All ways to Boracay Island lead to Caticlan, the gateway to Boracay Island. Caticlan, jump-off point to Boracay Island is equipped with an airport, which accommodates smaller aircrafts, a jetty port for boat transfers to Boracay Island and a pier to dock for ships directly from Manila and the RoRo vessels (Roll On -Roll Off). The national highway to Iloilo connects Caticlan to the capital city of the province, Kalibo, which has a bigger airport for larger jet airplanes and international charter flights.


By Plane

The fastest way to Boracay is flying through Caticlan airport, which takes 40 to 55 minutes from Manila, depending on the type of aircraft.

NOTE: As of August 2009 only one airline (Seair) services Caticlan if the weather permits, while all other airlines offering flights to Caticlan use the bigger Kalibo airport (Cebu Pacific / PAL Express / Zest Air). Once the runway of the Caticlan airport has been extend, all airlines will fly there again. This will be eventually the case earliest December 2009.

Flights Caticlan/Kalibo - Cebu are available on a daily basis. There is also a weekly flight to Angeles, Pampanga, and in season flights to Coron in northern Palawan.

From Kalibo airport it takes about 90 minutes driving through a scenic tropical landscape to the Caticlan jetty port. Two companies offer transfer services with air conditioned vans and buses. Their service includes the boat ride and transport to the resort on Boracay Island.


By Road

Two major transport companies and many vans offer fast and convenient trips to Kalibo and onwards to Iloilo in air conditioned buses, coasters and vans. Travelling time to Iloilo is between 3 to 5 hours. Every hour an airconditioned bus leaves from the Caticlan jetty port to Iloilo. Iloilo connects to the central Visayas and to the heritage rich islands of Negros and Cebu.

By Nautical Highway
Caticlan is a major destination of the Nautical Highway from Manila to the central Visayas and further on to Mindanao. Some bus companies offer direct trips from Manila to Caticlan (14 hours) and then to Iloilo and vice versa. The voyage makes use of overland roads and RoRo vessels (Roll On/Roll off) between the islands. RoRo vessels can also be used for trucks and private cars and safe and guarded parking lots are available in Caticlan.

CROSSING THE CHANNEL

The channel between the jetty port Caticlan and the jetty port Cagban on Boracay is roughly 1.4 Km. Passengers are transferred either by so-called bancas (outrigger boats) or by fast ferry and takes between 10 to 20 minutes. Fare for the bancas is Peso 25/passenger and for the fast ferry P. 30/passenger (October 2009). At times of strong winds and waves an alternativecrossing route is taken.

Tickets for the boats can be bought outside the Caticlan jetty port. There is also a Environmental Fee of Peso 50 and a jetty port fee of P. 50 to pay.

Travel Tips:

* Many guides and coordinators are waiting at the Caticlan and Kalibo airports and at the jetty ports to persuade guests to accompany them to particular resorts. Visitors without reservations made previously are advised to only book one or two nights through these coordinators and to stroll the next day along the White Beach, where dozens of smaller and bigger resorts are located.


* Guests travelling without reservations and pick up service should have enough change ready to pay all he fees and tips. Fees charged are: Environmental Fee P. 50, Jetty Port Fee: P. 50 (incoming/outgoing), Boat Transfer, and tips for porters. At a booth outside the Caticlan airport tickets for trycicles are for sale. The environmental fee of 50 Peso can also be paid there, or later at the jetty port.

* At the Cagban jetty port on the southern end of Boracay Island Guests without pick up service have to either take a trycicle or a mini-van to their point of destination. A tricycle from the jetty port to Balabag costs 100 Peso for the whole trycicle. Destinations further norht have to be negotiated, which can be done cheaper in central Boracay. 

BORACAY MAP