Last updated: October 2026 — transport fares, Manila rail, ferry information, driving rules, and motorcycle safety have been updated, while our trip examples and prices from 2019 are preserved as firsthand experience.
The Philippines is an incredibly beautiful country, and it is especially famous for its islands and beaches. But it has much more to reveal and if you want to explore it further and in details, you have to build a certain itinerary and following a planned route. The transportation is a very important part of your plan, and in the Philippines it has its specific features that you must have in mind. Arranging your Philippines transportation can take the largest part of your trip preparation. So, let’s take a look into the details.
Table of Contents
Transportation planning
The transport in the Philippines is more complicated than in most of the other Southeast Asian countries. First, it is due to the geography of the country. It consists of islands, so moving from island to island requires sea transport or airplane. Second- the transport on the road is quite slow because most of the roads are too narrow and too full with slow vehicles like trucks, tricycles, and jeepneys. For this reason, route-planner driving times should be treated only as estimates, especially on mountain roads, congested urban routes, or roads passing through many towns. During our 2019 trip, some journeys took much longer than the estimates. In the cities, public transport includes buses, jeepneys, rail lines, vans, tricycles, and other local services, depending on the place.
When we planned our Philippines itinerary, our route included various kinds of places and roads- travel in a big city (Manila, Cebu), travel on a highway, travel on a narrow mountain road, travel by ferry, travel by boat, or a combination of all these. And we used many kinds of transport, which all had their specific things that you must have in mind.
You can read a lot of information about the various kinds of transportation, but here I would like to add our personal experience.
Airplane
Domestic flights are a very popular way of transport in the Philippines. It is mainly because they are fast. However, the main problem is that this is the most expensive transport of all. But depending on the case, saving time, you still saving money, so it can be worth.
We used it two times on our trip. First- from Cebu to Legazpi, in order to avoid the unsure ways of on land transport between Surigao and Donsol, which I had initially planned- a route, running through Samar and Leyte Islands, changing many buses, taxis and other possible transport.
And our second flight was from Legazpi to Manila. Since we already didn’t have enough time to explore more places between Legazpi and Manila, we decided to take it by plane, thus saving a little more time in Legazpi. Actually, it was worth, because we saw one of the most beautiful views from the air- Mayon Volcano, penetrating the clouds at sunset time!
Prices vary widely depending on the route, airline, travel date, baggage allowance, and how early you book. Booking earlier can often give you more options, but there is no fixed period that guarantees a lower fare. Click on the button below for more information:
Check the Philippines flights information from HERE!
Taxi
During our 2019 trip, all the taxis that we took- in Manila, Iloilo, Bacolod, and Cebu, used taxi meters, with initial price 40 PHP. Then it grew according to the distance and the time (waiting at crossroads and in traffic jam also increased the price). At that time, from Malate (coastal area of Manila) to Makati we paid 200 PHP, and it would have been cheaper if there had not been a traffic jam. These were the fares during our trip and should not be treated as current taxi rates.
We didn’t have any problems with the taxis, but I have heard about scams, such as “broken taxi meter with faster counting” or just taxis without taxi meter. Such taxi drivers often “attacked” us at the airports, ports and bus stations, offering much expensive price (without taxi meter), in hope to trap some “silly tourists”. Of course, we rejected them and moved far from them, where we could easily find a normal taxi.
Light train (in Manila)
Rail is one of the useful ways to avoid Manila’s road traffic, although the network still does not reach every part of the metropolis. The system has continued to develop since our trip, including the extension of LRT-1 southward. Fares and operating arrangements change, so check the latest information from the individual rail operators before your trip.
Bus
One of the major bus operators, especially in the Visayas, is Ceres, easily recognizable by its yellow buses. We traveled by Ceres buses from Caticlan to Iloilo, from Bacolod to Bais, then from Bais to Dumaguete. You can see our experience below.
