Getting Around - Flights, Ferries & Private Transfers for Island Hopping

Island-hopping feels effortless when flights, ferries, and vans line up with your sun windows. Build routes around open-jaw tickets, short sea crossings, and dawn departures—then keep one flex slot for breezy days so coves, sandbars, and blue hour stay yours.

Routing basics

• Open-jaw beats roundtrip. Fly into one hub and out of another to save a day (e.g., IAO → CEB, LIO → MPH).
• Anchor your bases. Two hubs in 7–10 days is sweet: fewer transfers, more swims.
• Front-load sea days. Catch calm water early in the trip, keep inland/spa buffers later. For month-by-month cues, skim the island timing cheat sheet: match your dates to clearer skies.

Flights you’ll likely use

• Manila (MNL) and Cebu (CEB) as main gateways.
• Palawan: El Nido (LIO) or Puerto Princesa (PPS) → vans/boats onward.
• Coron: Busuanga (USU), 30–60 min road to town/port.
• Boracay: Caticlan (MPH) + short boat to White Beach.
• Bohol/Panglao: TAG (Panglao Intl.).
• Siargao: IAO to General Luna (~45–60 min).
  Pick carriers with multiple daily frequencies on your route for same-day rescue options.

Ferries & fastcraft, without the guesswork

• Short hops win. Book crossings that keep you in the water <1 hour when possible; keep a buffer for weather and check last-boat cutoffs.
• Tickets & timing. Pre-book but stay flexible: aim for morning or early afternoon departures.
• Bags. Keep one daypack with dry bag, meds, and swim kit in case luggage lags.

Private boats & island hops

• Leave at first light for empty lagoons and softer water.
• Ask for shade, ice water, and vests; request a quiet anchor distance from crowds.
• Menu that travels: grilled skewers, citrus salads, chilled fruit. If you’d rather arrive to an arranged spread, island beach crews can plate right on the sand—coordinate with culinary teams used to tides.

Ground transfers that don’t kill the mood

• Moalboal/Badian from CEB: ~2.5–3.5 hrs by van; start early to beat traffic.
• El Nido town from LIO: ~20–30 min; Coron town from USU: ~30–60 min.
• Caticlan jetty → Boracay resorts: boat + e-trike/van in under an hour.
  Prefer to skip haggling? Hand timing and handoffs to itinerary coordinators who stitch vans and boats.

Timing & buffers

• Dawn/AM bias: better seas, clearer roads, cooler bags.
• One flex slot: slide boat days around wind or swell.
• Cutoffs & permits: lakes/parks can cap entries; confirm your slot the day before.
  For storm-season tactics (refundables, alternates), keep this calm primer nearby: bend-don’t-break planning.

Sample 7–10 day skeletons

7 days — Palawan + Boracay
MNL → LIO (3n El Nido boats first) → fly to MPH (3n Boracay sunsets) → MPH → MNL/CEB.

10 days — Siargao + Cebu South
Fly to IAO (4n lagoons, tide pools) → fly to CEB (5n Moalboal/Badian reefs + canyon day) → CEB out.

Tickets, apps & small bills

• Offline copies of e-tickets, IDs, and hotel contacts.
• Alerts on: airline/ferry apps; save port rules & cutoffs.
• Cash kits: small bills for porters, terminal fees, and snack stops.

When to bundle vs build

If you want transfers, boats, and a shore dinner wrapped into one neat plan, consider a light bundle. Start a shortlist of all-in operators and compare inclusions against timing, not just price—browse ready-made stays that include transport.

Little comforts that change the day

• Dry bag, quick-dry towel, reef-safe sunscreen, silica for cameras.
• Linen layers for ferries & vans; slip-on sandals for boat ramps.
• A shared playlist for sunrise drives—memories begin in transit.

Final handoffs

Airport meet-and-greets and pier pickups feel smoother with a dedicated vehicle; if you prefer private wheels on arrival, look for drivers with roomy vans for luggage days. Wrap the whole week with one clear sheet—flights, boats, buffers—so your days breathe.

For bigger-picture routes, costs, and island pairings, zoom out to the countrywide playbook inside the Philippines honeymoon guide. Once the spine is set, the sea writes the details.