📍Anilao, Mabini, Batangas, Philippines
📣 El Rapaz Part 2: El Alavanco Mastermind (A Review)
One of the most awesome yacht adventures in Anilao, Mabini, Batangas, especially for families who love food and non-divers looking to explore the great outdoors safely. You’ll get to experience the awesome islands of Batangas, eat yummy Spanish food, and enjoy cruising on the El Rapaz.
Born out of the pandemic, our enterprising Spanish friend Isabel Calvo, who we met at La Picara together with her business partner Jaime Gonzales, is set to revolutionize the yacht adventure experience in Batangas.
The El Rapaz “little boy” boat is a trimaran, and it’s better than the Tao boats that sail in Palawan or the usual island-hopping boats in Batangas. It feels more luxurious than a Tao adventure experience, hopping from one island to another in Batangas and even going all the way to Puerto Galera.
Related post: TAO EXPEDITION: How @TaoPhilippines Ruined the Island Hopping Experience Anywhere Else (A Review)
Here is a guide to organize your own El Rapaz experience safely with the family.
TRIMARAN
El Rapaz is a 60-feet Trimaran built specifically for tropical weather, with 4 independent hulls for extra safety. It has 2 cabins with a king bed and a private bathroom each and a fantastic flybridge.
El Rapaz is sustainably equipped with 18 solar panels and powered by 3 sails. It has a 350 HP engine and 2 support rubber boats.
El Rapaz Yacht Adventures
The ultimate escape, breath taking adventures, treasured moments with family. Explore a variety of destinations and activities. Discover the amazing Philippines onboard this beautiful Trimaran Sailing Yacht.
FB: El Rapaz Yacht Adventures
IG: @el.rapaz
Website: https://elrapaz.com
Note:
✅ El Rapaz Charter: ₱34k on weekdays and ₱42k on weekends and holidays.
✅ Capacity: El Rapaz can host up to 15 pax for a daytrip and 6 guests overnight.
✅ No Corkage. You can bring your own drinks or snacks.
✅ You can also pre-order from the El Rapaz Spanish menu with a fantastic chef onboard who will cook fresh for you!
✅ All boat snorkeling gears, banana boat, tubbing, speed boat are included.
The cabins were clean, and now I regret not going overnight on the boat with the fam.
There was a proper clean toilet with a pump flush system and a decent shower.
Captain Edwin was hospitable and friendly with kids. Here with Jr. Captain Yugi on the El Rapaz bridge.
You can just enjoy the waters surrounding the islands or you can go down to the beach for a fee of ₱200/head.
(Hopefully, like the Tao adventure experience, El Rapaz will also get to own beach camps where you can enjoy your day or overnight stay safely on the beach.)
The flybridge was our family’s living, dining, and work-from-boat area for the day.
(Note: there was internet signal near the coasts only and spotty internet throughout.)
SPANISH FOOD
El Rapaz Menu: Pica Pica | Mains | Paella | Desserts | Drinks | Breakfast
One thing I loved about El Rapaz was that it was like a private dining Spanish restaurant on a yacht. Their food is always cooked on the boat since it’s equipped with a small kitchen.
(Note: You have to make sure to order a week in advance so that they can market and prepare the ingredients to cook onboard. You can’t order on the day itself.)
The mini-burgers were so good that they were wiped out in seconds.
You can tell the chef when you want your orders to be served, either for lunch or merienda.
Yes, this classic tortilla, that’s good for breakfast, had a good ratio of egg and potato.
I loved how the shrimps were cooked fresh in classic garlic and EVOO.
(Note to self: Bring market-fresh hipon and other seafood to be cooked on the boat.)
The Spanish sort of adobo in garlic and EVOO. This went well with the paella.
It was good because it was barbecued on the boat with their signature BBQ sauce.
(Note to self: Will bring liempo or chicken inasal to be barbecued on the boat next time).
Yes, a classic Spanish salad. This was the only dish we were not able to finish.
The Paella needed more flavor and a proper soccarat. Should have ordered two for the boys.
Just the right snack after swimming or while hanging out on the beach.
Yes, they can prepare cold brew on a perfect day like this. 🙂
ACTIVITIES
Banana Boat was voted as the #1 experience by the kids during this trip.
