When it comes to flights to Boracay, most people like them cheap and convenient, so the bulk of the flights that I discuss here have that perfect balance.
Apart from that, I also mention the absolute cheapest routes, and I show you how you can fly the Philippines Indiana Jones style…
About Flying to Boracay
Boracay has 2 nearby airports, one in Caticlan and one in Kalibo. Caticlan Airport is 30 minutes from Boracay and accommodates domestic flights only, while Kalibo Airport is 2 hours from Boracay, but it also accommodates international flights.
Flights to Caticlan cost a bit more than flights to Kalibo. But not by much, and the time you save by flying to Caticlan more than makes up for the extra cost, unless you’re on a tight budget. Both airports are pretty small and only for passing through.
See my how to get to Boracay guide for info on how to transfer from these airports to Boracay.
P.S. If you fly to Boracay Island internationally, you may be able to eliminate the stopover at Manila Airport when your flight to Manila is not direct. This will shave hours off your travel time. Time that you can then spend relaxing on the beach instead! 🙂
The way to do this would be to find a direct flight to Singapore or Kuala Lumpur instead. From there you can then take a direct flight to Kalibo Airport, close to Boracay.
How To Find Cheap Flights
To save you the trouble I’ve tested the flight search engines and their ticket prices. I checked prices for the 9 most common flights to Manila, and for 6 direct flights to Boracay. Momondo came out as the cheapest 12 out of 15 times, and Skyscanner was the cheapest 3 times.
Because of those results, I recommend you start your flight search with Momondo, and then double check your chosen flight with Skyscanner, just in case it has a lower rate.
If you value user experience and more flexible search options over price, then I recommend you use Kiwi.com for your flight search. Kiwi is a relatively new and more modern flight search engine that’s very user friendly and highly rated on Trustpilot.
Manila to Boracay
When flying from Manila to Boracay it’s best to fly to Caticlan Airport, because it’s only 30 minutes from Boracay, while the alternative Kalibo Airport is 2 hours away.
The flight to Caticlan takes about 50 minutes, bridging a distance of 304 km. The route is flown about 14 times per day, so it’s easy to match it up with your schedule.
To find and book cheap tickets for this route, search Manila to Caticlan flights on Momondo and Skyscanner. Or search this flight route on Kiwi.com if you value ease of use over price.
If you plan to stay in Manila overnight, see my guide on Manila Airport’s 12 best nearby hotels.
Cebu to Boracay
When flying from Cebu to Boracay it’s also best to fly to Caticlan Airport, since it’s relatively close to the island. The flight time is about 55 minutes, bridging a distance of 347 km. The route is flown about 4 times per day, so you can choose your prefered time of day.
To find and book cheap tickets for this route, search Cebu to Caticlan flights on Momondo and Skyscanner. Or search this flight route on Kiwi.com if you value ease of use over price.
Singapore to Boracay
Direct flights from Singapore to Boracay arrive at Kalibo International Airport, and the transfer from Kalibo to Boracay takes 2 hours. This route isn’t flown frequently, so you may have to adjust your schedule to catch this flight. The flight takes about 3 hours and 40 minutes, bridging a distance of 2.333 km.
To find and book cheap tickets for this route, search Singapore to Kalibo flights on Momondo and Skyscanner. Or search this flight route on Kiwi.com if you value ease of use over price.
Kuala Lumpur to Boracay
Direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Boracay also arrive at Kalibo International Airport, from which it’s a 2 hour trip to Boracay. This route isn’t flown frequently as well, so you may have to adjust your schedule to catch this flight. The flight takes about 3 hours and 45 minutes, bridging a distance of 2.487 km.
To find cheap tickets for this route, search Kuala Lumpur to Kalibo flights on Momondo and Skyscanner. Or search this flight route on Kiwi.com if you value ease of use over price.
Boracay to other Philippine Destinations
If you’re interested in visiting other Philippine destinations as well, the good news is that there are finally direct flights from Boracay to Palawan and Bohol now.
Most of these flights are accommodated by Air Juan, which flies to four different airports in Palawan, and one in Bohol. AirSWIFT also flies to Palawan, but only to El Nido Airport. They are more economically priced though.
Flight times vary from 40 mins up to 2 hrs and 30 mins depending on the destination and the flight route. Some of Air Juan’s flights drop off passengers at destinations along the way.
These flights can be a great experience in and of themselves, see Flying from Coron to Boracay, a Scenic Journey by Jackson from JourneyEra.
Airlines That Fly These Routes
The table below shows the routes discussed on this page, and which airlines fly those routes.
| Manila to Caticlan & Kalibo: | Cebu Pacific, AirAsia, Philippine Airlines, SkyJet (Caticlan only) |
| Cebu to Caticlan & Kalibo: | Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, AirAsia (Kalibo only) |
| Singapore to Kalibo: | Scoot |
| Kuala Lumpur to Kalibo: | AirAsia |
| Boracay to Palawan: | Air Juan, AirSWIFT |
| Boracay to Bohol: | Air Juan |
Cebu Pacific, AirAsia and Scoot are low-cost airlines that operate predominantly in Asia. Cebu Pacific is the largest airline in the Philippines, while AirAsia is the largest in Malaysia. Scoot is a sister company of Singapore Airlines, one of the biggest airlines in the world.
Philippine Airlines was formerly one of the biggest airlines in Asia, but financial troubles in the past forced them to downsize, and they never fully recovered. They also fly internationally.
SkyJet and AirSWIFT are small boutique airlines operating exclusively in the Philippines. Air Juan is too, but they have a larger selection of flights and they also have seaplanes.
Boracay Airport Transfer
There are no flights directly to Boracay Island, only to locations nearby, namely Caticlan and Kalibo Airport. They are 30 minutes and 2 hours from Boracay respectively, so you’ll have to arrange an airport transfer.
I recommend you book your Boracay airport transfer in advance with Klook. You pay a bit more as compared to booking on the ground, but it’s well worth the convenience and peace of mind.
If you’re flying to Boracay via Manila and are staying there overnight, you can also book an airport transfer from Manila Airport to your hotel. Or alternatively you can read my Manila Airport Guide to learn how to catch an airport taxi without getting scammed.
Conclusion & Summary
As you can see, there are quite a few flight routes to choose from when traveling to Boracay…
Flying to Caticlan Airport is best when you’re traveling via Manila or Cebu. If you’re flying in via a long indirect international flight on the other hand, skipping Manila and flying directly from Singapore or Kuala Lumpur to Kalibo Airport can often be the better option.
As for the best way to find cheap and convenient flights, I tested the most popular flight search engines, and most of the time I find the cheapest plane tickets with Momondo. Skyscanner comes in second, and Kiwi.com is best when it comes to flexibility and ease of use.