Manila to Boracay (2026): Flights, Ferry, Bus & Fees

The fastest way from Manila to Boracay is a 1h 10m flight to Caticlan (MPH), then a 10–15 minute tricycle to the jetty port and a short boat ride to the island; door to door it takes about 2–2½ hours plus airport time. One-way fares start around ₱1,700 (about US$27). Flying to Kalibo (KLO) is often cheaper but adds about 1½–2 hours by road. There is no direct ferry from Manila: going overland means a bus to Batangas and a 10–12 hour ferry, or a 16–21 hour bus-and-RoRo trip.

Manila to Boracay: quick comparison

Option	One-way price	Door-to-door time	Best for
Flight to Caticlan (MPH)	From about ₱1,700 (US$27), plus about ₱500 (US$8) in port fees and boat	About 2–2½ hours plus check-in	Short trips, families, first-time visitors
Flight to Kalibo (KLO)	From about ₱1,200 (US$19), plus ₱250–700 (US$4–11) road transfer and port fees	About 3½–4 hours plus check-in	Lowest airfare, more flight choice in peak season
Bus to Batangas + overnight ferry to Caticlan	About ₱1,900–3,000 (US$30–47)	About 12–15 hours	Travelers who don’t want to fly
Direct bus with RoRo ferry	About ₱1,100–1,800 (US$17–28), ferry fare sometimes extra	16–21 hours	Tightest budgets

👉 Compare Manila to Boracay flights, buses and ferries on Bookaway

How do you get to Boracay from Manila?

Boracay has no airport. Every route ends at Caticlan jetty port on Panay Island, where a boat crosses to Cagban port on Boracay. The usual trip looks like this:

1. Fly from Manila (NAIA) to Caticlan, about 1h 10m, or to Kalibo, also about 1h 10m.
2. From Caticlan airport, take a tricycle or van to the jetty port (about 2 km). From Kalibo, take a van or bus to Caticlan (about 1½–2 hours).
3. At the jetty port, pay the terminal and environmental fees and buy a boat ticket.
4. Cross to Cagban port on Boracay, about 15 minutes.
5. Take an e-trike from Cagban to your hotel; most of White Beach is 10–20 minutes away.

If you book a combined transfer, the operator handles the van, boat and fees, and drops you at your hotel.

Is there a direct flight from Manila to Boracay?

Not to the island itself, but Manila to Caticlan is as close as it gets: Caticlan (Godofredo P. Ramos Airport, MPH) is about 2 km from the jetty port. Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and AirAsia fly Manila–Caticlan, with first arrivals around 6:20am and last arrivals in the evening (MyBoracayGuide, updated July 2026). Kalibo International Airport (KLO), about 65 km away, has daily Manila flights on AirAsia and Cebu Pacific (Gecko Routes, October 2026).

Caticlan or Kalibo: which airport should you fly into?

	Caticlan (MPH)	Kalibo (KLO)
Distance to the jetty port	About 2 km	About 65 km
Transfer to the port	10–15 minutes, about ₱75–150	1½–2 hours, about ₱250–400 by van
Typical one-way fare from Manila	From about ₱1,700 (US$27)	From about ₱1,200 (US$19)
Airport to hotel	About 45–65 minutes	About 2½–3½ hours
Best for	Short trips and late arrivals	Saving money, or when Caticlan flights are sold out

Choose Caticlan unless the Kalibo fare is clearly lower. A ₱500 airfare saving is roughly cancelled out by the van fare and two extra hours on the road. Kalibo makes more sense for groups splitting a private van, during holiday peaks when Caticlan sells out, or if you arrive on an international flight that lands in Kalibo.

How much does it cost to fly from Manila to Boracay?

Promo and low-season fares to Caticlan start around ₱1,700 (US$27) one way, and Kalibo from about ₱1,200 (US$19) (Gecko Routes, October 2026). Average fares are higher: Bookaway lists Philippine Airlines at about US$76–195 and AirAsia at about US$53–165 one way. Weekends, Holy Week, Christmas and New Year are the most expensive dates.

Check the baggage allowance before booking. Low fares on Cebu Pacific and AirAsia often include only a 7 kg carry-on, and adding checked baggage at the airport costs more than adding it online.

How do you get from Caticlan airport to Boracay?

Take a tricycle or van from the airport to Caticlan jetty port. Shared tricycles cost about ₱50–80 per person and a private one about ₱150; vans charge about ₱100–150 per person (MyBoracayGuide). Walking is about 25 minutes and not practical with luggage.

At the port, pay the fees, board the boat to Cagban (₱50, about 15 minutes), then take an e-trike to your hotel. A shared e-trike to the D’Mall area costs about ₱25–50 per person and a chartered one about ₱150–300. Allow 45–65 minutes from landing to your hotel.

👉 Book a Caticlan to Boracay transfer on Bookaway

How do you get from Kalibo airport to Boracay?

Vans wait outside arrivals and leave when full, for about ₱250–400 per seat. Southwest Travel & Tours buses run to Caticlan for about ₱310 (US$5) and take about 1½ hours (Gecko Routes). Door-to-door shuttles such as Island Star Express include the boat and hotel drop-off from about ₱600–700, excluding port fees, and take about 3 hours. Shared transfers mainly cover flights arriving between about 5:30am and 7pm (Jon to the World, November 2026).

