Want to know how to go from Moalboal to Dumaguete? We’ve done this journey and it’s very interesting!
Getting from Moalboal to Dumaguete is an interesting experience as you’ll get to use a combination of local transport including the local Ceres bus, a tricycle, a ferry and possibly even the jeepney. But don’t worry, the logistical aspect is straightforward once you know what you need to do.
Many tourists and travelers want to go from Moalboal to Dumaguete in order to get the ferry to Siquijor and be enchanted by the magical waterfalls. The entire trip from Moalboal to Dumaguete takes approximately 3 to 4 hours. Plus an extra 1 hour fast ferry in the case you’re heading to Siquijor.
If you’re only passing through Dumaguete to reach Siquijor it’s best to book your fastcraft tickets in advance → you can click here to check availability.
Should you happen to be whale watching and want to go from Oslob to Dumaguete, you can also follow this guide because the routes are almost identical.
This guide covers both Moalboal to Dumaguete and Oslob to Dumaguete. the only difference in the route is where you take the initial bus ride from, the rest is exactly the same.
Already in Dumaguete and going to Siquijor? → Click here
Moalboal to Dumaguete
Here is a quick visualization of what the route from Moalboal to Dumaguete looks like:
Moalboal (or Oslob) → Ceres Bus to Liloan Port (bus or transfer) → Ferry to Sibulan port → Tricycle/Jeepney to Dumaguete.
Moalboal to Dumaguete
Bus/Transfer to Liloan Port
“The first part of the trip is to travel to Liloan port located on the Southernmost tip of Cebu island. From here you’ll take a ferry to the next island and be almost in Dumaguete”
There’s a regular schedule of long distance buses going all the way down to South Cebu. The buses travel on both the West coast (Moalboal) and along the East coast (Oslob). You don’t need to book any tickets in advance for this route. Just wait on the main-road where the bus passes from and when you see a green bus with “Ceres” logo on it wave it down.
It would be best to ask at your accommodation where to wait for the bus. Also make sure you’re on the correct side of the road where the bus is heading south. Boarding from the wrong side will result in going in the wrong direction.
The buses don’t stick to a specific schedule but they pass frequently: about every 45 minutes to 1 hour. The bus fare of ₱130 ($2.34) is paid directly to the bus conductor and you should tell them you’re going to Liloan port so the driver will stop you in the right place. The journey is approximately 2 hours from Moalboal.
The bus will stop about 1 km from Liloan port and there will be tricycle drivers waiting to transport passengers. If you choose the tricycle, it shouldn’t cost more than ₱70/₱100 or you can walk as it will only take 10 minutes.
Bus from Oslob: If you’re coming from Oslob the journey time is 1 hour and the price is around ₱65 ($1.17).
If you’re not on a budget, you may also consider doing this part of the journey by transfer or taxi. Most accommodations in Moalboal will either offer transfer service or know someone. The duration by transfer would be around 90 minutes from Moalboal to Liloan port and should cost around ₱2200 ($40). If you’re coming from Oslob it’s around a 45 minute ride and shouldn’t cost more than ₱1100 ($20). We didn’t use a transfer for this part of our journey. Use the prices as a rough guide.
Moalboal to Dumaguete
Ferry from Liloan Port to Sibulan Port
The ferry from Liloan Port (Cebu) to Sibulan port (Negros island/Dumaguete) departs every hour, on the hour. Tickets can be bought directly from the ferry terminal.
The ferry costs PHP 62 ($1.29) and journey time is 30 minutes.
Moalboal to Dumaguete
Getting to Dumaguete
Sibulan port is located about 6 km from Dumaguete. You can use a tricycle or the jeepneys for the journey. We used a jeepney and paid ₱20 ($0.40) but this only got us close to the main tourist in Dumaguete and we ended walking another 1 km. The best option is to just negotiate a price with tricycle driver which should be between ₱100 ($1.80) and ₱150 ($2.70).
Getting to Siquijor
If you’re only passing through Dumaguete in order to get the ferry to Siquijor, then my suggestion would be to buy the boat tickets in advance. This is especially true if you have already booked accommodation or your have fixed travel dates.
It doesn’t make sense to travel all the way only to find the tickets are sold out. There is a ferry that departs Dumaguete pier at 7:10 pm and arrives in Siquijor at 8:00 pm. This is the best option and if you leave Moalboal or Oslob by 12:00 (noon) you should arrive in Dumaguete in time for the ferry with room to spare. There’s a couple of cool cafes near the port which you can hang out in if you arrive early.
“If you arrive early, go to ‘Tom N Toms Coffee’ they nice cold caffes and lattes and also make some really good pasta dishes. It’s quite affordable too!” → Click here for exact location
View boat tickets and schedules here.
Related – The Best Resorts in Siquijor
Another option would be to spend a night (or more) in Dumaguete and then leave with the 7:20 am ferry and you’ll be in Siquijor at around 8:20 am.
There’s some really cool things to see and do in Dumaguete. And the city (or more of a bigger town) is laid back and has some amazing properties to choose from including affordable beach resorts.
Top 3 recommended places to stay in Dumaguete
Pura Vida Beach and Dive Resort (luxury): Right next to the beach offering epic sunset views and direct access to the ocean. Booking in advance is recommended.
Hotel Dumaguete (Mid Range): Located near the famous Dumaguete Promenade and close to restaurants and bars and streetfood.
Golden Gate Suites (Budget): Affordable, clean and comfortable rooms. Best rated hotel in Dumaguete and very close to promenade.
Below are the 3 best places to stay in Siquijor for any budget
San Juan is the main tourist area on the island and is the best area to stay in Siquijor. Below are the TOP 3 recommended places to stay on the beach in San Juan. You’ll be within walking distance to many places to eat, drink, chill and you can stumble out of bed and go take an early morning dip.
Best places to stay for any Budget in Siquijor ⤵
| Category | Name | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Budget $ | →Kadij Guesthouse | ₱1400/$24 |
| Mid-Range $$ | →Residencia Diosa | ₱2500/$45 |
| High-End $$$ | →Bermuda Triangle Bungalows | ₱5900/$105 |
You may also like….
Cebu to Siargao | Ultimate Guide – Ferries and Flights
7 Best Resorts in San Juan – Siquijor
Kawasan Falls Canyoneering – Everything you need to know
HEY, just so you know…
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I don’t know either how I ended up here, some great info but a bit misleading as the slow ferry from dumaguete to siquijor is as good as the fast one, it just takes longer but for less than half the price. You can sit outside so the argument of it being an oven is a bit rubbish……
That part of the post isn’t referencing to the slow ferry. Instead there are small boats, sort of like speed boats that are closed in, everyone is packed inside and yes, it gets really hot inside. That was the only option left when we wanted to go to Siquijor because we thought Siquijor wasn’t popular and thus no need to book in advance. I’m not sure the frequency of the ferry you mention? It’s hard to keep up with constant change of schedule. Also, more boats will be added during peak season, at least ocean jet usually has a ferry from Dumaguete to Siquijor every 2 hours or so. Will add a couple images to the post of the boat
I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great. I don’t know who you are but definitely you’re going to a famous blogger if you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!