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Getting to Boracay Island
Getting to Boracay, whether by plane or by boat, will always pass through the port of Caticlan town on the mainland.
Flights to Boracay Island
Kalibo International Airport
Most visitors arrive nearby at Kalibo International Airport (IATA: KLO) (ICAO: RPVK)., a 50-minute flight from Manila. With longer runway and night landing facilities, Kalibo Airport is served by bigger planes with early morning and late evening flights.
The airport is at least 90 minutes away by land to Caticlan Jetty Port. Airlines with flights to and from Kalibo are Cebu Pacific Air, Philippine Airlines, and Zest Airways. There are minivans, vans, coasters and buses that serve travelers between Kalibo International Aiport and Caticlan Jetty Port.
Caticlan Airstrip or Godofredo P. Ramos Airport
The pricier and quicker alternative is an 80-minute flight from Manila directly to the Caticlan Airstrip or Godofredo P. Ramos Airport (IATA: MPH) (ICAO: RPVE). The runway is very short and only propeller planes can land there.
Flights to and from this Caticlan are bounded by sunrise and sunset limitations. Airlines with flights to and from Caticlan are South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR) , Cebu Pacific Air, Philippine Airlines (PAL) , and Air Philippines.
From the Caticlan airport, you can either take a tricycle (PhP 40.00) or walk (10 minutes) to Caticlan Jetty Port.
By road and ferry (RoRo)
The "Nautical Highway" is a combination of overland highways and roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) vessels that allow you to bring your vehicle up to Panay Island and visit key cities like Kalibo. Taking your car all the way to Boracay, though, is not possible. Public transport also operates on the same route, and is the most cost-effective way of traveling between Manila and Boracay. Assuming good connections, the total journey time is around 12 hours.
The easiest way of arranging this is to book a van in Manila by contacting private operators such as Angel Star (02 783-0886 c/o Abner) and Gope (02 732-6891 c/o Cesar). This will enable you to book a straight trip from Manila to Caticlan at the cost of P930.00, more or less.
Their group operates several passenger vans which can load 10-14 or 15-18 persons. You book the trip exclusively or share with fellow travellers. The Van leaves at 9PM daily from Manila, travelling through Batangas-Calapan-Roxas(arrives Roxas at 5AM or 6AM) to catch the 8AM or 10AM ferry/boat to Caticlan, where you are expected to arrive between noon to 2PM.
Before proceeding to Boracay Island though, be sure to get your return ticket (Roxas-Manila) at the Caticlan Ferry Terminal (inquire about the updated schedule from the staff of the van operators). Take an early dinner before boarding the van and bring water and something to eat while on travel.
Riding a van gives you a more relaxed pace to Caticlan because you wouldn't have to stop in many sub-destinations which lengthen your trip and therefore can be truly tiresome. Noted that the fee of P910.00 already includes two RORO fares.
The more challenging (but slightly cheaper) do-it-yourself version goes as follows:
- At 01:30AM, take a bus at the G.Puyat (Buendia) bus terminal along Taft Avenue, Pasay City.
- Get off at the end of the line which is the Batangas Port. Estimated arrival is between 4:00 to 4:30AM. Travel time actually only takes 2 hours maximum. The estimate is made to allow for other contingencies on the road.
- At the port, get/buy a ticket for a private van bound to Calapan, Mindoro.
- The van will be ferried by a medium-sized passenger ship. Estimated arrival time in Calapan, Mindoro is between 6:30 to 7:00AM.
- The same van will travel by land towards Roxas, in the island of Mindoro and arrive at the terminal between 9:30-10:00AM.
- Ride a ferry from Roxas to Caticlan. Travel duration is from 3 to 3.5 hours.
- From Caticlan, take the "bancas" following the procedures stated above.
You can also start your journey with Philtranco, Alps, Dimple, Ceres, Rodastco coaches which leave at regular intervals throughout the day from Cubao, serving the Manila-Caticlan route for P1,050.00. Rodastco also offers a door-to-door service with pick ups anywhere in Metro Manila. The contact numbers for trip booking are +63 2-7326891 or +63 917-3820426, or +63 919-3820426.
Caticlan Jetty Port and Ferries to Boracay
Outrigger boats or "bancas" leave every few minutes from Caticlan's jetty port.
The short boat trip to Boracay's jetty port at Cagban costs 20 Pesos. Tourists have to pay a terminal fee of 50 Pesos and an environmental fee of 50 pesos.
Tricycles are available at Cagban to bring passengers to their hotels. Tricycle fare is from P20 per pax up to P150 per trip depending where your resort is.
During high season, boats stop at 3 boat stations along White Beach. The boat stations have no piers and involve wading ashore or paying a porter for a piggyback. From here it's a walk or quick ride to the hotel. Getting to Boracay takes longer off-season as rough waters prevent mooring at White Beach - bancas stop at on the other side of the island.
All tourists arrive on the island on small boats which come up to the beach and you wade ashore. Your luggage is hoisted onto the sand for you by porters down tiny gangplanks, so be sure not to bring suitcases which are too big or they might end up in the water!
Plus you'll look really stupid taking the kitchen sink with you to a tiny island! Wouldn't wear your trendy trainers eit her, flip flops are probably best!
Note : touts pounce on guests boarding or leaving Bancas, snatch their luggage and aggressively charge for 10 seconds porterage but refuse firmly if you don't require their services.
References:
- Wikitravel
- Wikipedia
- World66
