Caticlan vs Kalibo: Which Airport Should You Fly Into for Boracay?

Booking your flight is the first step to Boracay, but choosing your arrival airport is just as important. It might seem like a minor detail, but the airport you pick defines how the first few hours of your trip will unfold. You have two main choices: the Caticlan Airport, which is just minutes from the island’s entry point, and the Kalibo International Airport, a larger hub further away. Since Boracay has no airport, both routes require a boat transfer from Caticlan Jetty Port. Caticlan offers speed, while Kalibo often saves you money (Larena, 2025).

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Caticlan Airport: The Closest Option to Boracay

Caticlan Airport, officially called Godofredo P. Ramos Airport is basically your best friend if you want to get to Boracay as quickly as possible. This airport sits in Malay, Aklan, and it’s literally just minutes away from Caticlan Jetty Port. And because it is so close, you’re looking at a way fewer transfers and much shorter travel time overall (Tina, 2025).

How to Get to Boracay from Caticlan Airport

Once you land at Caticlan, you’ll grab a tricycle or hop into a shared van to get to Caticlan Jetty Port. This ride is super quick, like we’re talking about 10 to 15 minutes, tops. From there, boats are constantly shuttling people over to Cagban Port on Boracay Island. The boat ride itself? About 15 to 20 minutes of scenic water travel. Once you arrive at the island’s port, tricycles or e- trikes are readily available to transport you to your specific hotel or resort (Alvarez & Alvarez, 2025).

Kalibo International Airport: More Flights, Longer Transfer

On the other hand, we have Kalibo International Airport. This one is located quite a bit farther, roughly two to three hours away by land from the Caticlan Jetty Port. Now I realize this may sound like a long trip, but here me out on this one. Despite being further from the destination, Kalibo International Airport is the most frequently used among travelers going to Boracay due to handling larger aircraft that offer more flight options and cheaper prices (Larena, 2025).

How to Get to Boracay from Kalibo Airport

From the airport, you’ll hop on a bus or a van heading to Caticlan Jetty Port. This is the main leg of the journey, and travel time typically ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 hours. It really depends on traffic and how fast your driver is going. Once the van arrives at the jetty port, the process merges with the Caticlan route as you pay standard fees and board the boat to Cagban Port. After docking at the island, you take a tricycle or e-trike to your hotel, just as you would if you had arrived from Caticlan (Alvarez & Alvarez, 2025).

Kalibo works best if you are prioritizing flight cost over speed, or if you simply can’t find a Caticlan flight that fits your schedule.

Cost Comparison: Caticlan vs Kalibo

Caticlan Route Costs

Because the airport is so close to the port, the land transfer is cheap. The tricycle ride to the jetty typically costs between PHP 50 and PHP 150. Boat fares and port fees usually range from PHP 250 to PHP 500 per person. The total transfer expense is often under PHP 600 before the final hotel transfer (Fournier, 2024; PinayHakawati, 2026).

Kalibo Route Costs

The longer distance from Kalibo means higher transfer costs. A seat in a van or bus to Caticlan generally costs around PHP 200 to PHP 300. Since the boat fees remain the same, your total for land and sea transport could hit PHP 500 to PHP 800 or more depending on what you choose (Alvarez & Alvarez, 2025).

Travel Time and Arrival Experience

If you fly into Caticlan, you’re typically looking at reaching Boracay in under one hour from the moment you land to when you’re actually on the island. From Kalibo? The full journey usually takes between two to three hours. This difference really becomes noticeable if you’re doing a short trip, where all that transit time actually cuts into your beach time (CulturaVoyant, 2025).

Which Airport Should You Choose?

Choose Caticlan if you prefer faster arrival, best choice if you want to avoid long van rides or if you have a tight schedule. Go with Kalibo if you want a budget-friendly option, or you are together with a large group where savings per person matter, or if flight availability to Caticlan is limited (CulturaVoyant, 2025). Both airports are totally viable options, honestly. The better choice really comes down to what matters most to you, your priorities, budget, and how long you’re planning to stay.

Additional Travel Planning Tips

Flight prices and travel conditions change with the seasons, so it definitely helps to check the best time to visit Boracay before you book those flights. If you want a complete breakdown of all transfers and fees, check out our guide on How to get to Boracay. For budgeting purposes, our Boracay travel budget guide covers daily expenses, transport costs, and food pricing. If you prepare to take to the skies from Kalibo, why not indulge in a delightful detour to the Bread and Butter Kalibo store? A perfect spot to gather some cherished pasalubong treasures before your journey. And if your heart belongs to the island’s sandy shores, fear not! Bread and Butter stores are sprinkled across Boracay, offering a convenient way to collect gifts without the burden of lugging them around during your beach days.