The Best Way to get from Cebu to Siquijor

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Cebu is the starting point for many island travels in the Philippines. While there is not a lot of information out there on how to get from Cebu to Siquijor, we did this trip ourselves and it is easier and smoother than you might think. I made sure to take photos of the journey so you see how everything looks like, alternatively you can check out my Instagram highlights for Siquijor to also see the videos (at the beginning of the highlight). Important: there are two Liloan’s in Cebu, you need to search for Liloan Port in Santander – the very South of Cebu.

How to get from Cebu to Siquijor?

There is a direct ferry from Cebu to Siquijor via Liloan Port in the Southern part of Cebu. The ferry is called Maayo Shipping and departs once a day at 10:00 am. The ride costs PHP 200 ($4) per person and takes 2,5 hours. You do not need to book your tickets in advance. You will arrive at Larena Port in Siquijor.

Once you arrive at the port, you will sign your name and details on the papers and then board the ferry.

From Cebu City to Moalboal by bus

The easiest way to get from Cebu City to Moalboal is by bus. Make your way to Cebu South Bus Terminal by Grab taxi. You can just show up at the bus station in the morning and buy your ticket there, no need to pre-book. They generally don’t have a set timetable and wait until the bus is full before they depart.

We paid around $2.40 per person for a 3,5-hour ride on a non-AC bus. Having no AC was not a problem at all, the windows are open and the bus drivers drive very fast, so it feels like you have AC 😀 If you forgot to buy water or food then don’t worry either. There will be plenty of salesmen hopping on the bus selling all sorts of food and drinks.

Once the bus drops you off in Moalboal, you are most likely traveling to Panagsama Beach. You’ll have to take the habal-habal from there and the price will depend heavily on your negotiation. We paid around PHP 100-150 for the 20-minute ride. The prices are very different for locals vs tourists here and they don’t budge too much. Be careful of scammers at the station!

From Moalboal to Siquijor (several modes of transportation)

I know this might seem overwhelming at first, but trust me it is not as bad as it looks! Start the day early and take the habal-habal from Panagsama Beach to Moalboal bus terminal, we paid PHP 150 for the ride. Once you are at the bus station you will board the bus to Bato in South Cebu. There is no exact time, but the bus will show up. Beware of scammers again, they will try to convince you to ride with them and tell you that the bus is not coming. They are lying. Aim to be there at around 8 am, this way you might catch the same bus as we did. After the bus arrives you’ll take a variety of transport modes. See the complete description below.

• Habal-habal from Panagsama Beach to Moalboal bus station: 20 minutes, PHP 150.
• Bus from Moalboal to Bato: 1.5 hour, PHP 103 per person.
• Tricycle from Bato to Liloan port: 10 minutes, PHP 150.
• Ferry from Liloan Port to Siquijor, Larena Port: 2,5 hours, PHP 200 per person.
• Tricycle from port to hotel. You will most likely have to share it, so be prepared for a tight squeeze. Price and length will depend on where in Siquijor you are staying.

The complete journey from the hotel in Moalboal to Siquijor port took us about 5 hours. This journey was the longest we did on the entire Philippines travel and to be honest I was a bit worried that we will make it. But once we started, everything went very smoothly.

Cebu City to Siquijor by bus and ferry

Since the ferry from Liloan Port in Santander only departs at 10:00 am daily, you are not likely to catch it if you start your journey from Cebu City on the same day. I would highly recommend to book a night in Moalboal, Bato or Santander and then travelling from Cebu to Siquijor the day after.

If you choose to skip Moalboal or another place in Cebu, then take a direct bus from Cebu City to Liloan Port in Santander. The journey time is around 6 hours and costs approximately PHP 300-400. You can then continue from Liloan Port to Siquijor the morning after.