How To Get To Boracay
By Plane:
The easiest and fastest way to get to Boracay is to fly from Manila to the Caticlan Airport. This takes about 35 to 50 minutes and is followed by a 15 to 20 minutes boat ride to the island. This is the recommended route to Boracay.
Another route is via Kalibo, followed by an hour and a half bus ride to Caticlan and the boat ride to the island.
There are several airlines servicing flights to Boracay, including Philippine Airlines, Air Philippines, Cebu Pacific, SEAIR and Zest Air (formerly the Asian Spirit).
Via Caticlan:
Via Kalibo:
By Land:
From Iloilo or Bacolod on neighboring Negros Island, the only way to get to Boracay is by bus. Mini-vans or buses ply the 4 to 5 hour Iloilo-Caticlan route. The trip is split into two: a 3 to 4-hour drive from Iloilo to Kalibo, and, transfering to another vehicle, from Kalibo to Caticlan, for a one-and-a-half-hour drive. A non-stop, 3 to 4-hour taxi ride from Iloilo to Caticlan is always an option.
By Sea:
The best bet is the MBRS Lines Mary The Queen, leaving Pier 8 in North Port at about 5PM Fridays. Sometimes, a scheduled trip is cancelled, though.
Next choice would be to ride RO-ROs on the SRNH. SRNH is an option available every day, but it likely involves along delay waiting for the ferry in Roxas, Oriental Mindoro. The easiest way to do that would be to buy a bus ticket to Caticlan from one of the bus lines which rides the RO-RO at the bus terminal in Cubao or Pasay. Alternatively, you could travel via independent transport over the land portions of the SRNH and buy individual-leg tickets on the sea portions (land:Manila-Batangas, sea:Batangas-Calipan, land:Batangas-Roxas, sea:Roxas-Caticlan).
The entire trip is approximately 12-18 hours depending on the stopovers made along the way. Bus companies like Philtranco (+632-8518077 or +632-8518079) and Bachelor Express (+632-731-7287) ply the Manila to Caticlan route.
The trip is divided into four stages: First is the two-hour bus drive from Cubao to the Batangas Port. Then, this is followed by a two to three-hour RORO (roll-on roll-off) trip from Batangas to Calapan, Mindoro. Next, from Calapan, you need to travel by land to Roxas Port in Mindoro for another two to three hours. Last, get another four to five hours RORO trip again to the Caticlan port. Once there, it is just another 15-minute ferry ride to the island of Boracay.
When you reach Caticlan:
You will pay the following fees, a Fifty (Php 50.00) Pesos per person Environmental Fee and Seventy Five (Php 75.00) Pesos per person Terminal Fee to be paid at the Caticlan Jetty Port upon Arrival and Fifty (Php 50.00) Pesos per person to be paid at Cagban Jetty Port upon departure. The following charges shall be under Personal Account.
Timetable
Philippine Airlines |
Air Philippines |
Cebu Pacific |
SEAIR |
Zest Air |