Bus Travel

Dusty, freezing or comfortable

Bus Travel in the Philippines

For long distance land transportation in the Philippines you will have to use the bus (e.g. from Manila to Banaue or Caticlan to Iloilo). There are basically 4 types of buses:

  • the luxury buses with beds or business-class seats
  • the new air conditioned buses with TV and curtains
  • the older non-aircon or ordinary buses
  • the very, very old local buses with no glass in the windows at all

Buses usually do not go to the city-centers. They stop at peripheral bus terminals. Small cities have only one terminal. Big cities like Manila or Cebu-City do have several terminals. Here you find the Manila bus terminals.

The biggest terminal in Manila is the Cubao Quezon City Terminal. There are at least 8 bus terminals within one square kilometer. There you find all the big bus companies.

Ultimate comfort is offered by some companies such as GV Florida or Peñafrancia Tours. Their luxury buses have either real beds on the upper deck or have very large business-class seats where you sleep without problems.

Bus fares are very modest. Currently the fare is about PHP 1.30 per kilometer in non-aircon buses, PHP 1.70 to 2.30 in aircon buses and up to PHP 3.50 in luxury vehicles.

Luxury buses usually have a CR (toilet) on board. The other buses stop about every 2 hours. If you feel an urgent need then ask the driver for a short stop and vanish into the bushes.

We strongly recommend to take something to eat and to drink with you. The food offered by flying dealers may be indigestible for your stomach (e.g. balut).

You also will need warm clothes. Aircon buses are freezing cold. A pair of earplugs preserves your hearing from damage because of the sometimes extremely loud disco music in the buses.


Calculate bus fare and trip time

Total Distance:
Common bus fare:
Aircon bus fare:
Luxury bus fare:

 

 

The initial route shows a trip from Manila Cubao bus terminal to the Naga City Bicol Central Station. For your trip you first drag the red marker A to your start point. Then you drag the red marker B to the end point of your journey. The result is immediately calculated and displayed. On the map you see a blue line linking begin an end of your trip. On the top of the right panel you see the estimated fare of your ride. Try it, it's so easy or watch our movie on Youtube.

You can use this map all over the Philippines. Use the zoom function. You may even have a look at any point of your journey - simply use the "streetview peg".


Disclaimer

The calculated distance, fare and duration are the result of a mathematical model. The result will often be near to the real values, but it will almost never give the exact value.

 

Silent Gardens will not be liable for any false, inaccurate, inappropriate or incomplete information presented by this calculator.

 

If you find a big difference between the calculated values and real ones, please inform us. You may use the feedback form at the end of this page. Salamat po.

Try also this ...

rome2rio

 

In some cases the "Rome2rio" website can deliver really good results. Try it here.

 

Taxi and bus routes, fares and travel time are often almost exact. Ferry trips are often wrong.


Strong Republic Nautical Highway

The Philippines are an archipelago of 7107 islands. Building a real highway in such an environment is a challenge.

The Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH) was one of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's favorite projects. The 919 Kilometer SRNH was opened to the public on April 12, 2003. Since then it has seen many enhancements and extensions. Today the SRNH is composed of 3 major parts: The western, the central and the eastern routes.

1280 kilometers in 2 days

A very special travel adventure in the Philippines is the western route of the SRNH from Quezon City to Zamboanga in south-western Mindanao. You can do the 1280 km in less than 48 hours and without the need to leave your seat.

If you really want to do the whole trip, we strongly recommend to do it in a week's time or even more.

For inquiries please contact: +63 (0)2 995-0192 or +63 (0)917 771-1334

WARNING !

Before you start for the last leg of this trip from Dipolog to Zamboanga we strongly advise you to get a security update of this region.

The southwestern regions of Mindanao are potentially dangerous, not only, but especially for foreigners.

Contact your embassy!

The coach leaves Cubao in Quezon City at 09:00 AM and reaches Batangas at 12:00 noon. Here starts the first ferry trip to Mindoro.

