Boracay Airport Guide: Caticlan Transfers and the Route to Gigantes Island

Boracay Airport is the common traveler name for Godofredo P. Ramos Airport in Caticlan, Aklan. It is also widely called Caticlan Airport and is the closest practical airport to Boracay’s main mainland gateway. Despite the popular name, the airport is not located on Boracay Island itself.

Passengers arriving in Caticlan still need to collect baggage, travel to Caticlan Jetty Port, complete terminal procedures, cross by boat, and arrange onward transport to their accommodation on Boracay. Travelers continuing afterward to Gigantes Island face another separate journey: they must leave Boracay, return to mainland Panay, and travel overland toward Carles in northern Iloilo.

Boracay and Gigantes can work well in one Panay itinerary, but they should not be treated as neighboring resorts that can be connected quickly. Flight, road, port, boat, and hotel transfers are separate stages, and delays at one stage can affect everything that follows.

Godofredo P. Ramos Airport, Caticlan Airport, and “Boracay Airport” Explained

Godofredo P. Ramos Airport is located in Caticlan and is commonly referred to in travel searches as Caticlan Airport or Boracay Airport. These names generally refer to the same commercial air gateway used by travelers heading to Boracay.

Name	How Travelers Should Understand It
Godofredo P. Ramos Airport	The formal airport name
Caticlan Airport	The common geographic name used by travelers and transport providers
Boracay Airport	A widely used tourism and search term because the airport serves Boracay-bound passengers

The distinction matters when arranging transportation. An airport pickup in Caticlan is different from a pickup at Caticlan Jetty Port or at a hotel on Boracay Island.

Before confirming a transfer, provide the exact pickup point rather than saying only “Boracay.” Drivers and transport coordinators need to know whether the guest will be waiting:

• At the airport arrivals area
• At Caticlan Jetty Port
• At another mainland Caticlan location
• At a specific Boracay hotel or resort

These locations involve different access procedures, waiting times, and transport stages.

Flight Arrival Is Not the Same as Boracay Hotel Arrival

A flight arrival time should never be treated as the hotel check-in time. Even after the aircraft lands, passengers still need to complete several stages before reaching their accommodation.

Typical Arrival Sequence

1. Aircraft arrival and disembarkation
2. Baggage collection
3. Exit from the airport terminal
4. Land transfer toward Caticlan Jetty Port
5. Terminal processing and ticket or transfer verification
6. Boat crossing to Boracay
7. Arrival at the island-side port
8. Local transport to the hotel or resort
9. Hotel check-in

Each step requires time. Peak-period queues, baggage delays, weather, terminal congestion, and the location of the hotel can make the total journey significantly longer than the flight arrival time suggests.

Travelers should therefore avoid arranging a tightly timed activity immediately after landing. A flight that arrives on schedule can still result in a much later hotel arrival once all ground and sea transfers are completed.

Caticlan Jetty Port Is a Separate Travel Stage

The airport and jetty are different transport points. After leaving Boracay Airport, travelers continue overland to Caticlan Jetty Port before crossing to Boracay.

The jetty stage may involve:

• Passenger verification
• Port or terminal procedures
• Baggage handling
• Waiting for the assigned vessel
• Boarding queues
• Boat crossing

Travelers should follow the current port and transfer instructions for their travel date. Procedures may change during peak travel periods, severe weather, maintenance, or other operational conditions.

A transfer marketed as “airport to Boracay” may include several separate services combined into one booking. Ask whether the rate includes the airport vehicle, terminal processing assistance, boat crossing, island-side vehicle, and hotel drop-off.

Exact Pickup Points for Airport, Jetty, or Boracay Hotel Transfers

Travelers continuing toward Gigantes should be especially precise when arranging the next transfer. A driver collecting passengers from Boracay Airport cannot automatically collect them from a Boracay hotel because the hotel is across the water on a separate island.

Likewise, a mainland driver waiting near Caticlan Jetty Port may not have access to the airport pickup area unless that arrangement is specifically included.

Information to Provide the Driver

• Exact pickup point
• Date and expected pickup time
• Flight number when pickup begins at the airport
• Hotel name when pickup begins after leaving Boracay
• Passenger count
• Number and size of bags
• Destination in Carles
• Whether the final drop-off is Bancal Port or an accommodation

Written pickup instructions should be saved offline. A meeting-point photograph, driver name, vehicle details, and contact number can prevent confusion when mobile data is weak.

