How to get to Boracay

General information on how and how to get to Boracay

Boracay Island is located in the Western Visayas region a couple of kilometers from the north shore of the Big Island of Panay (Boracay on the map of the Philippines). Geographically, it is almost the center of the country, so from Russia and other countries it is equally convenient to get to it through one of the two main international airports in the country: Cebu airport or Manila airport. There is no way to get here directly from other countries, in any case, you will have to change at one of the airports.

See also separate detailed instructions:

• How to get to Boracay from Cebu
• How to get to Boracay from Manila

Boracay does not have its own airport and seaport, so in any case, one arrives here via the city of Caticlan on the large island of Panay, which is connected to Boracay by a well-organized boat and ferry service. i.e. in general, your route to Boracay, whether on your own or via a tour, will look like this:

If you come to Kalibo, you'll have to travel by land to Caticlan. But on the other hand, Kalibo airport is international, so sometimes it is more convenient to get directly to it, rather than through Manila or Cebu. In addition, it carries out seasonal charters from Khabarovsk. And of course, according to this scheme, options and deviations are possible. For example, you can get from Cebu by land with transfers to ferries, but it will be even more expensive than a flight.

If you do not want to get involved with self-organizing a trip to Boracay, it is best to purchase ready-made tours. They are offered with departure from different regions of Russia, and the price includes an individual and group transfer directly to the hotel with all transfers so that you do not have to puzzle over this. Now it is most profitable to purchase tours directly from tour operators, and not from intermediary travel agencies. Compare prices and pick up tours from many tour operators you can on one of the trusted sites:

• Philippines tours on Level.Travel
• Philippines tours on Travelata.ru (promocodes here)
• Philippines tours on Onlinetours.ru

And now more about all the ways to get to Boracay yourself:

Caticlan to Boracay

So, the town of Caticlan (Caticlan) is the main point of entry to Boracay. There is an airport and a seaport here, but there is nothing to do in the city at all, so do not hesitate to immediately cross to Boracay through one of the two marinas from which there are small boats-catamarans (Pump boat), and a large ferry:

• Caticlan Jetty Port - the main port, usually all tourists are transported through it (Caticlan port on the map). Boats arrive in Boracay also at the main Cagban Jetty Port (port of Boracay on the map).
• Tabon Port is a small marina that can be used as an alternative if you need to get to Boracay (Caticlan port on the map). This may be necessary if your hotel is within walking distance of Tambisaan Jetty Port in Boracay (Tambisaan Jetty Port on the map). But, as far as we know, this pier is used only during the peak of the season, or as a backup in adverse weather conditions in the narrow bay between the islands.

Small scheduled passenger locks (Pump boat) depart around the clock and very often, during the day, at least every 5 minutes. The cost depends on the time of day: from 06:00 to 17:45 - 30 pesos (0.53 USD, see Philippine currency and exchange rate); 17:45 to 21:45 - 40 pesos (0.71 USD) ; from 22:00 to 05:45 - 50 pesos (0.88 USD). Prices are as of 2023.

There is also a large cargo ferry, but there is no point in waiting for it, besides it is more expensive-100 pesos (1.77 USD). But if you still want to sail by ferry, it departs from 06:30 to 17:30 every hour, and back on the same schedule.

From Caticlan airport, the route to Boracay via these marinas is very well organized. Immediately upon arrival and after baggage collection at the terminal counter, you can purchase a ready-made transfer for 150 pesos (2.65 USD), or VIP transfer for 500 pesos (8.85 USD). They differ in that the usual includes a trip in a minivan with other passengers, and VIP in an individual car. This price immediately includes a boat ticket.

If you want to save a few pesos, you can leave the terminal, go across the road to the parking lot with tricycles, and from there drive to the port for 50 pesos (0.88 USD), and there separately buy a boat ticket for 30-50 pesos depending on the time of day, i.e. spend 80 instead of 150 pesos.

Go both on a minivan and on a tricycle 2 and a half kilometers, or literally 5 minutes.

Upon arrival at the port, you will first need to fill out a special form, where your passport data, the length of stay, your booked hotel are entered. Forms are issued and filled out on tables outside under a canopy. A printout of the hotel booking confirmation is attached to the form.

After filling out the form in the window in the port building, you need to pay 100 pesos (1.77 USD) port fee (Terminal Fee), and at a separate counter 300 pesos (5.31 USD) environmental fee, after which you can go to the landing on the pier. There you will be told Which of the nearest boats to sit on, but sometimes there are queues of tourists. After landing, swim literally 5 minutes, and you are on Boracay.

As a result, to get to Boracay by boat, your expenses will consist of: 30 pesos (cost of crossing) + 100 pesos (port fee) + 75 pesos (environmental fee) = 205 pesos (3.63 USD). In the opposite direction, the environmental fee is not paid, i.e. to get from Boracay to Caticlan, you will pay 130 pesos (2.3 USD).

