🌊 Today’s sea state on popular ferry routes
Sea state from Open-Meteo Marine — always confirm with the operator before travel. See full weather & safety.
⛵ Popular ferry & bus routes
Book online with 12Go — instant e-tickets, multiple operators compared.
Prices are indicative. Final price confirmed at booking. See all routes on 12Go →
✈️ Airport transfers
Private & shared airport transfers — door to door, fixed price, no haggling.
💡 Transport tips for the Philippines
- Book ferries in advance during peak season (Dec–Apr) — seats fill up fast, especially for El Nido routes.
- For NAIA airport, agree the fare before entering a taxi or use Grab (the local Uber). Fixed-rate airport taxis are at official counters.
- Inter-island "fast ferries" (Super Cat, OceanJet) are faster but rougher in big swells. Slow RoRo ferries are smoother.
- Some routes (like Caticlan to Boracay) require multiple legs — van + boat. 12Go books the whole journey.
- 12Go often has promos and early-bird discounts. Book 1-2 weeks ahead for the best rates.
🚕 Book an airport transfer
Getting around the Philippines
With more than 7,000 islands, half the adventure of a Philippine trip is the journey between them. Fast ferries skip across narrow channels, bangkas nose onto beaches that have no airport, and door-to-door transfers carry you from the terminal to your hotel without a single haggle. The good news: you can line up the inter-island ferries, the airport pick-up and the land legs in one place, so a trip that looks complicated on a map turns into a handful of confirmed bookings. Below is the honest, practical guide to moving around — what to expect, what to book ahead, and where a little planning saves you a whole day.
Getting from the airport
Your first hour in a new city sets the tone — here is how arrivals really work at the Philippines' main gateways.
Manila (NAIA)
NAIA spreads across four terminals that are not within walking distance of one another, so check which one your flight uses. For getting into town, Grab (the local ride-hailing app) is the easiest fixed-price option — book it from the official pick-up bays. If you prefer a taxi, use the official airport taxi countersrather than anyone offering a ride at the door. Manila traffic is heavy, so allow generous time; a pre-booked private transfer takes the guesswork out entirely.
Cebu (Mactan)
Mactan-Cebu is compact and friendly. Grab works well, and the bridge crossing to Cebu City proper can be slow at rush hour. Many travellers book a private transfer straight to their hotel or onward to the Cebu City pier for the Bohol ferry — handy if you land late or have an early onward boat.
Davao (Francisco Bangoy)
Davao's airport sits close to the city, so transfers are short and straightforward. Grab is available, and a pre-arranged transfer is worth it if you are heading further out to Samal Island or up to Tagum. As with every Philippine airport, agree the fare or use a metered/app ride rather than negotiating on the kerb.
Inter-island ferries explained
"Ferry" in the Philippines covers three quite different boats. Knowing which one you have booked sets the right expectations for comfort, luggage and weather.
Fast craft
Air-conditioned passenger catamarans on busy routes like Cebu–Bohol. Quickest option with assigned seating — but they can feel bouncy in a big swell. Book ahead in peak season.
RoRo (roll-on/roll-off)
Slower, cheaper car-and-passenger ferries — the workhorses between larger islands. Open decks, flexible luggage and smoother in rough water. Great for budget travellers and vehicles.
Bangka / outrigger
Small wooden boats for short hops and island hopping, like Caticlan to Boracay. The only way onto many beaches — but strict baggage limits and very weather-dependent.
A few real-world things to budget for: most ports charge a small terminal fee paid separately at the pier, large bags can cost extra on bangkas and fast craft, and the Philippine Coast Guard can suspend sailings when seas are rough. That is common in the rainy months, so keep a buffer day and check the live sea-state widget above before any crossing. In peak season (roughly December to April) the popular fast craft sell out — book a day or two early. Compare the trade-offs on our ferry vs flight guide.
Popular transfer routes
- Batangas → El Nido / Coron — the gateway to northern Palawan from south of Manila. Usually a combined ferry-and-van journey; comfortable but long, so an overnight or an early start helps.
- Cebu → Bohol — the classic Visayas hop. Fast ferries run all day from Cebu City pier to Tagbilaran, getting you to the Chocolate Hills and Panglao's beaches in about two hours.
- Caticlan → Boracay — a short bangka crossing is the only way onto the island. Pair it with a flight into Caticlan, and book the whole van-plus-boat chain as one trip.
- Cebu → Siargao — possible by sea, but a long multi-leg day; many travellers fly this one and save the ferry energy for shorter, more scenic channels.
Smart transfer tips
Transfers & ferries — common questions
How do I get from NAIA to the city?
The easiest fixed-price option is Grab, the local ride-hailing app — book it from the official airport pick-up bays. If you prefer a taxi, use the official airport taxi counters rather than accepting an offer at the door. A pre-booked private transfer is the most hassle-free choice, especially after a long flight or a late arrival, since the driver meets you and the price is fixed in advance. Allow extra time for Manila traffic.
Can I book ferries online?
Yes for many major routes — fast craft and combined ferry-and-van journeys on busy lines can be booked online in advance, which is wise in peak season. Smaller RoRo and bangka services are sometimes still walk-up at the pier. When in doubt, arrive early and buy at the terminal, and always keep a buffer day in case of weather.
What if my ferry is cancelled for weather?
When the Philippine Coast Guard suspends sailings for rough seas, operators typically rebook you on the next available trip or refund the fare. Suspensions are common in the rainy months, so check the live sea-state above before you travel, keep a buffer day, and never schedule a ferry right before an onward flight you cannot miss.
Airport transfer or Grab?
Both work well. Grab is cheaper and flexible for short city hops where the app has good coverage. A pre-booked private transfer wins for late-night arrivals, larger groups with luggage, or longer runs — like airport to a distant pier or resort — because the driver waits for you and the price is locked in with no haggling.
Plan the whole journey, not just one leg
Chain ferries, flights and transfers into one clean route — with live sea conditions checked along the way.