Manila to Cebu by Land

[av8or5]

Planning to drive to Cebu, I read the thread of Manila to Davao and also the post by sir Ghost_recon, but I dont know where what port to go to Cebu instead of Davao.

Anyone with info on this? Manila to Cebu. details would be great. searching the net as well.

it is cheaper to drive your car going to davao. in fact, i do this two times. first is my navara which i bought at mantrade last february. second is my genesis last september.

total cost of navara (fuel, lodging, ferry, eating, etc.) less than 17,000 pesos.
total cost of genesis around 23,000 pesos.

cost of navara by shipping from manila to davao (solid shipping lines) is between Php 30,000 to Php 35,000. genesis coupe is somewhat the same since they also base their computation relative to the cost of the unit.

so it is really cheaper if you drive it all the way down. best to do this is to leave manila as early as 5am and you should be in matnog, sorsogon at around 4pm. ferry will leave sorsogon going to allen, samar between 5pm to 6pm and the ferry will costs you around 900 pesos. ferry will dock at allen between 7 and 8 in the evening. there is a nice lodging house in allen port which is relatively cheap also. the name is KINABRANAN LODGE. they also serve nice dinner...as precaution, do not travel samar-leyte route at night time. there are reports of hold-ups along the way and it's pretty scary also since most of the way is not inhabited.the road between allen and calbayog is not that nice also.

start your travel as early as 6am the following day and have your breakfast at calbayog city. the road from calbayog to san juanico bridge is very nice. tacloban to liloan (2nd ferry) port is nice also. you can reach liloan maybe around 2pm. ferry at liloan will leave at 6pm so watch out for your time and don't be complacent. it's better to get earlier to avoid cramming. once you are in liloan port, look for PAUL. you can ask the port's security guard for this person. he will be a big help to you. ferry will cost you around 2900 pesos.

so, ferry will leave at liloan at around 6pm and it will arrive in lipata, surigao at around 11 in the evening. once in lipata, either you will stay at almonts hotel (little expensive but very nice: accommodation and all) or you can go at surigao city proper with plenty to choose from (i never tried it, i slept at almonts). by the following morning, you can leave surigao at around 8 in the morning and you will be in davao city at around 4 in the afternoon.

all in all, the road condition is very nice. plus a chance to trave from luzon, visayas and mindanao.

hava a nice trip and DO NOT FORGET TO ASK YOUR DIRECTION WHEN IN DOUBT.

[underman]

Planning to drive to Cebu, I read the thread of Manila to Davao and also the post by sir Ghost_recon, but I dont know where what port to go to Cebu instead of Davao.

Anyone with info on this? Manila to Cebu. details would be great. searching the net as well.

Bro, if you are planning to travel by land, you can try the SRNH. after arriving at BACOLOD, NEGROS OCC, you can go directly to Guihulngan, Negros oriental via MURCIA, DON BENIDICTO, SAN CARLOS, and Basak, Guihulngan, Negros Or. the RORO leaves every noon time from BASAK to TANGIL Cebu. Travel time from tangil to Cebu City is around 2hrs. it is advisable to pass the DON BENEDICTO by day since the road is isolated and without electricity. Fare is very cheap. Im not sure if the CADIZ, NEGROS to TUBURAN, CEBU are still operating. last time na nakadaan ako dun is 1989. another alternative is CENTRAL NAUTICAL HIGHWAY. via Masbate ata yun. bro, just my 2 cents lang pero tested na since im a native of guihulngan.

[edgar75]

Planning to drive to Cebu, I read the thread of Manila to Davao and also the post by sir Ghost_recon, but I dont know where what port to go to Cebu instead of Davao.

Anyone with info on this? Manila to Cebu. details would be great. searching the net as well.

Makikisingit na rin boss. Hopefully I could drive to Cebu by this august. Im here at Albay. Meron ba nakapag landtrip na papuntang Cebu na nagumpisa sa Matnog, Sorsogon at magkano mga fares sa RORO? And I need some info kasi kung magkano inabot gastos at sa mga dadaanang kalsada kung maayos. 93 Corolla lang kasi ang gagamitin ko. Thanks..