Upon arrival on the island from the pier you will need to get to the hotel, which can only be done by tricycle, jeepney, or motorcycle taxi, which carry tourists exclusively as a taxi. The cost depends on the distance of the trip, and will range from 50 pesos for a motorcycle taxi to the nearest hotels, and up to 300 pesos for a trip on a tricycle to the farthest Beach. To get there cheaper, you need to bargain, and share the trip with other passengers, for which you tell the driver that you want to "Share ride", and he will pick up your fellow travelers. Read more about transport in Boracay and what to use here...

By plane

Boracay does not have its own airport, the two closest are on the island of Panay: Caticlan airport and Kalibo airport. And both of them are not international, and that to fly to them, you will have to change at one of the international airports in the Philippines. It is best to fly through Cebu and Manila, as traditionally it is to these airports that the lowest flights from Russia and other countries are offered. By the way, there are no direct flights, so you have to make a transfer on the way to the country.

It is best to buy tickets to Cebu or Manila with a transfer already in the finished form from one airline. So it turns out cheaper than buying flights separately. Learn more about entry points to the country, and how to buy tickets cheaper in our article about how to get to the Philippines Here...

You can get tickets to the Philippines or from airports in the Philippines to Boracay via the search form:

Best prices for flights from Moscow to Cebu:

Best prices for flights from Moscow to Manila:

Minimum prices for flights from Russia to Boracay to Caticlan airport:

As we have already mentioned, after arriving at one of the international airports in the Philippines, you need to get to Boracay through one of the airports on the island of Panay:

• Via Caticlan airport

  Caticlan airport (Caticlan Airport) is also known as Boracay Airport, and officially called the airport named after Godofredo P. Ramos (Paliparang Godofredo P. Ramos). All this is one airport, the IATA code for buying tickets to it through the booking system is MPH.

  This is the most convenient and nearest airport, located on the shore directly opposite the island (Caticlan airport on the map). You can get from it to Boracay from 150 pesos and 30-60 minutes, everything is very well organized, but more on that below.

  Only domestic flights are operated here:

  Airline	Directions
  Air Juan	Busuanga, Cuyo, Tagbilaran
  AirSWIFT	El Nido
  Cebu Pacific	Manila, Cebu Mactan, Clark
  Philippine Airlines	Manila, Cebu, Clark
  AirAsia	Manila, Cebu, Clark
  Royal Air Philippines	Cebu, Clark
  SkyJet Airlines	Manila (flights suspended)

  Tickets for domestic flights can be purchased directly on the websites of these airlines, since not all of them are present in search aggregators like Aviasales. The price of flights is very low, especially if you buy in advance. For example, a flight Manila-Caticlan or Cebu-Caticlan will cost from $ 50 for a round-trip flight without luggage, you will have to pay a little extra for luggage.

  If you have any problems with purchasing tickets on the websites of local airlines, read How to solve them here - solving the problem with error 444 on the Cebu Pacific website.

  From the airport, you usually get to Boracay immediately without stopping in the city of Caticlan, since there is absolutely nothing to do in it. Get through one of the two marinas, from which go small boats-catamarans (Pump boat), and a large ferry. We already wrote more about how to get from Caticlan and the airport above.

  See also Boracay-Caticlana airport guide here...

• Via Kalibo airport

  Kalibo International Airport is located 70 kilometers from Boracay (Kalibo airport on the map), and compared to it, Katkiklan airport looks much more attractive. But on the other hand, Kalibo is an international airport, which means that you can fly to it from the Russian Federation and other countries with only one transfer, and not with two, as to Caticlan. In addition, it operates direct charter flights from Vladivostok.

  Minimum prices for flights from Russia to Kalibo airport:

  Getting from Kalibo airport to Boracay and back is not difficult. Immediately at the airport, a ready-made inexpensive transfer from point to point by bus is offered. You can buy it on the spot for 250 pesos economy option (4.42 USD), and for 450 (7.96 USD) comfortable transfer agency Southwest. You can get there at any time, including at night, but sometimes you have to wait a little for departure. The journey is about 2 hours.

  We recommend booking transfer airport Kalibo-Boracay or back online, and it includes delivery directly to the hotel, and not just to the pier, from where you still have to get to the local types of taxis.

  If you choose a transfer with delivery only to the pier, then upon arrival at the Cagban pier in Boracay, get to the hotel by one of the local types of taxis: tricycle, jeepney, or motorcycle taxi. The cost will range from 50 pesos for a motorcycle taxi to the nearest hotels, and up to 300 pesos for a trip on a tricycle to the farthest Beach.

Boracay ferry

Boracay is connected by boat and ferry service only to Caticlan, and there is already an instruction on how to get from there above.

In turn, the port of Caticlan is connected by regular ferry service to long-distance destinations. There are at least the following scheduled flights:

• Batangas (Batangas, through it to get from Manila), Calapan (Calapan, Mindoro Island), Roxas (Roxas, Oriental Mindoro). Carrier - Starlite Ferry.
• Odiongan (Odiongan, Tablas Island). Carrier - 2GO ferries.
• Bulalacao (Bulalacao, Mindoro). Carrier - Fast Cat.

Here are the destinations that can be booked online: