Roxas to Caticlan Ferry

The Roxas to Caticlan crossing links Roxas in Oriental Mindoro with Caticlan in Aklan, the northern tip of Panay island and the mainland jump-off point for Boracay. It is the busiest sea link between southern Mindoro and the Western Visayas, spanning roughly 97 kilometres of the Tablas Strait with a typical sailing time of about 3 hours.

Contrary to what many travellers assume, this hop is not served by 2GO Travel. Two roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) operators run it: Starlite Ferries and Montenegro Shipping Lines. Both carry foot passengers, motorcycles, cars, buses and rolling cargo, which makes the route a genuine road bridge for the Nautical Highway rather than a fastcraft shuttle. Vessels sail daily in both directions, with several departures spread across the day and night; Starlite has run slots at times such as the pre-dawn and late-evening hours to connect with onward bus links.

Ferries depart Roxas from Dangay Port and dock at the Caticlan Jetty Port, from where bancas continue the short final leg across to Boracay. Passenger fares on Starlite generally fall in the ₱1,060–₱1,500 band depending on accommodation class (economy, tourist and business seating are offered), while Montenegro is usually the cheaper option, with base passenger fares reported around ₱460. Vehicle rates start near ₱1,470 for a motorcycle and climb with vehicle length. Onboard amenities on the RoRo ferries typically include air-conditioned seating, restrooms, a canteen and basic entertainment. A 50 kg baggage allowance is standard, with excess charged per kilo. Tickets can be booked online, at port ticketing windows or through accredited agents, and it is wise to arrive well ahead of departure during peak Boracay travel periods.