How to GET AROUND the Philippines?

The Philippines is made up of 7641 islands... HOW do you possibly see everything?

Here's how to get around:

1. Ferry/Boat

2. Plane

3. Bus/Truck/Car/Van

4. Tuktuk

After travelling multiple months here we can confidently say that FIRST you should check FERRIES.

They are the lowest cost and often more efficient than flying.

FERRIES

PROS:

• Great budget option (As low as $5 AUD)

• Sometimes more direct and efficient than anything else

• Scenic! Some of the ferries are REALLY NICE others... are old and worn but you can try to secure one of the newer ferries when booking

CONS:

• Can be PACKED, but sometimes empty too!

• Depending on weather conditions may be uncomfortable/cause sea sickness (We did not experience this as most of the Philippines is protected bays!)

• Confusing to arrange

HOW TO ARRANGE FERRIES:

It is confusing online so we actually booked in person with local people.

We didn't need to book far in advance either and never had trouble getting on. Start by asking your accommodation contact to help you and when at the port ask the agent to book the best ferry option available.

With language differences we sometimes talked on google translate, or had a local contact from our accommodation to help us communicate.

WHAT TO BRING

Food and supplies on the ferries are minimal, bring food, things to do and water. Your big bags get packed away.

OVERNIGHT FERRIES?

We saw that there are overnight ferry options, but a lot of them are open air bunk bed or hammock situations. So we didn't do this, but if you are a seasoned traveller you might enjoy this experience! If that sounds a bit out there maybe stick to day ferries like we did.

COST

To put it in perspective you might pay $11 AUD for a ferry between two islands, whereas a flight is often hundreds of dollars.

PLANES

PROS:

• Easy enough to book and usually comfortable

• Might get a bargain flight if you book in advance

• Better choice for longer distances

CONS:

• Can be expensive

• Sometimes a waste of time when a ferry might be more direct

• Some of the smaller planes can be a bit uncomfortable

HOW TO ARRANGE PLANES:

Just book online per usual on skyscanner.

COST

Can cost anywhere from $50-$600 AUD for flights between islands.

Places we flew to verses places we ferried to:

We fly into Manila, Cebu, Coron/El Nido and out of Puerto Princesa airport in Palawan.

We have ferried to Bohol, Siquijor, Southern Leyte and Siargao (whale sharks)

Depending where you come from you can either ferry or fly into Siargao as it is a bit further away. But we ferried there from Leyte, passing through Surigao.

You can take 3 day sailing adventures between some islands. We did this to get from Coron to El Nido. :)

RENTING SCOOTERS

We always ensure our insurance covers scooter rental as it is quite cheap (around $8AUD a day) and means you can go where you want even with a surfboard in tow. Always have a helmet on as dogs are common for running out on roads in the Philippines especially Siargao.

TUKTUKS

Tuktuks are a relatively cheap local way to get around you can hail them. They are actually really fun for short trips!

CARS/VANS ETC

Can be surprisingly expensive anywhere up to $170AUD for a day. So just make sure you split it with your group!