From airplanes via ferry to the bus, here’s everything you need to know about transport in the Philippines
Anyone who’s ever spent some time traveling in the Philippines knows that getting around is no piece of Christmas cake, and your trip won’t be any different. With a host of questions surrounding travel in the archipelago, one of Ouiphlippines' vows is to give travelers comprehensive information and inspiration on the best way to get to their destination.
So much for the wish, now all that remains is to make it a reality. For some ferries, let's be honest, it seems to be a lost cause, the final fate of the timing being in the hands of the weather, the coastguards and the shipowner, more inclined to modify schedules than to offer a stable schedule.
How does it work ?
It's simple: for air travel, scroll to the ⇲ AirMag section, for boat travel to ⇲ FerryMag and for land travel, scroll to the ⇲ BusMag paragraph at the foot of the page.
AirMag
What size carry-on baggage is accepted for domestic flights?
Mactan Cebu International Airport (also Air Asia, Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines) now states that a carry-on suitcase, including handles and wheels, must correspond to the following dimensions: 56 cm x 36 cm x 25 cm and must not exceed 7kg.
Checked and excess baggage
It's not always easy to get the right information, especially as baggage weights vary from one airline to another.
For example, Cebu Pacific (similar to other airlines) has introduced a concept with tariffs: Basic and travel light with your cabin baggage, Easy and check in a 20 kg baggage item, or Flexi and change your flight plans at any time!
If a passenger who has purchased a Basic ticket decides to have a checked bag, he or she will have to pay a fee for the checked bag. If the hold baggage is prepaid more than 2 hours before departure (Manage Booking), Cebu Pacific offers a 64% reduction on baggage fees for each additional piece per passenger.
Screenshot of AirSwift's new check-in baggage policy
Cebu Pacific domestic flights for 2024
Thanks to this new infographic, all Cebu Pacific domestic flights are now visible at a glance.
Philippine Airlines the flag carrier
Its main competitor, Philippine Airlines, offers a very similar schedule. Note: Philippine Airlines is the only airline to serve Baguio and Borongan (Samar) from Mactan - Cebu.
AirSwift relies on its El Nido hub... and tourists
The company is offering a program with its fleet of ATR aircraft (two ATR 42s and two ATR 72s) from El Nido and Manila for this 2024 season. AirSwift ✆ Mobile contact: +63 917 816 8763
Sunlight Air changes airports in Manila and will fly from its 2 new hubs, Clark and Cebu.
From April 1, 2024, Sunlight Air will operate flights to the archipelago from Clark International Airport (CRK) and no longer from Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila (104km away). To consult timetables, availability and book your plane tickets SunlightAir.
For passengers, free shuttles between Clark and Ninoy Aquino International Airport will be available until May 31, 2024.
Mactan-Cebu International Airport, the archipelago's second largest airport, has just published its 2024 destinations.
Thanks to its strategic position in the heart of the archipelago, its regional network and its international destinations, Mactan-Cebu International Airport aims to position Cebu as the archipelago's preferred hub.
FerryMag
Here's a selection of maritime connections to help you check out the favorite destinations of iodine-starved travelers. And to make your life easier, I've put together some nice collages with full timetables. I know, it's not so easy to find your way through this jungle of 12,500 ferries registered in the Philippines, especially as some shipowners couple the regions.
Click on the link for direct access to the info
There are several ways to buy ferry tickets: directly at the port, or online. If you opt for online booking, I recommend the widget powered by 12Go.Asia below, which lets you book all the companies' ferries on a single site. To book with the best prices, the companies' websites are often a few pesos better, but they're not always available and don't allow you to compare transport solutions with alternative companies.
El Nido-Coron service reinforced by a 4th operator
Jomalia, Motenegro, Atienza & Island Water the new timetables are as follows:
OceanJet: reorganizing its schedules on routes 2024
The Cebu-based Fast Ferry company announces new schedules for its boats to: Cebu City, Tagbilaran (Bohol), Dumaguete (Negros), Siquijor, Palompon (leyte) and Getafe (Bohol). OceanJet also offers the following crossings: Bacolod - Iloilo and Calapan - Batangas.
