More and more travelers are looking for how to get from Bohol to Boracay (or vice versa). The reason? They are two of the most popular islands on Philippines travel itineraries.
In this article, we’re going to tell you how to connect both islands in different ways: faster (and more expensive) or slower (and cheaper). You decide which one suits you best to reach Boracay from Bohol or the other way around.
How to get from Bohol to Boracay fast
The best way to get from Bohol to Boracay is by plane. To do so, you’ll need to head to Bohol–Panglao International Airport (IATA code: TAG), located in Panglao, just a few minutes by road from the Alona Beach hotel area.
Boracay doesn’t have an airport on the island itself, but there is one a few kilometers away in Caticlan. Godofredo P. Ramos Airport (MPH) is the best choice if you don’t want any complications. The only airline that used to offer these flights was AirSwift, but at the moment they are not operating. Therefore, you’ll need to look for a flight from Bohol to Caticlan with a layover in Manila.
Search flights from Bohol to Boracay (Caticlan)
Once at Caticlan Airport, follow these steps to get to Boracay:
- Take a tricycle from the airport to the port (150 pesos for the whole vehicle).
- Go straight to the ticket booth and buy the boat ticket to Boracay (50 pesos during the day). They depart frequently throughout the day. You’ll also have to pay 200 pesos for port fees and 300 pesos for the environmental fee. The bangka crossing takes 5-10 minutes.
- Take a tricycle to your hotel in Boracay. You can share with other travelers (30 pesos per person) or hire one just for you or your group (around 100 pesos).
To get familiar with these modes of transport, we encourage you to read our article How to get around the Philippines.
How to get from Bohol to Boracay fast, but a bit cheaper
If flight prices from Bohol to Boracay (Caticlan) are sky-high, there’s a slightly more involved alternative that is usually cheaper. This consists of going from Bohol to Boracay by first taking a boat to Cebu. This saves you one flight segment, since there are direct flights from Cebu to Boracay. Step by step:
- Reserve your seat on one of the boats from Bohol (Tagbilaran Port) to Cebu: there are several companies, but the best is OceanJet. They depart roughly from 6:00 to 17:40, but it’s better to check schedules here. Prices start at 800 pesos, but it depends on the company and seat type. The fastest ones take around 2 hours and arrive at Pier 1.
- Head to Mactan–Cebu International Airport: if there are several of you, we recommend taking a white taxi (they use the meter and don’t play games). You can also hail a Grab car (a bit more expensive). It shouldn’t cost you more than 300 pesos. To go by public transport, you can connect the buses operated by MyBus. For the taxi, allow at least 1 hour of travel time, as there may be traffic. For the bus, we advise you not to underestimate how slow they can be.
- Take your flight from Cebu to Boracay (Caticlan): it won’t take more than 1 hour.
- Follow the steps we described in the previous section to get from the airport to your accommodation.
How to get from Bohol to Boracay via Kalibo
About 70 kilometers from Boracay is Kalibo Airport (KLO). Usually, flight prices to this airport are a bit cheaper than flights to Caticlan. Therefore, if you don’t mind the road journey from Kalibo to Caticlan (90-120 minutes), it can be a budget-friendly alternative to get from Bohol to Boracay.
One thing to consider is that there are no direct flights from Bohol to Kalibo; they have a layover in Manila or Cebu. So we encourage you to compare prices:
Once in Kalibo, to get to Boracay you’ll have to choose among these alternatives:
- By van: at the airport exit, you’ll see booths where you can arrange the transfer to Boracay by van. Prices are around 250 pesos, depending on whether the boat segment is included or not. It will take about 90 minutes.
- By bus: the cheapest option is to take a tricycle to the Ceres Bus Station and then take a bus to Caticlan. They cost around 150 pesos, depending on whether they have air-conditioning or not. It will take a couple of hours.
- By transfer: if you want to forget about hassles, there are companies that take you from the airport to your hotel. The best-known companies are 12go and Klook. Both are 100% trustworthy, but sometimes Klook offers deals and can be cheaper. Take a look at both options:
How to get from Bohol to Boracay via Kalibo and via Cebu
There are direct flights from Cebu to Kalibo. However, this requires that you first take a boat from Bohol to Cebu (2 hours), then go to Cebu Airport and, once in Kalibo, follow the steps we mentioned to Caticlan. The journey may be a bit longer, but probably a little cheaper.
Book the boat from Bohol to Cebu
Book your flight from Cebu to Kalibo
How to get from Bohol to Boracay cheap (but very slow)
Finally, for those who aren’t in a hurry and might want to make a few stops along the way (for example, Guimaras, Iloilo or the Islas de Gigantes), there are overland and sea connections. Do note that you’re going to spend almost a full day doing this route, which is far from direct. Here you can see an approximate outline:
The steps to go from Bohol to Boracay cheaply would be the following:
- Take a boat from Tagbilaran to Cebu: as we mentioned above, these are very frequent and there are several companies. If you’re close to the Chocolate Hills, you might also want to check options from Tubigon Port, which are a little cheaper.
- Take a boat from Cebu to Iloilo: several companies cover this route of more than 12 hours, departing in the afternoon and arriving in the early hours of the following morning. The most important ones are Cockalion Shipping Lines and Trans-Asia Shipping Lines. Keep in mind that they don’t operate every day. The journey is made in bunks and the price depends on the class you choose (from 1,200 pesos).
- Take a jeepney, taxi or tricycle to the Ceres Bus Terminal in Tagbak.
- Get on a bus or van to Caticlan: the bus ride is slower but more comfortable. Allow about 6 hours and around 400 pesos per person.
- Walk to the port.
- Take the bangka to Boracay and a tricycle to your accommodation.
Doing some quick math, this route will cost you around 3,000 pesos per person, including the fees to enter Boracay. Compare with flight prices and what you’ll spend on food to see what works out best for you.
And that’s it! We hope this guide on how to get from Bohol to Boracay has helped you plan this leg of your trip through the Philippines. Even so, if you have any questions, we’ll be happy to answer them in the comments.
You already know you’ll find loads of information about these destinations in the Bohol Guide and the Boracay Guide.