Your bus arrives at 03:30 PM in Calapan on Mindoro Island. The following land trip shows you the beauty of Mindoro and brings you to Roxas in Mindoro Oriental. You arrive in Roxas at 08:30 PM

The next ferry section is during the night to Caticlan, Aklan in the north of Panay where you arrive at 01:00 AM.

The north - south trip on Panay Island passes at 03:00 AM by Kalibo and arrives around 07:00 AM in Iloilo on the southern tip of Panay Island.

From Iloilo you sail to Bacolod on Negros Oriental where you arrive at 10:00 AM. This is just a bit more than 24 hours for the first 652km.

Your coach now crosses over Negros Island from Bacolod to Dumaguete. You arrive in Dumaguete around 04:00 PM.

You leave Dumaguete by the last ferry of your trip and arrive at 09:00 PM in Dapitan on Mindanao Island. A short 30 minutes trip brings you to Dipolog, where the bus arrives at 09:30 PM.

The last section overland from Dipolog to Zamboanga is the longest one. You reach your destination after 8 hours 30 travel time at 05:00 AM.

Strong republic National Highway (click to enlarge)

Just for fun

Filipinos are funny and Filipinos are fatalists. Years ago I rode with a bus from Bacolod to Dumaguete on Negros Island. I chose the older non-aircon bus, so I could take photos without all those curtains and dirty windows.

After about 4 hours travel, short after the city of Kabankalan, where the roads start to climb into the mountains, the bus engine had no more power.

The driver pulled the bus over to the road-side and informed all passengers that the bus won't do it anymore and that we should get off the bus.

When everybody had been out in the sun the conductor passed from one passenger to the other, asked for the ticket and paid back the exact fare from the break-down point to the final destination. In my case it had been about half of the fare I had paid.

We were very lucky. About 10 or 15 minutes later a modern aircon-bus, plying the same route, stopped and we could cool down (freeze!) and reached our destination even faster than scheduled.

 

Broken Ceres bus

Everybody got off the lame bus and waited quietly for the next bus to come. (See the driver and the conductor cut out in the next picture).

 

Amused driver

The driver and the conductor were visibly not stressed and had their fun seeing me taking photos. This is pure "Bahala-na" philosophy.


Bus companies

There are curently 31 companies in our database.
 
 
AB Liner Inc.

AB Liner Inc.

3167 Magsaysay Boulevard
Sta. Mesa
Manila
Phone:
Website: www.facebook.com/pages/AB-Liner/205870796115068#
Operating hours:
Travel frequency:

Manila Terminals:
Cubao

Regions:
Lucena
Quezon

Main Destinations:
Lucena
Guinayangan
Gumaca
Tagkawayan
Lopez
AB Liner Inc.

ALPS - the Bus Incorporated

ALPS - the Bus Incorporated

National Highway
Balagtas
Batangas City 4200

Phone: +63 (0)43 723-9033
Cell#: +63 (0)917-504-6042
Fax: +63 (0)43 723-9033
E-mail: info@alpsthebus.com
Website: www.alpsthebus.com
Operating hours: n/a
Travel frequency: n/a

Manila Terminals:
Cubao

Regions:
Batangas
Bicol
Panay

Main Destinations:
Legazpi/Tabacco
Tabacco via Sabloyon
Iloilo via Ivisan
ALPS - the Bus Incorporated

Cagsawa Travel and Tours,Inc.

Cagsawa Travel and Tours,Inc.

Ziga AvenueTabaco City 4511

Phone:
Website: www.facebook.com/pages/Cagsawa-Travel-and-ToursInc/120995291287403
Operating hours: 08:00 a.m. to 07:30 p.m.
Travel frequency:

Manila Terminals:
Cubao

Regions:
Bicol

Main Destinations:
Naga
Legaspi
Cagsawa Travel and Tours,Inc.