The banana boat can safely accommodate 3 people. Try your best not to fall down.
After being stuck at home for months, recharge privately on the flybridge deck.
Our first stop was Mapating Island with crystal clear waters and just the right depth.
The boat is fully equipped with life vests, flippers and snorkels, even for kids. Just jump in.
You can also do stand up paddle on the calm sea. You have to train the kids though.
Our second stop was at the back part of Sombrero Island for some beach hangout with the boys.
Waited at the best sunset spot on Sombrero for some cocktails, snacks and family photos.
On the way back, you can do some fishing and catch your own fish.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This was just what we needed after a long lockdown, definitely one of the best family private cruise experiences just 2-3 hours from Manila!
What’s awesome about EL Rapaz Yacht Adventure:
✅ Safe travel with the family or bardaka!
You charter the boat exclusively for your group and you can hangout in the al fresco flybridge all day. The boat crew is fully vaccinated and there’s enough social distancing on the boat.
✅ Good Spanish food cooked fresh on the boat.
We tried a lot of boat hopping trips in the Batangas area before and the quality of food onboard the El Rapaz is a lot better. But of course you can’t compare it with restaurant quality. Also, they allow you to bring your own drinks and snacks on board without corkage.
✅ Banana Boat is life! (After being stuck at home in the pandemic.)
Our kids will always remember their banana boat experience and their fun time in the Anilao waters—swimming, hanging out on the beach, and stand up paddling.
Note: for day trips, plan for a 3-hour drive from Manila to Anilao. So leave as early as 7:00am to reach the jump off point around 10:30am. We arrived back in Anilao around 6:30 pm after the sunset cruise, and we were home around before 10:00 pm.
Congratulations to Captain Edwin, Chef, and the Kitchen team for the awesome friendly experience and the food service throughout our El Rapaz Yacht Adventure!
Thank you for trail blazing yacht adventures in Batangas! Awesome job guys!
Suggestions for improvements:
- Be more conscious about eco-friendly materials by using less plastic and banning plastic straw.
- Have a trained crew who can teach kids how to stand up paddle.
- Organize beach picnics with food and drinks whenever possible.
Can’t wait to go back on an overnight adventure to Puerto Galera onboard El Rapaz!
El Rapaz Yacht Adventures
The ultimate escape, breath taking adventures, treasured moments with family. Explore a variety of destinations and activities. Discover the amazing Philippines onboard this beautiful Trimaran Sailing Yacht
FB: El Rapaz Yacht Adventures
IG: @el.rapaz
Website: https://elrapaz.com
Note:
✅ El Rapaz Charter: ₱34k on weekdays and ₱42k on weekends and holidays.
✅ Capacity: El Rapaz can host up to 15 pax for a daytrip and 6 guests overnight.
✅ No Corkage. You can bring your own drinks or snacks.
✅ You can also pre-order from the El Rapaz Spanish menu with a fantastic chef onboard who will cook fresh for you!
✅ All boat snorkeling gears, banana boat, tubbing, speed boat are included.
Live an Awesome Life with Christ,
Founder & Digital Creator, Our Awesome Planet
Disclosure: Thanks to Nikkei Team for the experience. I wrote this article with my biases, opinions, and insights.
Disclosure: Our El Rapaz experience was courtesy of Isabel. I wrote this article with my biases, opinions, and insights.
P.S. Here are some more tips to make your experience awesome:
Download music from Spotify (don’t rely on the internet) and plan your playlist for the trip.
Note: There is a USB Charging station for your gadgets.
You can bring your own cooler for your drinks and they can help bring it to the boat.
Currently loving Baroke Wines in cans for pairing with our Spanish food and for sunset cocktails.
Plan your snacks and bring your own vinegar dip for your chicharon.
One of their jump off points is the closed AquaGarden resort where you can park and where your driver can hang out and swim while he waits.
No to plastic straws so please bring your own eco friendly straws.
You can bring you own water toys and kick boards for the trip.
Be careful sumabit yung bathing suit at shorts ng mga bata dito.
The shower uses a bidet and has a low water pressure — just enough to clean the sea water from your body.
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