Caticlan To Boracay Crossing
Let's continue my travel from Tacloban to Cebu to Clark to Caticlan to Boracay!
Alright folks! Me and friend met at the Caticlan airport's arrival area, our separate flights arriving from Manila and from Clark in a matter of only 12 minutes apart! But we weren't there yet. Me boat ride pa!
Now let's cover our way from the airport to the island, and eventually to our resort. I say "our way", as this portion of the travel now comes in many varied ways. Meaning, it is not very much the same from one traveler to the other. It depends on where you bought tickets/accommodations - even 'who from'!
How and why is that? [kinabahan ka ano? don't worry, all is legit and fine]
There are so many "segmented" or "fragmented services being offered by so many individuals and/or groups. Prices would vary depending on the type/style of service offered, yet seldom are "fraudulent". Let us review the general visitor flow, to identify the many "usually confusing" services offered to you.
In general, you:
1] arrive by air (at Caticlan airport: MPH);
2] transfer from airport to jetty port;
3] buy boat ticket;
4] pay terminal fee;
5] pay environmental fee;
6] wait for boarding call at pre-departure area;
7] ride a boat to the island;
8] ride land vehicle from port on the island, to resort.
On Item 1] you already know that. It can also be Kalibo (KLO), though it's 70kms away, and takes about 2hours to the jetty, while Caticlan Airport is 2kms away and takes something like 5 to 8 minutes -only!
Did you know that not so long ago, Caticlan Airport was only a walk away to the jetty port? Something like just about 400 meters, though people with heavy bags usually rode on tricycles or even pedicabs.
So, why is it now 2kms away? Ah, they transferred the terminal to the other side and other end of the runway. I haven't asked experts yet, but it is obvious to me, they did that to have much needed space.
Thus, Item 2] above, has now become a little bit more complicated due to the distance. There still are tricycles (no more pedicabs), but the usual way would be via vans and buses. You'd be a fool to walk!
If anything, the 2km 'airport to jetty port' run, affords everyone a view of the Caticlan countryside!
Hmm, ilista yan at mapuntahan one of these days. Okay, bucketlisted!
Now, inside the arrival lobby, there is/are counters that offer the same service, just a bit more pricey. The only difference (in terms of convenience) is: you transact at a counter, no haggling, the van would come to the curbside to get you. More of almost like how they do it at Laguindingan, but not quite so!
Remember, we're still at Item 2] in the list above. And it gets even a little bit more complicated. Why? Ah, your resort may have already arranged this transpo, and included in your room charges. So you'll have to know and be alert if that is the case. Someone will be at the arrival area to meet you for this.
Complicate pa more? Yes! Your resort might have just hired any of those existing van/bus services , so do not wonder, that in your "limousine provided by the resort" (van or bus lang yan!), there are 'other' guests who may or may not be going to the same resort as yours! Tip: the best resorts have their own!
In fact, your airline or your travel agency may also offer this said "transfer service" from the airport to the jetty! So, ask before flying if it's already included in what you paid. Not only for economy, but also for you to know who to look for and/or where might they be! It's a tiny place but humans move about!
Note that in such cases... you're probably not the only person they're waiting for! You're one of many!
Which brings us to another "complication". Your 5-star resort has its own dedicated staff and vehicles to fetch you. Yeah! But you are asked to sit and wait 'for a while' (who knows how long will that be), as another guest, on another flight, is "just about to land"! O ano.., "espeysial" pala ha?! Ano ang feeling?
Maghintay ka! These are very common to airline/travel agency-provided tour packages.
There are other complications, and it is funny crazy, when you and/or your companions booked your Boracay packages separately. Even if you all came on one flight, you may discover that one of you has a 'Klook Package' including this transfer, others with other providers, and you, you have nothing haha!
Don't fret if that happens. Those are easily "solusyonable"!
For Item 3], when you reach the jetty terminal, you join the lines of those who are buying boat tickets. Then again, some of the mentioned providers (in Item 2]) may/can do it for you - but out of their own volition - not something you can require them to do (I observed). Either they line up to pay for you, or they (their companies) may even pay for those fees, ahead of your arrival. So ask and use your charm!
It is the same scene for Item 4] and Item 5]. Many passengers (include me please) are dumbfoundedly appalled why people have to keep lining up to pay to different branches of one and the same entity - the Philippine Government. Whatever branch they may be, they are still the same - THE Government.
Wheh, I don't have to debate here, but let me give an example: many of us were unpopular years ago, considered as "mga walang magawa", for voicing out "why can't an airport terminal fee be included in a ticket". Kung anu-anong katwiran, kung anu-anong tawag s'atin, ang ending: ayun ginagawa na nila!
Bureaucratic Red Tape. Mawawala din yan, soon. DU30 makinig ka, pinangako mo yan!