CUL Transport

CUL Transport

12-T Lilac Street
West Fairview
Quezon City
Phone: +63 (0)2 461 7395
Website: www.facebook.com/CULTransport
Operating hours:
Travel frequency:

Manila Terminals:
Cubao

Regions:
Bicol
Leyte

Main Destinations:
Sorsogon
Bulan
Tacloban
Calbayog
Maasin
Hilongos
Ormoc
Garigara
CUL Transport

Dalin Bus Line

Dalin Bus Line

Cor. España, Earnshaw and A.H. Lacson Str.
Sampaloc
Manila
Phone: +63 (0)2 722 7999

Operating hours:
Travel frequency:

Manila Terminals:
Sampaloc

Regions:
Cagayan Valley

Main Destinations:
Isabela
Tuguegarao
Dalin Bus Line

Dimple Star Transport

Dimple Star Transport


Phone:
Cell#: +63 (0)919 429 1999

Operating hours:
Travel frequency:

Manila Terminals:
Cubao
Sampaloc
Pasay

Regions:
Mindoro
Panay

Main Destinations:
Roxas
Iloilo
Dimple Star Transport

Dominion Bus Lines

Dominion Bus Lines

New York StreetQuezon City
Phone: + 63 (0)2 741 4146

Operating hours: 03:00 a.m. to 09:00 p.m.
Travel frequency:

Manila Terminals:
Cubao

Regions:
Abra
Ilocos Sur
Ilocos Norte

Main Destinations:
Vigan
Bangue
Dominion Bus Lines

Eagle Star Bus Lines

Eagle Star Bus Lines

Barangay Songco
Borongan
Eastern Samar
Phone: +63 (0)55 560 9008

Operating hours:
Travel frequency:

Manila Terminals:
Cubao

Regions:
Leyte
Samar

Main Destinations:
Silago
Liloan
Borongan
Guiuan
Dolores
Quinapondan
Naval
Culaba
Caibiran
Ormoc
Maasin
Palompon
Eagle Star Bus Lines

Five Star Bus Company

Five Star Bus Company

#674 EDSA
Cubao
Quezon City 1109

Phone: +63 (0)2 851 6659, +63 (0)2 851 6614
Fax: +63 (0)2 853 5772
Website: www.5starbus.co
Operating hours: 24 hours
Travel frequency: every 25 minutes

Manila Terminals:
Pasay
Cubao
Trinoma

Regions:
Nueva Ecija
Pangasinan
Pampanga

Main Destinations:
Nueva Ecija
Dagupan
San Carlos
San Fabian
Tayug/San Quintin
Pangasinan
Talugtug
Five Star Bus Company

Genesis Transport Services Inc.

Genesis Transport Services Inc.

G/F Genesis Transport Building
704 EDSA Corner New York St.
Quezon City 1109

Phone: +63 (0)2 709 0803
Fax: +63 (0)2 709 0544
Website: www.genesistransport.com.ph
Operating hours: 24 hours
Travel frequency: every 15 min. to 2 hours

Manila Terminals:
Cubao

Regions:
Nueva Ecija
Pampanga
La Union

Main Destinations:
Baler
Mariveles
Balanga
Baguio
Casiguran
San Fernando
Olongapo
Genesis Transport Services Inc.

Isarog Bus Lines

Isarog Bus Lines

Naga City Central Bus TerminalNaga City 4400

Phone: +63 (0)54 478 8804
Website: www.facebook.com/pages/Isarog-Lines/118071858254010
Operating hours:
Travel frequency:

Manila Terminals:
Cubao

Regions:
Naga

Main Destinations:
Naga
Isarog Bus Lines

JAC Liner Inc.

JAC Liner Inc.

Kamias Terminal
2 Mapagmahal St. Brgy. Pinyahan, cor EDSA
Quezon City 1109

Phone: +63 (0)2 927-4745
Cell#: +63 (0)917JACLINE
Fax: +63 (0)2 927-1815
Website: www.jacliner.com
Operating hours: 24 hours operation every Fri/Sat/Sun
Travel frequency: n/a

Manila Terminals:
Magallanes

Regions:
Lucena
Laguna
Marinduque

Main Destinations:
Lucena
Biñan
Balibago
Sta. Rosa
Mauban
Buenavista
JAC Liner Inc.

