Mandala Spa and Villas


We offer our guests a day on an exclusive and private beach, where you may experience  Boracay's magic like a modern day Robinson Crusoe.
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Location

Boracay is a  tropical island located approximately 315km (200 miles) south of Manila and 2km off the northwest tip of the island of Panay. Boracay is only seven kilometers long and shaped like a barbell.
Its premiere, four-kilometer long beach, appropriately named White Beach, was rated the best in the world by the Sun Herald in Australia,  National Geographic, Yahoo Travel and Harper's Magazine -- and for good reason.
Through its 40,000-year history, the  Philippines and Boracay Island have been under everything from Buddhist kingdoms from India, Islamic kingdoms from Malacca (present-day Malaysia),  crown rule under the Spanish, commonwealth domination under the Americans,Japanese occupation during World War II, a home-ruled dictatorship in the  latter-half of the 20th century, and finally, democracy in the late 1980s. 
The modern history of Boracay as a  tourist's dream destination, however, begins only in the 1970s. But it was not  until the 1990s that Boracay even got electricity. Today, Boracay still remains  a pristine travel destination offering modern day conveniences.
Boracay's  two primary tourism beaches, White Beach and Bolabog Beach, are  located on opposite sides of the island's narrow central area. White Beach  faces westwards and Bolabog   Beach faces eastwards.  But the island is blessed with smaller beaches as well. 
We offer  our guests a day on an exclusive and private beach, where you may experience  Boracay's magic like a modern day Robinson Crusoe (with a soft blanket and a delicious picnic basket of course).

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Travel To Boracay
Caticlan is the  final destination of any method of travel -- be it air, land or sea, before  crossing to Boracay. There are no direct flights into Boracay. All visitors must take a boat from the Caticlan Jetty Port,  where there is a 10-20 minute boat ride to Boracay.
The Cagban Jetty  Port serves as a single entry and exit  point of Boracay Island. All boats departing  from Caticlan Jetty will dock at Cagban. Located in the southernmost part of  Boracay, this jetty has terminals for tricycles (a motorcycle with a sidecar)  or "multicab" (a small 8-seater van) which the public can hire to  take them to their desired destination in the island.  Mandala Spa and Villas provides exclusive transfer service for guests from Caticlan airport or Kalibo   Airport .
Boracay Boat Stations. Boracay's main beach, the White Beach,  has three boat stations, boat station 3 at the southern part, boat station 2 in  the center of the beach and boat station 1 at the beginning of the northern  part of the White   Beach. Boat stations 1  and 3 have connecting roads to Boracay's main road and boat station 2 is only  accessible by walking a short distance along the beach path
By plane from Manila. The fastest way to Boracay is flying to Caticlan airport, which takes 35 to 55  minutes, depending on the type of aircraft. Four domestic air carriers serve  the route Manila-Caticlan with up to 30 flight daily and offer also daily  connections from Cateclan to Cebu City, the hub for Eastern Visayas and Mindanao. Plane sizes are limited to around 50 seaters ,  due to the length of the runway.
The Kalibo  airport is serviced by three major airlines and it takes 40 minutes flying  time from Manila  to Kalibo. Several bus and transport companies ply the route Kalibo-Caticlan  (60 to 75 min.) in air conditioned vans and buses. Kalibo is generally serviced  by larger planes and is on the way to transform the airport into an  international hub,
Flights from Manila to Caticlan:              
Flights from Manila to Kalibo:                   
          Flights from  Caticlan to Busuanga  (Palawan)                   
Ship Manila to Caticlan. 
MBRS Shipping Lines have two  boats plying the route from Manila  to Caticlan. The ships leave Manila's North Harbor,  Pier 8, every Friday, Monday and Wednesday at 5 PM. Arrival time in Caticlan is  the next day between 6 and 8 AM.  Other  shipping companies service the route Manila  to Dumaguit, half an hour east from Kalibo. The companies are WG&A and  Negros Navigation. 
By car from Luzon. 
Caticlan, the entry point for  Boracay, can be reached also by private cars or air-conditioned buses, via the  'strong republic nautical highway', stretching from Batangas, Luzon, to Cagayan  de Oro, Mindanao. A RoRo (Roll On - Roll Off)  vessel leaves Batangas daily at 8.30 AM to Calapan, Mindoro.  From there drive your own car or board a mini-van or air-conditioned bus to  Roxas, Mindoro, where another RoRo vessel leaves at 2 PM for Caticlan, where  the boat arrives at 6 PM. Private cars can be parked at one of the many shady  and secured parking lots for a fee. No cars are allowed on Boracay Island.  The same RoRo vessel leaves Caticlan daily at 9 AM. Contact number: Montenegro  Shipping Lines, Inc., Main office Batangas   City, Tel.: 043 723 7975/  723 7598 and 723 2964. Safe and guarded parking lots are available in Caticlan. 
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Mainland. What people in Boracay refer to as the mainland is the big island of Panay,  with its three provinces: Iloilo, Capiz, Antique  and Aklan, where Boracay   Island is the most  western point. Each province has its own exciting attractions.
Aklan itself has developed several areas into tourist attractions, as  mangrove education trails, reforestation areas and waterfalls. Many of these  attractions can be visited within a half or whole day.
Malay, the municipality where Boracay is part of, has lots of  beautiful natural sights to offer: forests with plenty tropical birds, rivers,  caves and waterfalls as well as plenty of farms with rice fields. Trips can be  arranged on Boracay   Island. Malay also covers  part of the Northwest Panay Peninsula  Natural Park, in the somewhat difficult but accessible hinterlands of the  municipality. The park is in fact the last remaining significant primary  low-elevation forest in the island of Panay.
 

