Beach: Borawan Island Resort
Location: Brgy. Lipata, Padre Burgos, Quezon
December 28-29, 2017
Borawan Island Resort is one of the pristine islands in Quezon that is worth the 5 to 6 hours of travel time to South. With its white to golden brown sand, blue green water, clean surroundings and friendly staffs, it is a perfect getaway for the summer or off-peak season, or just a place to stay during holidays or special occasions. In our case, it was Jay and I’s first anniversary as a couple.
Day One
Jay and I met at Jac Liner Terminal in Cubao around 6:00a.m. which was already late considering that we will be going to Quezon Province. Luckily, the bus was full and it immediately departed towards Lucena City, Quezon. We rode the bus with Cagbalete Island as our destination in mind, and to cut the long story short, our first option was not possible that day because of the storm. The coast guards prohibited the boats to travel from Mauban Port to Cagbalete Island and so, with no Plan B or any options at all, we researched for the other beaches in Quezon during the whole ride. We were very fortunate that the owners of the Borawan Island Resort can accommodate us and offered a 30% discount for the room. (It was the first time that I did not sleep at all during our travel.)
Upon arriving at Lucena Grand Terminal, we rode a van going to Unisan. We asked the driver to drop us off at the QCRB Bank in Padre Burgos where we rode a tricycle going to Aplaya for our rented boat. The boat ride only took 20 minutes and although there was a storm, it seemed that this part of Quezon was not affected by it. From afar, we saw the Borawan Island which has three stations: Station Three, where the rooms are located, Station One and Two where camping is applicable and cottages are available. We stayed at Station Three.
Borawan Island Resort was accompanied by its own restaurant where we immediately ordered food because we were so hungry when we arrived around 2:00p.m. The room that will be our home for two days was spacious enough and can accommodate four to five persons. It also has its own comfort room. Station Three was really wide so wander the place first and took a lot of pictures. By the time we went back to the restaurant, it was getting dark so we postponed swimming until the next day. The water was really cold anyways. Haha. Of course, we ordered again for the dinner and the food was really delicious and has a lot of servings. Each dish was good for two. We just saw the other tourists staying at the island during dinner because they were just inside the rooms. So it really felt like that we have the whole island for ourselves.
At night, we settled ourselves in front of the beach where there were beach chairs for lounging. As we lay down, Jay and I were contented with the sound of waves and the feel of the wind while watching the night sky above us and the abundance of crabs playing and crawling all over the sand. And while doing that, we were drinking our celebratory wine, Novellino Strawberry Passion. Haha. I could not ask for more.
Day Two
Jay and I woke up around 5:00a.m. to witness the sunrise. Unfortunately, it was cloudy and we just saw the glimpse of the sun before it fully arose so we settled ourselves again in our favorite chairs and embraced the peace as the new day began. As we noticed that the water was getting low, we decided to take a walk going to the other stations, because it was only accessible through walking during low tides, to look for souvenirs we can bring to Manila.
We passed by under the rock where small fishes were swimming and when we reached the other side, there were group of friends camping and also there were dogs around the area. As we get farther from the stations, we saw how the previous storms that year devastated the island. Also, the locals were visible from our point of view that time. And although it was low tide, the waves were really strong at the farthest part. With our t-shirts on hand, we went back to Station Three before the high tide.
And still, even after the sun has already risen, the water was still cold but we cannot wait any more and decided to sank into the cold water. The fishes sometimes passed us by which can only mean that the water was really clean. When we could not take the cold any longer, we just sat and stare at the wide expanse of the sea. With a sad heart, we prepared to leave the island around noon. But before we left, we ordered food again and fresh coconuts that was also available in the island.
Our stay in Borawan Island Resort was one of the best travels Jay and I had in 2017, aside from the reason it was our first anniversary. I will never forget the feeling of peace, contentment and happiness from my head to toe. Borawan will always have a special place in my heart. It’s a highly recommended place to travel to.
How to get there:
- From Cubao, ride a bus at Jac Liner Terminal going to Lucena City. — P200.00-P300.00/pax
- Get off at Lucena Grand Terminal and ride a van going to Unisan. — P60.00-P80.00
- Ask the driver to drop you off at QCRB Bank in Padre Burgos.
- Take a tricycle going to Aplaya where you can rent a boat going to Borawan. — P20.00-P30.00/pax
Other Expenses:
- Boat – P800.00/8 pax (back and forth)
- Room – P3,500.00/2 pax
- Food – P100.00-P150.00/meal/pax
Note:
- For inquiries, please contact Borawan Island Resort on their Facebook page or view their website for more information. They can also arrange the boat for your group.
- Please observe the LNT (Leave No Trace) principle and be a responsible tourist.
- This post is based on our personal experience in 2017 and prices may vary.
Until next trip!
Meandering Cloud 