Island Hopping in Boracay

Bang!

Ouch! I’d hit my head against the doorway of the boat while going in. I rubbed my head and looked up to almost 30 people in the boat. Wow. Our island hopping tour was fully booked, and this was the start of the wet season?

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After all 6 of us squeezed in at the back of the boat, we set off for some snorkelling! Masks and snorkels were included in the 600 pesos we paid for the tour, but 2 of our friends bought their own the night before. Too bad they bought the cheap ones, because their snorkels leaked. Whoops!

I’m terrified of fish (and of most animals), and I remember panicking when a school of fish came close to me in Krabi. But the clear waters called to me, and it was so hot! I left the snorkel aside and went into the water with just my lifejacket and the mask on. I have no idea how to breathe through a snorkel, and I didn’t want anymore panic attacks!

The fish were mostly small, but plentiful enough for me. I stayed away from the bread the people onboard the boat were throwing and just enjoyed the cool water against my skin.

Then it was off to Crystal Cove! After paying the entrance fee of 200 pesos and walking through the entrance, I thought to myself, “So commercialised ar”. But walk in further, and you’ll soon discover the natural beauty of the place.

We climbed down the very narrow winding flight of steps to uncover one of the coves! Dark purple crystals covered the walls of the cave but were camouflaged in the shadows. We only had time to explore Cove 1 as the tour guide hurried us back to the boat after a while. I suggest you come here privately to explore the entire place at your own time!

There were a couple of fenced-up areas on Crystal Cove and many signs asking you not to feed the birds. They are birds of prey after all!

After our buffet lunch (which was provided in the tour), it was time for more snorkelling! Yes, right after lunch.

And for our last stop of the tour, we headed to Puka Beach. I’d heard that it was the “seashell beach” and was expecting the beach to be covered in shells. But it wasn’t. There were just more seashells than on White Beach. I sometimes think that my imagination is way too fertile for my own good…

We paid 600 pesos (SGD$18.75) per person for the tour which included two snorkelling sessions and a visit to Crystal Cove and Puka Beach. The boat left at 10am, and the tour lasted about 6 hours and included a buffet lunch. We had to pay a 200 pesos (SGD$6.25) entrance fee to enter Crystal Cove.