Weather
Boracay's Weather is dependent on the  monsoon periods.
November -  February:  The Northeastern monsoon, known as "Amihan" has temperatures ranging  from 77-90 F (25-32 C). Nights are cooler with the occasional rain shower and  may be as cool as 72 degrees (22 C). Most sports events occur during this period. Christmas vacation is a popular tourism time
March - June: Summertime. Expect hot, summer days and nights in the order of  around 82-100 F (28-38 C), interrupted by the occasional cooling thunderstorm.  March-June is considered the busiest months, with the most tourist arrivals.  Easter (holy week) is very crowded.
July - October:  The Southwest moonsoon, known as "Habagat", is  the wettest season and can get very sultry and humid, especially in August.  June-October is viewed as off-season months. The rain brings serenity and  relaxation back to the island and nature rejuvenates to a lush tropical green.
             
Mandala Spa and Villas is located  on a hilltop overlooking White Beach, catching the  pleasant breeze of the Amihan winds  while offering protection from the harsher Habagat monsoon. The Mandala estate  is lush with tropical plants, trees and birds year-round. 
Mandala Spa and Villas has received the Boracay  WOW Awards twice for its outstanding commitment to the environment and its  green policies. We believe in a sustainable environment that respects nature  and provide it with peace, care and nourishment.
Culture
Language. English is one of the most common languages in the Philippines and there are no communication problems in the language. Filipinos are regarded as the best English speakers in Asia. 
Religion. Since Spanish times, the Philippines has been a Catholic  nation. m=Most southern islands however, are traditionally Muslim, dating  back to ancient migrations from Malaysia. The Filipinos are known for their remarkable hospitality.
Electricity. Boracay is connected to the  Visayas/Cebu power grid and the voltage is 220 Volt with 60 cycles. Plugs  follow the US  standards.
Banks. All major credit cards are  accepted at most of the establishments on Boracay. The island has three major Philippine banks with international connections and one rural bank. Some of  these banks offer ATM machines at convenient locations. Banks are open from  Monday till Friday from 9 AM till 4 PM.
Phone. Boracay Island boosts of one of the most  modern telephone systems. Most of the bigger resorts offer IDD and NDD calls from the rooms. All major cell phone networks, which are likewise connected to the global cell phone network, maintain services on the island.
Internet. Boracay is connected to the  worldwide web through two server companies, which offer broadband connections.  Some resorts offer in-house broadband and wireless connections and many  internet cafes are conveniently located between boat stations 3 and 1. Mandala Spa and Villas guests enjoy complimentary WI-FI service on the property.
Health and Medical Services. Basic medical services are  available at the Boracay   Emergency Hospital and several private clinics. Some of these have small laboratories. Several well-stocked drugstores serve the island.
Emergency. Government authorities and  the business sector operate search and rescue groups and work closely together:  The 505th RATS Squadron from the Air force and the Coast Guard and Auxiliary Coast Guard rescue team. Dive Shops with their many boats are organized through  the Auxiliary Coast Guard. Boracay's modern police station maintains a 24-hour hotline and is equipped with modern transport and communications equipment.
Government. Several government agencies  have offices on the island. For example the Department of Tourism (DOT), the  Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Immigration. The  municipality of Malay  maintains the Municipal Action Center  at the Balabag Plaza, where the Philippine Post Office  is located.
Food Safety. Freshness and quality of food is quite good in the many restaurants. It is  nonetheless advisable to check freshness of seafood and meat in the many displays. Most resorts use the safe water from the central fresh water and  sewage system. It is, however, advisable to drink bottled mineral water,especially when out and about.
Security. Security on Boracay Island is exemplary. Boracay is safe 24 hours a day with petty theft being at a minimum. We do advise visitors to  exercise common sense. Valuables should be deposited upon arrival at the  resort/hotel for safekeeping. While sunbathing and swimming, no valuables should be left at the beach unattended. 
Swimming. Swimming in the sea off White Beach is safe, even for children. During monsoon season the sea can become rougher and for swimming basic security measures should be taken.