For Item 6], there is something like a waiting lounge (like those at airports), but due to the number of boats available that are ready and waiting, seldom do people get to 'lounge' on them, which I think is a good sign! Passengers get to cross to the island, as soon as they have their tickets. No more waiting!
Item 7] is an improvement, and I like it. Ride when it's your turn on the line. If you didn't make it until the capacity is reached, you're simply redirected to hop on the next boat. Simple yet efficient! There's a technique, they just check the capacity of a boat, an equal number of passengers are asked to enter (or is that get out of) the gate. They all board on that boat. Tapos! Then it's the next boat's turn. Ayos!
All boats depart/arrive at the same jetty port. Well, ports to be exact (yes, plural) since there are two, but according to seasons, and it's not as if boatmen can just choose where to depart from or arrive at as they wish! It has got to do with Amihan and Habagat, the country's wind seasons that affect waves.
Here's a map for the curious (because most of us wouldn't actually care where a boat crosses)!
Waves can be too big for cute little boats in the area during Amihan Season (usually June to October), and that's when the alternate sealane is used - Tabon Port (nearer the airport) to Tambisan Jetty Port!
When that happens, all service providers just transfer their operations to designated alternate areas, and that's usually not a concern of/for visitors. Local government and the coast guard decide on that.
That brings us down to Item 8] in our list above - the ride from arrival at the island's jetty port to the resort you have booked-with (lucky you if it's walking distance)! It's similar to Item 2] - meaning there are so many providers offering that service, offered individually or bundled with various other things!
If you are patient, and knows your way around, those steps above are easy, and worthy an expereince to do. But if you are the busy (aka "impatient") executive like my friend, he booked a service provider that does "all of the above" for both of us. All we had to do was arrive, follow them, ride! Convenient!
They have desks at the arrival area. They put stickers on your chest, and they have so many people (I think they're a community organization) who're there to assist us passengers in every step of the way.
Oh, one of them even crossed with us on the boat, just to make sure that everyone was attended to, and we were all endorsed to our respective e-trikes that would whisk us on to our respective resorts!
I noticed, the conveyances we were loaded unto (vans, boat, e-trikes) were not their own equipment. Those were public utility vehicles that they contracted specially for us their passengers. Impressive! I like that kind of business model (various services consolidated seamlessly) but they take ownership of the services accorded to us, since we paid to them. Kumbaga... laway lang ang puhunan nila. Di ba?
Alright. I hope I've given you a detailed overview of how it is to cross from Caticlan Airport to Boracay Island. Because everything was done for us by Mabuhay Hosts, we enjoyed even our way going there!
This is the port's lobby. Tourism staff here can give you more information about Boracay, if need be!
Look, many people were lining up for tickets, etc., while we just waited at the airconditioned lobby!
Then we entered the secured pre-departure area, no lines, no pauses, going straight to the 'gate'!
And out to our boat, where the boat staff and our "transfer guide" awaited for us... she moves so fast!
BUT, in my case, that last row has no more windows hahaha, only this...
Hep hep hep... pigilan nyo ako, baka mag-drama nanaman... eh this is only some 10 to 15 minute ride. In fact, that back view picture above, and this "disembarkation scene" was only 6 minutes apart. Asus!
It is that near! Very quick, even if I was last to disembark. But I got a glimpse of the boat's "cockpit"!
Passengers (including my friend na nauna na) had fun walking on this wobbly rubberized pontoon!
Aaand... touchdown Boracay! I heard one of the girls say "ay, ito na yun? bakit iba sa picture?"!
I looked back as people from my boat piled-in to ride their respective e-trikes... oo nga naman...
In fact, this here that we arrived at, is not even the actual jetty port of Boracay. It's that one at right!
I would have asked the boatman more questions, but my friend plus our "mabuhay girl" were already calling me. All e-trikes have departed, the last one waiting for me was ready to go for Astoria Current!
Off we went! But along the way (that's about 3kms to our resort), I couldn't help but notice this kid!
"Dismayado ka"? He sheepishly smiled, looked at his mom, looked back at me and nodded! Argh! That melted my friend's heart - and mine! I tried to cheer him up saying "dito lang yan, nasa likod kasi tayo ng mga kabahayan nila"! Others, including his mom, chimed-in with many positive descriptive things!
Quickly glancing between me and his mom, he asked "me iskwater po ba dito"? I answered (matter of factly) "aw oo naman, maraming mara... aray aray aray" [somebody was gripping hard above my knee]!
While everyone laughed, e-trike driver said "dito na po ang Astoria Current". So we got off! And I knew it! As we walked along the eskinita going to (the back of) Astoria Current, I was being chastised by the friend, who started with "tarantado ka talaga, pati ba naman bata pagsasabihan mo ng katotohanan"!
We were boisterously laughing as we entered the lobby of Astoria Current to check-in.
But let's talk about it in my next story. Pramis!
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