[av8or5]

Bro, if you are planning to travel by land, you can try the SRNH. after arriving at BACOLOD, NEGROS OCC, you can go directly to Guihulngan, Negros oriental via MURCIA, DON BENIDICTO, SAN CARLOS, and Basak, Guihulngan, Negros Or. the RORO leaves every noon time from BASAK to TANGIL Cebu. Travel time from tangil to Cebu City is around 2hrs. it is advisable to pass the DON BENEDICTO by day since the road is isolated and without electricity. Fare is very cheap. Im not sure if the CADIZ, NEGROS to TUBURAN, CEBU are still operating. last time na nakadaan ako dun is 1989. another alternative is CENTRAL NAUTICAL HIGHWAY. via Masbate ata yun. bro, just my 2 cents lang pero tested na since im a native of guihulngan.

thanks sir for the feedback. yup, might try the Leyte, or Masbate route. Ill give a blow by blow write up after 2 weeks.

[Leif Edward]

eto ang alternative-more hassle-more expensive-yet-scenic route...that is if ayaw mo magvia samar leyte route....

Origin:Manila
1. Take SLEX exit batangas
2. around 6-8 km (i think) from SLEX exit, take right to STAR tollway
3. direcho na yung STAR dun sa batangas city port (dati kasi via lipa-sto. tomas)
4. upon exit ng STAR toll, direcho ka lang pagdating mo ng intersxn then follow the winding road to the roro port. select ka n lng ng shipping depende s sked going to calapan...ingat ka baka romblon o abra de ilog, occ mindoro masakyan mo. fastest ang montenegro lines among others...
5. pagdating ng calapan, land travel (about 1.5 hours at >100 km/h speeds) to roxas port southern mindoro. board ka ng ferry to caticlan.
6. kung gabihin ka ng dating sa caticlan, you may check sa mga mini hotels dun unless gusto mo magbora.
7. land travel to dumangas port, iloilo (via aklan-capiz >4hrs, via antique ganun din) less travelled lang kasi ang antique pero maganda na daan dun kesa capiz prov.
8. upon reaching dumangas port, board a ferry to bacolod city
9. land travel bacolod to san carlos via murcia or northern bacolod...or via kabankalan-mountain road to a port located a town before dumaguete. i forgot the town's name. so meron kang two options to get to cebu from negros. 1. ferry via san carlos-toledo 2. ferry via yung port sa town before dumaguete going to southern cebu.

You need to bring OR & CR for registration sa coast guard at shipping line...ipaxerox mo na rin.

Expenses:approximate P10k plus for ferry rides only. wala pa meals and lodging mo....magastos ano. check mo na lng sa website ng montenegrolines. hindi sila nagkakalayo with other ferries. plus tip sa taga ferry or port kung gusto mo na isingit ka nila. hehehe...

Importante may map ka rin. Food and water syempre. Magdala ka rin ng karelyebong driver kung meron. Do not make any unnecessary stopovers especially on lonely highways umaga man o gabi. sa mga gas station ka na lang or sa mataong lugar.

Duration of travel: approx. 2 days din kung tuloy tuloy ang byahe at natyempuhan mo ang sked ng ferry
haba no.hehe

here's the link of montenegro lines.

nandito narin ang fares ..

http://montenegrolines.com.ph/msli_web/

[afrasay]

take the matnog-allen-(samar, san juanico, leyte) isabel port-danao port route. medyo masama lang ang daan sa samar area. average cost of roro is 1,000 libre na driver. bring photocopy of license OR and CR of vehicle at least 1 set per port of origin. on the way back the processed copy will be your official papers. If remember it right the isabel roro departs for danao part, cebu around 11:00 am. so leave allen early in the morning so you can catch this one and only roro to cebu. a safe trip sir.