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Beach & Activities

Boracay Island's Beaches            

Yapak. Situated along the island's northern end, this 800-meter beach  is made up of puka shells bleached white in the sun. Relatively uncrowded, the  location gives you a feeling of remoteness.

White Beach. White Beach is the four-kilometer  stretch of powdery white sand that extends along the western coast of the  island that is considered one of the world's most beautiful beaches. The White  Beach Path runs alongside White Beach, starting from Boat  Station 1 and terminating by Boat Station 3. Most of the island's businesses are concentrated on this strip.

Balinghai. A tiny cove at the northern tip of the island, Balinghai is best approached from White Beach on a paraw (wooden sailboat with outriggers) particularly at sunset.

Diniwid. When you want to get away from the activity on White Beach,  take an easy walk to Diniwid Beach. This 200-meter shoreline is accessible through a footpath cut into a rocky cliff.

Bolabog. If you come to Boracay during the monsoon season between  December and March, the boat ride from Caticlan will take you here. While White Beach  is situated on the western side of the island, Bolabog is located in the  Eastern side.

Manoc-Manoc. Situated near the southernmost tip of the island, Manoc-Manoc Beach is a good place for swimming and a panoramic view of Caticlan against a backdrop of serenely blue mountains.

            

Activities & Attractions

Boracay may be a small island, but it offers a surprising variety of breathtaking scenery and  activities that can be easily explored by walking, bicycle, motorbike, trekking  or renting tricycles. The northern end of the island is quite mountainous with steep roads, plateaus and forest. Central Boracay,  where most of the resorts are located and all other activities take place, is  narrow and flat. The southern end of Boracay is hilly and ideal for hiking  expeditions or mountain-bike tours. Below is a list of a few things you can do while in the island.

Sandcastles. If you  are strolling on White Beach in the evening, you will come across these lovely sand sculptures. Boracay's children start building their fairytale castles in the late afternoon. By nightfall, these castles come to life as they light them up with little candles.

Yachting.  Experience sailing aboard the beautiful 40-foot yacht Tamarind. Perfect for sunset trips and day cruises, our Front Office can make arrangements for a wonderful trip, complete with delicious food and  drinks.

Outrigger boat sailing. Cruise the waves, go beach-hopping and bring your snorkeling gear for a tour of some of the best spots around the island on a native paraw (outrigger  sailing boat). We can even arrange a wonderful picnic basket for a hearty meal and refreshing drinks. We highly recommended the Red Pirates skipper and boat.

Scuba Diving. There are many dive sites around Boracay for both beginners and experienced divers. Roughly 30 dive shops offer their services for the 20 or more dive sites within a 30-minute boat ride. Some of the dive shops explore also more distant dive sites even those as far as northern Palawan.  Most of the Pacific Ocean fish species are  residents around Boracay, including manta rays and turtles.

Golf. An 18-hole, 72 par golf course is located in the northern part  of Boracay. The golf course was designed by Graham Marsh and is, according to  golf enthusiasts, one of the most beautiful courses in the Philippines. We would be delighted  to make reservations if you would like to go green.

