Uncovering Aklan's two gems in one go: Buruanga (Part 1/2)
Finally, I visited Buruanga after many plans and a failed attempt to stay on her white sandy lap on my birthday two years ago. I did not push through after booking a two-night stay because of some threats from an upcoming typhoon then. I had been pining to see her for some time already so when an opportunity presented itself, I did not let it pass. I came ready with all my heart, body and soul this summer of 2025.
Buruanga’s demure white sand beauty coupled with her turquoise waters where deep green seagrasses still thankfully abound is her mystical allure. It is just nestled a few kilometers away from the caticlan jetty port that I wonder why I just learned of her existence just recently. I and a friend, who has not been anywhere near a beach for a thousand years, stayed in Hinugtan Beach where from the main road one has to pass by a very short trail peppered with brown-muscled tall trees in a mini rainforest before reaching a series of hostels and beach huts congenially lined-up side by side along the way. They all share a long stretch of white sand beach shore. One can kayak, snorkel, hike up and stroll in the white sand from sunrise to sunset. In our three days and two nights sojourn, there were mostly daytourers who enjoyed swimming and taking photos and a few overnighters like us so that we had the best time watching the unobstructed view of the sunset this side of the earth. The only manmade things enjoyed in common by the excursionists are the swings, one located just a little farther from the shoreline when it’s approaching midday and the other one just perched under the coconut trees.
From the al fresco restaurant of our hostel, established just about seven years ago when the beach area boomed, we can hear the rhythmic movements of the waves going to and fro the shore. Meanwhile, sitting on one of its tables watching the sea while sipping a glass of icy mango shake seemed to be the most entertaining and relaxing thing to do. Life is good, you’ll quip especially while staring at the framed window like you’re watching from a big screen tv. When approached, the crystalline waters easily reveal its own fault. We can just see in its nakedness the sharp and dull rocks, the sea urchins which were definitely sharply dressed in black, long and deep-hued seagrasses with some tiny fries of fishes converging in the shallow surface. I can even see my ugly unpedicured toes underneath her waters. She made sure that my fault was revealed too. We swam, ate in the restaurant, watched the sunset and celebrated our first night with a glass of forgettable margarita on this unforgettable beach in Buruanga.
Another rise in Buruanga but we just have to dip quickly and take our breakfast as we will be leaving the shores of Buruanga to go to the famous Boracay. Boracay is something to avoid for me. I even opted for Carabao Island years ago rather than visit her. But my soles teased me saying, there’s no harm in visiting the beach that captured your heart way back in 1998 and I surrendered easily to the place where I had my first cocktail of Pina Colada long before the Boracay Rum was conceived. In the Boracay of my memories, we were simply partying on the sand in open air, swimming at any time of the day, eating something from the talipapa. I was able to go back to Boracay maybe in 2008 already but it was just a day tour but I must say there was no congestion of establishments yet.
Check out my Buruanga Instagram posts
Part 2: Boracay, here.
Comments
Post a Comment