Why Pickup Instructions Affect Waiting and Parking Fees

Unclear pickup instructions can create additional costs. A driver may wait at the airport while the guest is actually at the jetty, or a vehicle may incur parking or waiting charges because the passenger has not yet completed the boat crossing from Boracay.

Before confirming the transfer, ask:

• Where exactly will the driver wait?
• How much waiting time is included?
• When does paid waiting begin?
• Are parking charges included?
• What happens if the flight or boat is delayed?
• Who should be contacted if the pickup point changes?

A complete transport agreement should also state whether the rate is private or shared and whether additional passenger stops are expected.

Traveling From Boracay Toward Carles

Travelers continuing from Boracay to Gigantes must first return to mainland Panay. This means checking out of the hotel, traveling to the appropriate Boracay port, completing the boat crossing, collecting or managing luggage, and meeting the onward road vehicle.

The road journey then continues across northern Panay toward Carles, Iloilo. This is a substantial overland transfer and should be treated as its own travel day or major itinerary segment.

A practical sequence is:

1. Check out from the Boracay accommodation.
2. Travel to the departure port.
3. Complete the Boracay-to-Caticlan boat transfer.
4. Meet the prearranged mainland driver.
5. Travel toward Carles.
6. Check in to a mainland Carles accommodation.
7. Join the Gigantes tour the following day.

This structure is safer than planning a long Boracay transfer and a fixed Gigantes boat departure on the same day.

For a wider multi-destination plan, read the Boracay and Gigantes Island itinerary guide.

Why Boracay and Gigantes Should Not Be Treated as Adjacent

Both destinations are in the broader Western Visayas travel region, but their logistics are very different. Boracay requires a mainland-to-island transfer through its port system, while Gigantes requires an overland trip to Carles followed by official tourism procedures at Bancal Port and an onward boat journey.

A traveler moving from a Boracay hotel to a Gigantes tour therefore has multiple separate segments:

• Boracay hotel to island port
• Boracay-to-mainland boat crossing
• Mainland port to Carles by road
• Carles accommodation or Bancal reporting area
• Tourism registration and Tourism Pass procedures
• Boat departure toward the Gigantes attractions

Each stage can be affected by weather, traffic, passenger queues, baggage, and provider schedules.

Bancal Port and the Final Gigantes Connection

Once travelers reach Carles, they still need to follow the current official procedures for island travel. Bancal Port in Barangay Bancal is designated under Municipal Ordinance No. 2016-03 as the official entrance and exit point and gateway to the municipality’s island destinations.

Visitors normally report through the Bancal Tourism Office and complete the applicable tourism procedures before boarding. These may include passenger verification, Tourism Pass arrangements, documented fees, briefing, boat assignment, and maritime clearance.

Reaching Carles late in the day does not guarantee an immediate boat transfer to Gigantes. Travelers should confirm whether they are sleeping on mainland Carles or whether a separate island transfer has been arranged and authorized.

Review the Bancal Port guide before linking the Boracay transfer with the Gigantes departure.

Airline Terminals, Check-In Cutoffs, and Baggage Allowance

Passengers using Boracay Airport should verify the operating airline’s current instructions for the exact flight date. Airline procedures can change, particularly during peak travel periods, aircraft changes, severe weather, or terminal adjustments.

Recheck Before Departure

• Flight number
• Departure and arrival times
• Terminal or check-in area
• Online check-in availability
• Check-in cutoff
• Boarding deadline
• Checked-baggage allowance
• Cabin-baggage dimensions and weight

Travelers returning to the airport from Boracay should leave enough time for the island-to-mainland crossing, terminal procedures, road transfer, check-in, security, and possible queues.

Do not plan based solely on the duration of the short road segment between Caticlan Jetty and the airport. The boat and terminal stages must also be included.

Baggage for a Boracay–Gigantes Combination

A traveler combining Boracay and Gigantes may carry more luggage than is convenient during repeated boat transfers. Large suitcases can be difficult to move through port areas, wet landings, smaller boats, and island accommodations.

Consider separating luggage into:

Bag	Recommended Use
Main suitcase	Clothing and items needed for the wider trip
Small overnight bag	Items needed if staying on Gigantes or Sicogon
Waterproof day bag	Cash, ID, medicine, towel, water, and electronics for island hopping
Emergency pouch	Backup cash, essential medicine, and offline contact details

Ask whether the Carles accommodation can securely store large luggage during the Gigantes day tour.

Drones, Batteries, and Electronic Equipment

Travelers carrying drones, power banks, camera batteries, and other lithium-powered equipment should check the operating airline’s current baggage rules before arriving at the airport.