Gyms. Several well-equipped gyms are located in the center of the  island. We are more than happy to make arrangements for you.

Wellness. Boracay boasts of one of the best destination spas and wellness retreats not only in the Philippines  but also in Asia. Mandala Spa has received many prestigious awards abroad for its different treatments. People from all over the world come to Boracay just for the Mandala Spa experience.

Yoga. Boracay's climate and slow-paced environment is ideal for  meditation and learning yoga. The island boasts of several  internationally-acclaimed yoga teachers as residents offering private as well  as public classes. Mandala Spa and Villas offers daily morning yoga classes for  resort guests and daily afternoon classes for the public. They also offer yoga  retreats and holidays.

Massage lessons (Zen Touch). Mandala Spa and Villas guests can enjoy  private massage lessons that teach you and your partner the basic principles of  touch.

Horseback Riding. Explore parts of the island away from the usual tourist trail on friendly native horses. All levels of experience  are catered for.

Mountain Biking and Hiking. Exploring the island on a mountain bike  or on foot is not only healthy, but also one of the best ways to discover  out-of-the-way places in the island.

Windsurfing and Kiteboarding. Bolabog Beach, on the eastern side of  central Boracay, comes alive during the early months of the year when triggered  by the Northeast Monsoon when windsurfers and kiteboarders skim and compete  through its waters. During the Southwest Monsoon, when the wind changes  direction, these same windsurfers and kite boarders move to White Beach.

Aqua Sports. Boracay's White   Beach is a virtual  paradise for aqua sports like snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, windsurfing,  kiteboarding, jet skiing, parasailing and skimboarding among others. Very  popular are the banana-boat and fly fish rides.
               
 Beach Sport Activities. The White Beach  is a perfect place for beach activities. Beach volleyball, beach soccer, beach  tennis, and Frisbee are widely and spontaneously played, especially in the late  afternoon. Anyone is welcome to join in and play for fun.

Shopping. Exploring Boracay's many shops and outdoor malls at one's leisure is a fascinating and unique shopping experience. From widely available  beach items, to jewelry made from shells and pearls, handmade lamps, antiques,  native woodcarvings and sarongs, one can find all of that along the beach path  of White Beach or in one of the open-air malls.

Markets. Boracay's exotic market life takes place today at two outdoor  malls a little bit north and south of Boat Station 2. Both are easily  accessible from White Beach and from the main  road. The northern D'Mall has an upscale part with furniture and artistic  handicrafts, a vegetable and fish department and a restaurant square. The new market south of Boat Station 2 called D'Talipapa offers visitors exotic sights and impressions of local seafood, meat, vegetables and other delicacies as well as many souvenirs shops.

Mount Luho. This is the highest  elevation on Boracay Island 100 meters above sea level. For the uninitiated, it can be an excruciating ascent but definitely  worth the view. Once you reach the crest, a little kiosk serves cold water and  soft drinks and one can take a rest in one of the hammocks between the trees, overlooking the central and southern part of Boracay.

Bat Caves. The bat caves are found on the Northeast coast of Yapak. The cave is the home of the cave bats and the  surrounding trees are the home of the giant fruit bats whose wingspan reach up  to four feet. The fruit bats fly regularly at twilight for their nocturnal hunt  for food. Naturalists, photographers, spelunkers and brave souls willing to  bear the intense stench in the cave can hire local guides -- usually young  children from the village -- to lead them through the jungle paths to the  caves. Environmentalists, however, would rather leave the fruit bats to their  daytime sleep and wait for the sunset at White Beach  as hundreds, sometimes thousands, of bats take their nocturnal flight right  over their heads.

Dead Forest. The dead forest is located at the southern end of Bolabog Beach. It is an abandoned fishpond with  whitened branches of dead mangroves reaching out of the dark water. The dams of  the fishpond were destroyed by big waves decades ago and the fishpond with its  mighty mangroves was flooded with seawater. The effect is impressive and ideal  for photography.

            

 

 

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Getting to Know Panay

Laurel Island (Crystal Cove  & caves), Carabao Island and Panay Island (for waterfalls,),  hiking/biking & cold springs at Hurom Hurom) are accessible by  outrigger boat.

