DIY Boat Ride to Boracay Island: An Inexpensive Way to Get to Boracay from Caticlan Airport

Welcome to Boracay! @Puka Beach

Boracay's beauty awaits you. Sunset @ Punta Bunga Beach

Picture this, you've just arrived at Caticlan Airport, ready to embark on your much anticipated Boracay vacation. As soon as you gather your things and exit baggage claim, you immediately feel overwhelmed. There are so many people coming at you telling you to go here and there, asking you a million questions you have no answer to, tourists moving frantically...you feel like you just want to get out of there. Finally, you just listen to one person who shows you how to get a bus to get to the island. Wait, I thought I was already at Boracay. Nope. You have to take a boat to your getaway. So you talk with the bus folks and to get to the island and get a ride to your accommodation it will cost you 1050 Pesos. Without any frame of reference and out of exasperation, you just acquiesce. As you sit on the bus you feel you can exhale. Not yet! You reach the port where you're herded like sheep to another room where you're again bombarded with people asking you for things. So you do as asked. You get get on a boat that surprisingly only takes less than 10 minutes to get to its final destination. You get off  the boat and instinctively follow everyone until finally see a sign in big letters, BORACAY. THe tour bus employees usher you into a van and off you go. You make it to your stay and the bit of stress is over. (You may now exhale!!!) 

My favorite! Coco Mama

Unfortunately, that hassle is a part of almost everyone's journey to Boracay Island. Taking the bus and having everything done for you, while it was still a bit head-spinning crazy, winds up not being too painful. Yet, as this is a blog about traveling and saving money, there is another way. If you're traveling with at least two people, you can shave half of your costs getting to the island from Caticlan Airport! While it's not much, that other half of money could go on a tour, or indulge in a Coco Mama!!! And because you'd have to do that again when you leave Boracay, you could save well up to 1000 Pesos. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to DIY a boat ride to Boracay from Caticlan Airport. (All prices are from 12.01.24). You'll need between 800 - 1000 Pesos each way depending on where you're staying.

Ahhh, the tricycle. A ubiquitous sight around the Philippines. It may not be super comfy, but it will get you to the Jetty Port. PC: Anthony Young on Unsplash

1. After you Leave the Baggage Claim, Get a Tricycle to Caticlan Jetty Port

If you're like me, you'll be quite overwhelmed with all the activity going on at the airport. So many signs, people approaching you about a transport, feeling unsure about where to go. The first thing you'll need to do from Caticlan Airport is get to the Caticlan Jetty Port. If you don't have a lot of luggage, a tricycle will be just fine. Look for someone holding a sign that says "Tricycle to the Port." This should cost you $160 Pesos. However, if you packed your entire house, then you may want to pay for a bus which can fit your luggage to take you to the port which costs significantly more. Don't pay for the whole package though, just get yourself to the port. 

The vessel that will take you to paradise! PC:xandreasw on Unsplash

2. Once at Caticlan Jetty Port, Purchase a Ticket to Take a Boat to Boracay Island

Once you get to the Jetty Port, there will be more madness. However, you will see some signage "Tourists" and "Non Tourists." Get in the line for the "Tourists". This will take you inside the port where you will see you'll need to purchase two things. 1) Terminal Fee - This will cost 100 Pesos per passenger 2) Boat Ticket - This will cost you 50 Pesos per passenger. They will ask you which accomodation you'll be staying at so make sure you have that information ready as they may not let you get on the boat. Once you've paid and filled out their small information slips, they'll give you a sticker to place on your chest and tickets to get onto the boat. The tickets will tell you which boat to enter (It will have a picture of the name of the boat). Once you get on the boat, it's less than 10 minutes to get to Boracay.

This is how they roll in Boracay. It's nice these are electric operated. PC: Kathleen Urbi/Youtube

3. Get an eTrike to your Accomodation

Once you get to Boracay Island, find an eTrike (An eTrike is an electrical powered 3-wheel drive vehicle that can fit anywhere between 5 - 10 passengers. It's usually colored blue or green) driver and negotiate a ride to your accomodation (as a tip, always negotiate a price before you agree to get on. Some drivers are looking to make a bit more than what should be charged). Depending on where you stay, this could range between 200 - 500 Pesos.

Do a Sunset Sail on a Parao in Boracay! @White Beach

Once you get on that eTrike you can exhale, you've managed through somewhat of a more difficult and stressful part of your Boracay trip. Now you can focus on applying your sunblock, mosquito repellant, and getting into that aquamarine water! Feel good that you've also saved half of what you might have paid if you just took one of the tour bus companies. You can also feel confident you can do the same thing heading back to Caticlan Airport. So, the savings just add up. 

Where will your Boracay Adventures take you? @Ilig-Iligan Beach

How was your experience getting to Boracay? Did you DIY? Did you end up taking a shuttle? How was your trip? Let us know in the comments. Light and Aloha to you all!