How to get from Banaue to Manila
Whether your holiday has come to an end or you need to go through Manila to travel to your next destination, in this article we will explain to you how to get to Manila.
COVID-19 Travel Advisory: Since the beginning of 2022, the Philippines eased travel restrictions for foreign travellers and locals alike. The main requirement is to be fully vaccinated.
Taking a flight? As of November 2022, all international travellers bound for the Philippines are required to register an eArrival Card. You can fill it out upon arrival, but it’s recommended to register 72 hours prior to your flight to avoid queues and delays at the airport.
Besides the countrywide guidelines, each city also has different guidelines. For Manila, you just need to have a valid Government ID. For foreign travellers, your passport will be the best form of ID plus your vaccination card or any proof of full vaccination.
2 ways to get from Banaue to Manila
There’s only one direct option when travelling the 385 km (239 miles) journey from Banaue to Manila. You can take an 8 to 11.5-hour bus ride with rares from 680 PHP ($11.50). An alternative is an indirect flight via Cauayan. This will journey take about 5 hours, including additional transfers. Fares start from 5,600 PHP ($97).
Buses are available from Banaue to Manila every day and arrive at midnight in Manila. Travel time is about 8-11.5 hours, and bus tickets start from 680 PHP ($11.50).
It’s also possible to travel by day via Solano. You’ll take a jeepney from Banaue to Solano and then a bus to Manila. Combined costs start from 920 PHP ($16).
If you prefer to take a flight from Banaue to Manila, the nearest airport is in Cauayan (CYZ), located 130 km east of Banaue. This means you’ll have to take a 4-hour van or taxi ride from Banaue to Cauayan to get there. Total flight costs, including van transfer, start at 5,600 PHP ($97).
TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.
Itinerary from Banaue to Manila
Banaue to Manila by Bus
Ohayami Trans and Coda Lines are well-known bus companies that offer daily trips from Banaue to Manila.
They both provide standard service and make bathroom/meal stops along the way. Both Ohayami Trans and Coda Lines provide night trips for this route.
The travel time from Banaue to Manila takes 8-11.5 hours. Bear in mind that the buses pass through EDSA, undoubtedly the busiest road in the entire Philippines, so the journey can take up to 11 hours on a really bad day. Bus fares start at 680 PHP ($11.50) for a one-way trip.
Bus schedule from Banaue to Manila
When choosing which bus to take, pick the one that will drop you off closer to your destination in Metro Manila.
Ohayami Trans
- Departs from the Ohayami Bus Terminal in Poblacion in Banaue town centre
- Arrives at Ohayami Bus Terminal in Sampaloc, Manila, 9 km northwest of Makati
Note that Ohayami buses often operate older models than Coda Lines.
Coda Lines
- Departs from Banaue Hotel and Youth Hostel in the town centre (5-min walk from the bus station)
- Arrives at Coda Lines Bus Terminal in Cubao, about 12 km northeast of Makati
Travelling from Banaue to Manila by Day
There are no direct morning trips from Banaue to Manila, but thanks to a tip from a reader, we found an alternative route via Solano. After additional research, we are happy to share this route option in more detail with you below.
First, you need to take a jeepney from Banaue to Manila. Jeepneys are available in the city centre and operate every hour from 06:00 to 14:00 daily. Travel time is around 2.5 hours to Solano, and tickets cost 250 PHP ($4.35).
You’ll be dropped off at Runruno Jeepney Terminal. From here, you need to take a tricycle to Meaco Royal Hotel where buses bound for Manila stop to pick up passengers. Fare is about 20 PHP ($0.30).
The last leg of your trip is a bus ride from Solano to Manila. Bus tickets start from 640 PHP ($11) for an 8-hour ride to Manila. Some of the buses that you can ride are GV Florida, Victory Liner, and Five Star that will originate from Cagayan and Isabela.
Banaue to Manila by Flight
If you decide to fly from Banaue to Manila, the nearest airport to Banaue is in Cauayan City. To get to the airport, you have to arrange for a van transfer from Banaue.
Step 1: Banaue to Cauayan by Van
You can ask your hotel in Banaue to help you arrange for a van transfer to Cauayan Airport (CYZ). It costs about 4,000 PHP ($69) for the 4-hour van ride. A great idea is to ask around if there are other tourists taking the same flight as yours. This way you could share the cost of the van ride.
The other way is to commute. You would need to go by jeepney then by bus and local transport to get to the airport. However, the travel time is too long and you have to be at the airport at least 2 hours before your flight to Manila. This wouldn’t make it worth the journey compared to taking the bus from Banaue to Manila.
Step 2: Cauayan to Manila by Flight
Cebu Pacific offers the only flight from Cauayan to Manila. This flight departs at 12:05 daily. There are also additional flights at 15:50 on Tue, Thu and Sat. Flights depart from Cauayan Airport (CYZ) and land at Manila Airport Terminal 3. The flight time is just 1 hour.
The usual ticket price is between 1,600 PHP ($27.50) – 2,500 PHP ($43.50), but they can go as low as 730 PHP ($12.50) during sale periods. We recommend booking your ticket at least 2 months in advance for the best prices.
Arrival in Manila
Once you land at Manila Airport Terminal 3, you can easily hail a taxi to your hotel. There would normally be taxis waiting outside the arrival area. We recommend avoiding the yellow metered taxis as these are more expensive. Another great alternative to hailing a taxi is using the taxi app Grab.
If you are flying straight to another destination, you may need to transfer to another terminal. You can just catch the Airport shuttle bus outside Terminal 3. This free shuttle ride is available 24 hours, every 15 minutes. Note that to be able to board the bus, you’ll need to show your flight booking or boarding pass.
