How to get to Cebu


The island of Cebu serves as the entry point to about two-thirds of the Philippines. Upon landing in this island, the first thing that comes to the minds of the tourists is to take a historical tour, go hiking, practice their tee shot, or take a plunge at the island’s coral reefs, considered as among the world’s best.

Being a tourism hub in the country, Cebu is accessible by all possible means of transportation – air, land, and sea. Here we will take a look at the various transportation options when going in and around Cebu.

How to get to Cebu By Air

Air transportation to and from Cebu is possible locally as well as internationally. Among the national carriers, Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines are the most common airplanes that land in Mactan Airport. Among the international carriers, Silk Air arrives from Singapore.

From Hong Kong, the frequent carriers landing in the airport are Cathay Pacific and Cebu Pacific. Qatar Airways has a direct connection to Mactan Airport from the Middle East country. From Manila, direct flights to Cebu are made at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.


How to get to Cebu By Sea

The Super Ferry is one of the more comfortable means of transportation from Manila to Cebu. Cabin reservations can be arranged by those who are planning to bring along their friends or families. The Quadruple Cabin sharing has its own toilet and bath. The trip normally takes about a day. There are daily trips with the exception of Saturday.

To go island hopping, bancas are the best means of transportation.

How to get to Cebu By Land

Taking the bus is the best option when travelling from one end of Cebu to another. This can be done by taking a ride from the north or south terminal.

Jeepneys provide the mode of transportation when going for a city trip. This gives tourists the chance to meet local people. Likewise, there is the tartanilla, which are horse-drawn carts, that give tourists the chance to experience the lives of early Cebuanos.

Because of their availability around the city, taxis have been the most preferred mode of traveling in and around Cebu. Aside from accessibility, taxis are also cheap and efficient. The majority of the drivers know their way around the city. One can easily flag down another taxi in case the first driver is not familiar with the city.

Most of the taxis in the island are metered. The fare starts at 30 pesos and an additional 2.50 would be charged for every half kilometer. There is likewise a 2.50 pesos additional fee for every five minutes that you make the driver wait. One must be cautious of drivers who refuse to use their meters or collect fare that exceeds the amount indicated on the meter.

Whenever you encounter taxi drivers who refuse to use the meter or deliberately go to the wrong direction, the best thing to do is to embark from the taxi and flag down another cab. However, if the driver is very courteous, you could give them an additional 10 to 20 pesos for their services and for unloading your baggage from their compartment.

Whenever possible, do not take private taxis. These drivers usually have the tendency of taking advantage of tourists by charging them five to ten times more than the regular rate. Taking private taxis is advisable only when you are going on a long trip and you would want to negotiate for a fixed cost.

As you can see, whatever mode of transportation you choose, there is an assurance that you will be reaching your destination. Now, there is no excuse for you not to visit Magellan’s Cross and other tourist destinations that Cebu has to offer.

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