After Kate, Nolo, Stuart, and I "explored" Sibuyan and Romblon islands, I briefly (much too) stopped by Carabao Island. Having heard "it is how Boracay once was" I made it a point to investigate, for when you mention that you have been to a nice beach, the question that almost always follow is "how does it compare to Boracay?" Boracay's White Beach, in the opinion of many beach lovers, is the best of all beaches.
We spent the night at barangay Agmanic, Sta Fe, Tablas and woke up early morning, thanked our hosts (barangay captain Primo Valentin and Jhon Montoya), and departed from Agmanic's pretty beach on a banca that Primo arranged for us to use for the day.
Destination--Carabao.
First stop was San Jose town and its beautiful coastline of white
sand, clear azure water, and coconut trees fringing the beach.
San Jose is a good swimming beach with powdery sand and gradually
sloping floors. Primo introduced us to his relative, Lukes Cawaling, who then showed us around San Jose. The
town is clean and pretty and its residents are friendly. From the
town proper you may mountain bike or hike over the hills (the
highest peak is around 218 m) to the other side of the island.
After a refreshing snack at Tita Fritts, barangay Ilaya, just west of the town proper, we headed back to Lukes' restaurant, Dakal-Dakal then left for Lanas.
Perhaps the best time to visit San Jose is during the southeast monsoon which is usually May-Sept. It's a great alternative or addition to Boracay during this time as White Beach, facing the west, can be littered with seaweed, leaves and other stuff swept in from the sea. San Jose faces east.
Lanas has a white shorline and clean seas. The beach is corally and there is snorkeling offshore. Carabao has good diving, better than Boracay, and a dive resort has opened on Lanas. We stopped by 2 resorts on Lanas and rushed off to Boracay for a flight back to Manila.
I took one of the last 2 available seats out of Caticlan that evening. Service at the Boracay booking station of the airline I took was terrible, unfortunately it was the last flight out that day and i had to get back to Manila, no choice but to grind (my teeth) and bear it...
So, how does Carabao measure up to Boracay? San Jose has the sand quality, its water is cleaner and if you prefer less people and congestion, more natural/native surroundings charming Carabao is for you! Carabao does not have the assortment of restaurants, the lively night life, nor a golf coarse; so if these are a necessity for you then consider Carabao for a daytrip from Boracay.