How to get from Boracay to Coron? More and more travelers are including these two gorgeous destinations in their Philippines travel itineraries. Understandably, they want to go from the beaches of beautiful Boracay to Coron’s impressive island hopping tours.
As we’ve told you many times, transfers around the archipelago can be a bit of a slog and take time. In the case of going from Boracay to Coron, it’s not very different, since they are in different parts of the Philippines. That’s why we decided to write this guide,which will help you clear things up a bit.
Below you’ll find how to go from Boracay to Coron by plane (the fastest and most expensive) or by alternating public transport (the slowest and cheapest). If you have any small doubts, you can leave them for us in the comments below.
How to get from Boracay to Coron cheaply (but slowly)
Feeling up for a little adventure and passing through 8024892489 towns with their schools, basketball courts, and churches? Then go ahead and get to Coron from Boracay by public transport. Note that, due to ferry timetables, it’s very likely you’ll have to spend the night halfway through the journey, but it’s part of the experience. Below we’ll tell you the prices for each leg, but budget around 2,000 pesos per person for the whole trip plus the cost of the hotel night.
It is VERY IMPORTANT that you align your route from Boracay to Coron with the days when boats from San José (Mindoro) to Coron depart. As of today, these leave on Tuesdays and Saturdays early in the morning. Therefore, you should leave Boracay on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday. Reconfirm everything with the shipping companies because in the Philippines you never know.
Here we explain step by step how to get from Boracay to Coron cheaply, but slowly. You can get an idea with this map:
1. Boat from Boracay to Caticlan
You probably already know how this works, since you will have come to the island this way, but we’ll go over it again. Take a tricycle from your hotel in Boracay to Cagban port. The price depends on the ride, but it’s usually about 30 pesos per person from Station 2 on White Beach if you take a “line” one. It’s about 15–20 minutes.
Ignore anyone who approaches you to sell something and go to the window to buy the bangka ticket to Caticlan. These run 24 hours frequently. The price is 50 pesos if you take it during the day. To this you’ll need to add 200 pesos in port fees. It will take you barely 10 minutes to reach Caticlan port.
2. Ferry from Caticlan to Bulalacao
At the same Caticlan port, ask about the ferries going to Bulalacao (Mindoro). These are RO-RO–type ships operated by FastCat. They depart from Caticlan to Bulalacao daily at 3:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Remember to always reconfirm schedules. The price is 780 pesos per person in economy class (without air conditioning). You’ll also need to add the port fee: 100 pesos. The journey takes 3–4 hours.
⭐ By the way, if you’re exploring lesser‑known corners, you might like to know there’s a very cool island hopping from Bulalacao. Expect zero tourism.
3. Van (van) or bus to San José (Mindoro)
As soon as you get off the boat you’ll find vans going from Bulalacao to San José, one of the largest cities in Occidental Mindoro. The ride takes a couple of hours and costs about 200 pesos. Sometimes there are buses, which are a bit more comfortable but slower. In San José there are several terminals and they’ll drop you at the one for the company you chose. Even so, it’s a small city and you can get around by tricycle for very little money.
Since the boats from San José to Coron leave early in the morning, it’s very likely you’ll have to sleep in San José. If that’s the case, we recommend the Seasons Hotel and Convention Center and the SJ Mansion Hotel.
⭐ Heads up: from San José you’re only a couple of hours from Sablayan. This is the departure point for boats to Apo Reef, one of the most impressive places to go diving in the Philippines. If you have 3 extra days, don’t hesitate. You can also visit Pandan Island, a pretty island surrounded by turtles.
4. Boat from San José to Coron
The last step on this route to get from Boracay to Coron is to take a boat from San José to Coron. First, you need to get from downtown San José to the port, which is on the outskirts. Normally, tricycles will charge around 40 or 50 pesos per person. It won’t take more than 15 minutes. Forget taxis.
The only shipping line operating boats from San José to Coron is Bunso Transport. They leave on Tuesdays and Saturdays at 9:00. But, as always, contact them via Facebook and reconfirm schedules and dates because they keep changing. The journey takes 6–7 hours and the price in the most economical class (in a bed and without air conditioning) is 1,400 pesos. It includes a somewhat frugal meal, so it doesn’t hurt to bring a snack or buy it directly on the boat.
You’re in Coron! The port is a bit away from Coron Town. If you want to save money when getting to your hotel in Coron, share a tricycle. The normal fare is 20 pesos per person.
