Parenting and Family, Travel

Riding the Bus from Iloilo to Caticlan

100 Comments

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Traveling is not just about visiting a new place or your revisiting your favorite destination, it also entails experiencing something new. Often, we look forward to experience a little bit out of our comfort zone. As a resident of Iloilo, we go to Boracay by car. It would be nice to take the bus from Iloilo to Caticlan – with kids!

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Bus from Iloilo to Caticlan takes at least 6 hours via Ceres ( name of the bus company). Ceres Bus Terminal bound for Caticlan is located in Tagbak, Jaro. Be careful to tell the taxi/jeepney driver that you are going to Ceres Terminal, not TAGBAK terminal ( Tagbak Terminal is for provincial buses except Ceres and vans); Ceres Bus Lines has their own terminal now.

 

For our trip, our bus left at 7:30am and arrived at the Jetty port of Caticlan past 2pm.  In terms of schedule, first trip is at 5am and last trip is between 3-4pm ( you will arrive at Caticlan at 10pm). No need for the exact bus, all buses leave every 30 minutes. Just a guide, last trip for the boat at Caticlan going to Boracay is at 10pm.

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The terminal was not busy and my kids freely walk towards our bus “stop”.

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The bus is equipped with a CR and a Wi-Fi along with TVs though wi-fi was broken in our bus. Still, I was impressed the moment, I stepped on the bus.

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This is not the Ceres bus I was used too. 😉

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The bus was more comfortable than the bus I took in Malacca and Singapore but buses traveling to Malacca from Singapore are more spacious and they bring us to great dining places.


I’m happy with the new improvements. Bus fare from Iloilo to Caticlan is Php367 with discounts for kids;  what I can remember was that our total fare was Php991.

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We only had two major stops – in Passi City and then in Kalibo. I was expecting we would stop in Kalibo longer for lunch but maybe because there were only a few of us, it was only for 15 minutes. No worries, we were full from all the vendors selling bus food.

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In general, the ride was a breeze. If you are traveling with kids, pick a weekday to avoid the rush. We also took the back portion of the bus. The empty line of seats became a make-shift bed for sleeping.

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I’m glad the boys didn’t utter the notorious line, ” Are we there yet“. Maybe the view from a bus is different from a car? I’m looking forward to more bus ride with these two.

 

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100 Comments

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  4. Hi Chezza, do you know if the bus still runs every 30 min between 5am and 4pm? And what is the name of the terminal? We arrive on Iloilo airport. Thank you!

  5. Hello Ann!

    Yes, bus leaves every 30 minutes. Terminal is “Ceres Terminal”, you can’t miss it because it’s all yellow and transport drivers are aware of this terminal solely for Ceres buses.

    Thank you

  6. Hello Ate Valerie, this post is very helpful. We are planning to travel to iloilo from Caticlan this April. I just want to confirm if they also have that 5am first trip from Caticlan? And the fare is also approximately the same. Your answer is highly appreciated Ate. Regards.

  8. Hi Valerie,
    Thanks for this site. Very informative with matching photos!
    I have few questions:
    1. Do you need to book the bus prior to your departure?
    2. Bus frequency from Caticlan to Iloilo?
    3. Is the boat station close to the Ceres Caticlan bus station?
    4. How much is the boat fare from Caticlan to Boracay
    5. Can you recommend good beach front resorts/hotels in Boracay
    6. Is July a storm month in Boracay?
    7. Please recommend tours in Boracay that the kids will enjoy.

    Thanks much
    Vecna

  9. Hello Vecna,

    Here are answers to your inquiries

    1. No. You will pay inside the bus. They have these conductors giving you the tickets and you will pay directly to them. Keep the tickets to show to new conductors that you already paid your fare.