OceanJet updates luggage policy
Jomalia Shipping opens a direct line from Mactan to Consuelo (Camotes Islands)
Jomalia Shipping, with its many daily connections from Danao to Consuelo, is likely to attract a wide range of tourists. If you need some sunshine when you leave the tramac at Cebu airport, the company is opening a direct service from Mactan to Consuelo. Camotes Island will be served once or twice a day.
Maayo Shipping offers connections to Dumaguete and Siquijor from the south of Cebu Island.
Maayo Shipping is currently the only roll-on roll-off operator serving the Sibulan (Negros Oriental) - Liloan (Santander, Cebu) and Tampi (San Jose, Negros Oriental) - Bato (Samboan, Cebu) routes, as well as serving Liloan - Larena (Siquijor) - Bato (approx. 300 ₱) in a triangle. The shipping company transports passengers, vehicles and offers convenient connecting opportunities for the popular "backpacking" route, Moalboal - Dumaguete - Siquijor.
Maayo : île de Cebu - Siquijor, 6 traversées hebdomadaires & Île de Cebu - Negros Oriental, 28 traversées par jour.
◴ Actualisé au 28 novembre 2023
Maayo offers 6 weekly frequencies between Liloan (Cebu) - Larena (Siquijor) - Bato (Cebu), starting July 19, every day except Monday.
Tampi port, Negros. Or. ✆ 09422058997 / 09177107080
Sibulan port, Negros. Or. ✆ 09458058284
Bato port Cebu ✆ 09458058285
For bookings and to find out the latest news about the crossings operating in the triangle Liloan (Cebu) - Larena (Siquijor) - Bato (Cebu) Simply call this number - ✆ +63 917 710 7080
Practical information for the crossing from Sibulan (Dumaguete) to Santander (South of Cebu Island)
The Fast Craft christened Cuadro Alas, returned to sea in 2022 between Sibulan and Santander (Puerto del Sur Terminal), with frequencies operating every1h 30 minutes from 5am to 8pm. ✆ +63 922 985 8234 (Cuadro Alas)
Apekoptravel: an exclusive route between Oslob (Cebu) and Panglao (Bohol), as well as Tagbilaran - Siquijor
A daily service connects the island of Panglao (departing at 6:30 a.m.) with Oslob (departing at 11:30 a.m.) in the south of the island of Cebu in 90 minutes, saving travellers more than 4 hours compared with the best alternative routes. From now on, it will be possible to book the Apekoptravel Banca Rapide: you go to the site below, book a destination, a date, and off you go!
Siquijor is not to be outdone: since spring 2023, Apekoptravel has also been offering daily connections between Tagbilaran and Siquijor (Larena).
Bunso Transport doubles frequencies Coron (Palawan) - San Jose (Mindoro)
Bunso Transport Service confirms a doubling of its trips from Coron (Palawan) to San Jose (Mindoro), initially on Mondays and Fridays, followed by a possible gradual ramp-up. ✆ +63 910 371 0621
Super Shuttle Ferry : Camiguin - Bohol (Jagna) & Cebu (Hagnaya) - Bantayan (Santa Fe)
Super Shuttle Ferry, which operates passenger and car ferries, unveils the timetable and new fare structure for the Camiguin - Bohol (Jagna) & Cebu (Hagnaya) - Bantayan crossings.
Jagna (Bohol)-Camiguin link goes daily
Super Shuttle Ferry announces that its service between Bohol and Camiguin has been increased to daily frequency.
M/v Soemco Mariner: A convenient route from Ubay (Bohol) to Bato (Leyte) and the whale sharks of Pintuyan
2Go: operates comfortable passenger and RO/RO ferries
The 2GO company is the vital link between the islands of the archipelago. In their holds: food, fuel, materials, cars, medicines, mail. The ships also embark passengers ready to embark on a Slow Travel trip to the Philippines. The ships can accommodate up to 1,000 people, from economy class to luxury cabins with double beds and private bathrooms.
