Philippines - Means of Transportation

FOR THE SHORT DISTANCES

Tricycles are basically motorcycles to which a kind of sidecar with a roof is attached.

They are the cheapest and best cab replacement in the Philippines and in traffic jams you often get from A to B faster. You can find them in almost every city and village. You go to the driver, say where you want to go, and sit in. Nice and uncomplicated.

There is room for two people in the sidecar and a third person can usually sit on the motorcycle behind the driver. Luggage can be stored in the sidecar, on the roof, or a kind of luggage rack in the back. We never had any problems with our backpacks and whatever else we had with us and always got everything well stowed away.

Important:
Payment is per person and the price should always be negotiated before the trip - this saves you from discussions afterward ?

FOR THE ROUTES BETWEEN VILLAGES/CITIES

A means of transport that looks cool, too, right? Behind jeepneys are converted US jeeps that the Americans left behind back then. The jeeps became colorful, tiny mini buses. In front sits the driver (well, of course, where else) and in the back, on a kind of covered loading area, the passengers sit in two rows opposite each other.

The jeepneys are typically Filipino and almost a trademark for transportation in the country. You can find them almost everywhere in the Philippines. They serve, so to speak, as a cheap bus and cab substitute for local transport in the city or between villages.

There are fixed routes that the jeepneys depart from and even something like a schedule. It is best to ask the driver or a local person where and when the next jeepney will leave for the desired destination. Riding a jeepney in the Philippines is one of the unique things you can experience during your vacation!

We mostly used them when we wanted to go from village to village, or if a tricycle would have been too expensive.

You don't have to worry about valuables and the rest of your luggage. But you should make sure that it is well fixed on the roof. Often there are individuals on the steps, at the end of the jeepney, or in the villages, there are often passengers sitting on the roof, who will have an eye on the stuff and ensure that nothing falls. The driver pays at the front.

TIP:
BOOK BUS AND TRAIN ONLINE
12Go Asia is one of the largest booking online platforms when it comes to transportation in Asia. Here you can search for any route, the website spits out all the possibilities (bus, train, ferry, and co.) and you can also book your ticket directly!


FOR THE ROUTES BETWEEN VILLAGES/CITIES/ISLANDS

On all the larger islands such as Luzon, Cebu, or Palawan, you can travel long distances with a long-distance bus or minivan. A minivan, will of course, be the more expensive means of transport than a long-distance bus.

There are a lot of different providers, some even cooperate with ferries so that on some routes it is even possible to travel from island to island by bus. The buses then just get on the ferry and you can sit directly on it. The buses are usually quite modern, but of course not the fastest means of transport. If you have the luxury of time, you should choose this way, because you will experience so much of the landscape and life in the Philippines.

The best way to find out about the current departure times is to ask at your accommodation, a tourist office, or simply directly at the office of the provider at the bus station or a tourist information office. As times are changing, the information on the websites is often outdated, that is, if you can find any.

FOR THE ROUTE FROM ISLAND TO ISLANDS

If you look at the map, you will quickly realize that the Philippines consists of countless islands. If you plan your route and zoom into the map, you can see that there are many, many more islands than you thought. So, if you want to see something in the Philippines, there is no way around it but ferry trips.

If you use the local ferries for longer distances hissing the big islands, you can be sure to travel among the locals, which has made it popular as a means of transport with us! We only met 3-4 other tourists on board. The situation is of course different on the connections from one capital to the next "tourist island". On the ferries, you will find only a few locals.

Departure times:
The only source you can rely on is usually the ticket sellers. Neither locals nor tourist offices know the latest times, because, as with the buses, they like to change, and it takes a while for this information to get around. But then there are often already new times.

For this reason, it is best to go directly to the port and get the necessary information and, if possible, a ticket. Especially for routes that are only used 1-2 times a day, it is better to arrive early to be sure to get a ticket.

Hint:
Some long-distance bus companies have their ferries or cooperate with them, so it is possible to book routes from a place on island A to a place on island B in one go!

FOR YOUR INDIVIDUAL ADVENTURES

As in the rest of South-East Asia, the Philippines has an incredible amount of motorcycles almost everywhere. Even the tricycles are moped cabs. So here in the Philippines, especially in rural areas or on the smaller islands with little infrastructure, the best way to get around is by motorcycle or moped.
Finding a motorcycle for rent is not difficult, either. There are plenty of them, especially in the tourist areas. More difficult is the negotiation for a good price.

That said, think about the international driver's license when preparing your trip!

Getting around by cab is comparatively expensive. If you still need a cab, it is a good idea to book a cab ride via the app "Grab". So you can be quite sure to get a trustworthy driver and pay a fair price.

Important:
Especially in the big cities, there is often a lot of traffic and traffic jams, which makes the price of a cab ride skyrocket.

Traveling by local transportation in the Philippines is adventurous and exactly to our taste. However, those who do not want to do without their domestic flight can also take advantage of this.

With a few exceptions (e.g. Cebu -> Puerto Princesa) all flights in the Philippines go via Manila. In other words, you often need two flights to get from A to B. Since prices can skyrocket shortly before the end of the year, it is best not to book flights at the last minute.

The best airports to travel from there by bus, etc. are probably Cebu, Davao, Legazpi, Manila, Iloilo, and Puerto Princesa.

Nevertheless, we advise everyone who has time and wants to have some adventure: Take a tricycle, jeepney, bus, or ferry! It takes time, is sometimes a bit uncomfortable, and also takes some nerves. But: The experience, the travel feeling, and the insight into life is worth it all times! And besides, it is even better for the environment.