Manila to Boracay by Ferry: Every Option Explained

Option 1: Direct Manila to Caticlan ferry

2GO Travel sails from Manila North Harbor (Pier 4) to Caticlan, typically once or twice a week. The crossing takes roughly 9–11 hours, usually overnight, so you sleep through most of it. This is the simplest sea-only option: one ticket, one port, no transfers.

Fares start in the low thousands of pesos for a bunk in tourist class, more for cabins. From Caticlan Jetty Port you walk to the pump-boat terminal for the short crossing to Boracay (separate small fare plus environmental and terminal fees).

Option 2: Batangas to Caticlan (the backpacker route)

A cheaper, more flexible classic: bus from Manila to Batangas City (2–3 hours, frequent departures day and night), then a RoRo ferry from Batangas to Caticlan. 2GO and other operators run this leg, usually daily, around 9 hours.

Total cost is often noticeably lower than the direct Manila sailing, and departures are more frequent. The trade-off is the bus leg and managing two tickets.

Option 3: Fly to Caticlan or Kalibo, then ferry

If time matters more than money, fly Manila to Caticlan (MPH) — the airport is minutes from the jetty — or to Kalibo (KLO) plus a 1.5–2 hour van to Caticlan. Compare flight + ferry totals against the ferry-only price before deciding.

Which should you pick?

• ▸ Cheapest overall: Batangas bus + RoRo ferry
• ▸ Least hassle by sea: direct Manila–Caticlan 2GO sailing
• ▸ Fastest: flight to Caticlan airport
• ▸ Bringing a motorbike or car: Batangas RoRo is the practical choice