Some bus trip examples by Ceres
Caticlan to Iloilo: we took the bus at 8:00 am (there are buses every 20 mins in the morning) and arrived in Iloilo at 2:30 pm. The bus stops in Kalibo also stops for rest and lunch in a roadside restaurant. Price: 330 PHP
Bacolod to Bais: we took the bus at 10:15 (in South Bus Station) am and arrived in Bais at 3:30 pm. The bus stops in a town in the middle of the route. Price: 280 PHP
Bais to Dumaguete: there are a lot of buses, stopping in Bais (in front of the central Jollibee). Most of them are small buses with opened windows. We took such a small bus around 1:30 pm and arrived in Dumaguete around 2:30 pm. Price: 80 PHP
Buses in Siquijor Island: There is some kind of a public transport running in Siquijor- a local small bus, traveling only in the morning and noon, on the local Circumferential road and the nearby villages. This bus is said to depart every hour, but in fact, it doesn’t follow a strict timetable but just waiting for more passengers to fill it. It is slow, stopping everywhere when someone raises a hand to get on it and is more like a jeepney, rather than a normal bus. The price is 20-30 PHP, depending on the distance.
The schedules, travel times, and prices below are from our 2019 trip and should not be treated as current timetables or fares.
Philippine Rabbit bus company
Another bus company that we used was Philippine Rabbit, from Manila to Angeles and back from Angeles to Manila. The bus traveled 2 hours in both directions. It started from Philippine Rabbit Bus station in Manila and arrived in Angeles (Philippine Rabbit Bus station again). But when we back to Manila, we had to take the bus from Old Terminal of Angeles, because the last bus to Manila from the small Philippine Rabbit was at 5:00 pm. Price:120 PHP.
Of course, you can use buses in many other areas in the Philippines, including the overnight buses from Manila to Legazpi, which we didn’t use, but were prepared with all information that we could find in internet, and at least what we found is that they are very comfortable and relatively luxury (hence, relatively expensive).
Whether you need to book in advance depends on the operator and route. For long-distance trips, limited services, weekends, and major holidays, it is safer to check the current schedule and booking conditions before traveling. You can check more about it by clicking on the button below:
Check for the long distance bus in the Philippines from HERE!
Rental car
The rental car is more proper in the big islands, such as Luzon and Mindanao. There are many international and local rental car companies in the Philippines, with different prices, vehicle availability, and rental conditions.
However, when we rented our car, we didn’t use any of these companies. About Hertz, we found their prices too expensive. About the other companies- again, not only expensive but with some bad reviews from clients.
Another reason was that we didn’t want to rent a car from Manila and to “fight” with its terrible traffic. So, we found a much better alternative. Since rent a car in the Philippines is more useful for a trip around Luzon Island, the best option we discovered was a small rental-car company, located in Angeles City (2 hours by bus from Manila), which was much better than any of the above companies.
First- it was located out of Manila, avoiding its traffic, and at the same time in a strategically very convenient place, a good starting point to explore Luzon Island. Second, their prices were cheaper than the prices of the biggest companies. And third, it had excellent testimony from my friend, who rented their cars a few times without any problem- something that we also experienced and I can witness now too. The only problem at the time was that the company was still small, they didn’t have many cars, and we had to make a reservation earlier.
Tourists with a valid driving licence issued in their home country can generally drive in the Philippines for up to 90 days from the date of arrival; after that, a Philippine driving licence is required. Also check the rental company’s own document requirements, especially if your licence is not in English.
Gaano rental car
This rental car company is called Gaano, and we used it in our 6 days part of our Philippines itinerary in Luzon Island. You can read more about our experience (here). Price: we rented the cheapest car (since we didn’t need more and it was enough for us)- for 990 PHP per day.
About the fuel in the Philippines: most of the cars use Unleaded or Premium (which is just Unleaded with a little higher octane and better quality). During our 2019 trip, Unleaded was around 50-55 PHP per liter. Fuel prices change considerably, so check the current rates when planning your driving budget. You can make a calculation here.
If you go to the other, smaller islands, you can rent a car there too, but the prices that we saw were higher- from 1500 PHP and above per day. Shared van (if you are a group), motorbike or tricycle are much better options for places like Siquijor, Bohol or Siargao islands.
However, if you start your car trip not from Manila, but from other place like Legazpi, or if renting a car from Gaano is just an inconvenient option for your itinerary, you can check for other options here:
Check for rental cars in the Philippines from HERE!
