3 Ways How To Get From Manila To Boracay (Philippines) – 2023

Are you wondering how to get from Manila to Boracay in the Philippines? I’ve been to Boracay and its my family’s hometown in the Philippines. I would love to share withyou on how you can get to this beautiful island in the Visayas region.

Boracay is one of the many travel destinations in the Philippines that you should not miss. This piece of paradise is famous for its white sand beaches, bustling nightlife, tropical vibes and luxury accommodations.

You can reach Boracay from Manila by flight, bus and ferry. The road distance between Manila and Boracay is 892.2 kilometres or 554.38 miles while the direct distance is 640.25 kilometres or 397.83 miles or 345.48 nautical miles. It takes about 1 hour and 25 minutes to travel this distance by flight. 

Travelling from Manila to Boracay is not as direct as we would like, but its separation makes a trip here more special and worth all the transfers. Just wait till you see the immense beauty that is waiting for you here!

How to get from Manila to Boracay, Philippines

OPTION 1: How to get from Manila to Boracay by Flight

• Travel Duration: about 1 hour
• Travel Fare: from USD 56 or PHP 2,023.51

Flying from Manila to Boracay is arguably the most common mode of transport that visitors choose. This is an option that can easily be booked online in advance through Skyscanner. In one website, you will find various deals from airlines which fly this route. Some of them are Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Malaysia Airlines, Air Asia and Royalair. 

Below is a sample timetable of flights from Manila to Boracay:

Flight from Manila to Boracay

In Manila, the aircrafts leave from Manila Ninoy Aquino Airport (MNL.) Then, they arrive at Caticlan, Boracay (MPH.) While most of the flights are direct, there are some that would require you to stop at Busuanga (USU), Mactan-Cebu International (CEB), Bancasi Butuan (BXU) or Davao International (DVO.)

BEST FLIGHT DEALS!

I love good flight deals! If you are looking for the best airline fares for your vacation, I recommend searching for the latest deals on Skyscanner. They will show the best comparison flight deals between airlines that will suit your budget and schedule.

When booking a flight to Boracay, keep in mind that you will have to allot at least an additional hour and a half to complete airport protocols. Bake it into your itinerary so you will have a clearer projection of total travel time.

Aside from that, you also have to consider the transfer from Caticlan airport to Boracay Island. Here is a rough guide on how to get there:

1. Take a tricycle going to Caticlan Jetty Port. This will cost about USD 1.37 or PHP 75. The travel time can take up to 10 minutes.
2. From the Caticlan Jetty Port, ride a pump boat or an Oyster ferry. The cost ranges from PHP 25 to 100 (not more than USD 2) and the travel time is about 15 minutes.
3. Arrive at either Cagban Port or Tambisaan Port. From here, take another tricycle or a multicab to your accommodation. Price ranges from PHP 40 to PHP 150 (not more than USD 3). The travel time depends on which part of the island your hotel is.

If you wish to skip public transport and would rather have an arranged transfer instead, you can book this shared airport transfer with Get Your Guide. This saves you from the hassle of loading and unloading your baggage from one vehicle to another until you reach your accommodation.

The cost to reserve a slot at the shared airport transfer starts at USD 17.69 or a little less than PHP 1,000. The duration of the transfer from the airport to your hotel can be anywhere between 1 and 2 hours.

If you are travelling as a group and would prefer a private transfer to Boracay Island rather than a shared one, there is also this option in Get Your Guide. This will cost about USD 57.17 or PHP 3,123.43 per passenger.

BEST FLIGHT DEALS!

I love good flight deals! If you are looking for the best airline fares for your vacation, I recommend searching for the latest deals on Skyscanner. They will show the best comparison flight deals between airlines that will suit your budget and schedule.

OPTION 2: How to get from Manila to Boracay by Bus and Ferry

• Travel Duration: about 12 hours
• Travel Fare: from USD 39.20 or PHP 2,143.73

If you wish to travel by sea instead, you can actually do so but this will not be a direct one. You will first have to ride a bus coming from Manila to Batangas Pier. It is only from here that you can find a ferry which will take you to Boracay.

Here is a sample timetable of bus timings from Manila to Batangas:

Bus from Manila to Batangas

There are plenty of trips daily that travel between Manila and Batangas, so it will not be a challenge to book this leg of the trip. You can head over to Bookaway to see all the available ferry rides during your preferred departure date.

