With the Philippines made up of more than 7,000 islands, going around our many beautiful destinations can be a challenge, especially if you're not lucky enough to book discounted plane tickets. But air travel isn't the only option to cross land and seas.
Many provincial bus lines ply the country's national roads and get on RoRo (roll-on, roll-off) ships to go from one island to another. Travel time is often longer, obviously, but it's a more affordable option if you have more than a weekend to check out hidden gems and under-the-radar beach spots. Plus, the view during most of the ride isn't bad, too.
RRCG Transport, on May 4, launched a direct P2P bus route from Starmall Alabang to Batangas City Pier, where you can hop on a ferry or RoRo to Puerto Galera, Calapan, Caticlan, and Romblon. Check all of them out ahead.
10 Philippine Beaches You Can Travel to Via Bus
1. Dinagat Islands (Caraga)
Dinagat Islands, which is one of the smallest island provinces in the country, comprises the main Dinagat Island and its surrounding islands and islets: Cabilan, La Isla Aga, Lalaking Bukid, Kisses Islets, Hibuson, Stingray Islet, and Puyo Islet. It is known for its white-sand beaches, which only a few venture to: Bitaog Beach, Kabakongan Cove, Sundayo Beach, and Duyos Beach.
How to travel to Dinagat Islands by bus: A direct bus route from Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange to San Jose, Dinagat Islands opened on April 1. The schedule is every Saturday, 1 p.m. One-way ticket, which is available at Eastern Goldtrans Tours, Inc. - Ticket Booth 3, costs P3,800 per person. Travel time is 48 hours.
2. Catanduanes (Bicol Region)
Catanduanes, known for bearing storms from the Pacific, is a tropical paradise waiting to be discovered with rich marine life, white-sand beaches, grassy hills, and the best barreling waves. Although reaching the island may be a challenge, this guarantees beautiful beach strips (yes, plural) all to yourself. Hike to catch the sunrise at Binurong Point or other Batanes-like spots, skimboard in Mamangal Beach, or cruise down San Miguel River. You can also go island-hopping off the coast of Caramoran or surf some of the Philippines' most challenging waves in Puraran.
How to travel to Catanduanes by bus: Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) to Virac, Catanduanes is via Legaspi St. Jude Transport Line. The schedule is every day, 4:30 p.m. One-way ticket, which is available at Ticket Booth 1 (Counter 6 or 7), costs P1,350. Travel time is around 14 hours.
3. Palompon, Leyte (Eastern Visayas)
Leyte is known for the long-and-winding San Juanico Bridge that connects the island to nearby Samar. But there's more to this island in Eastern Visayas, particularly the beach destination that is Kalanggaman Island in Palompon. It's where visitors can enjoy various water activities such as snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, and swimming in crystal-clear waters. In case you're wondering, Kalanggaman Island is not named after the Tagalog word for ants. Instead, it's named after the Sebwano term "langgam," which actually translates to birds, which the marine sanctuary also has a lot of.
How to travel to Palompon by bus: DLTBCo buses ply from Aurora, Cubao to Palompon, Leyte every day at 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. One-way ticket, which can be booked online, is at P2,500. The DLTBCo terminal is along Aurora Boulevard, West Overpass, Cubao, Quezon City. Travel time is about 24 hours.
CIBL Tourist Transport (three times a week at 3 p.m.) and CUL Transport (two times a week at 3:30 p.m.) also have routes from PITX to Palompon, Leyte. Ticket prices start at P2,400.
4. San Andres, Quezon (Calabarzon)
Quezon's proximity to Metro Manila makes it an ideal getaway for the weekends. You can check out the municipality of San Andres. It's the jump-off point to an island-hopping adventure to Alibijaban, a pristine tropical paradise with white-sand beaches; Animasola, which has interesting geographic formations; Sombrero, which is a famous dive site known for its caverns and reefs; and Tinalisayan, which boasts a long sand bar. Animasola, Sombrero, and Tinalisayan are already part of Masbate.
How to travel to San Andres by bus: Barney Autolines travel from PITX to San Andres, Quezon every day at 5:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m., and 7 p.m. One-way ticket, which is available at Ticket Booth 6 (Counter 4), is at P722. Travel time is about eight hours.