2GO Travel presents its program for the 2024 summer season
2GO has just published its new "Timetable" Guide for the 2024 season. Featuring timetables and frequencies for 12 destinations in the Visayas and Mindanao, departing from Manila and Batangas..
• Bacolod • Batangas • Butuan • Cebu • Cagayan de Oro • Caticlan (Boracay) • Coron • Dumaguete • Dipolog • Iloilo • Manila • Odiongan • Ozamis • Puerto Princesa • Roxas • Tagbilaran (Bohol) • Zamboanga
Montenegro Lines offers a similar service to 2GO but on more regional routes.
FastCat launches new route Liloan (Leyte) - Surigao (1h30 ferry ride from Siargao)
FastCat, which is seeking to revolutionize maritime transport in the Philippines, offering for the first time in the archipelago the concept of "fast ferries for passenger and vehicle transport".
Batangas, Boracay, Dumaguete, Surigao and Cebu: exclusive itineraries on FastCat ferries
FastCat, which operates passenger, motorcycle and car ferries, has once again updated its price list. For all motor vehicles, the price includes the driver's ticket. Passengers in premium Economy class and above benefit from air-conditioning on all crossings, and aircraft-style seats in Business class.
Passengers, motorcycles, cars or SUVs, find out here: FastCat crossing prices
BusMag
Buses, Vans & Private Vans Puerto Princesa - El Nido - Port Barton
Attention: Buses and Vans to and from Puerto Princesa move to the brand-new Irawan terminal
Faced with varying operator options, or indecision when choosing a bus terminal, the 12Go booking platform gives travelers a global view of transport prices in Palawan.
A sneak preview of the new Cherry bus Puerto Princesa - Buliluyan (Balabac)
Coda Line and Ohayami Trans conquer the rice fields of Banaue
While local tourism is starting up again with a few constraints, incoming tourism (importing tourists into the Philippines) is experiencing more difficulties in getting things moving again. And yet Coda Line and Ohayami Trans have decided to relaunch their iconic long-distance (370km) overnight (refrigerated) bus services from Manila, for a 10-hour journey to the Banaue rice paddies.
Book Coda Line, Ohayami Trans and private Vans on a dedicated website.
Via the iconic night bus
You have two options: doze off for 9 hours in the iconic night bus of Coda Lines or Ohayami Trans to swallow the 370km and its flurry of curves that separate Manila from Banaue.
A 12Go Manila - Banaue tab has been specifically created below. By clicking on it, it's also possible to discover the bus timetables and the offer for transfers in private Vans.
Ohayami Trans: easy direct booking in 5 steps
No need to download an app. Just follow the five steps below:
1️- Go to ohayami.ph
2️- Choose the origin, destination and date of travel.
3️- Select the trip and choose your seat(s).
4️- Enter your contact details
5️- Make your payment
✔ And that's it!
Ceres Liner expands nationwide, targeting Bus + Ferry too
It's not only by plane or boat that you can travel around the archipelago, but also by bus. After the road, Ceres Liner has set up Bus + Ferry services from island to island: from Cebu to Negros and Bantayan, from Mindoro to Panay and from Negros to Mindanao.
Regrouping timetables and frequencies for destinations in the south of Cebu Island, departing from Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT), this infographic is up to date.
Note: all buses tagged via Oslob pass through the southern coast of Cebu Island (Argao - Dalaguete) and those mentioned via Barili through the northern axis of southern Cebu Island (Moalboal - Badian).
Here are the routes of the most popular companies departing from Greater Manila and Luzon
Several companies offer even greater comfort on long-distance buses on certain direct routes, such as Joybus Deluxe Class, Partas' Super Deluxe Bus, Coda Lines Deluxe, Isarog Sleeper Bus. On these routes, bus toilets, more legroom and the Holy Grail, Wi-Fi.
Fill up on information and tips for your next trip
You can always discover other articles about the Philippines by typing the names of the places on your bucket list in the search bar at the foot of the page.
Useful, original: Ouiphilippines has put together two pages to help you make the most of the Philippines.