© Bunso Transport
How to get from Boracay to Coron quickly (but pricey)
The most comfortable way to go from Boracay to Coron is by plane. It’s also the fastest and, therefore, the most expensive, although not outrageous if you book flights in advance.
First, you should know that there are no direct flights from Boracay to Coron; you’ll have to connect in Manila. The most direct combination, counting the layover between the two flights, will have you at Busuanga Airport (Coron) in about 4.5 hours. Prices are quite variable, but figure roughly €80–100 for this route if you don’t book in advance (or quite a bit more if you do it just a few days before). Take a look here:
Search flights from Boracay to Coron
It may happen that the first flight is delayed and then you can’t catch the second. Therefore, it’s best to book both legs with the same airline. That way, in case of problems, you can claim easily.
When you arrive at the airport, you just need to take one of the vans heading to Coron Town. They charge 250 pesos per person and drop you at your hotel door.
From Boracay to Coron via Kalibo
As we explain in How to get to Boracay, the closest airport to the island is Caticlan (IATA code: MPH). However, 70 kilometers away you also have Kalibo International Airport (KLO), from which flights to Manila often tend to be cheaper. Therefore, it’s another option worth considering. Check prices here:
Search flights from Kalibo to Coron
To go from Boracay to Kalibo you have 3 options (once you’ve taken the bangka to Caticlan port):
- Van: you’ll be offered one as soon as you leave the port. Vans take roughly 90 minutes and usually drop you at the airport. Still, confirm it several times. Seats in the van are around 200 pesos.
- Bus: the yellow Ceres buses drop you at Kalibo’s Ceres Bus Station. The trip takes about a couple of hours and prices are around 80–110 pesos (depending on whether they have air conditioning). Once in Kalibo, take a tricycle to the airport.
- Transfer: if you want to stop worrying, they’ll pick you up at your hotel in Boracay and drop you at the airport. You can book with 12go or Klook, the two agencies that are like Civitatis in Asia. Klook tends to run good deals, so take a look at both prices:
How to get from Coron to Boracay
Looking for the reverse route? That is, how to get from Coron to Boracay? Then you just need to follow the steps we’ve explained but in reverse.
Getting from Coron to Boracay by plane
If you want to do it by plane, look for flights from Busuanga Airport to Caticlan. You’ll have to connect in Manila, so look for a good combination (ideally with the same airline) so you don’t have to end up sleeping at Manila Airport. Take a look here:
Search flights from Coron to Boracay
Another option to go from Coron to Boracay by plane is to fly to Kalibo Airport, 1.5–2 hours by road from Boracay. It’s usually a bit cheaper but, of course, also slower. You’ll also need to connect in Manila:
Search flights from Coron to Kalibo
Once in Kalibo, you can take a van, bus or transfer to get to Boracay. You have the different alternatives explained above.
Getting from Coron to Boracay by public transport
If you want to do it slowly but cheaply, to go from Coron to Boracay you’ll need to follow these steps:
- Tricycle to Coron port: 20 pesos per person if you share.
- Bunso Transport boat to San José Mindoro: they sail on Wednesdays and Fridays at 8:00. Still, reconfirm schedules and dates. The journey takes 6–7 hours and costs 1,400 in economy class, which are beds. You’ll also have to pay the port fee: 20 pesos.
- Tricycle from San José port: if you share, it’ll be about 40 pesos. Tell the driver you’re going to Bulalacao so they drop you at the appropriate van terminal, as there are several in the city.
- Van to Bulalacao: it’s 150 pesos per person and a couple of hours’ ride.
- Ferry from Bulalacao to Caticlan: operated by FastCat at 10:00 AM and 10:00 PM. It’s 780 pesos in economy class. They take 3–4 hours to arrive.
- Bangka from Caticlan to Boracay: they run 24 hours and take 5–10 minutes. The price is 50 pesos, depending on the time. You’ll need to pay 200 pesos in port fees and 300 pesos for Boracay’s environmental fee.
- Tricycle to your hotel in Boracay: the price will depend on the distance and whether you share.
That’s it! We hope we’ve clarified how to get from Boracay to Coron or vice versa. If you have any small doubts, we’ll be happy to answer you.
Remember you’ll find plenty of information about both destinations in their respective guides: Boracay Guide and Coron Guide.
