Hop-on, hop-off modern PUVs
Mobility in Boracay now cheaper, safer, more convenient
“MABUHAY!” greeted the young conductor as I boarded the new hop-on, hopoff (HoHo) modern public utility vehicles (PUVs) that have slowly transformed the transportation scene in Boracay.
“How should I pay?” I asked. “You have to buy a card, sir. It’s P50 pesos one way,” said the conductor. “But you also get a P200 card with unlimited rides for 24 hours and can visit all the attractions of the island,” he added. “You can hop on and hop off to Cagban port, Puka Beach, Key Hole, and any of the 20 designated stops.” He sounded more like a tourist guide, and so I got a P200 unli-ride card.
Boracay’s transformation started about five years ago with a massive rehabilitation program. The beach was cleaned, drainage was fixed, structures that encroached the beach were removed, and stricter rules on drinking, eating, and smoking on the beach were implemented. The island’s road network was also improved with the construction of the circumferential road that provides access to Boracay’s key attractions.
This 10-square-kilometer island receives over two million visitors yearly, and they have to travel within the island from port to resorts to various destinations. This movement of people requires a massive transportation arrangement. Imagine how much damage to air, land, and water if heavily-polluting vehicles are allowed to run on a small island?
So, together with the island’s rehabilitation came the transformation of its transportation system to greener, safer, and more efficient types of vehicles. Tricycles were replaced with e-trikes, multicabs were replaced with modern passenger vans, and modern PUVs were introduced.
The early introduction of modern PUVs wasn’t successful in the early stage because it did not attract tourists to ride them. There were only a few, with long intervals between dispatch that made it difficult for tourists to cover as many attractions in a day.
Hop-on, hop-off solution
The idea of having a hop-on, hop-off shuttle came two years ago during the pandemic. Southwest Tours introduced a system where tourists can hop off to as many designated stops as possible within a period of time.
Currently, Southwest Tours has 12
HoHo mini-buses running on Boracay’s circumferential road between 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. every 10 to 15 minutes. One-way card is P50 pesos, while an unli-card for one day is P200, two days is P300, and three days is P400. Cards can also be purchased in advance from Klook at discounted rates.
HoHo mini-buses are based on the Modern PUV Class 2 platform. They are equipped with Euro 4 engines, comply with all safety regulations, have sideways seats that can accommodate 22 passengers plus more standing, with air-conditioning, GPS, speed limiter, CCTV cameras, and electric power doors.
The island destinations by HoHo
HoHo buses have designated 20 stops within the island’s circumferential road. Cagban Port as H1 is the first stop, while Puka Beach on the northern part is H19 and the last stop where the minibus makes a turnaround and returns to H1.
A one-day pass is enough to explore the attractions within the island. A map can be downloaded from Southwest Tours’ Facebook page, but the conductors are always willing to give you information on what to see next. Here are some of the important stops for HoHo buses:
H4 for Station 3 access. This is the access to the quieter part of White Beach where most affordable accommodations are located. This is also the access to the water sport activity area. H4 is also the access to the newly opened 7-Eleven store by the beach.
H8 for D’Mall and Balabag area. This is the center of activities on the island where most of the dining and shopping places are located. It is also the stop if you wish to get affordable fast-food meals. Balabog Lake in front that was recently rehabilitated and is now a park.
H9 for Bulabog Beach. This is the stop for adventure sports like kite-surfing.
H13 is the quick access to Willy’s Rock, the favorite spot for taking “I’m here in Boracay” photos. It is also the best spot for watching Boracay’s famous sunset.
H16 is for the City Mall access. Yes, there’s a real mall in Boracay beside D’Mall with a supermarket, drugstore, and fastfood center.
Boracay Newcoast is at H17. And this is the island’s high-end shared residency, with high-end shopping at Savoy. This is also the access to the once hidden Keyhole and beach.
Lastly, H19 for Puka Beach, which was only accessible before by boat or by expensive tricycle rental. The beach is famous for puka shells but now has gained its popularity as the quieter, more pristine alternative to White Beach.
Boracay reinvented
Until five years ago, massive overdevelopment and uncontrolled tourism activities had turned Boracay into a “cesspool.” The government stepped in, closed the island for several months, and introduced massive rehabilitation, including on its transportation system.
The rehabilitation is now bearing fruit, and foreign and local tourists are back enjoying the new Boracay. The “Mabuhay” greeting of the HoHo conductor means “welcome” to most, but for the long-time Boracay residents who survived closure, rehabilitation, and pandemic, it means “happy to be back alive.”