 80s, she learned to make pasta with her mother’s cook, Marietta. And when she had the chance to work with Italian fashion house Valentino, she developed a taste for Northern Italian food. Later, she would train professionally in Florence, Milan, and Rome, pursuing the passion that she brought with her from childhood.

While she may have trained extensively in Italian cuisine, it’s her Filipino roots that inform her taste. She shares that she loved watching Martha Stewart when she was young, and dreamed of being like her. Only, with a Filipino vibe, using local dishes and ingredients.

And this is where we see her now. Her cooking is a mix of Italian and Filipino traditions. It crosses the boundary between continents, makes a taste of its own. Even in the Philippines, where there’s such a broad culinary history, Fores is adding new pages: written in her hand, imbued with her own experiences. 

Her dishes are as inventive as they are flavorful: the normally sugar-laden piaya (flatbread with muscovado) is instead served as a savory dish with pâté; seafood ravioli becomes crab ravioli topped with taba ng talangka (fat from small river crabs); Mostarda di frutta (Italian candied fruits) is remade with santol, guava, and calamansi. In this way, Fores uses the diversity of Filipino cuisine and expands its horizons even further.

So, given how diverse it actually is, what does make Filipino cuisine so unique? 

“Well, I think that really because, perhaps the most prominent flavor profile in our food is really sourness. And I think that that’s what makes our cuisine very different from other cuisines in the world,” she answers. “And precisely because of that sourness, we incorporate sweetness, saltiness, umami to be able to balance the sourness.” 

There’s an extensive number of souring ingredients all over the country: tamarind, batwan, calamansi, nipa palm, coconut, pineapple, and the wide range of vinegars in every region. And it’s how people work with these and mix in other flavors that make Filipino cuisine unique. That, and the history of trade and influence from countries like Spain, the USA, Mexico, China, and Japan have made the cuisine richer in tradition. 

In a world of social media, people have become more open to trying new cuisines from everywhere, and Filipino food has become a little more present online. But where does it stand on the global scale? 

“I think that we’ve made huge steps forward to get our cuisine out there,” Fores says. “We’re a very young country and it took us a while to really feel strongly about what we call our own.” 

‘But look around, I mean, everyone is now aware of what Filipino is. It’s not anymore just our adobo that’s there, or our lumpia and pancit,” she continues. “But now there’s a lot of interest in our Cordillera rice, in our vinegars globally, our coffee, our chocolate has won awards all over the world. So I’d like to think that we’re there, we’re there.”

Maybe it is, maybe it will be. But even as Fores thinks it’s there, one thing remains true: the best place to try it is here. 

Since April 1, 2022, the Philippines has been welcoming fully-vaccinated tourists worldwide, with no test upon arrival nor quarantine. The country has also developed several circuits highlighting the unique attractions and fun activities within the country.

To know more about the Philippines’ 7,641 islands, our latest travel advisories, and other updates, check out https://visitor.tourism.gov.ph/ or download the Travel Philippines app at the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

The post World-Renowned Chef Margarita Fores Is Writing New Pages in the Book of Philippine Cuisine appeared first on 7641 Islands of the Philippines.

Sun, surf, and sand – that is the promise of a perfect Boracay holiday. Boracay competes with the best beach destinations all over the world. In 2016, Conde Nast Traveler voted Boracay as the world’s best island, and in 2019, it was also voted as Asia’s best island. 

The pristine and clear warm waters of the island, complemented by powdery white sands, makes Boracay every traveler’s dream. Whether you are on a short break from the daily stress of city life, or on a longer get-away-from-it-all stay, Boracay offers you a host of activities that guarantees a well-deserved vacation. 

Take a Water Break

Beach life will never be complete without taking a refreshing dip. Swimming is top of mind when you come face to face with the inviting waters of Boracay. Apart from this, you can also try out different water activities that will make you want to go back to Boracay every chance you get.