Upon arriving at the Batangas Pier, you will then have to secure a ticket to get to Boracay by ferry. Starlite Ferries and 2Go Travel are two ferry companies that travel this route. Here is an idea of the trip schedules of the different types of ferries:

Ferry from Batangas to Boracay

The ferries arrive at Caticlan Jetty Port. Among the three, only the Tourist Bed Ferry is equipped with air conditioning. Make sure to take this into account as the journey is quite long. Don’t worry because all are equipped with toilets on board, but not every ferry has a television for passenger use.

From Caticlan Jetty Port, you will still have to ride at least two modes of transport in order to arrive in Boracay proper. From the port, either ride a pump boat or an Oyster ferry. The cost ranges from PHP 25 to 100 (not more than USD 2) and the travel time is about 15 minutes.

Once you are in Cagban Port or Tambisaan Port, take another tricycle or a multicab to your hotel. The cost is anywhere between PHP 40 to PHP 150 (not more than USD 3). The travel time depends on which part of the island your accommodation is.

COMPARING TICKET PRICES?

If you love getting a good travel deal, you can head to BOOKAWAY to compare the best rates and schedules for buses, ferries, and trains that suit your schedule and route.

OPTION 3: How to get from Manila to Boracay by Bus

• Travel Duration: about 1 hour
• Travel Fare: from USD 56 or PHP 2,023.51

Do you prefer travelling by land? There are buses that come from Manila and travel all the way to Boracay. Ceres Transport is one of the numerous bus companies that offer trips for this route. To give you a better understanding of its trips, here is a sample trip schedule: The 6:00 AM bus leaves Buendia Bus Terminal in Manila and arrives at Caticlan Bus Station by 10:00 PM. This land trip has a total of 16 hours, with the price of a one-way fare starting at USD 29 or PHP 1,586. 

The journey from Manila to Boracay by bus is a long one, so it is nice to know that the buses are equipped with air conditioning and other amenities necessary to make your long ride bearable and comfortable.

Online, you can book your ticket in advance at the website of 12Go. The site will show you all the best deals as of the moment so you can efficiently choose which suits not only your itinerary but also your budget. 

From the bus terminal, you then will have to ride a tricycle going to Caticlan Port. They are just 1.6 kilometers away from each other, so this will just be a short 5 to 6-minute ride. The cost for this leg should not go over USD 1.83 or PHP 100.

As you reach the Caticlan Jetty Port, make up your mind if you will ride a pump boat or an Oyster ferry. The cost ranges from PHP 25 to 100 (not more than USD 2), with the Oyster ferry being the more expensive option. After around 15 minutes, you will arrive in Cagban Port or Tambisaan Port.

From here, ride a tricycle or a multicab and tell them the name of your hotel accommodation. The fare for this trip is anything between PHP 40 and PHP 150 (not more than USD 3). 

COMPARING TICKET PRICES?

If you love getting a good travel deal, you can head to the 12GO website to compare the best rates and schedules for buses, ferries, and trains that suit your schedule and route.

More About Boracay, Philippines

• Is this your first time coming to Boracay? I have the list of the best things to do on the island. This includes going on an island tour, cliff diving at Ariel’s Point and indulging in fresh seafood.
• Not yet convinced about coming to Boracay from Manila? You must know that Boracay is one of the best beaches to visit in the Philippines. Adding to its splendor and charm is the recent rehabilitation of the island which made the place look and feel like a true paradise here on earth!
• If you are on the hunt for the most recommended places in the Philippines, you’ll be thrilled to know that Boracay is one of them. Other destinations which made it to my list are Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte, Banaue in Ifugao and El Nido in Palawan.
• Curious to know what is instore for you in Boracay? Get Your Guide has all the most amazing experiences that are just a click away. Just imagine going on a scenic sunset cruise in Boracay – complete with live music!

FAQs on How to Get from Manila to Boracay, Philippines

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Everything Zany

Travel Blog

Everything Zany Travel Blog exploring the UK and beyond. Sharing travel guides, tips, history, and culture. Our travel media brand is founded by travel and hotel industry expert – Ryazan Tristram, a Dual Citizen (British–Filipina) based in Birmingham, UK. Everything Zany is a reputable and award-winning travel blog. Our work and contributions have been featured in the Huffington Post, CNBC, Discovery Channel, GMA, Readers Digest, and Lonely Planet. Our mission is to build a great travel community and resource of travel tips, visas, and travel guides for travelers. Join us as we travel around the UK and beyond with a mission to share the best of the world.