Jeepney
It is one of the symbols of the Philippines- it is not just one of the transport ways, but it is something like a “destination” and “a thing to do” itself. Jeepneys are mostly used within the big cities like Manila and Cebu, but also in some smaller towns and between near towns and villages. To be more attractive, many of them are richly decorated.
In the big cities, you can see really a lot of jeepneys. Some of them are almost empty but other so full with passengers that some of them literally hang on them outside.
The jeepneys follow certain routes, usually from jeepney terminal A to jeepney terminal B. There are written signs, showing the key points of their routes. Anyway, if you are not sure which jeepney you can take, you can always ask the driver, is the jeepney going to your desired destination.
When the passengers get on the jeepney, they just give the money to the driver (or to his assistant, if there is such). Everything is fast, the passengers sitting more backward just give the money to the neighboring passengers sitting more inside, they pass it to the next until it reaches the driver. And you normally become a part of it. As of September 28, 2026, the minimum regular fare is 14 PHP for the first 4 km on a traditional jeepney and 17 PHP on a modern jeepney, with additional distance-based charges beyond that. Fares can change, so check the latest LTFRB fare matrix.
Tricycle
It is another widespread way of transport in the Philippines. While jeepneys can’t be found in every place (for example there are no regular jeepneys in Siquijor or Siargao islands), tricycles are everywhere. They are waiting for you at every bus station, port or smaller domestic airport. In some places, they are very attractive too. And in Tagbilaran (Bohol Island) for example, every tricycle must have written a verse from the Bible on their cabin.
During our 2019 trip, as foreigners we were often quoted much higher prices than local passengers, sometimes several times higher, so we usually negotiated before the ride. But of course, you have to bargain and you can cut the price a lot. Anyway, it is difficult to reach the normal prices for locals, but you still can try.
The examples below are the prices we encountered during that trip, not current fixed fares. The price for distances like 1-2 km is usually offered to foreigners for 100 and more PHP, but you should require down to 50, even 30 PHP since locals normally pay no more than 20 PHP or less for such distance. When we were in Batangas, the distance from the port to our hotel was a little more than 3 km and the driver required 200 PHP from us. We cut it to 100 PHP, but it was again too much.
By tricycle in Siquijor Island
In Siquijor Island, when we arrive from Dumaguete, it was late afternoon (4:30 pm) and there was no local public transport. Knowing that the local tricycle drivers offered us a higher price for the 28 km distance from Siquijor Port to Lazi, starting from 800 PHP. We could cut down to 450 PHP. When we traveled again by tricycle from Salagdoong Beach to Larena, which is 20 km, it was noon and the driver agreed to take us for 150 PHP in case that he can take other passengers on the road. A local woman got on the tricycle and paid him only 20 PHP.
By tricycle in Siargao island
In Siargao Island tricycles are even more expensive. From Dapa to Union village (where our accommodation was) is 6,5 km and we paid 150 PHP. But if you want to go to General Luna, the price is higher- usually, they require 300 PHP or not less than 250 PHP if you bargain. And if you want to “order” a tricycle to take you from your accommodation place, it is considered “special” and is more expensive.
Ferry (ship, or big speed boat)
If you want to move from island to island, ferries are one of the main options and are often more economical than flying, depending on the route. There is a well-developed ferry network in the Philippines, running by shipping companies like 2GO, Oceanjet, Cokaliong, Montenegro, Medallion and others. Some of the ferries offer Ro-Ro service, which means carrying on land transport vehicles (which however would be VERY expensive if you try it by rental car), and others are just smaller fast boats.
In our trip, we had to use ferries many times. The schedules, classes, and prices in the examples below describe our 2019 trip. Ferry timetables can change significantly, so always check the current operator schedule before traveling. Our first ferry was from Batangas to Caticlan. It is running by 2GO company and it offers only sleeping options in various classes. We got the daytime ship and since we didn’t want to sleep all the time, we ordered the lowest (Super Value) class- beds in the open air. The price was 890 PHP per passenger. You can see more about 2GO (here).
