How to Get to Boracay
If you are traveling to Boracay, among your major concerns is transportation. Most people realize that travel arrangements are crucial, especially if they are going to spend just a few days in the island. If you do not plan this part of your vacation well, you might end up losing precious time during your long trip going to the island. To help you decide your best means of transportation to Boracay, here is a comparison of your travel options:
Traveling by air
The most popular way of going to Boracay is through air travel. For one, it really saves up on time because it only takes a little over an hour to get to Boracay through this mode of transport. In addition, plane rides are also more comfortable. You can arrive in the island still looking fresh although you came all the way from Manila.
Usually, tourists fly to Caticlan through any of the country’s major domestic airlines, including South East Asian Airlines, Asian Spirit, and Interisland Airlines. Alternatively, you can fly to Kalibo, where you can take a one-hour bus ride to Caticlan. Flights to Kalibo are cheaper and also provide you additional sightseeing opportunities. Airlines that fly to Kalibo include Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, and Air Philippines.
When you reach Caticlan, you’d take a tricycle to the jetty port where motor boats ferry around 30 passengers at a time to and from Boracay. The boat ride takes 15 to 20 minutes.
Contrary to what most people think, traveling by air to Boracay need not be expensive. The trick here is to purchase tickets during the off-peak season, which is from July to September. The earlier you purchase your tickets, the cheaper they are.
Also be on the lookout for promos on domestic airlines. Usually found on their websites, these could slash off a huge percentage of otherwise expensive tickets. Another way of getting cheap flights is by looking for travel packages that already include everything—flight, accommodations, and even daily breakfast.
Traveling by sea
This option is recommended for people who have plenty of time to spare for the entire trip. Traveling by ship usually takes about 17 hours before you finally get to Boracay. Usually, couples on a honeymoon prefer this since it provides a romantic and leisurely backdrop before finally reaching their island destination. The ferry ports are situated in Manila and the ships will take you to Caticlan. Port areas are located in the Manila North Harbor.
Traveling by land
If you and your companions are the adventurous type then you might want to try going on a road trip all the way to Boracay. Most people say that this option is perhaps the cheapest way to get to Boracay.
This mode of transport is usually advisable for big groups so you can enjoy the long trip to Caticlan. In this option, you will be using the “Strong Republic Nautical Highway” that stretches from Batangas to Cagayan de Oro. You will travel through roll-on and roll-off points, also known as RORO. However, you should me mindful of the departure and arrival times at each point, as well as the particular points where you can finally drive your car.
Photo Credit: Storm Crypt