Spare lithium batteries require proper handling and protection against short circuit. Power banks are also subject to airline safety requirements and should not simply be placed inside checked baggage without reviewing the applicable rules.

Prepare Electronics Before Flying

• Check the battery capacity and watt-hour rating.
• Protect spare-battery terminals.
• Use individual battery cases or pouches.
• Do not carry damaged or swollen batteries.
• Verify whether airline approval is required.
• Keep fragile equipment protected against baggage impact.

Permission to transport a drone does not automatically authorize flying it in Boracay, Caticlan, Bancal, or the Gigantes attractions. Local, aviation, privacy, property, crowd-safety, and weather restrictions still apply.

Peak-Period and Bad-Weather Procedures

Holiday periods and bad weather can affect flights, port queues, boat operations, road traffic, and hotel check-in times. Travelers should add extra time when moving between several separate transport systems.

Potential delays include:

• Late aircraft arrival
• Slow baggage release
• Airport pickup congestion
• Jetty queues
• Weather-related boat delays
• Road congestion across Panay
• Vehicle waiting for other shared passengers

When an important connection depends on several stages operating perfectly, the itinerary is too tight.

Separate Bookings Do Not Automatically Protect One Another

A flight, airport transfer, Boracay boat transfer, Carles road transfer, accommodation booking, and Gigantes tour may all be purchased separately. Each can have its own cancellation and no-show rules.

If a delayed flight causes the traveler to miss a separately booked vehicle or tour, the next provider may not be responsible for the earlier delay.

Before Paying, Ask Each Provider

• What happens if the previous transport stage is delayed?
• How much waiting time is included?
• Can the booking be moved to the following day?
• Is the payment refundable, rebookable, or convertible to credit?
• What happens when bad weather prevents the boat from operating?

Keep all terms in writing and store the confirmations offline.

Why an Overnight Buffer Is Safer Before Gigantes

An overnight stop in mainland Carles is generally the safer structure after traveling from Boracay. It separates the long transfer from the physically active island-hopping day.

The extra night provides time to:

• Recover from the Boracay checkout and road transfer
• Buy drinking water, medicine, and other supplies
• Withdraw enough Philippine pesos
• Reorganize luggage
• Confirm the next morning’s Bancal pickup
• Receive updated weather information
• Resolve delays without automatically missing the tour

A traveler who reaches Carles late at night and begins an early tour with little sleep may find boat travel, sun exposure, wet landings, swimming, and viewpoint climbs more demanding.

Sample Boracay-to-Gigantes Connection Plan

Day	Recommended Structure
Day 1	Fly into Boracay Airport, complete the Caticlan and Boracay transfers, then check in and enjoy Boracay.
Following Boracay checkout day	Leave Boracay, cross to Caticlan, meet the confirmed driver, and travel overland to mainland Carles.
That evening	Check in near Carles or Bancal, prepare cash and luggage, and reconfirm the next day’s tour.
Next day	Complete Bancal registration and join the confirmed Gigantes Island hopping route.

This avoids linking multiple water and road transfers directly to a fixed Gigantes departure.

Travelers planning several nights in the area can use the Gigantes Island itinerary guide to compare one-day, two-night, and three-night plans.

Boracay Airport to Gigantes Planning Checklist

• Recognize Godofredo P. Ramos Airport, Caticlan Airport, and Boracay Airport as common names for the same air gateway.
• Remember that the airport is on mainland Panay, not Boracay Island.
• Allow time for baggage, the jetty transfer, port procedures, boat crossing, and hotel transport.
• Specify whether pickup is at the airport, jetty, or a Boracay hotel.
• Confirm waiting and parking charges.
• Recheck the airline’s terminal, check-in cutoff, and baggage allowance.
• Separate large luggage from the waterproof Gigantes day bag.
• Treat the Boracay-to-Carles road journey as a major transfer segment.
• Do not assume Boracay and Gigantes are adjacent.
• Stay overnight in mainland Carles before a fixed Gigantes departure when possible.
• Understand that separate flight, road, hotel, and tour bookings have separate rules.
• Save driver, hotel, port, and tour contacts offline.
• Avoid a same-day Gigantes departure after a complicated Boracay transfer.

Prepare the complete Gigantes portion of the journey through the Gigantes Island travel guide, including transfers, cash, packing, health considerations, weather, and Bancal procedures.

Book your Gigantes Island hopping experience at GigantesIsland.com/book, or visit GigantesIsland.com/frequently-asked-questions to learn more.