We also used two times night ferry from Cebu to Surigao, and from Surigao to Cebu, by Medallion shipping company (which travels only 3 times a week). It departs from both directions at 8:00 pm and arrives around 4:00 – 4:30 am (but if you are not urgent and want to sleep more, you can stay in the ship 1-2 hours more, before getting off). We bought Tourist class tickets (1025 PHP), which is in the air-con hall, but the cheapest is Economy class (825 PHP) in open-air. We worried that we couldn’t buy tickets in advance, but when we went to their office in Cebu, they said that in this season (February) their ships are quite empty, so we can buy tickets in the last moment without a problem. However, they said that there is a “high season”, during which you may not find free beds if order too late.
More ferry trip examples
Here are some examples of shorter ferry trips which were parts of our itinerary.
Caticlan to Boracay
Boats connect Caticlan Jetty Port with Boracay, usually reaching the island in around 15 minutes. Besides the boat fare, visitors pay separate terminal and environmental fees. In 2026, the Caticlan terminal fee is 150 PHP, while the environmental fee is 300 PHP for foreign visitors and 150 PHP for Filipino visitors. These fees and the boat fare can also be processed through the official Boracay iPass system. Check the latest rates before arrival.
Iloilo to Bacolod
There are a lot of ferries, running by a few companies: Oceanjet, 2GO, Weesam Express, and others. We got the fast boat from 3:45 pm and arrive at Bacolod at 5:30 pm, for 250 PHP.
Dumaguete to Siquijor
We took a speed boat (by Aleson Shipping) at 3:30 pm and it was quite cheap- only 120 PHP. It arrived at Siquijor for a little more than an hour.
Larena to Tagbilaran
There is a fast boat, running by Oceanjet, from 12:30 pm, and it arrives in Tagbilaran for 1 hour and 45 mins. It is the most common boat, used by the tourists and it is quite expensive (but cheaper for locals)- 700 PHP. There is another boat, at 7:00 pm, running by Lite Shipping, and it is much cheaper- 250 PHP, but the traveling time is 4 hours (and it is only Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday), so we chose the other (expensive) one.
Tagbilaran to Cebu
There are a lot of boats, running between these two destinations, by Oceanjet, 2GO, and Weesam Express, so from 7:00 am to 8:30 pm there are boats almost every hour. We got the boat from 5:30 pm to Cebu (it traveled almost 2 hours), for 500 PHP per person.
Surigao to Dapa (Siargao) and vice versa
There are a few boats running between these two destinations and all they are in the morning. We got the boat from Surigao at 5:30 am and arrived in Dapa, Siargao at 8:00 am. On our way back, we got the last boat from Dapa to Surigao, at 1:00 pm and arrived at 3:30 pm. The price was 290 PHP.
More tips about the ferries
Normally you don’t need to buy tickets in advance (even for the sleeping ships), but for some destinations is advisable to come earlier to the port, at least 1-2 hours, especially in the high season. Anyway, on some occasions- high season or holidays, there is a risk of finding no seats available, so have it in mind.
Terminal fees
Passenger terminal fees vary by port and may be charged separately from the ferry ticket, although on some routes they are already included. Do not assume that the old 10-30 PHP rates still apply. Boracay is a special case: the terminal fee and environmental fee are separate charges, in addition to the boat fare.
Luggage fee
When we traveled by Oceanjet from Larena to Tagbilaran and from Tagbilaran to Cebu, they required to take our big luggage and put it in a luggage compartment- same as check-in for a plane. And we paid for that 45 PHP.
Anyway, if you want to buy ferry tickets in advance, you can click on the button below for more information:
Check for ferries information in the Philippines from HERE!
Boat
Some beautiful destinations and things to do require a boat. It is a tourist service and is usually also regulated by the government. You need a boat ride to explore Manjuyod Sand Bar, to make island hopping or cruise to Sohoton Cave in Siargao Island, or to make a whale shark watching tour.
The boats are different in size- for 5, 8, 10 or more people and normally you pay for a whole boat.
The lowest price (for 5 people) in Manjuyod was 2500 PHP for the boat, for island hopping in Siargao- 1500 PHP, for Sohoton Cave trip- 3500 PHP and for whale shark cruise in Donsol- 3500 PHP too (but for locals it was cheaper). We also had to pay environmental fees for the two of the three islands around Siargao (30 and 50 PHP). The following prices are what we paid or were quoted during our 2019 trip and should not be treated as current rates.
