The best travel route for El Nido, Boracay, and Siquijor is to go:
- El Nido
- Boracay
- Siquijor
Here’s how!
🛬 Getting to El Nido
Direct Flights
✈️ Direct from Manila | 1.5 hours | (Air Swift)
via Puerto Princessa
✈️ Flight from Manila or Cebu to Puerto Princessa | 1.5 hours | (Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, Air Asia)
🚐 Van or bus to El Nido | 5 – 6 hours | (book online)
Notes:
- Direct flights to and from El Nido are expensive, which is why a lot of travelers prefer to fly into Puerto Princessa instead.
- There are countless vans and buses going from Puerto Princessa to El Nido, it’s very easy to get on one.
- Many vans can also pick you up at your hotel in Puerto Princessa.
- If you want to see schedules or book in advance, you can book a van from the airport, the terminal, or even at your hotel here.
📋 El Nido Sample Itinerary
Sample only! See my El Nido travel guide for more info
Day 1: Tour A
Get php200 off Tour A when you book online here!
🚣 Swim and Kayak in Big Lagoon
🤿 Snorkel on Shimizu Island
🙊 Explore Secret Lagoon
🏖️ Chill or play volleyball in 7 Commandos Beach
Day 2: Explore Land Spots
🕸️ Taraw Cliff Canopy Walk and Spiderwebs (book online)
💦 Dip in Nagkalit-kalit Waterfalls
⛱️ Chill and watch the sunset in Nacpan Beach
Day 3: Tour C or Scuba Diving
Get php200 off Tour C when you book online here!
🚁 Helicopter Island
⛩️ Matinloc Shrine
🏖️ Secret Beach
🏖️ Talisay Beach
🏖️ Hidden Beach
➡️ El Nido to Boracay
Fastest Way
✈️ Direct flight from El Nido to Caticlan | 1 hour | (Air Swift)
🛺 Tricycle to Caticlan Jetty Port | 10 minutes
🛥️ Ferry to Boracay | 15 minutes
🛺 Tricycle or HoHo bus to hotel | 10 – 15 minutes
Notes:
- Only one airline flies the El Nido – Boracay route, and flights are quite expensive, which is why many prefer alternative routes.
- If you don’t want to commute from Caticlan Airport to your hotel in Boracay, you can book a van transfer here.
- There are countless tricycles waiting outside the Caticlan airport ready to take you to the port. There are countless ferries at the port ready to take you to Boracay Island. And there are countless tricycles waiting at the Boracay port to take you to your hotel. This is a very easy route to commute.
- There is a Hop-on Hop-off bus that can take you anywhere on Boracay island. Get a card here.
via Puerto Princessa to Manila or Cebu
🚐 Van or bus to Puerto Princessa Airport | 5 – 6 hours | (book online)
✈️ Flight to Manila or Cebu | 1 hour | (Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, Air Asia)
✈️ Flight to Caticlan | 1 hour | (Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, Air Asia)
🛺 Tricycle to Caticlan Jetty Port | 10 minutes
🛥️ Ferry to Boracay | 15 minutes
🛺 Tricycle or HoHo bus to hotel | 10 – 15 minutes
Notes:
- There are dozens of vans and buses going from El Nido to Puerto Princessa airport. You can check schedules and book online here.
- Even though there are two flights in this route, it usually comes out cheaper than flying direct to Boracay.
📋 Boracay Sample Itinerary
Sample only! See my Boracay travel guide for more info
Day 1: Explore the Island
Get a hop-on hop-off bus pass here or hire a tricycle for the day
⛱️ White Beach
⛵ Bulabog Beach
🌊 Ilig-Ilagan Beach
⛩️ Gateway Arch
🦪 Puka Shell Beach
Day 2: Water Activities
Samples only! There are a lot more activities in Boracay. Pick and choose which water activities you want to try!
🧑🚀 Helmet Diving
🛸 UFO Boat
🚤 Jet Ski
Day 3: Chill in White Beach and D’Mall
➡️ Boracay to Siquijor
Step #1 – Boracay to Cebu City
🛺 Tricycle or HoHo bus to Boracay port | 10 – 15 minutes
🛥️ Ferry to Caticlan Jetty Port | 15 minutes
🛺 Tricycle to Caticlan Airport | 5 minutes
✈️ Flight to Cebu | 1 hour | (Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, Air Asia)
Notes:
- If you don’t want to commute from your hotel to Caticlan airport, you can book a van transfer here.
- There are countless tricycles and ferries in these areas, so commuting is super easy.
- Boracay has a Hop-on Hop-off bus that travels the entire island. You can grab a card here.
Step #2 – Cebu City to Siquijor
Fastest Route
🛥️ Ferry from Cebu Pier 1 to Siquijor via Bohol | 4.5 hours | (book online)
Notes:
- This route is the fastest and most straightforward way to get to Siquijor from Cebu. However, it’s also the most expensive option. You can check the schedule and buy tickets online here, or you can also buy at the port.
