Directions Going to Masbate

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DIRECTIONS TO MASBATE

Photo from: https://diveshoppe2003.wordpress.com/ticao-pass/

Masbate province has three major islands: Masbate, Ticao and Burias.

How to Get to Masbate

By bus

There’s a daily trip going from Manila to Masbate via RoRo bus, the terminal is located at Cubao in Quezon City. This is part of the Nautical Highway, the bus will be carried by the RoRo boat from Pilar to Masbate City port. It costs ₱1,150 one way for a/c buses, ₱850 for one way for ordinary buses. There is a trip in the opposite direction leaving Masbate Pier at 11:30am.

A RoRo bus also departs Masbate City daily at 8:30am bound for Cebu City, using the Montenegro Lines boat to Polambato. Fare is ₱800.

By plane

AirPhil Express, flying daily, is now the only carrier from Manila to Masbate. Cebu Pacific also flies four times weekly from Cebu. Please be aware that both airlines can and do cancel at very short notice, and it is not unusual to be returning to either Manila or Cebu when in flight due to poor weather conditions at Masbate. Both airlines leave from their respective terminals during early morning. UPDATE, May 2014: Cebu Pacific no longer lists Masbate in any of their timetables, so flying direct to/from Cebu is not currently an option.

By boat

Several boats per day depart Pilar in the province of Sorsogon on Luzon to Masbate City. By Fastcraft, it is a 1.5-2hr crossing and costs ₱400, much longer if using other cheaper ferry options (3hours+, ₱250).

Two RoRo ferries leave daily at midnight from Polambato Port (just north of Bogo on Cebu Island), bound for two different destinations on Masbate. Montenegro Lines crosses to Cataingan on the western side of Masbate, while Super Shuttle Ferry operates a boat to Cawayan in eastern Masbate. Fare is ₱365 for Montenegro, ₱380 for the Super Shuttle. Both crossings take about 6hours and the return trips leave their respective ports at midday,

Asian Marine Transport Corporation runs a weekly ferry from Batangas (departs 9pm Tuesdays, ₱555) and Cebu (departs 12pm Sundays, ₱555). The ferry actually runs all the way from Cagayan de Oro on Mindanao via Cebu, (₱960 all the way to Masbate).

There are also boats from Lucena in Luzon.

Trans Asia Ferry Company runs a ferry to Cebu city on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:00PM (arriving 8:00AM). It was also running on Sundays, but that no longer seems to be the case as of May 2014. Their schedules can be found here

Montenegro Ferry Company runs a daily RORO ferry to Cebu, leaving from the port in Cataingan (south of Masbate city) at 12:00 noon. Montenegro buses leave from the port in Masbate at 8:30AM to connect to this ferry. Read More from: http://wikitravel.org/en/Masbate

Photo from: http://www.happysteps.net/2012/04/12/airphil-express-baggage-information-and-rates-check-in-and-boarding-guidelines-as-of-april-2012/

From Pilar, Sorsogon (via ferry). I took the 3-hour ferry boat from Pilar, Sorsogon to Masbate City. It was a scenic voyage, seeing islands with rolling hills left and right, a lighthouse and the sea breeze was energizing.

From Bulan, Sorsogon (via big banca/boat). I took this route when I left Ticao island going back to Bulan, Sorsogon. From Monreal, I hired a habal-habal/motorbike to bring me to San Jacinto port. This time the trip was tumultuous. More than an hour of roller coaster ride on the sea plus it was raining hard that time. It was crazy! But I was surprise that kids can still sleep with all this. I guess they are used to this route. Thank God the boatmen are skillful enough and we arrive at Bulan safe and sound.

These boatmen must have learn the skill from the early Chinese traders in the islands, able to navigate the turbulent seas of Masbate. Yes, long before the Spanish anchored here, the people of Masbate has a flourishing trade with Chinese and Indians.

Please note that there are boats that ply the route Masbate City to Lagundi, Batuan, Ticao Island and vice-versa. I took the 8:00am boat to Batuan and paid Php80.

I believe AirPhilippines and ZestAir has daily flights to Masbate City from Manila. So if sea trip is not your thing, you should take this option. – Read More from : http://journeyingjames.com/2012/06/masbate-and-ticao-island-travel-guide/

Photo from: https://boyplakwatsa.com/tag/aroroy/

How to Go to Masbate:

1. By Land: RORO bus at Araneta Center

The roro bus (roro bus of Montenegro and Isarog bus line) in Araneta terminal (the old Rustan’s) leaves for Masbate between 1 pm to 6 pm. Travel time is approximately 11 hours.

2. By Air: PAL/PAL Express direct flight to Masbate. Fares vary depending on the season, and depending on how early or late you book your flight.

3. By Air, Land and Ferry: Any flight to Legazpi. Land travel to Pilar, Sorsogon. Ferry at Pilar, Sorsogon.

You can supplement whatever I have shared about Masbate by visiting the Masbate City’s website: http://www.masbatecity.gov.ph/

You may also want to visit the facebook community page I created and called MAS-BEYT, a play on the province’s name:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/masbate.is.fun/