5. Liloan, Southern Leyte (Eastern Visayas)
Another hidden gem in Leyte is the municipality of Liloan, named after the local term "lilo" or "whirlpool." This coastal town is home to Tagbak Marine Park, an uninhabited island surrounded by rich marine flora and fauna. You can choose to walk through the bamboo bridge that leads to the Puy-aw Islet and take in the majestic view of turquoise waters amid the verdant terrain, or climb the view deck for a panoramic view of the coral garden.
How to travel to Liloan by bus: A direct bus route from Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange to Liloan, Southern Leyte opened on September 3, 2022. The schedule is every Monday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday at 7 a.m. Tickets are available at Silverstart Shuttle and Tours - Ticket Booth 3.
You can also ride a DLTB bus from Aurora Cubao with the signboard San Ricardo via Liloan/Silago. Trips are daily at 9 a.m. A one-way ticket is P2,748, which is available through the DLTB website. Travel time is around 24 hours.
6. Masbate (Bicol Region)
As the country's very own "Wild Wild West," Masbate Island is home to plenty of ranches where you can try horseback riding or practice lassoing a cow. It's also home to a chain of islands, including Ticao, Burias, and other islets between the Bicol Peninsula and the Visayan archipelago.
How to travel to Masbate by bus: Bicol Isarog has an EDSA Cubao-Masbate route every day with a departure time of 9 a.m. One-way ticket fare starts at P1,800, which can be booked through Bicol Isarog's website. Travel time is around 15 hours.
7. Guiuan, Samar (Eastern Visayas)
Guiuan, particularly on nearby Calicoan Island, is dated with surf camps that can cater to both beginner and pro surfers. It also boasts a stretch of white sand beach, where you can just enjoy the view; and pristine waters, where you can go snorkeling. After a good surf session, you can check out Linao Cave, which is named after the crystal-clear water that pools at the entry of the cave.
How to travel to Guiuan by bus: DLTB buses ply the route between Aurora Cubao and Guiuan every 11 a.m. One-way bus fare starts at P2,537. Tickets are available through the DLTB website. Travel time is around 24 hours.
8. Daet, Camarines Norte (Bicol Region)
The Bicol Region boasts at least three surf spots, Puraran Beach in Baras, Catanduanes; Buenavista Beach in Gubat, Sorsogon; and Bagasbas Beach in Daet, Camarines Norte, with the latter being one of the first surf tourism destinations in the country. So it doesn't come as a surprise that it's eyed as the "Surfing Capital in the Bicol Region," after the House Committee on Tourism approved the bid back in 2018. Bagasbas Beach has a three-kilometer stretch of gray sand with swells rising up to eight feet on a good day.
How to travel to Daet by bus: DLTB has direct routes from PITX to Daet every 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m., and 8 p.m.; and Aurora Cubao to Daet every 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a one-way ticket at P804. They also have 2x2 buses with an onboard comfort room every 8 p.m. from Aurora Cubao. Travel time is around 10 hours.
9. Marinduque (Mimaropa)
Marinduque is a popular destination during the Lenten Season due to the Moriones Festival, but it is also an all-year-round destination for adventurous travelers. The island is home to historic spots, uncrowded beaches, mountains, and untouched caves. Visitors can climb up 468 concrete steps to see the stunning sunset view of the northern part of the island or explore the white-sand beaches in the remote islets. Poctoy White Sand Beach in Torrijos is also an option for those who prefer to stay on the mainland, offering crystal clear waters and a view of Mt. Malindig on the horizon.
How to travel to Marinduque by bus: JAC Liner’s Cubao Terminal has daily bus routes from Manila to Marinduque via Dalahican Port and Balanacan Port. The schedule is every 4 p.m. Travel expenses range from P900 to P1,000, which is already inclusive of bus fare, RoRo ticket, and other fees at the terminals.
10. Gubat, Sorsogon (Bicol Region)
Gubat in Sorsogon is known as a surfing mecca in the Bicol Region, with Buenavista Beach being one of the go-to spots for surfers. Lola Sayong Eco-Surf Camp provides affordable accommodation and surfing lessons. Adjacent to it is Rizal Beach, which has powdery beige sand perfect for sunbathing. Although Sorsogon is famous for the whale sharks in Donsol, it also has other attractions such as pink-sand beaches in Matnog and heritage structures in Juban.
How to travel to Gubat by bus: DLTB has daily bus trips from Araneta Cubao to Gubat, Sorsogon every 5 p.m. through their semi-luxury buses with cozy recliner seats. Tickets are at P1,600.
This story originally appeared on Spot.ph. Minor edits have been made by the Preview.ph editors.
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