Boracay

How to Get to Boracay from Manila

By Robert Tramp· Published 12 Oct 2026

Photo: Annemolina07, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Two airports serve Boracay from Manila, Caticlan and Kalibo, followed by the same short boat crossing either way. Which one you fly into is mostly a trade-off between fare and travel time on the ground.

Quick answers

How do you get from Manila to Boracay?: Fly about 1 hour to Caticlan or Kalibo, then take a pump boat of a few minutes from the Caticlan jetty to Boracay. From Kalibo, add a van ride of about 90 minutes to the jetty.
Should you fly into Caticlan or Kalibo?: Caticlan, if the extra fare is worth skipping the land transfer: it is a short tricycle ride from the jetty. Kalibo often has cheaper fares but adds a van ride of about 90 minutes.
How much is the boat from Caticlan to Boracay?: The pump boat is ₱50 to 100, plus a ₱300 environmental fee once per stay and a ₱150 terminal fee (split ₱100 and ₱50 in Habagat season), all paid at separate windows in the port building.
Do you need to book the boat in advance?: No. Boats run throughout the day and leave once reasonably full, so you only pay the fees at the port.

How the route connects

The routeManila White Beach

Manila
Flight · ≈ 1 hr
Caticlan (Boracay Airport, MPH)
Short tricycle ride
Caticlan Jetty PortTabon Port in Habagat season
Pump boat · a few minutes
Cagban PortBoracay; Tambisaan Port in Habagat season
Short tricycle or van ride
White Beach

The routeManila Cagban Port

Manila
Flight · ≈ 1 hr
Kalibo (KLO)often cheaper fares
Van · ≈ 90 min
Caticlan Jetty PortTabon Port in Habagat season
Pump boat · a few minutes
Cagban PortBoracay; Tambisaan Port in Habagat season

Stops, modes and times are from this guide.

Flying in: Caticlan or Kalibo

Scroll across for the rest of the columns.

Airport	Flight time from Manila	Distance to the jetty	Who flies it
Caticlan (Boracay Airport, MPH)	≈ 1 hour	A short tricycle ride	Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, AirAsia Philippines
Kalibo (KLO)	≈ 1 hour	≈ 90 minutes by van (≈65km)	Several airlines, often with cheaper fares

Sourced against current airline route listings via Skyscanner’s Manila-Caticlan route page, last checked 12 October 2026. Fares move by the day and by how far ahead you book, so check the live fare when you book.

Caticlan is the obvious choice if the extra fare is worth skipping the land transfer. Kalibo suits a tighter budget or when it’s the only one with a seat left, especially during peak season when Caticlan’s smaller airport sells out first.

The boat crossing, either way

Once you’re at Caticlan, by air or by van from Kalibo, the crossing to Boracay itself is the same regardless of which airport you flew into.

Scroll across for the rest of the columns.

Item	Typical cost	Notes
Pump boat	₱50-100	Short crossing, a few minutes
Environmental fee	₱300	Charged once per stay, on first entry
Terminal fee	₱150 (Amihan) or split ₱100/₱50 (Habagat)	Paid at the port building

Sourced against myboracayguide.com’s Caticlan-Boracay fee guide, updated 21 July 2026, checked 12 October 2026. Which port pair you use (Caticlan/Cagban or Tabon/Tambisaan) depends on the Amihan/Habagat season, see a 3-day Boracay itinerary for the full seasonal breakdown.

All fees are paid at separate windows inside the port building, not on the boat itself, and the environmental fee only applies once even if you take multiple boat trips during your stay.

Where you end up

From Cagban or Tambisaan port, a short tricycle or van ride (arranged by your guesthouse or at the port) takes you to whichever station you’re staying in along White Beach. See where to stay in Boracay for how Station 1, 2, 3, Diniwid and Bulabog compare.

Map of places to stayFind a place to stay in BoracayLive prices and availability for your dates.Show places to stay on the map

Before you book

Decide first whether Caticlan’s shorter transfer is worth the usual fare premium over Kalibo, that trade-off is personal and depends on your budget and schedule. Once you’re in, a 3-day Boracay itinerary covers settling into a station and the activity days that follow, and things to do in Boracay covers a few stops beyond the main tours. A session with me is the fastest way to ask how Boracay fits into a wider Visayas trip.

Questions people ask

Should I fly into Caticlan or Kalibo for Boracay?

Caticlan (Boracay Airport, MPH) is closer to the boat jetty, a short tricycle ride rather than a 90-minute drive. Kalibo often has cheaper fares but adds a roughly 90-minute van transfer to the jetty afterwards.

How long is the flight from Manila to Caticlan or Kalibo?

Both routes run about 1 hour in the air. Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines and AirAsia Philippines all fly direct from Manila to Caticlan, and several airlines also serve Kalibo.

How much does the Caticlan to Boracay boat crossing cost?

Around ₱500-550 total for a foreign tourist on first entry, covering the pump boat (₱50-100), a ₱300 environmental fee charged once per stay, and a ₱150 terminal fee. Fees are paid at separate windows in the port building, not on the boat.

Which port do I use to cross to Boracay?

It depends on the season: Caticlan Jetty Port to Cagban Port during the dry Amihan season (roughly October-March), or Tabon Port to Tambisaan Port during the wet Habagat season (roughly April-September).

How do I get from Kalibo Airport to the Caticlan jetty?

A shared or private van covers the roughly 65km drive in about 90 minutes. Vans are arranged at the airport or booked ahead through a transfer company.

Do I need to book the Caticlan-Boracay boat in advance?

No, boats run frequently throughout the day and leave once reasonably full rather than on a fixed timetable, so there's no ticket to book ahead, just the fees to pay at the port building when you arrive.

I write when there is a new guide, and only then.