Diving for Fun

Dive into clear blue waters and experience a panoramic view of the underwater world. Boracay’s dive circuit offers shipwrecks, coral reefs, tropical reef fish, and a host of other sea life. For beginners, dive instructors are available for basic training at confined water areas. More experienced divers may take advantage of the open waters. 

If you are a skilled diver, you may find freediving more to your liking. No need for any breathing apparatus as you explore what’s hidden below the clear waters of Boracay. Guides and instructors are available to assist you with this not-for-the-faint-of-heart adventure.

Simply Snorkeling 

If you consider diving just a little on the extreme side, snorkeling may be more to your liking. Get acquainted with most varieties of shallow water marine life found in the Sibuyan Sea such as the pelican eel, spotted sandfish, and frogfish. If you are lucky enough, you may even get to spot more interesting types of aquatic creatures such as reef sharks, sea turtles, and barracuda.

Parasailing Pleasure

From an underwater adventure, rise from the sea and hover up in the air with a colorful canopy chute. Parasailing presents a thrilling adventure that provides an amazing view of the wide beaches and surrounding foliage. Be prepared to take a dip as you land in the water while the speedboat pulls the parasail. This is truly an adrenaline junkie’s dream come true.

The Need for Speed

A jet ski ride can take you along the coastline and surrounding islands of this tropical paradise. The rush of the wind and the splash of seawater will be more than enough to make any stress-related concern a thing of the past. 

The Gliding Workout

For workout buffs, paddle boarding is a must. Glide on the water surface and enjoy the scenery while standing, kneeling, or sitting astride a paddleboard. This is also a terrific exercise for your arms and legs while you work on your balance and strengthen your core. Just what the gym instructor ordered!

More Water Activities Await You

There are countless other water activities for you to enjoy. A banana boat ride, with your life vest strapped on, tests your alertness as you mentally prepare yourself to fall off at any given moment. That is all part of the fun. Just before the sun sets, try the paraw sailing adventure. The paraw is a native outrigger boat with two sails, used by the locals to travel from one island to another.

For more extreme activities, test your balance and your strength when you try out parasailing. If you are more of the daring type, you can show off your skill with kiteboarding. With a surfboard attached to a kite and you harnessed to the kite, sail away with the wind, and enjoy a bird’s eye view of the island.

The Great Breakaway

If water activities are not your cup of tea, how about exploring the land by taking a leisurely bike ride? Boracay offers a diverse landscape that can take you from paved city roads to hilly terrains in no time at all. 

Bike and Like

You can meet up with other local bikers to get a better idea of the best bike trails in the island. The Easy Ride Circuit starts with the concrete roads of the main street as you slowly cycle your way up to the more secluded areas surrounded by trees and other vegetation. If you need to take a breather, watch out for monkeys swinging from one tree to another. 

Bike for Strength

The Endurance Biking Circuit takes you to the beach where you may enjoy an energizing ride along the coastline. Breathe in the fresh air and enjoy the warm sunshine while you give yourself a workout that you can only enjoy far from the hustle and bustle of the city. This circuit is best for those who take biking seriously.

Bike with a View

If you are looking for a great view, bike your way to the southern end of Boracay Newcoast, where you will find a magnificent and iconic natural rock formation locally known as Lapus-Lapus (translated as ‘pass through’) towards the end of the trail. Stop for a moment and have a selfie with this beautiful background. 

A Much-Needed Break

Work at your own pace and with a view that will surely make you feel like you are not working at all. Make Boracay your new “office space” with the Boracay Wellness Workation Program. Check out your hotel’s business center for online requirements. Relax by the pool as you bask in the sun while following up reports or making important phone calls. 

Sunset and Namaste

And, when work is done, it is definitely time for a little relaxation and some meditation to keep your mind calm. A relaxing yoga session by the beach while the sun sets pays homage to a glorious day. 

Breathe In, Breathe Out

The Wellness Program continues with more relaxation and meditation. For an indoor relaxation treat, you can try the art of Qigong, a meditative practice that incorporates breathing techniques, movement, and sound, has never been more welcome after a long, hard day outdoors. It improves balance, hand grip strength, torso flexibility, blood pressure, and resting heart rate. 

