Overview Compare via Caticlan via Kalibo Ferry
How to get from Manila to Boracay
Boracay is a very popular beach destination in the Philippines. It’s known for its white-sand beaches, beautiful resorts, and water sports. Paradise by day, Boracay turns into a party centre at night.
This beautiful island is undeniably the country’s main tourist draw – both locally and internationally. Because of this, Boracay has suffered major damage in the past years. Often overcrowded, its beaches were littered with trash and its waters were not as clear as they used to be.
Luckily the government took action to restore the state of this beautiful paradise. In 2018, Boracay was closed to tourists for 6 months of rehabilitation. And when it opened up, hotels were fewer, cafes lining the beach have been pushed back, and Boracay was glimmering the way it did in the 1970s!
COVID-19 Travel Advisory: As of May 2023, Boracay is open to all tourists — both foreign and local, whether you’re vaccinated or unvaccinated. Visitors are no longer required to pre-register online. Instead, all tourist registrations are now done onsite. You do still need a confirmed booking with an accredited accommodation prior to arrival. For the latest info, you can visit the Boracay Tourism Office Facebook page.
Are you taking a flight to the Philippines? International travellers must register on the eTravel website within 72 hours before arrival in the country.
Fully-vaccinated tourists aged 15 and over can enter the Philippines without COVID testing. If you’re not fully vaccinated, you will need to submit a negative laboratory-based antigen test. Unvaccinated children aged 14 and under will need to be tested if they are travelling with unvaccinated adults or on their own.
3 ways to get from Manila to Boracay
If you’re planning to travel the 440 km distance from Manila to Boracay, you have 3 options: you can take a 2-hour flight via Caticlan, a 3-hour flight via Kalibo, or a 13.5-hour ferry ride. Note that none of these options is direct. Fares start at 1,900 PHP ($33.00).
Taking a flight to Caticlan is the fastest, but also often the most expensive option when travelling from Manila to Boracay. Especially during peak season, airfares can easily double or triple the normal rates. If you book early though, you can complete this route for around 2,250 PHP ($39.50).
If the fares to Caticlan are too expensive, an alternate option is to take the Kalibo route. Rates for this route are more stable throughout the year, but you’ll need an additional van ride from Kalibo to Caticlan. Combined fares from Manila to Boracay via Kalibo cost about 1,900 PHP ($33.00).
The last option is to take a combined bus and ferry from Manila to Boracay via Batangas. But this is very slow, and can actually be more expensive than taking a flight. If for some reason you prefer to travel for about 14 hours with a bus and ferry ride, rates start from 2,850 PHP ($50.00) for the combined journey.
TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.
Manila to Boracay via Caticlan by Flight
If you wish to travel from Manila to Boracay by plane, you have the option to go via Caticlan or via Kalibo.
Caticlan is the preferred route, as it is nearer to Boracay. However, we also map out details on how to go via Kalibo, as it’s a cheaper option and a good alternative during peak season.
Step 1: Manila to Caticlan by Flight
AirAsia, Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines (PAL) offer flights from Manila to Caticlan. AirAsia and Cebu Pacific are usually the cheaper options.
One-way ticket prices from Manila to Boracay via Caticlan range from 1,700 PHP ($29.50) to 3,400 PHP ($59.00).
Bear in mind that since Boracay is a well-known travel destination, airfares can be quite expensive and sell out fast during peak season.
Flights depart from Terminals 2 or 4 at Manila Airport, depending on which airline you book. Always check this carefully in advance as the airport terminals in Manila can be quite confusing and are far apart!
A flight from Manila to Boracay via Caticlan takes a little more than an hour and planes land at Godofredo P. Ramos Airport, better known as Caticlan Airport.
Tip: Cebu Pacific and AirAsia offer many promotions annually. Keep an eye out for these promos to book a cheaper flight!
Step 2: Caticlan to Boracay by Tricycle + Ferry
From the airport, you’ll need to head to Caticlan Jetty Port to catch a local boat to Boracay.
You can go to the port by tricycle for 50 PHP ($0.80) per person or opt for a more expensive van transfer. Both transport modes are available from the airport and it takes about 15 minutes to get to the port.
From Caticlan Port to Boracay
Once at Caticlan Port, buy your ferry ticket and pay the port and environmental fees. See here a list of the total cost of this journey:
- Ferry ticket costs 50 PHP ($0.80)
- Port fee is 100 PHP ($1.70)
- Environmental fee is 300 PHP ($5.00) for foreign tourists and 150 PHP ($2.60) for local tourists
Arrival in Boracay
Your boat will dock at Cagban Port. From there, you will need to take a tricycle or a multicab to your hotel. Boracay’s main tourist area has 3 stations, so tell the driver in advance where you should be dropped off.
Station 3 is closest to the port, followed by Station 2 and then Station 1. A multicab seat costs 50 PHP ($0.80) and tricycle fares start at 120 PHP ($2.10).
The combined tricycle, ferry and multicab rides to Boracay take around 45 minutes. Ferries operate 24 hours every day.
Alternative: A more convenient transfer from Caticlan Airport to Boracay with Klook
It’s quite easy to arrange your own transfers from Caticlan Airport to Boracay. But if you want to skip the long and confusing lines at Caticlan Port, then you can also book a shared or private transfer through Klook.
A shared transfer from Caticlan Airport to Boracay via Klook costs 920 PHP ($16.00) for foreign tourists and 740 PHP ($13.00) for local tourists. These rates include shared land and sea transfers from Caticlan Airport to your hotel in Boracay, as well as all miscellaneous fees (environmental and port).
