A tourist trap on the hilly side of Boracay

THE 42-SQ-M studio suites are available at P6,000 per night and can hold maximum of four persons.

During this time of the year, the popular white beach on Malay Island in Aklan is not without life—the beach front still glows with food carts, resto bars and water activities all abuzz for the visiting public. One can never go wrong with a trip to Boracay on any given day; forget about typhoons because the island is oftentimes spared.

But this writer chose to tackle the off-beaten path and instead stayed on the other side of Boracay—lesser known, but equally, if not more, gorgeous.

The experience at Alta Vista de Boracay was the kind that merits a repeat—the overall ambience is laid-back, breeze is too comforting, and the infinity pool that looks out into the mountains deserves an award of its own.

It’s no accident, then, that on a recent visit, this writer found a gaggle of tourists from the world over. In this particular long weekend, Alta Vista de Boracay was a melting pot of nationalities. The management confirmed that its clients were a good mix of Koreans, Taiwanese, Japanese, Caucasians plus a few local tourists.

Alta Vista de Boracay is tucked away at Barangay Yapak on the northern side of the island, some 15 minutes away from the more famous beach front. But the resort hotel offers easy access to three beaches including Puka Beach, Punta Bunga and the White Beach. The shuttle service is available 24/7 and fetches you to and from the D’ Mall on White Beach. The resort also offers private trips—for free—to its own portion of the Puka Beach where there are huts exclusively for Alta Vista residents. Prior arrangement must be made.

Sprawled on about 4-hectare hilly terrain, Alta Vista de Boracay is DMCI Group’s first leisure property outside Mega Manila.

Southeast Asian-inspired

Once inside the hotel vicinity, the DMCI brand goes hardly unnoticed. The main lobby features high ceilings that give a relaxed nonsuffocating feel. The air from the mountains generously flows into the hotel veranda. The pieces of furniture are mostly made of wood and rattan. The running theme is, obviously, Southeast Asian.

THE 42-SQ-M studio suites are available at P6,000 per night and can hold maximum of four persons.

Alta Vista de Boracay is a tourist trap. During the four-day stay, this writer spent 80 percent of his time inside the resort complex. Most of the tourists did just the same. Once inside the hotel premises, a few occasional trips to the White Beach joints would only mean either grocery shopping or the required Boracay-White Beach affair.

There are 17 buildings and 503 rooms that feature studio and loft-type suites that offer two queen-sized beds, balcony, Wi-Fi cables, cable TV, safety deposit box, microwave and mini bar. The 42-square meter studio suites which can accommodate maximum of four persons are available at P6,000 while the loft units at P9,000 per night.

The resort hotel is perfect for large groups and big families. So far, it has hosted the Miss Earth beauty pageant and recently the PBA All-Star delegation.

Among its amenities, the infinity pool is its biggest come-on. While may be a bit off-putting because it is nestled right across the hotel main lobby in full view of visitors, it offers the best vistas of the rolling mountains and surrounding water bodies. The pool can be enjoyed as early as 6 a.m. until about 9 p.m.

Good investment

Wi-Fi is also available for free at the hotel’s main lobby. The hotel café, meanwhile, serves buffet breakfast of delectable American to an all-Pinoy fares.

Alta Vista de Boracay was completed two years ago and continues to draw tourists and investors alike. In an earlier interview with Inquirer Business reporter Gil Cabacungan, Reynaldo Salazar said that about 70 percent of the units have been sold under the DMCI condotel investment program.

Salazar, DMCI director for business development, said that in comparison with other hotels on the island, Alta Vista “has performed at par or slightly better in terms of occupancy rates through the first five months of this year.”

“Most of our investors like our location because we have an ocean front view, a panoramic vista of the nearby golf course, and we are on a gentle slope which gives our property a good breeze. They prefer to enjoy quiet nights in their rooms, and if they want to have some night out, the White Beach joints are just a few minutes away,” Salazar said.

Getting to Alta Vista de Boracay is easy. One can fly from Manila to Kalibo Airport or Caticlan Airport plus a short ferry ride to take you to the island. Roundtrip airport transfers can be arranged upon booking.