You can join a larger group for these trips, but it is not always possible. We couldn’t join a group in Manjuyod. We couldn’t join a group for island hopping in Siargao, because we were too late at General Luna port- you have to be there not later than 6:30-7:00 am. But we found 2 more people with us for the whale shark cruise in Donsol.
Scooter
In some areas, scooters are the best way to travel. Such areas are the islands of Siquijor, Bohol, and Siargao (from our itinerary). You can rent a motorbike and usually the hotel where you sleep arrange it for you, or they have their own motorbikes. The prices are between 200 and 500 PHP per day, depending on the place. During our 2019 trip in Siargao, we actually traveled with two adults and two children on one rented motorbike, for 500 PHP per day. This is part of our firsthand trip experience, but it should not be treated as current safety advice. Philippine law requires standard protective helmets for motorcycle riders and passengers and imposes specific restrictions on carrying children. Always follow the current law, the motorcycle’s designed passenger capacity, and basic safety requirements.
These scooters use Unleaded fuel. In those islands you can find Unleaded everywhere on the road- they sell it in 1 liter Coca-Cola bottles. You just buy and pour it inside your reservoir. However, it is better you find a normal gas station since it is said that the Coca-Cola bottle sellers may add water inside.
Traveling with children
We traveled with our two children (6 and 9 years old). And we saw that there isn’t any clear standard should they be taxed or not. For the same way of transport, in the same city, sometimes they required to pay fully for the children, sometimes to pay only half of the price, and sometimes to be free of charge.
Child fares and discounts can vary depending on the type of transport and operator, so check the current fare rules rather than assuming that a child travels free without a separate seat. When using a private rental car, also follow the current Philippine child-restraint requirements.
Other useful tips
Maybe the most important useful tip for an exploratory trip around the Philippines is to keep as much flexibility as possible and avoid unnecessary non-refundable accommodation bookings. It is because you would often need flexibility about your route, due to the relatively complicated transport. The weather may change, you may find no seats in a ferry, roads may be closed for repair, or just you may want to stay a long time in a certain destination. In many destinations you can still find hotels, hostels, and guesthouses locally, although availability can be much tighter during holidays, festivals, and peak season.
The mountain road from Baguio to Sagada is about 160 km long, and in Rome2Rio it was calculated to be passed by driving for around 3-4 hours. But in reality we passed it for 9 hours! Then we have planned to drive from Sagada to Pagudpud, which was calculated as a 5-6 hours drive. Needless to say, we decided to cancel our trip to Pagudpud, and we were right. Our host in Sagada told us that he have traveled by car to Pagudpud for 12 hours! Obviously, we had to cancel our Pagudpud hotel (and they had to return the money that we have paid in advance, which was a bit complicated too).
So, having in mind these details, plan accordingly. It is better to plan a slower trip, just in case that your transport could be troubled in some way. So, having in mind these details, plan accordingly. It is better to plan a slower trip, just in case that your transport could be troubled in some way. Most major destinations are accessible by some combination of road, air, and sea transport, but conditions can change because of weather, road disruptions, ferry schedules, or local security situations. Check the latest official information and travel advice for your nationality before heading to remote or sensitive areas.
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Hi, we are Krasen and Ying Ying. Krasen is from Bulgaria, and Ying Ying is from China. We are passionate about geography and history, and we believe that the best way to experience it is by exploring the Earth in reality, not in a school, and not virtually.
So, we created this blog Journey Beyond the Horizon, where we share geographical knowledge, travel guides and tips how to experience it when you explore our planet, and a lot of inspiration.
And we wish you a happy journey, not just virtually, but most of all- in reality.
Enjoy!
Krasen and Ying Ying
Hi, we are Krasen and Ying Ying. Krasen is from Bulgaria, and Ying Ying is from China. We are passionate about geography and history, and we believe that the best way to experience it is by exploring the Earth in reality, not in a school, and not virtually. So, we created this blog Journey Beyond the Horizon, where we share geographical knowledge, travel guides and tips how to experience it when you explore our planet, and a lot of inspiration. And we wish you a happy journey, not just virtually, but most of all- in reality. Enjoy!
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