Philippines Transportation

How to Travel to Philippines

1. By Plane

Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Mactan-Cebu International Airport and Clark International Airport which was formerly named as Diosdado Macapagal International Airport are three major international airports in the Philippines.

Located about 6.2 miles (10 kilometers) from the city center of Manila, Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport is an important transport hub in the country, where flights from Beijing, Hong Kong, Macau, Taipei, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Jeddah, Medina, Riyadh, Busan, Seoul, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Siem Reap, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Sydney, Amsterdam, Indonesia, Bahrain and Singapore land. Travelers can get to the country by plane from the above cities. After getting off the plane, you can go downtown by taxi, airport shuttle bus or Jeepney.

Mactan-Cebu International Airport, the second busiest gateway of the country, is located in Lapu-Lapu City on Mactan Island. It receives scheduled flights from Beijing, Hong Kong, Taipei, Shanghai, Busan, Seoul, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Dubai and Singapore. From the airport, visitors can take taxis to the town center.

Situated in Clark Freeport Zone, Angeles City, Clark International Airport serves the vicinity of Metro Manila and northern Luzon. This airport mainly provide service for low-cost carriers, where flights from and to Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai, Busan, Seoul, Dubai, Doha and Singapore are operated. It is about 85 kilometers (53 miles) from Manila, so visitors can take a break in Angeles City before heading for Manila.

2. By Boat

Undoubtedly, taking a plane is the fastest way to the country, but boat is also an option. Ferry service between Zamboanga City in the Philippines and Sandakan in Malaysia is operated regularly and a ticket costs about $65.

Domestic Traffic Overview

Air transport in the Philippines is the major mode of transportation between cities with high popularity and favorable price. Between islands, boat is main vehicle. Railway transportation is less developed with only two railway lines operated. Jeepney is a kind of distinctive and common public transportation means in the Philippines, which shuttles among cities. Banca is another kind of unique forms of transport in the country. Taxi and tricycle are also convenient vehicles.

1. By Plane

Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific are two major carriers operating domestic flights among Manila, Cebu, Clark, Kalibo, Legazpi, Bacolod, Davao, Puerto Princesa, Tagbilaran, Dumaguete and other popular tourist destinations. Generally, it takes about one hour from Manila to Palawan, Bohol Island, or Boracay Island. You can arrange your itinerary according to flight schedule. It should be noted that small planes have strict standard on the weight of carry-on luggage.

2. By Train

The two railway lines both start from Manila. One line stretches northward to San Fernando and you can transfer to Baguio on the way. The other line stretches southward to Legazpi and tourists can appreciate the beauty of Mayon Volcano on the way.

3. By Boat

In the Philippines, the network of ferry routes among islands is extensive with fast speed, high frequency and low price. Tourists can take ferries in Manila North Harbor and South Harbor to major islands, and the tickets can be bought from local travel agencies. Banca is a famous means of transportation between islands, which allows tourists to enjoy a good time on the sea. If you want to land on Boracay Island, you must take banca to the pier of the island. In Palawan and Bohol Island, bancas can be rented.

4. By Jeepney

Jeepneys are the most distinctive vehicles in the Philippines, which are on the basis of old jeeps left behind by the American army after World War II. Every jeepney is decorated with colorful graffiti by its owner, and you absolutely can't find two identical jeepneys in the country. They not only pass through urban areas, but also connect towns and cities. They will stop if you wave at them, and the flag-down price is about 10 Pesos. It costs about 3,000 Pesos a day for renting a Jeepney.

5. By Taxi or Tricycle

Yellow and white taxis are common in the country, and flag-down fares of them respectively are 70 and 40 Pesos. There is a sign on the windscreen of licensed taxi, indicating the taxi is metered.

Tricycles can be seen in almost all cities and islands in the Philippines, which are three-wheeled motorbikes or bicycles with a sidecar attached to the side. You can charter one to experience local custom, and the starting price is 50 Pesos.

Further Reading: 
Things to Do in Philippines   Useful Travel Tips