Boracay Island is easily the number one and most popular destination in the Philippines, both for locals and international visitors. The pristine beaches filled with fine white sand featuring crystal clear water are enough reasons to love Boracay and must be on your bucket list when visiting the Philippines.

Since English is one of the main languages in the Philippines, this makes travelling here hassle-free and more enjoyable for first-time visitors. However, transportation around Boracay is nothing but straightforward. Even a local will have to take a moment and ask around to figure out how things work.

If you have 3 weeks in the Philippines, you definitely have to include Boracay Island in your travel plan. It’s pretty much the poster child of tourism in the Philippines and it’s easy to visit.

Getting around Boracay island is quite an interesting situation. The island is no longer than 10 km in length, but its attractions are located in various areas and have pretty much one main road, so it can be a complicated predicament.

Walking

The island is small enough that walking can be a reliable mode of transportation in Boracay. But strolling under a 30°c heat will leave you exhausted, dehydrated, and sunburnt. Getting around on foot works fine if your hotel is near the main areas: Station 1, Station 2, and Station 3.

Walking from Station 3 to Station 1 alone will still take you nearly 45 minutes, and depending on the time of the day, a shade could be hard to find.

However, if you’re staying in Station 2, you should be able to walk to most stores, beaches, restaurants, and ATM machines. It’s also located near D-Mall, the island’s main shopping and dining area.

E-trike

Before the pandemic, Boracay Island was undergoing rehabilitation before the pandemic, whereas the island was closed to tourists for over 6 months. Part of the rehabilitation is going Eco and Sustainable. This means that the traditional Filipino tricycles and other gas-based vehicles were removed from the island and replaced by electric battery-operated tricycles, similar to a tuk-tuk from Thailand and Cambodia.

How to use it:

There’s only one main road in Boracay (Boracay Highway). So, the e-trikes are either going up to Yapak (towards Puka Beach/north) or Cagban/Tmbisaan (towards the port/south). An etrike can accommodate between  6 to 10 people. E-trikes are in two colours; green and blue, although those colours don’t mean anything. But there are two types of fares when hailing an e-trike; ordinary fare and special fare.

Ordinary fare is when the e-trike driver will continuously pick up passengers along the route and will only drop off passengers along the route, just like a bus. The minimum fare is 15 pesos for a short ride or 30+ pesos for a longer ride. 

The special fare is when you hire the entire e-trike, and the driver won’t be picking up any passengers and will drive you straight to your destination. This costs between 150 pesos to 300 pesos or more.

Hop-on, hop-off bus

This bus is a new concept in Boracay. But unlike Europe, the hop-on, hop-off bus looks different here. The bus is fully air-conditioned, but it doesn’t have a double-decker. It’s also not specifically designed for tourists. There are no audio guides you can plug in or an on-board guide.

On the other hand, it goes to the must-see spots in Boracay. It travels from the port all the way to Puka Beach and makes plenty of stops along the way near the attractions. However, the bus only works from 5:30 AM to 9:00 PM and goes every 15-30 minutes interval.

Cost:

There are 3 ticket types: single-journey, 24-hour unlimited, and 15-30 days unlimited. All tickets require buying a bus card first, which costs 50 pesos. You can top it off with a minimum of 50 pesos. The single-journey fair ranges between 10, 15, 25, 35, and 45 pesos depending on the distance from where you board and where you will get off. This is a good choice if you plan to use it only a few times.

The 24-hour bus pass allows you to use the bus as often as you want within the time frame. It costs 200 pesos plus 50 pesos for the bus card, so a total of 250 pesos per person. This option is great if you want to check out many places around Boracay in a short period. You can extend this card for another 24 hours if you need more.

The third option is suitable for locals and expats living in Boracay. You can get a 15-day pass for 400 pesos or a 30-day pass for 800 pesos plus the 50 pesos card fee. You can renew your pass for the same price.

How to use it:

Once you get on, a staff or bus conductor will approach you and ask for your bus card. If you don’t have one, you can buy from them and pay in cash (only). If your unlimited pass has expired or your card runs out of credit, you can top up onboard.

Make sure to tell the conductor where you want to get off and ask him to remind you once you’re there. They will normally mention the bus stops for each important area, such as the port, D-mall, Stations 1, 2, and 3, Station X, Bulabog Beach, Robinsons, City Mall, Newcoast, and Puka Beach. Well-known resorts such as Savoy Hotel, Belmont Hotel, Astoria Resort, Hennan Resort, and Two Seasons will also be called out.

Motorbike

The Philippines recognises driver’s licenses from many countries. This means you don’t need an international driver’s permit or convert your license to drive a vehicle in the Philippines legally. Your driver’s license is valid the day you arrive and up to 90 days. 