The Healing Touch

Another way to unwind is to have a luxurious massage at a spa. Hotels and other spa venues offer various massage options – from the local hilot massage using banana leaves and coconut oil, to the more traditional Thai deep-tissue massage, among others. This is one of the best ways to ease sore and stiff muscles while keeping the mind relaxed and calm.

Time for a Break(fast) and More

All these activities will surely make you hungry. Relax, the Boracay Food Crawl Program creates an exciting feast for you! There are a variety of local and international dishes just waiting for you. Each accredited restaurant offers you their most popular dish to sample and savor. As you go from one restaurant to another, you will realize that you have just had a complete meal. From breakfast to midnight snacks, you will never run out of sumptuous choices to pick from. 

The Best Breakfast 

At the Lazy Dog Bed and Breakfast, start your day with the Mango or Banana Waffle served with butter, maple syrup and whipped cream, a popular choice with guests. Other breakfast choices include Filipino fare such as Tapa (soy-marinated beef slices with garlic and spices served over rice), or the Gourmet Tuyo (boneless dried fish in olive oil, olives, garlic and spices over rice). Their homemade focaccia, served with butter and jam, is best when taken with Vietnamese coffee. 

Mmmmidday Break

For a midday break, sample the spread at La-ud Restaurant, located in Hue Hotel. Boracay’s famous Chori Burger is re-imagined as Chorizo Sliders, with the freshly baked and colorful mini buns (using either annatto, pandan, beet or squid ink) are not only a feast for the eyes but for your palate as well. 

Your Choice: The Light Vegan or Heavy Lunch

Lunch at Nonie’s offers you a choice of Filipino dishes such as their Pork and Chicken Adobo, Beef Bistek and a colorful accompaniment of Grainbows, made from adlai, sorghum and barley. Vegetarian selections include Vegan Kare-Kare, Vegan Sisig and more. 

Sarap or Sabroso, Have it Your Way

At Mayas Filipino and Mexican Restaurant, you have the option to pick out an all-Filipino dish such as the Chicken Inasal, Bangus Sisig, Pinakbet Tagalog or Lechon Kawali, among others. For a more Mexican flavor, you may also opt for the Tacos al Pastor, Yucatan Taco, Carnitas Burrito or Chicken Yucatan Quesadilla while enjoying a beachfront view. 

Time to Cool Off

Also at Mayas is Jony’s Fruit Shakes, which offers the perfect cooler for an otherwise hot day at the beach. They have a wide selection of fruit shakes such as Banana Peanut Butter, Pineapple Mint and Strawberry Mango, that are not only delicious and filling, but healthy as well. Their refreshing smoothies are a definite must-try with flavors such as Island Slush (blueberry, banana, coconut sugar, yogurt, fresh milk, coconut shavings and chia seeds) and Chunky Monkey (chocolate, cocoa powder, banana, coconut sugar, vanilla extract, peanut butter and cream).

A Creamy Concoction

For a very tropical and guilt-free dessert, check out Coco Mama, the ice cream shop that serves only one ice cream product – the Vegan Dairy-Free Coconut Ice Cream. Have it plain or order it with a garnish of coconut strips, mango cubes, sticky rice and pinipig.

Dinner and More

As evening falls, enjoy the cool sea wind as you sit down for a cozy dinner at the Casa Pilar Beach Resort Restaurant. Try out their popular offerings such as the Crispy Pata and the Shrimp Vermicelli while enjoying thirst-quenching drinks from Joe’s Bar. As an added bonus you will also get to enjoy live music from their nightly singers, send in song requests, or, if you’re feeling brave enough, even take to the microphone yourself!

A vacation spent in Boracay is a vacation well spent indeed. Break away from the hustle and bustle of your busy life. Take a break in Boracay.

The post Visit Boracay To Know Why It Is Hailed the World’s Best Island appeared first on 7641 Islands of the Philippines.