How to get from Siquijor to Cebu

Why visit Cebu?

Cebu is a highly urbanized city in the Philippines’ Visayas region. Often, it is the gateway to the province’s world-famous gems — diving in Malapascua, sardine run in Moalboal, canyoneering in Alegria, and snorkelling in Oslob.

If you have a day to spare, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to spend it here. Cebu City played a huge role in the country’s history. You can learn all about it with a visit to Magellan’s Cross and Fort San Pedro. Love trying good food? You will find the best lechon (the Philippines’ iconic roasted pig) in Cebu City!

There are 5 ways to travel the 170 kilometers (106 miles) from Siquijor to Cebu. You can choose between the ferry + bus via Dumaguete, flight (Currently not operating), ferry, ferry via Tagbilaran and ferry + bus via Bato. The journey takes 40 minutes - 7 hours and the quickest way is by flight (currently not operating). If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by ferry + bus via Bato with tickets starting at 625 PHP ($11.10).

If you want to get from Siquijor to Cebu entirely by sea, the fastest way is to take a ferry.

OceanJet offers one daily departure for this route, but it’s not a direct trip. You’ll first sail to Tagbilaran Port, where all passengers need to get off and transfer to a connecting ferry bound for Cebu.

Ticket prices start from 1,940 PHP ($35) for a tourist seat, and the total journey takes about 4 hours 50 minutes.

Departure and arrival ports

The ferry will depart from Siquijor Pier and arrive at Cebu Pier 1.

If you’re thinking of making a short stopover in Bohol or just want more flexibility, you can book your ferry rides separately.

From Siquijor to Bohol, OceanJet ferry is likely the most convenient option for travellers. It departs from Siquijor Pier, close to the tourist centre, and offers one trip a day.

If their schedule doesn’t work for you, you can also check Lite Shipping or Apekop Travel. Both leave from Larena Pier in the north of the island.

Ferry ticket prices start at 835 PHP ($14.90), and the journey takes around 2-3h.

OceanJet, Supercat, and Lite Shipping all offer several daily trips from Bohol to Cebu.

Tickets with Lite Shipping start at 490 PHP ($8.70), but keep in mind this slower ferry takes around 4 hours. If you want to cut your travel time in half, it’s worth taking a fast craft with OceanJet or Supercat.

You can book your ticket via BookAway, and make sure you choose a ferry departing from Tagbilaran City. Some ferries leave from Tubigon or Jetafe Ports, which are 1.5 to 2 hours away from the main tourist area.

When travelling from Cebu to Siquijor (the opposite route), one option is to take a ferry with Maayo Shipping from Liloan Port. This port is in Santander, the southernmost town of Cebu.

But note that the return trip from Siquijor to Cebu doesn’t go back to Liloan Port. Instead, the ferry arrives at Bato Port, which is about 5 km away.

This route is a good choice if you’re planning to explore southern Cebu, especially places like Oslob or Moalboal.

Maayo Shipping is the only ferry company operating from Siquijor to Bato Port in Cebu. The ferry departs at 13:00 every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, plus a 16:00 trip every Sunday.

A one-way ticket costs 295 PHP ($5.30), and the travel time is around 2h.

The ferry arrives at Bato Port on the southeast coast. To take the bus to Cebu City, you can take a tuk-tuk outside the port to Bato Bus Station for just 20 PHP ($0.40).

At the station, you’ll find several buses heading to different towns across the province. You will see their final stop at the signage in front of the bus. For Cebu City, look for a bus passing through either Oslob or Barili. Tickets start from 330 PHP ($5.90) for an air-conditioned bus.

See here the schedule for the buses heading to Cebu South Bus Terminal:

For this route, Sugbo Urban Transit offers a combined ferry + bus trip from Siquijor to Cebu via Bato Port.

From Larena Port to Cebu South Bus Terminal, travel time is 7 hours. You need to buy your own ferry ticket for 295 PHP ($5.30), and then the bus ticket costs 345 PHP ($6.20).

The company is partnered with Maayo Shipping for the ferry ride, so the bus is available only on the days there are ferry trips. The bus departs the port at 13:00 on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Then on Sundays, the bus departs at 16:00.

See this schedule:

1. 1. Larena Port to Bato Port – 13:00-16:00

1. 1. Bato Port to Cebu South Bus Terminal – 16:00-20:00

You can reserve your tickets by calling the number on the Sugbo Urban Transit page.

You can get from Siquijor to Cebu through a combined ferry and bus via Dumaguete. This requires more transfers and a longer travel time, but it might be a good alternative if the tickets run out for the options mentioned above.

There are two kinds of ferries that operate from Siquijor Port to Dumaguete: car ferries and high-speed fast crafts (passenger-only).

Car ferries are slower, taking about 1.5 to 2 hours to reach Dumaguete. Fast crafts can complete the same trip in 45 minutes to 1 hour.

OceanJet is the most popular fast craft option. It’s usually on time, and the ride stays smooth, even in light rain. You can book a ticket in advance through BookAway.

Aleson Shipping is another option, popular with locals. Their tickets aren’t available on BookAway, so you’ll need to buy them at Aleson’s ticket office near the port. Some hotels can help you book, too. Travel time is around 2 hours, and a ticket costs 200 PHP ($3.60).

If you’re travelling on a weekend or during peak season from March to June, it’s best to book your ticket online. The port in Siquijor is small, and there’s not much to do while waiting, so having your ticket in advance lets you head straight to check-in and avoid the long queues.

From Dumaguete Port, you’ll have to take a short tricycle ride to Ceres Bus Terminal, located some 2 km south of the port.

Ceres Bus offers multiple trips from Dumaguete to Cebu. It’s not a simple bus ride, though. You’ll have to make a short ferry crossing as well. Here is how your trip will look like:

• You will board the bus in Dumaguete. Ticket prices start from 350 PHP ($6.20). The bus will then take you to Sibulan Port.
• At Sibulan, you’ll need to get off the bus, buy a separate ferry ticket for 130 PHP ($2.30), and then board a car ferry to cross the waters to Cebu Province. Make sure to note which bus you took! The ferry ride takes about 20 minutes and arrives at Bato Port.
• Once you’re in Bato, get back on the same bus you took from Dumaguete. From there, the ride continues for around 4 hours until you reach the South Bus Terminal in Cebu City.

The total travel time from Dumaguete to Cebu is around 5 hours.

Travelling via chartered flight directly from Siquijor to Cebu was the fastest, but also the most expensive option.

Air Juan used to offer one flight daily. The flight would depart Siquijor Airport at 14:00 and arrive at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport at 14:40. The fare for an economy one-way ticket cost 4,500 PHP ($80).

TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.