The nearest large town on  mainland Panay is Kalibo, which most of the  year is an uneventful place but comes to life during the third week of January  when the colorful Ati-Atihan festival is held. Further afield, a 5 hour bus  journey will take you to the town of IloIlo,  where you can see some interesting colonial architecture. 
                 
Ignito Cave (Buruanga, Aklan). Locally known as Elephant Cave  due to its appearance. This and other nearby caves are managed by the San  Lorenzo Ruiz Farm Eco-Tourism Cooperative. Beautiful limestone formations of  stalagmites, stalactites and other crystalline structures abound. It has a "skylight" in one of its chambers that lets in a soft glow of light at noontime
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Liloan Citrus Farm (Malinao, Aklan). A place where various fruits abound interspersed with  colorful anthuriums and heliconias.

Tigis Falls(Buruanga, Aklan). Secluded in an area good as a summer hideaway for its  cool surroundings

Basang and Hurom Hurom Cold  Springs (Nabas, Aklan). These alternative summer  destinations offer the beauty of fresh water gushing from nature-hewn rocks and  exhilarating adventure down from Gibon river in a kayak.

Agnaga Falls (Malay, Aklan). A scenic view awaits visitors as they swim in its clear  waters. It is a perfect hideaway especially during summer as its cool water  beats the heat.

Jawili Falls (Tangalan, Aklan). Has seven basins tiered  about 20 feet apart. The highest basin is about 100 feet high, oval-shaped,  around 240 sq. ft. in area, and 12 feet deep with clear water almost like a  small lake. The other basins are of similar shapes from 130 sq. ft. to 240 sq.  ft. in area and 8-10 feet deep except for the sixth basin, which has a swimming  area of around 540 square feet.

              

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Events & Tips

Events Calendar

* Boracay is one competitive venue for the Asian Windsurfing Tour, with the weeklong Boracay International Funboard Cup competition  usually being held in Bolabog   Beach every January.
* The well-known Ati-Atihan Festival also takes place every January in Kalibo in nearby Panay Island.  A much smaller Ati-Atihan festival is celebrated on Boracay, usually in the  second or third week of January.
* Dragonboat races are  held annually in Boracay under the auspices of the Philippine Dragonboat  Federation, with teams coming from around the Philippines and from other Asian nations to  compete. The races usually take place sometime in April or May.
* Since 2003, the Philippine Ultimate Association has been organizing the Boracay Open Asian  Beach Ultimate Tournament (frisbee game) which is usually held during summer.
*  The Olympic Council of Asia has also announced that Boracay will host the 2014 Asian Beach Games.              

Tips

If you are planning on hiking or biking, be sure to have comfortable walking shoes or  well-fitting sandals. Otherwise thongs/flip flops will be fine for everyday.  For days on the beach, no shoes are necessary.

Hats,  towels, sunglasses, etc. can all be purchased on the island if you didn't bring  your own. There is no need to bring mosquito repellant as there are plenty of  shops here that sell it. The same goes for sunscreen - many good brands are now  available.

There  are at least 5 well-stocked pharmacies here, a couple of medical clinics and a  hospital. You don't need to bring things like paracetamol or anti-diarrhea  medication as they are readily available here.

Mosquitos. If you  are particularly prone to getting bitten, wear long pants in the evening,  preferably in a light shade.

Nikniks or Sandfleas. They  are hard to see and seem to be worse during the "rainy season  (June-mid-November)." Because they are still present during the "dry  season" you should always coat yourself with any kind of sun tan lotion or  oil. Theses insects don't seem to like or penetrate lotions, so use A LOT and  constantly reapply. In the evening spray/apply some sort of insect repellent. 
                 
Geckos. You are  bound to see these creatures if you visit Boracay. They are totally harmless,  and quite useful too, as they eat flies, moths and mosquitoes. Geckos are most  active at night, and you'll spot them scurrying across the walls and clustered  around light bulbs, catching insects. They are very timid and usually run for  cover when you approach them. The larger variety comes in unusual colors Green  ones with orange and yellow spots, and even a blue one. They make a noise which  sounds a little like the word 'gecko', which is how they got their name. Locals  call them "tuko", also after the sound they make

Dangerous snakes, sharks and other  creatures to worry about: None

 

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