Mega Bus Lines Corporation

Mega Bus Lines Corporation

451 Ortigas AvenuePasig City
Phone: +63 (0)920 783 6636

Operating hours:
Travel frequency:

Manila Terminals:
Pasay

Regions:
Bohol
Leyte

Main Destinations:
Mega Bus Lines Corporation

Partas Transportation Company, Incorporated

Partas Transportation Company, Incorporated

816 Aurora Boulevard
Cubao
Quezon City 1109

Phone: +63 (0)2 725 7303
Fax: +63 (0)2 724 9820
Website: www.partas.com.ph
Operating hours: 24 hours
Travel frequency: every 30 minutes or 1 hour

Manila Terminals:
Cubao

Regions:
Ilocos Norte
Ilocos Sur
Abra

Main Destinations:
Baguio
Lagoag
Vigan
Candon
Abra
Partas Transportation Company, Incorporated

Penafrancia Tours and Travel Transport Inc.

Penafrancia Tours and Travel Transport Inc.

Cu Un Tong Building
Concepcion Grande
Naga City 4400

Phone: +63 (0)54 811-8595
Website: www.facebook.com/pages/Penafrancia-Tours-and-Travel-Transport-Inc/214380368572625
Operating hours: 24 hours
Travel frequency:

Manila Terminals:
Cubao

Regions:
Bicol

Main Destinations:
Naga
Legazpi
Penafrancia Tours and Travel Transport Inc.

Philippine Rabbit

Philippine Rabbit

McArthur HighwayTarlac City 2300

Phone: +63 (0)2 734 9836
Website: www.facebook.com/philippinerabbitbuslines
Operating hours:
Travel frequency:

Manila Terminals:
Avenida

Regions:
Pangasinan
Abra
Ilocos Norte

Main Destinations:
Alaminos
Angeles City
Baguio
Bangued
Camiling
Concepcion
Tarlac
Philippine Rabbit

Philtranco

Philtranco

EDSA Corner Apello Cruz St. Pasay City 1301

Phone: +63 (0)2 851.8078 to 79
E-mail: info.philtranco@gmail.com
Website: www.philtranco.com.ph
Operating hours: 24 hours
Travel frequency:

Manila Terminals:
Pasay
Cubao

Regions:
Bicol
Eastern Visayas
Mindanao

Main Destinations:
Naga
Daet
Panganiban
Legaspi
Davao
Cagayan de Oro
Clark
Ormoc
Maasin
Bulan
Philtranco

PP Bus Lines

PP Bus Lines

Maharlika Highway
Brgy. Apitong
Tacloban
Phone: +63 (0)53 321 8075

Operating hours:
Travel frequency:

Manila Terminals:
Cubao

Regions:
Samar
Leyte
Mindanao

Main Destinations:
Tacloban
Naval
Tucdao
Culaba
Surigao
Butuan
San France
Tagum
Davao
PP Bus Lines

Raymond Transportation

Raymond Transportation

2730 Legarda St.
Sampaloc
Manila
Phone: +63 (0)2 734 12 05 / 06
E-mail: raymondtransportation@yahoo.com
Website: www.facebook.com/pages/Raymond-Transportation/152219074816718
Operating hours: 04:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Travel frequency:

Manila Terminals:
Cubao
Sampaloc

Regions:
Bicol

Main Destinations:
Sabang
Gubat
Legazpi
Tabacco
Lagonoy
Calabanga
Iriga
Raymond Transportation

RSL Bus

RSL Bus


Phone:
Cell#: +63 (0)922 855 5820
Website: www.facebook.com/pages/RSL-BUS/192561384156664
Operating hours: 3:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Travel frequency: every 30 minutes

Manila Terminals:
Cubao

Regions:
Bicol

Main Destinations:
Virac
Tabacco
Bulan
Naga
Legazpi
RSL Bus

Santrans

Santrans

San Jose del Monte
Phone:
Website: https://www.facebook.com/SantransCorporation
Operating hours:
Travel frequency:

Manila Terminals:
Cubao

Regions:
Bulacan
Pangasinan
Pampanga

Main Destinations:
Dagupan
San Carlos
Tarlac
Santrans

Saulog Transit Inc.

