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Voykit pocket guide · Philippines
Boston
Go only if you want a quiet east-coast base for Cateel and the Davao Oriental coast: 1–2 nights, not a destination on its own.
Boston is a small coastal town on Davao Oriental's east coast, best used as a low-key base between Mati and Cateel rather than a place with its own sightseeing list. It has a handful of resorts, a long grey-sand shoreline and a road that runs north toward Cateel's waterfalls and south toward Mati. Most travellers pass through in a few hours; those who stay come for the quiet and the coast.
- Country
- Philippines
- Best months
- Mar–May (driest, calmest seas)
- Avoid
- Jun–Nov (rain and typhoon season; Dec–Feb wet but cooler)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- PHP
- Money
- Philippine pesos (₱) in small notes for jeepneys, market stalls, tips and taxis; malls and hotels take cards.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₱1,200–2,000 excl. bed · Mid ₱2,000–3,500 excl. bed · High ₱3,500+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Globe and Smart sell SIMs at airports; SIM registration with passport is required by law.
- Emergency
- National emergency 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B, C · 220 V · 60 Hz · US flat pins common; check your devices for 220 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10% if no service charge.; Grab / taxi: Round up.; Boat crew: ₱100–200 per tour.; Massage: ₱50–100.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; refill stations cheap.
- Toilets
- Called 'CR' (comfort room); bring tissue; many lack toilet seats.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | ₱50–120 |
| Noodle or rice meal at a local eatery | ₱80–180 |
| Beer: bottle at a store / in a bar | ₱60–90 / ₱100–150 |
| Tricycle ride in town | ₱20–50 |
| Van or bus Davao City → Boston | ₱350–500 (check) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | ₱300–700 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- DVO · Francisco Bangoy International (Davao City)
- About 4–5 h by road to Boston; no direct public transfer, arrange a van or private car.
- BXU · Bancasi (Butuan)
- Alternative northern approach; long road transfer, check current services.
Typical fares
- Tricycle in town
- ₱20–50, agree first
- Van Davao City → Boston
- ₱350–500, about 4–5 h (check)
- Bus Boston → Mati
- ₱150–250, about 2–3 h (check)
Get around
Tricycles and habal-habal (motorbike taxis) cover short hops in town; jeepneys and buses run along the coastal highway to Mati and Cateel. For beaches and waterfalls outside town, hire a tricycle by the hour or a van for the day. Distances are short but roads are slow.
See and do
Known for
- East-coast shoreline and quiet resorts
- Gateway to Cateel and Mati
- Small-town Filipino coastal life
- The town's name story (local cane, 'bahstaan')
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Cateel | Bus or van north along the coastal highway | About 1–1.5 h |
| Mati | Bus or van south along the coastal highway | About 2–3 h |
| Davao City | Bus or van via the coastal and inland roads | About 4–5 h |
Sleep
- Boston town centre / Poblacion
- Basic guesthouses and eateries; walkable, close to the shore and the market.
- Coastal resorts north and south of town
- Beachfront cottages and small resorts along the highway; quieter, need a vehicle or tricycle.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Pasensya napa-sen-sha na |
| Thank you | Salamatsa-la-mat |
| How much is it? | Magkano?mag-ka-no |
| Where is the toilet? | Nasaan ang CR?na-sa-an ang CR |
| Can I pay by card? | Pwede ba card?pwe-de ba card |
| This one, please | Ito, pleasei-to, please |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Smile, handshake; 'po' to elders; avoid: Loud confrontation
- Beckoning: Palm down, wave; avoid: Palm up (used for animals)
- Invitations: Accept food offered or decline politely; avoid: Refusing bluntly
- Time: Expect 'Filipino time' socially; avoid: Lateness for flights and boats
- Churches: Covered clothes; avoid: Loud tours during Mass
Scams and watch-outs
- Typhoon season Jun–Nov can close roads and cancel boats; check forecasts before travelling.
- Public transport thins out in the late afternoon; don't plan to arrive after dark without a booked ride.
- Bring cash: ATMs are scarce and card acceptance is limited outside resorts.
- Mobile signal and Wi-Fi can be weak outside the town centre.
Boston is a small, low-crime town and generally safe for visitors who use normal caution. The real risks are road conditions in the wet season, thin late-afternoon transport and limited medical facilities: for anything serious, the nearest hospitals are in Mati or Davao City.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Boston yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- East-coast shoreline and quiet resorts
- Gateway to Cateel and Mati
- Small-town Filipino coastal life
- The town's name story (local cane, 'bahstaan')
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Philippine Tourism — Davao Oriental: philippines.travel/
- Wikivoyage: Boston (Davao Oriental), revision 3499566 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=3499566
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Boston
Dito po, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- National emergency911
No embassies in Boston; the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have embassies in Manila, with consular services in Davao City (check).
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/boston-davao-oriental). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.