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Major city · 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.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
PHP
Best months
Mar–May (driest, calmest seas)
avoid Jun–Nov (rain and typhoon season; Dec–Feb wet but cooler)
Airports
DVO · BXU
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 5Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
  • Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
  • Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
  • Philippines ↗Complete the free eTravel registration on the official government site within 72 hours before arrival; ignore lookalike sites that charge.
  • Philippines ↗Typhoon season runs roughly June to November: flights and boats are cancelled at short notice; buy flexible tickets and keep a spare day.
  • Philippines ↗Carry pesos in small notes; many stalls, jeepneys and taxis are cash-only.

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.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Boston, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee₱50–120 (≈ US$1–3)
  • Street or quick mealNoodle or rice meal at a local eatery₱80–180 (≈ US$2–4)
  • Beerbottle at a store / in a bar₱60–90 (≈ US$2)₱100–150 (≈ US$2–3)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week₱300–700 (≈ US$6–13)
  • Budget bedFamily room (up to 4), a night, per room₱1,800 (≈ US$35)
  • Mid-range bedBasic double room, a night, per room₱1,800 (≈ US$35)
  • High-end bedBasic double room, a night, per room₱3,500 (≈ US$65)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget ₱1,200 (≈ US$25) · Mid ₱2,200 (≈ US$40) · High ₱4,000 (≈ US$75)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

East-coast shoreline and quiet resortsGateway to Cateel and MatiSmall-town Filipino coastal lifeThe town's name story (local cane, 'bahstaan')
Airports
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.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Boston: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

29°C

23°C

18 rd

Feb

29°C

23°C

15 rd

Mar

30°C

24°C

16 rd

Apr

31°C

25°C

17 rd

May

31°C

25°C

18 rd

Jun

30°C

24°C

20 rd

Jul

30°C

24°C

21 rd

Aug

30°C

24°C

20 rd

Sep

30°C

24°C

19 rd

Oct

30°C

24°C

19 rd

Nov

30°C

24°C

18 rd

Dec

29°C

23°C

18 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting 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 & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Cateel

go

Door to door: About 1–1.5 h

Bus or van north along the coastal highway

Waterfalls, beaches and a quieter coast; check road conditions in the wet season.

Mati

go

Door to door: About 2–3 h

Bus or van south along the coastal highway

Bigger town with more food, banks and access to Dahican Beach.

Davao Cityovernight

Door to door: About 4–5 h

Bus or van via the coastal and inland roads

Too far for a comfortable return day; use it as an arrival or departure leg.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

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.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
₱1,200–2,000 (≈ US$25–40) excl. bed
Mid
₱2,000–3,500 (≈ US$40–65) excl. bed
High
₱3,500 (≈ US$65)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Basic double room1 × 1 night × ₱1,800₱1,800
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × ₱2,200₱4,400
Van or bus from Davao City, one way2 × ₱400 · check₱800
Tricycle hire by the hour1 × ₱300 · check₱300
eSIM, about a week of data2 × ₱500₱1,000
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge₱830
Trip total≈ ₱4,570 per person per day, bed included₱9,130≈ US$170

2026 estimate in pesos; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee₱50–120 (≈ US$1–3)
Noodle or rice meal at a local eatery₱80–180 (≈ US$2–4)
Beer: bottle at a store / in a bar₱60–90 (≈ US$2) / ₱100–150 (≈ US$2–3)
Tricycle ride in townAgree the fare first.₱20–50 (≈ under US$1)
Van or bus Davao City → Boston₱350–500 (≈ US$7–9) (check)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week₱300–700 (≈ US$6–13)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

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.
  • 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.

Emergency numbers

National emergency
911

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

BostonBoston

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Dito po, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • National emergency911

Embassy

No embassies in Boston; the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have embassies in Manila, with consular services in Davao City (check).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Tricycle in town: ₱20–50 (≈ under US$1), agree first
  • Van Davao City → Boston: ₱350–500 (≈ US$7–9), about 4–5 h (check)
  • Bus Boston → Mati: ₱150–250 (≈ US$3–5), about 2–3 h (check)

Say or show

  • Pasensya na — Excuse me / Sorry (pa-sen-sha na)
  • Salamat — Thank you (sa-la-mat)
  • Magkano? — How much is it? (mag-ka-no)
  • Nasaan ang CR? — Where is the toilet? (na-sa-an ang CR)
  • Pwede ba card? — Can I pay by card? (pwe-de ba card)
  • Ito, please — This one, please (i-to, please)

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Boston. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Mar–May (driest, calmest seas) · avoid Jun–Nov (rain and typhoon season; Dec–Feb wet but cooler) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 3 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for DVO: last van departures, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Poblacion, the market, the shoreline resorts.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Cateel waterfalls, Dahican, coastal viewpoints) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Wet-season and hostile-arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Philippines

Sources