Saulog Transit Inc.

1377 Quirino Highway
Baclaran
Parañaque City
Phone:
Website: https://www.facebook.com/saulogtransit
Operating hours:
Travel frequency:

Manila Terminals:
Cubao
Pasay

Regions:
Zambales
Benguet

Main Destinations:
Olongapo
Baguio
Cavite
Dagupan
Tagaytay
Tarlac
San Fernando
Saulog Transit Inc.

Silver Star Bus Lines

Silver Star Bus Lines

General Araneta Avenue
Cubao
Quezon City
Phone: +63 (0)2 439 8768

Operating hours:
Travel frequency:

Manila Terminals:
Cubao

Regions:
Bohol
Leyte / Samar
Sorsogon

Main Destinations:
Liloan
Silago
Abuyog
Palompon
Guiuan
Catarman
Rawis
Catubig
Gubat
Bulan
Ubay
Tagbilaran
Silver Star Bus Lines

Super 5 Transport

Super 5 Transport


Phone: +63 (0)908 508 3773
Cell#: +63 (0)917 704 2564
Website: www.facebook.com/Super5Transport
Operating hours:
Travel frequency:

Manila Terminals:
Pasay
Cubao

Regions:
Bohol
Samar / Leyte
Mindanao

Main Destinations:
Davao
Cagayan de Oro
Dipolog
Iligan
Zamboanga
Super 5 Transport

Ultrabus

Ultrabus

Manila
Phone: +63 (0)2 984 7255
E-mail: ultrabuscompany@yahoo.com

Operating hours:
Travel frequency:

Manila Terminals:
Pasay

Regions:
Leyte

Main Destinations:
San Ricardo
Abuyog
Silago
Liloan
San Fracisco
Agas
Sugod
Palompon
Bato
Ormoc
Isabel
Ultrabus

Vallacar - Bachelor Express

Vallacar - Bachelor Express

Brgy.MansilinganBacolod City 6100

Phone: +63 (0)33 321 2591
Fax: +63 (0)33 321 2371
Website: vallacartransit.net
Operating hours:
Travel frequency:

Manila Terminals:

Regions:
Mindanao

Main Destinations:
Cagayan de Oro
Davao
Butuan
Dipolog
Ozamis
Zamboanga
General Santos
Vallacar - Bachelor Express

Vallacar - Ceres Liner

Vallacar - Ceres Liner

Brgy.MansilinganBacolod City 6100

Phone: +63 (0)33 321 2591
Fax: +63 (0)33 321 2371
Website: vallacartransit.net
Operating hours:
Travel frequency:

Manila Terminals:

Regions:
Negros
Panay
Cebu

Main Destinations:
Cebu City
Bogo
San Isidro
Bacolod
Sagay
Canlaon City
Dumaguete
San Carlos
Caticlan
Kalibo
Iloilo
Roxas
Pandan
Vallacar - Ceres Liner

Vallacar - Rural Transit

Vallacar - Rural Transit

Brgy.MansilinganBacolod City 6100

Phone: +63 (0)33 321 2591
Fax: +63 (0)33 321 2371
Website: vallacartransit.net
Operating hours:
Travel frequency:

Manila Terminals:

Regions:
Mindanao

Main Destinations:
Cagayan de Oro
Davao
Butuan
Dipolog
Ozamis
Zamboanga
General Santos
Vallacar - Rural Transit

Victory Liner, Inc.

