ou’re
in for a totally new experience once you enter the lobby of
Boracay Tropics. The friendly staff hands you a welcome drink –
the Cucumber Slush, an invigorating combination of cucumber and
mango – that sets the tone for your stay. Next stop is the
sumptuous buffet of the best of Oriental and western cuisine at
the TropiCafé restaurant.
Set amid lush tropical gardens, Boracay
Tropics on Station 2, rated triple A by the Department of
Tourism, was designed to give guests privacy and a respite from
the crowds and the noise on the beachfront especially during
peak seasons. But even as it gives guests that much needed
breathing space, the famous white beach is only a few minutes
walk from the property.
Two three-story buildings blending
Mediterranean and Asian architecture enclose the huge
bean-shaped pool and the lush gardens. Most of the guestrooms
have balconies overlooking the pool.
Media guests who were flown to Boracay on the
newly opened Cebu Pacific Manila-Caticlan route, were given a
taste of what the other side of Boracay has to offer. Tired of
the usual sand and surf fare that a trip to Boracay entails, the
group plunged into the adventure package that Boracay Tropics
arranged.
The highlight of the first day was an in-land
island tour on board the resort’s multi-cab. Then, driving
all-terrain vehicles through bumpy and rough trails, the media
group headed to Mount Luho, the highest point on the island.
Rain pelted us and cold winds buffeted us but we stayed on the
lookout and took photographs of the surrounding island.
Dinner was a sumptuous affair at TropiCafé
and entertainment was provided by fire dancers and a band. The
resort’s owners also brought to Boracay Tropics beachfront
activities such as henna tattooing and braiding as well as
trinkets and colorful shawls that are sold on the beach.
Water sports took up most of our time the
next day. The morning was devoted to reef walking, snorkeling
and island-hopping. Reef-walking was a heady experience for the
braver members of the group. A boat brought them to the center
of the sea; after donning a helmet that was connected to an
oxygen source on the boat, they were lowered to the sea where
they "eye-balled" marine life and enjoyed a close view of the
corals. Next stop was Crystal Cove with its two underground
caves. Strong winds lashed at the caves and giant waves crashed
on the boulders but these did not stop the media group from,
what else, taking those obligatory snapshots and "we were there"
photos.
The high point of the afternoon was
parasailing and jet-skiing. In groups of three, the group took
to the skies and "got closer to heaven" as one of us liked to
describe the experience.
As dusk fell, the hungry horde trooped back
to Boracay Tropics and another gustatory feast. After dinner,
some members of the group headed for the KTV room while the
others had a massage in their rooms. A health spa and nail salon
also provided more pampering.
While Boracay Tropics allows guests the supreme luxury of
leaving work behind and basking in the lush tropical haven, it
also takes care of the needs of those who can’t avoid attending
to business concerns. The resort has seminar facilities designed
for small or big events and venues that can accommodate 150
people. Free WIFI service is also available in most areas of the
resort.