[underman]

You can try also the BATO, LEYTE to UBAY, BOHOL route, Ive tried this one before, then you can have your car ferried from TAGBILARAN to CEBU. it is more scenic because of BOHOL.

to Leif Edward,

yeah, I forgot that theres a route pala between SAN CARLOS and TOLEDO. much better pala to sir.

[av8or5]

What a trip. 932 KM travelled from Tagaytay to the Queen City.

Thanks to the post here / suggestions, and a handy Philippine map, the land travel from Manila to Cebu was not so bad.

Cost roughly less than P11K with gas, ferry, food, lodging good for 2 people.

Ferry from Matnog to Allen Samar
P960 Roro of pickup (free ang driver)
P120 / passenger
P11.50 terminal fee per pax
P258 terminal fee of vehicle
P28 Weighing fee of vehicle
plus people you pass along the way wanting tips for "yosi" like guard, fixers, boat helpers, etc.

The boat left late at night in hopes to get more passengers or vehicles, but no luck for them. No schedules for departing boats, as soon as mag fill up, then thats the time the boat leaves. I was there 430pm, the boat left 8pm.

Just like what sir Ghost Recon suggested, once at Allen, stay overnight at Kinabranan Lodge. Overnight aircon cost P850. Just go out of the pier, turn left and a couple of meters away is Kinabranan Lodge on the left side of the road.

The following day, left the Lodge for Leyte. from the lodge, turn right and head towards Calbayog, . The road from Allen to Calbayog sucks, so don't drive at night to lessen damages to your underchasis.

From Calbayog to Leyte, ganda na ang road with some parts need improvement, but is manageable.

Ormoc was my destination to roro from Leyte to Cebu. Got to the pier of Ormoc around 5pm with stop overs to see Sto Nino Shrine at Tacloban and MacArthur Landing. Ferry leaves Ormoc for Cebu at 10am and 11PM.

Ferry Ormoc to Cebu:
P2750 Ferry Vehicle Charge with free driver
P250 Vehicle Terminal fee charge
P10 Terminal fee per pax
P400 tourist level passenger fee (aircon, sleeper bed); P250 standard level passenger fee. I suggest tourist level if you can afford it.
I rode Asian Marine Transport corp tel #32-233-5733, they dock near Cebu Doctors

I hope this helps.

[underman]

What a trip. 932 KM travelled from Tagaytay to the Queen City.

Thanks to the post here / suggestions, and a handy Philippine map, the land travel from Manila to Cebu was not so bad.

Cost roughly less than P11K with gas, ferry, food, lodging good for 2 people.

Ferry from Matnog to Allen Samar
P960 Roro of pickup (free ang driver)
P120 / passenger
P11.50 terminal fee per pax
P258 terminal fee of vehicle
P28 Weighing fee of vehicle
plus people you pass along the way wanting tips for "yosi" like guard, fixers, boat helpers, etc.

The boat left late at night in hopes to get more passengers or vehicles, but no luck for them. No schedules for departing boats, as soon as mag fill up, then thats the time the boat leaves. I was there 430pm, the boat left 8pm.

Just like what sir Ghost Recon suggested, once at Allen, stay overnight at Kinabranan Lodge. Overnight aircon cost P850. Just go out of the pier, turn left and a couple of meters away is Kinabranan Lodge on the left side of the road.

The following day, left the Lodge for Leyte. from the lodge, turn right and head towards Calbayog, . The road from Allen to Calbayog sucks, so don't drive at night to lessen damages to your underchasis.

From Calbayog to Leyte, ganda na ang road with some parts need improvement, but is manageable.

Ormoc was my destination to roro from Leyte to Cebu. Got to the pier of Ormoc around 5pm with stop overs to see Sto Nino Shrine at Tacloban and MacArthur Landing. Ferry leaves Ormoc for Cebu at 10am and 11PM.