Victory Liner, Inc.

713 Rizal Avenue ExtensionCaloocan City
Phone: +63 (0)2 361-1506
E-mail: info@victoryliner.com
Website: www.victoryliner.com
Operating hours: 24 hours
Travel frequency:

Manila Terminals:
Cubao
Pasay

Regions:
Pampanga
Cagayan

Main Destinations:
Baguio
Olongapo
Iba
Pangasinan
Tuguegarao
Dagupan
Roxas
Ilagan
Victory Liner, Inc.

Viron Transit

Viron Transit

1209 Dapitan corner Blumentritt Streets
Sampaloc
Manila 1108

Phone:
Website: www.facebook.com/VironTransit
Operating hours:
Travel frequency:

Manila Terminals:
Sampaloc
Bangued

Regions:
Pangasinan
La Union
Ilocos Sur

Main Destinations:
San Fernando City
Tayug
Tuguegarao City
Vigan City
Viron Transit

Yellow Bus Line

Yellow Bus Line

Pan-Philippine Hwy
Gensan Dr. Koronadal
General Santos City 9500

Phone: +63 (0)83 228 2511
E-mail: customercare@yellowbusline.com
Website: https://www.facebook.com/pg/yellowbuslineOfficial
Operating hours:
Travel frequency:

Manila Terminals:
n/a

Regions:
South Cotabato
Davao del Sur
Davao Occidental

Main Destinations:
Davao City
Digos City
General Santos City
Maasim
Kiamba
Maitum
Koronadal City
Surallah
Sto. Niño
Isulan
Tacurong City
Esperanza
Makilala
Kidapawan
Yellow Bus Line

Missing bus companies

While traveling in the Philippines we found many other bus companies. Also when we compiled our database we saw pictures of many small or ancient busses.

But in neither case we could find reliable information about the bus company. If you know one of the bus companies in the list on the right and if you have reliable information such as address, phone number, e-mail address, then please use the form below to send us your information.

 

Agila Bus Transport
Barney Auto Lines
Ballesteros Bus Line
Baes Express
Beatriz Liner
Billylee Road
Blessed Grace Express
BSTSMC(Bagong Silang Transport Service)
Calamba Megatrans, Inc.
Candon Bus Lines
Cavite Batangas Transport Service Cooperative
Cedec Transport
Daet Auto Express Transit Inc.
Dagupan Bus Co., Inc.
Dalin Liner Inc.
Dangwa Tranco
Don Aldrin
Elavil Tours Phils., Inc.
Erjohn & Almark Transit Corp.
ES Transport
Everlasting Transport, Inc.
Farinas Transit Company
Ferdinand Liner
Fermina Express
First Charter and Tours Transport Corporation
First North Luzon Transit
German Espiritu Liner Inc.
Guardian Angels Bus Line
HM Transport Inc.
Inland Trailways Inc. Jun-Jun
Lone Star Lines
Lucena Lines
Luzon Bus Inc.

 

Lorna Express
Luzon Cisco Transport, Inc.
Manny Trans.
Maria de Leon
Metro Coastal Transport Inc.
Northern Luzon Bus Lines Inc.
Northstar Transport Inc.
N. Dela Rosa Liner
Pangasinan Transportation Company (PANTRANCO)
Panther Express
Quesmart Transport Inc.
P&O Transportation
RCJ Lines
RCJ Trans
Richford Bus Lines
RRCG Transport
Saint Rose Transit
Safeway Express
San Agustin Shuttle Service Corp.
Saint Anthony Of Padua Transport Systems Inc.
Inocencio Aniceto Transportation
SJT(San Jose Transit)
SMTSCI(Santa Maria Transport Service)
Southern City Lines
South Star Express
Sta. Monica Transport Service Cooperative (SMTSC)
Regal Starliner Talisano Lalido Transport Service Corporation
Times Transit
Superlines
Universal Guiding Star Bus Line
Weena Express