The Philippines - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 651

environmental fee. Tricycles meet all boats at Cagban Jetty
Port to take you to your accommodation (P100 flat fee).
Occasionally during bad weather boats set sail from Tabon
and arrive at the eastern side of Boracay, at Tambisaan.

Hangin Kiteboarding Balabog Beach T 036 288 3663,
W kiteboardingboracay.com. Professional outfit offering
kitesurfing lessons and rentals.

ACCOMMODATION
Prices are significantly higher and fluctuate more than
in the rest of the Visayas; it's always worth negotiating
for a discount, especially outside of high season or if
you plan to stay a while. The following are the best of
the ever-dwindling pool of budget options, but if you're
really strapped and you don't mind being away from
the beach, ask around on the main road about renting a
private room.
Dave's Straw Hat Inn Station 3 T 036 288 5465,
W davesstrawhatinn.com. A cosy restaurant and pleasant
rooms in a shady, private location have made this an
enduring favourite, though they have an irritating reserva-
tion procedure w hich in volves wiring the entire room
charge in advance. P1500
★

INFORMATION
Tourist information The Department of Tourism
information o ce is in D'Mall (Mon-Fri 8am-5pm; T 036
288 3689, E [e-mail]). The Boracay
Tourist Center (daily 8am-11pm; T 036 288 3704, W tourist
center.com.ph), about halfway along White Beach between
stations 2 and 3, can help with currency and travellers' cheque
exchange, long-distance phone calls, postal and internet
facilities and all travel services.

GETTING AROUND
Tricycles Fares for the tricycles that run along the length
of the Main Road are P10/person for a trip if you're willing
to share the tricycle with others, which means it will pick
up passengers along the way. For most foreigners, the flat
rate for a private trip is P50/tricycle, not per person. Make
sure you agree the fare in advance. Fares increase at night.

Frendz Midway between stations 1 and 2 T 036 288
3803, W frendzresortboracay.com. Off the beach path in
a great location in the centre of the island's nightlife.
The comfy male and female dorms, beach beds for guests'
use and buzzing common area make this a great choice
for backpackers. There's an authentic 1960s Italian coffee
machine for a post-partyin g caff eine b oost. B ring a
padlock for your locker. Dorm P600 , double P2000
Melinda's Garden Station 3 T 036 288 3021 or
T 0907 261 6703, W melindasgarden.com. Lovely
nipa-and-bamboo cottages in a garden area off the
beach path, all with a private porch and your own
wicker hammock. P1600
Moreno's Cottages At the southern end of the beach a
little before Dave's Straw Hat Inn T 036 288 2031 or T 0939
118 9616, E [e-mail]. A friendly, local
option with small, simple fan and a/c rooms set around a
pleasant garden, just a 2min w alk from a lovely section of
White Beach. Free wi-fi. P1000
Orchids Station 3 T 036 288 3313 or T 0917 242 0833,
W orchidsboracay.com. Staff are not the friendliest, but
the large rooms in the two-storey indigenous b uildin g all
have hot water and there's paid wi-fi (P50/day). P915
Spider House Diniwid T 0918 557 4874, W spider
houseresort.com. A 10min walk north of Station 1, this is
the most unique (and romantic) budget choice on the
island. Some of the meandering series of rooms built into
the cliff have only two walls, leaving them open to fresh
breezes and stunn ing sea scapes. Perfect for those who
value their privacy. P2400
White Beach Divers Hostel Station 3 T 036 288 3809,
W whitebeachdivers.com. It doesn't get any cheaper than
this on White Beach - pleasant, indigenous rooms with
TV and fan. There' s a ba r and restaurant, plus free wi-fi.
Outstanding value. P600

8

ACTIVITIES
DIVING
There are more than thirty dive shops on Boracay, so look
out for packages and deals. You can expect to pay around
$40/dive, with equipment. The following places on White
Beach are well established and popular:
Calypso Diving School Station 3 T 036 288 3206,
W calypso-boracay.com.
DiveGurus Boracay Station 3 T 036 288 5486,
W divegurus.com.
Fisheye Divers Station 2 T 036 288 6090, W fisheye
divers.com.
Lapu Lapu Diving School Station 2 T 036 288 3302,
W lapulapu.com.
Victory Divers Station 2 T 036 288 3209, W victory
divers.com.

WATERSPORTS
White Beach is littered with agents trying to sell you
watersports of every conceivable variety: jetskiing, banana
boating, glass-bottom boat rides, parasailing, flyfishing
and even mermaid swimming (yes, you read that right!)
are on offer. One of the most popular trips is a day's
island-hopping; P800/person buys a one-day boat trip
including a mask and snorkel, barbecue lunch and drinks.
For more skilled watersports pursuits arrange lessons
through a specialist.
Allan B Fun Tours White Beach T 036 288 5577,
E [e-mail]. With several booths dotted
along White Beach path, this operator can help to arrange
most activities.