Ferry Ormoc to Cebu:
P2750 Ferry Vehicle Charge with free driver
P250 Vehicle Terminal fee charge
P10 Terminal fee per pax
P400 tourist level passenger fee (aircon, sleeper bed); P250 standard level passenger fee. I suggest tourist level if you can afford it.
I rode Asian Marine Transport corp tel #32-233-5733, they dock near Cebu Doctors

I hope this helps.

haha. nice trip po sir and Im glad that you reach Cebu safely. Ask ko lang sana kung how many hours from Ormoc to Cebu because Im planning to go to Negros via Cebu this coming October.
By the way sir, how about coming back to Manila, ano naman po ang route nyo.

[av8or5]

haha. nice trip po sir and Im glad that you reach Cebu safely. Ask ko lang sana kung how many hours from Ormoc to Cebu because Im planning to go to Negros via Cebu this coming October.
By the way sir, how about coming back to Manila, ano naman po ang route nyo.

Ormoc to Cebu mga 7-8 hours sir. I'll be going home via plane. hehehhe.

enjoy your trip sir.

[gcl73]

Good Evening Everyone, has anybody taken their car from Manila to Cebu via Matnog Sorsogon lately? I noticed this thread is already old but the information past is quite informative. How are conditions of roads from Allen to Isabel Leyte?

enjoy your trip sir.[/QUOTE]

[underman]

Hi sir, tried this route last May, Matnog to San Isidro. San Isidro is the port of call of Fast cat instead of Allen. As usual, rough road pa rin hanggang Calbayog. But doable by sedan since yun ang gamit ko. Then ferry from Bato to Ubay. once a day lang ang byahe but two ferry naman ang nag se served. And last ferry is Tagbilaran to Argao.
Try mo rin yung Central Nautical Highway. Na try ko rin last 2015. From Pilar, Sorsogon to Masbate. Once a day rin lang ang byahe. Masbate City to Catingan. Then ferry from Cataingan to Bogo. 2 ferry lang po ang kelangan to reach Cebu. Road condition in Masbate is doable by Sedan. HTH.

[xoids]

mga pogi - meron bang direct roro ferry from Batangas to Cebu? we're planning to visit cebu sana but looking for alternative route ang usual kasi is via Sorsogon/Matnog. Thanks

[blank check]

Completed Manila-Matnog-Allen-Hilongos-Cebu just this morning.

Day 1 May 20 Sat: Headed out for Naga past 11AM from Bicutan. Got to Naga by 930PM. Struk by traffic early on so the supposedly 8-hr drive took longer. So better head out earlier than we did.

Overnight * CBD Hotel.

Day 2 May 21 Sun: Headed out for Matnog past 10AM. Stopped by Cagsawa Ruins in Albay before arriving in Matnog around 330PM. Took the Montenegro roro bound for Looc, Allen. P960 for the Innova, 120 for extra persons.

Overnight * Birmingham Allen. This one has a swimming pool para makapag relax :D.

Day 3 May 22 Mon: Headed out for Hilongos past 8AM. Stopped by Robinson's Tacloban for a late lunch (1:30PM) before getting to Hilongos at 6PM. Took the Gabisan roro bound for Cebu Pier 5. P3,500 for the Innvoa, 350(?) extra persons.

Day 4 May 23 Tue: Exited the roro at 230AM. Went home to get more sleep before prepping for another day at the office.

All other expenses would depend on what you eat and where you stay.

[falken]

Completed Manila-Matnog-Allen-Hilongos-Cebu just this morning.

Day 1 May 20 Sat: Headed out for Naga past 11AM from Bicutan. Got to Naga by 930PM. Struk by traffic early on so the supposedly 8-hr drive took longer. So better head out earlier than we did.

Overnight * CBD Hotel.

Day 2 May 21 Sun: Headed out for Matnog past 10AM. Stopped by Cagsawa Ruins in Albay before arriving in Matnog around 330PM. Took the Montenegro roro bound for Looc, Allen. P960 for the Innova, 120 for extra persons.