If you want to rent a motorbike in Boracay to get around, you can surely do this. There are not many signs that say “motorbike for rent”, but your hotel, hostel, or resort reception can help you arrange one. Motorbike drivers will also approach you if you need a ride; you can simply ask them if you can rent their motorbike for the day or multiple days.

If you do rent one, make sure to secure a helmet. You don’t have to wear a helmet when driving a motorbike in Boracay. But for your safety, you should. If you plan to go to Newcoast or Keyhole, you must wear a helmet once you enter the Newcoast area; this area also doesn’t allow more than 2 people on a motorbike.

If you don’t want to drive one, you can ride one as a passenger instead. It’s not a regulated system, but you will see plenty of people on their motorbikes offering the service. The fare ranges between 20 pesos to 150 pesos depending on the distance. You can also hire the service for an entire day to discover the island.

E-scooter/e-bike

The local government of Boracay is planning to make the island’s transportation to be more eco-friendly. Apart from electric tuk-tuks, e-scooters or e-bikes are now roaming the island. If you rent one, it should come with a helmet.

How to use it:

There are two ways to get an e-scooter or an e-bike. One option is to book an e-bike or e-scooter tour. You will explore Boracay islands with your own e-vehicle and a local tour guide. The tour usually lasts for 1-2 hours.

Another option is to rent the e-scooter and e-bike and explore on your own. However, it can be hard to find a place to rent. It’s rare and often expensive, usually around 2,000 pesos for a day’s rate, or you can request a per-hour rental rate.

You can discuss a rental agreement from the e-scooter rental shops located in Station 2, around Balabag Beach. You should also check with the rental company how long the batteries last. The battery affects the distance, your weight, and the fact there are some steep hills on some parts of the island.

When you arrive on Boracay Island

Once you arrive on the island, there are a few options you can choose from to reach your hotel or resort. Some of these choices require you to arrange it before your arrival for a hassle-free transfer.

A private transfer should be arranged before you land in Caticlan. The transfer is the most convenient option but can also be costly. The price ranges between 900 to 1,500 pesos depending on the inclusions. You can book a one-way transfer or a round trip. You can also avail of a transfer with or without the terminal and environmental fees (required to enter Boracay).

• Shared Bus Transfer: RESERVE YOUR TICKETS HERE
• Premium Van Transfer: RESERVE YOUR TICKETS HERE

If you book this service, a person will be waiting for you at the arrival hall of Caticlan or Kalibo Airport, or you will be instructed to find the company’s booth just outside the arrival hall. Please remember that porters are included. There are loads of them at the ferry port, and you can pay a minimum of 50 pesos per porter.

Your name will be taken, and you’ll be assisted to get on a van. You will be driven to the port, where the staff will secure the boat tickets and pay the terminal and environmental fees on your behalf.

You will then board a boat. The ferry ride is only 15 minutes. Once you arrive in Boracay, look for the booth of the same transfer company, say your hotel’s name, and you will board the van and be driven directly to your hotel. The van might wait for other passengers but don’t worry, those passengers are from your flight, so you will pretty much wait no more than 5 minutes. If you booked a round trip, get the transfer company’s contact details so you can reach out the day before your departure.

You can also arrange all these on your own, saving you money. Once your flight arrives, walk out of the airport (a very tiny airport), right outside the gate, and cross the main road, where you’ll see a queue of e-trikes. Pay your fare at the booth, it costs 150 pesos fixed rate, the e-trike can be shared by 2 people.

Once you arrive at the ferry terminal, go to the desk and register your name, show your hotel reservation and ID/passport, and pay for the fees (terminal and environmental) and the boat ticket. Board the boat (you will be given a laminated pass printed with a seat number with the boat’s name). Find your sit and wait for someone to collect the laminated pass.

When you arrive at the ferry port in Boracay, you can either ride an e-trike (regular or special. If you have lots of luggage, just pay for the special) or the hop-on, hop-off bus.

Remember that all transactions are paid in cash, so ensure you have some before arriving in Caticlan, Kalibo, and Boracay. Once you reach Boracay, there are plenty of ATM machines, but you can also find them around Caticlan ferry port.

Final thoughts

Boracay Island is a must-not-miss destination when you visit the Philippines. When you look up the best islands or beaches in Southeast Asia, it’s one of the top places on the list together with Thailand’s Phuket, Malaysia’s  Perhentian Islands, and of course, Indonesia’s Bali.

Whether you’re looking for a place to go snorkelling, sun-tanning, and diving, or want to party or go to a romantic place, Boracay is a great place for all that.

Getting around the island can be intimidating at first, but it’s actually straightforward and easy to navigate. Just make sure to always carry cash with you, and don’t think twice about asking a local about transportation if you’re feeling lost. Finally, don’t forget to bargain, especially when taking the e-trikes on a special fare basis.