If you’re travelling in a group, you can also consider booking a private transfer from Caticlan Airport to Boracay. Rates start from 1,440 PHP ($25.00) per person for a group of 4 — cheaper if there are more people in your group! This price includes private land and sea transfers and other fees.
Manila to Boracay via Kalibo by Flight
Flying to Kalibo is another option if you want to save some money on the journey from Manila to Boracay. The only trade-off is that you’ll have to take a van (1.5 hours) to get to the port in Caticlan.
Step 1: Manila to Kalibo by Flight
Air Asia and Cebu Pacific offer cheap flights from Manila Airport to Kalibo. Rates range from 1,100 PHP ($19.00) to 1,400 PHP ($24.50) but can go as low as 850 PHP ($14.50) if you’re flexible with your travel dates. Philippine Airlines (PAL) also operates on this route, but it’s usually more expensive.
Flight time from Manila to Boracay via Kalibo International Airport is a little over 1 hour.
Step 2: Kalibo Airport to Caticlan by Bus/Van
From Kalibo Airport, you will need to take a bus or van to reach Caticlan Port.
We recommend taking a bus for a more comfortable journey. You can book an airport shuttle via BookAway for 300 PHP ($5.00). Southwest Travel & Tours operates these buses from Kalibo Airport to Caticlan Jetty Port 24 hours daily, with a departure every hour. The bus journey takes 1.5 hours.
Check Bus Tickets with BookAway
If you prefer to take a van, there are plenty of vans waiting just outside the arrivals hall. A van seat is a bit cheaper at 250 PHP ($4.40), but note that it might be a bit cramped, especially if you’re carrying a lot of luggage. Vans normally leave once they are full.
Step 3: Caticlan to Boracay by Ferry
The last leg involves a ferry ride from Caticlan Port to Boracay Island. For foreign tourists this costs 450 PHP ($7.50) and for domestic tourists this costs 300 PHP ($5.00), including the ferry ride and its associated fees.
The ferry docks at Cagban Port, from where you can take a multicab or tricycle to your hotel on the island. Multicab rates start from 50 PHP ($0.80) per person.
Alternative: Kalibo Airport to Boracay transfer via Klook
Southwest Travel & Tours offers shared and private transfers from Kalibo Airport to Boracay. Already included in their promo are the land and boat transfers, as well as terminal and environmental fees. So you can just be comfortable and not worry about anything throughout the journey.
Rates for a shared transfer from Kalibo Airport to Boracay start from 1,040 PHP ($18.00) for foreign tourists and 820 PHP ($14.00) for local tourists.
Private transfers via Klook are also available with rates starting from 1,640 PHP ($28.50) per person for a group of 4.
Manila to Boracay by Ferry
Travelling by ferry from Manila to Boracay can be quite an adventure. If you prefer this, you’ll need to take a bus from Manila to Batangas first. From there, you’ll take a ferry to Caticlan and then another ferry to Boracay Island.
Step 1: Manila to Batangas by Bus
Jam Liner and Ceres offer several bus trips from Metro Manila to Batangas Pier daily. Both are trusted companies so it really doesn’t matter which bus you take, although Jam Liner offers more trips and has more departure points.
Buses are available throughout the day. But it’s best to depart from Manila about 4 to 4.5 hours before your ferry trip to allow extra time for any delays. Make sure your bus will go all the way to the port! Some only park at Batangas City Grand Terminal, which is still 5 km away from the pier.
You can easily buy your tickets at the bus terminal. However, if you’re travelling on a weekend or a holiday, it’s best to pre-book your ride via BookAway. Otherwise, you might have to line up for hours and risk arriving late at the port.
Departure stations
There are three departure points in Metro Manila. You can pick whichever is closest to your hotel. It’s worth noting that it’s more convenient to depart from the central bus hub called PITX.
Here’s a list of terminals for buses operating from Manila to Batangas:
- Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), 3.5 km west of Manila Airport
- Jam Liner Bus Terminal in Buendia, 4 km west of central Makati
- Jam Liner Bus Terminal in Cubao, 12 km north of Makati
- Ceres Bus Terminal in Buendia, 4 km west of Makati
Arrival Station
As long as you board the correct bus, this will take you straight to Batangas Pier. From the drop-off point, there should be signs that will point you in the direction of your ferry’s boarding area.
Step 2: Batangas to Caticlan by Ferry
Starlite Ferries and 2Go Travel operate ferry trips from Batangas to Caticlan daily. Starlite is an old company with a good reputation among locals, while 2Go Travel is more popular with travellers.
The ferry journey takes 10-11 hours. It’s best to travel at night so you could just sleep, save a night on accommodation, and not worry about losing a day on transport. For a more comfortable journey, we recommend booking at least an airconditioned bunk.
Check Ferry Tickets from Batangas to Caticlan
All ferries depart from Batangas Pier and arrive at Caticlan Port, from where you can easily transfer to a boat bound for Boracay Island.
Step 3: Caticlan to Boracay by Ferry
When you arrive at the port, find the local boats heading to Boracay. Ferries operate from 06:00 to 21:00 daily. The total cost is 450 PHP ($7.50) for foreign tourists and 300 PHP ($5.00) for local tourists for the ferry ride and other port fees.
Boats dock at Cagban Port, from where you can take a multicab or a tricycle to your hotel.
Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she’s not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines… Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she’ll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
Abby is a writer who finds joy in mountains, beaches, and road trips. She considers her solo backpacking trip to the rice terraces of Bontoc one of the most fulfilling moments in her life. She’s loyal to the islands of her home country, the Philippines, but Thailand’s beaches also have a special place in her heart.