- This route has a short stopover in Tagbilaran, Bohol. It’s about 15-30 minutes.
Direct Ferry
🛥️ Direct ferry from Cebu Pier 1 to Larena Pier | 10 hours | (book online)
Notes:
- This is the only direct ferry from Cebu City to Siquijor. It leaves 3x a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. You can find updated schedules and book online here.
- Larena Port is farther away from San Juan (Siquijor’s tourist zone) than Siquijor Port (which the other travel options dock on). Nonetheless, there are plenty of tricycles or motorcycle taxis outside Larena Pier that will be happy to take you there.
Direct Bus
🚌 Direct bus from South Bus Terminal, Cebu to Siquijor | 7 – 8 hours
Notes:
- The bus drives to Liloan Port, gets on the boat, and continues its journey around Siquijor. You can stay inside the bus while it’s on the boat, or you can get out.
- You still have to pay the boat fare. In total, you’ll spend about php650 (roughly 400 for the bus, and 250 for the boat)
- When the boat docks, the bus will loop around Siquijor Island. So if you’re staying in San Juan (Siquijor’s main tourist zone), just tell the conductor to drop you there.
- This is a fairly new route by Ceres Bus Liner, and it currently leaves every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 8 pm, and 1am on Sundays. You can check their Facebook Page for any updates.
Alternative Route
🚌 Direct bus to Dumaguete City | 5 – 6 hours
🛥️ Ferry to Siquijor | 40 minutes | (book online)
Notes:
- This is probably the worst route to Siquijor. However, because the other routes are either expensive or not available every day, many travelers still do this route.
- Buses to Dumaguete City leave South Bus Terminal in Cebu every hour starting at 6 am. Like the direct bus to Siquijor, you still have to pay your boat fare.
- From Dumaguete Pier, there are about 6-7 different ferries to take you to Siquijor. The Fast Crafts are owned by OceanJet, and they leave twice a day. Click here to see schedules and book online. The slow boats can only be booked at the pier.
📋 Siquijor Sample Itinerary
Sample only! See my Siquijor travel guide for more info
Day 1: Explore San Juan
🤿 Snorkel in Tubod Marine Sanctuary
🟩 Swim in the green Lugnason Falls
⛲ Relax in Capilay Spring Park
🌅 Watch the sunset in Paliton Beach
Day 2: Explore Lazi
🌳 Foot spa in the Old Balete Tree
🧙 “Witch” jump shot in Hapitanan
💦 Jump into Cambugahay Falls
🦇 Swim through the Sambulawan Underground River
⛪ Visit the Lazi Church and Convent
Day 3: Explore the Mountains
⛰️ Visit the Mt. Bandilaan view deck (tallest point in Siquijor)
🦇 Go spelunking in Cantabon Cave
🍽️ Eat in Larena Triad Coffee Shop
🦋 Visit the butterfly sanctuary
🗺️ Try to find Cangbangag Falls
🛫 Exit From Siquijor
Fastest Route
🛥️ Ferry from Siquijor Port to Cebu City via Bohol | 4.5 hours | (book online)
🚕 Taxi to Cebu Airport | 30 – 45 minutes
✈️ Flight to Manila or outside the country
Notes:
- This is the fastest and most convenient way to get from Siquijor to Cebu City.
- The ferry has a short 15 – 30 minutes stopover in Tagbilaran, Bohol.
Direct Ferry
🛥️ Ferry from Larena Port to Cebu City | 10 hours | (book online)
🚕 Taxi to Cebu Airport | 30 – 45 minutes
✈️ Flight to Manila or outside the country
Notes:
- This ferry leaves from Larena Port, NOT Siquijor Port where the fast crafts leave from.
- This ferry only leaves every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7 pm. You can check for schedules and book online here.
Alternative Route #1
🛥️ Ferry from Siqujor Port to Dumaguete City | 40 minutes | (book online)
🚌 Bus or tricycle to Sibulan Port | 15 minutes
🛥️ Ferry to Liloan Port | 30 minutes
🚌 Bus to Cebu City | 4 – 5 hours
🚕 Taxi to Cebu Airport | 30 – 45 minutes
✈️ Flight to Manila or outside the country
Notes:
- This route sounds complicated, but there are so many buses and ferries plying this route, it’s very easy.
- There are a lot of fast and slow boats from Siquijor to Dumaguete city. The most popular for tourists is OceanJet. You can check their schedule and book online here.
Alternative Route #2
🛥️ Ferry from Larena Port to Bato, Cebu | 3 hours
🚌 Bus to Cebu City | 4 – 5 hours
🚕 Taxi to Cebu Airport | 30 – 45 minutes
✈️ Flight to Manila or outside the country
Notes:
- The ferry from Larena Port to Bato in southern Cebu leaves 3x a week at 1pm, and takes 3 hours to arrive. You can find updated schedules on Maayo Shipping’s Facebook page.
Have questions? Shoot me a message below or send me a dm on my Instagram.