Book Cheap Flights from Manila (MNL) to Catarman (CRM) - Ticket Prices & Deals from USD 97.48

Flying from Manila to Catarman

Catarman is the capital of Northern Samar, a quiet province on the far side of the archipelago from Manila. Most travelers on this route are heading home to the province, visiting family, or continuing on to Biri Island's dramatic rock formations on the province's northern tip. The nonstop flight covers in about an hour what would otherwise be a full day or more of bus and ferry travel, making it the only realistic option for a short visit.

Fares and Ticket Prices

Fares move with demand rather than staying flat year-round — expect higher prices around Holy Week, the province's fiesta season, and the Christmas travel rush when many Northern Samar natives based in Manila head home. Booking a few weeks ahead and staying flexible on your travel date is the most reliable way to avoid peak-season prices, since this is a single-carrier route with limited seat inventory on each flight.

Flight Duration and Schedule

The nonstop flight takes about an hour in the air. Service runs a handful of times a week rather than daily, so check the current schedule early and build your travel plans around the days that actually operate.

Airlines Operating This Route

Philippine Airlines, through PAL Express, is currently the only carrier flying nonstop between Manila and Catarman. Cebu Pacific serves Catarman from Cebu rather than Manila, so it isn't an option on this specific route — worth knowing if you were expecting a second carrier to compare against.

Manila's Departure Airport

Flights depart from Ninoy Aquino International Airport's domestic terminal. Since PAL Express is the sole operator here, confirm your specific terminal at booking, as NAIA's domestic operations are split across more than one terminal building.

Arriving at Catarman Airport

Catarman's airport is small and close to town, with tricycles and vans handling the short trip into the city center. There's no long wait for baggage or exit formalities on a route this size, so you can be settled into town within minutes of landing.

What to Do in Catarman and Northern Samar

Catarman itself is a working provincial capital rather than a tourist draw on its own, but it's the practical base for reaching Biri Island, known for wave-carved rock formations that are among the most distinctive coastal scenery in the Philippines. The trip to Biri requires a short van ride followed by a boat crossing, best planned as a full-day excursion with an early start, and the nearby Catubig River is worth a look if you have an extra day for a slower, more rural side of the province.

Best Time to Visit

The calmer, drier months from March through May tend to offer the safest boat crossings to Biri Island, since rough seas during typhoon season can cancel the trip on short notice. If your schedule is tight, it's worth building a spare day into your itinerary specifically for the Biri excursion.

Practical Travel Tips

As a domestic flight, a valid government-issued ID is all you need at check-in — no passport or visa required. Northern Samar sees rain for much of the year, heaviest typically from November through January, so build weather flexibility into any Biri Island plans since rough seas can delay the boat crossing. Cash is the more reliable payment method once outside larger establishments.

Alternative Routes and Booking with Traveloka

If your dates are flexible, nearby Samar and Catanduanes airports served from Manila are worth comparing, including Manila to Calbayog City and Manila to Virac. Traveloka lets you compare fares and schedules side by side, with flexible payment options and 24/7 support if your plans change.