Overnight * Birmingham Allen. This one has a swimming pool para makapag relax :D.

Day 3 May 22 Mon: Headed out for Hilongos past 8AM. Stopped by Robinson's Tacloban for a late lunch (1:30PM) before getting to Hilongos at 6PM. Took the Gabisan roro bound for Cebu Pier 5. P3,500 for the Innvoa, 350(?) extra persons.

Day 4 May 23 Tue: Exited the roro at 230AM. Went home to get more sleep before prepping for another day at the office.

All other expenses would depend on what you eat and where you stay.

Sir blank check, how's the road condition from Allen to Calbayog? Tia.

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[blank check]

Sir blank check, how's the road condition from Allen to Calbayog? Tia.

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Lots of road work but not that bad. A few other road works also after Calbayog but still not bad. Not a problem for sedans.

[dreamur]

Guys, planning to drive to Cebu (and back) this Christmas week. Need your inputs on the following:

1. Will the roro services both at matnog and leyte be available?

2. What would be the traffic condition considering the holidays?

3. Are pets allowed on those stops with hotels?

Edit: travelling with family pala + 1 small pet. Planning to stay in a hotel in Naga and Allen that is pet friendly.

Appreciate your help!

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[dreamur]

Edit: planning to drive both ways. Whole trip may take 10 days.

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[glenn_duke]

Guys, planning to drive to Cebu (and back) this Christmas week. Need your inputs on the following:

1. Will the roro services both at matnog and leyte be available?

2. What would be the traffic condition considering the holidays?

3. Are pets allowed on those stops with hotels?

Edit: travelling with family pala + 1 small pet. Planning to stay in a hotel in Naga and Allen that is pet friendly.

Appreciate your help!

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Since you are planning to sleep at Naga and Allen, most likely you are planning a daytrip, which is good and advisable for first time travelers.

1. The roro service at Matnog and Allen ports starts at 6 am up to about 5-6 pm in the afternoon. Provided theres no typhoon, the service should be continuous on a first come first serve basis. Last Christmas my kids coming from Cebu got stranded at Allen due to the typhoon, they spent their Christmas at a hotel in Calbayog.

You have to check the roro service from Leyte to Cebu, they have been very erratic, for this reason, I shifted to Cokaliong Lines, it leaves Calbayog to Cebu 7 pm, Tues/Thurs/Sat. Cokaliong charge about P 8-9k for a starex/montero. The port is at Magino-o, Calbayog about 10 km before Calbayog coming from Allen, but the cargo office is in Calbayog City, so you buy your ticket there not at the pot.

If passing Leyte is part of your itinerary, maybe to see San Juanico Bridge and Tacloban, you should first check the ferries/roro operating the ormoc-cebu route for their schedule, because they frequently change their schedules, you dont want to arrive at Ormoc only to find out theres no roro service. In your plan itinerary, you will arrive Ormoc early afternoon, enought time to catch the evening 10:00 pm (?) roro to cebu (Lite Shipping). Its peak season so expect a lot of travelers, the earlier you arrive at Ormoc the better chance you can get a slot for your car. Call the shipping lines to confirm their schedule, dont rely on their webpages.

2. You are coming from Manila(?) expect the traffic to be heavy, those coming from the Visayas are the lighter during pre-Christmas travel. Plan your route, there are new diversion roads that you could take to avoid the city choke points especially in the Batangas-Quezon area. If this is your first time to travel this route, dont travel at night to beat the traffic, night travel will still be moderate to heavy due to trucks and provincial buses, but you will be in the disadvantage since you are not familiar with the road.

3. What kind of pet? My daughter always bring her cat with her, its allowed but inside the pet cage. I have not slept in a hotel in Naga, so im unsure about the hotels there about pet policy. You can give them a call when you do your booking. At Allen , we had no problem for a cat in a cage.


Hope this helps. Your spoilers here are the ferries/roros and the weather.

[dreamur]

Thank you *glenn_duke! Very informative.

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