👉 Book a Kalibo to Boracay shuttle on Bookaway

What fees do you pay to enter Boracay?

Fee	Foreign tourist	Filipino tourist
Environmental fee (once per stay)	₱300	₱150
Terminal fee (each way)	₱150	₱150
Boat, Caticlan to Cagban	₱50	₱50
Total on arrival	About ₱500 (US$8)	About ₱350

You can register and pay online before the trip and show a QR code at the port, or pay at the counters. Bring small peso notes in case cards or online payment fail, and keep your passport or ID ready because registration asks for ID and your accommodation name. Leaving Boracay, you pay the ₱150 terminal fee again at Cagban. For cash tips, see how much a trip to the Philippines costs.

Is there a ferry from Manila to Boracay, and how much is a 2GO ticket?

There is no direct ferry from Manila. Ferries leave from Batangas port, about 2–3 hours south of Manila by bus (Ceres buses from Buendia cost about ₱430). From Batangas to Caticlan, the trip takes 10–12 hours:

• 2GO Travel: daily at 9pm. Fares about ₱1,500 (Super Value), ₱1,800 (Tourist) and ₱2,600 (Cabin).
• Starlite Ferries: daily at 7:30am, 1pm, 4pm and 7:30pm. Fares about ₱2,415–3,105 with the current fuel surcharge.
• Lite Ferries: several sailings a week.

Schedules and fares are from Escape Manila (updated August 2026); Gecko Routes lists lower Starlite fares, so check the operator before you go. All sailings are cancelled when a typhoon signal is raised. The overnight ferry saves a night of accommodation, but it is rarely cheaper than a promo flight.

Can you take a bus from Manila to Boracay?

Yes. Buses drive onto RoRo ferries and go all the way to Caticlan jetty port in 16–21 hours. Options include ALPS The Bus from Cubao (about ₱1,100), RRCG Transport from Robinsons Antipolo (about ₱1,500) and Ceres from Buendia (about ₱1,780). When booked online, the ferry fare may not be included, and the conductor collects ₱800 or more in cash (Gecko Routes). It is the cheapest option only when flights are expensive.

Can you connect from an international flight in Manila to Boracay on the same day?

Yes, but leave a buffer. You clear immigration and collect bags in Manila, and you may need to change terminals at NAIA for the domestic flight. Allow at least 3–4 hours between landing and the domestic departure, more if you are on separate tickets, because a missed connection on separate tickets is your problem. If you land late in the evening, staying a night in Manila is safer than gambling on the last Caticlan flight.

Get a working data plan before you land so you can book Grab and message your hotel. See the best eSIM for the Philippines.

When is the best time to go to Boracay?

From about November to April, during the amihan (northeast monsoon). White Beach is calm, and December to February is the most comfortable stretch. During the habagat (southwest monsoon), roughly June to October, there is more rain, White Beach gets choppier, and boats can switch to the Tabon–Tambisaan ports when winds are strong. Hotels are cheaper then, but flights and ferries are more likely to be disrupted by storms. More detail is in the best time to visit the Philippines.

How much budget do you need for Boracay from Manila?

For transport alone, a return trip via Caticlan costs about ₱4,500–9,000 (US$70–140) per person: return flights from about ₱3,400, port fees and boats of about ₱700 for a foreigner, and tricycles and e-trikes. On top of that, Boracay is one of the more expensive places in the Philippines. Beachfront hotels on White Beach cost far more than rooms a few minutes inland. For daily costs across the country, see how much a trip to the Philippines costs.

👉 Compare hotels in Boracay on Booking.com

What is Boracay known for?

White Beach, a 4 km stretch of powdery sand on the west coast, with sunset sailing on paraw boats. Bulabog Beach on the east side is known for kitesurfing in the amihan season, and Puka Shell Beach in the north is quieter. The island is small, about 7 km long, so you can reach most places by e-trike in under 20 minutes. If you have more time in the Philippines, compare it with Palawan: how to get to El Nido and Manila to Coron.

More guides for the country are in our Philippines travel section.

FAQ

How long is the flight from Manila to Boracay?

About 1h 10m to Caticlan or Kalibo. Door to door, plan on about 2–2½ hours via Caticlan or 3½–4 hours via Kalibo, plus check-in time.

What is the cheapest way from Manila to Boracay?

A promo flight to Kalibo plus a shared van is usually cheapest overall. The bus-and-RoRo option starts around ₱1,100 but takes 16–21 hours and often adds a cash ferry fare.

Do I need to book my Boracay hotel in advance?

It is strongly recommended. Registration at the port asks for your accommodation, and you should choose a DOT-accredited property. Peak dates around Christmas, New Year and Holy Week sell out early.

Can I pay the Boracay fees by card?

Online pre-registration accepts cards and e-wallets. Carry about ₱500–1,000 in small notes anyway, in case payment terminals at the port are down.

How early should I leave Boracay for my flight back to Manila?

For Caticlan, leave your hotel about 2½–3 hours before departure. For Kalibo, leave 5–6 hours before, because the road transfer alone takes 1½–2 hours.

Prices, fees and schedules checked on November 10, 2026.