    2. Bus schedule is from 5:30am-4pm, bus leaves every 30 minutes.

    3. Very close. Just walking distance. Ceres buses stops right in front of the Jetty port terminal.

    4. less than $2 ( sorry I can’t give the exact amount, you need to pay additional fees like environmental fees on top of the basic fare)

    5. Here are hotels that I like in Boracay http://www.valcaulin.com/article/family-friendly-hotels-in-boracay/5418/ . I frequently stay at Ferra Hotel http://www.valcaulin.com/article/7-reasons-why-i-love-staying-at-ferra-hotel-boracay/6231/. It is not beachfront but a small boutique hotel. They can assist you all throughout your stay. I have let my family and friends stay there and they have good stories to tell about their stay.
    6. No but it can get rainy. Just like any weather, we can’t predict if there is a storm during that month. I have traveled in Boracay during July and the weather is fine, sometimes it rains.

    7. Paraw sailing – http://www.valcaulin.com/article/paraw-sailing-family-friendly-boracay/5945/
    http://www.valcaulin.com/article/crown-regencys-oceanarium/5210/

    Hope these helps! Feel free to contact me if you have more questions!

  10. hello i like your site very informative to people like me, wish you continue doing this. thank you.

  14. Hi Valerie,

    I’m going to Boracay on 1.Jul.2017 via Kalibo airport from Malaysia. Going back to Caticlan on 3.Jul.2017 and onwards to Iloilo City.

    Is Ceres Liner the only bus plying the route Caticlan-IloiloCity or are there others?

    You said bus leaves every 30 minutes. I’ll probable leave Boracay around 10:30AM to Caticlan for the bus to Iloilo City. So I’ll be able to catch a bus to Iloilo City, right?

    Thanks.

    TL Chua, Subang Jaya, Malaysia

  15. Hello TL,

    Thanks for your comment. Here are my answers.

    1. Yes, Ceres is the only bus company that travels from Caticlan to Iloilo( and most parts of the country). The rest of the buses that you’ll see around the pier in Caticlan are all chartered.

    2. Yes, you can still get a bus ride to Iloilo at your preferred time. You can still catch them even after 1pm. You can also take a bus going to Kalibo. Once at the bus terminal in Kalibo, change bus to Iloilo.

    Thank you and i hope you have a fantastic time as much as I had a great time in Malaysia when I went there. 🙂

  17. Hi TL,

    I tried writing a comment to your blog but it wont accept an OPEN ID. Anyway, I will link your blog post to my post. Thank you so much for the information.

  19. Hi, val. I was planning to take my girlfriend there too. i would like to ask if did you book the hotel before going to boracay or just checked in when you got there?

  20. Hello Leigh!

    I suggest you book your hotel prior to your trip. Feel free to ask me if you need some recommendation on where to stay in Boracay. Thank you!

  21. Typical filipina post leaving out the most important information…….. Where does the bus leave from and the answer is not Iloilo. Stupid beyond measure.

  22. Hi Valerie,
    Your blog is so useful. We are planning to go to Boracay from Bacolod in July 2018. To get to Iloilo, we have to take the Supercat from Bacolod and we are expected to arrive in Iloilo by 7:30 AM. Hopefully, we can get off the ferry fast and catch the early ceres bus to Boracay. My question is, where is the Ceres bus terminal? Is it close to the Supercat terminal? I want to travel towards Caticlan the earliest in order to get to Boracay fast. And do you know how much is he boat fare from the Caticlan jetty to boracay?
    Thank you!

  23. Hello Glenda,

    Thank you for dropping by! Here are my answers:
    1. Ceres by terminal is in TAGBAK. Just tell the driver you will go to CERES terminal going to Boracay. Ceres has their own terminal a few blocks Tagbak terminal where they used to be.

    2. Distance from Terminal to Tagbak maybe 20 minutes. You have to take a taxi. The earliest schedule is at 5:30 in the morning, with schedules every 30 minutes. If you need to arrive in boracay fast, you have to leave early in Bacolod or spend the night in Iloilo first.

    3. Boat fare is cheap like less than 50 pesos ( the regular bangka) but you have to pay pa Terminal fee, environmental. I forgot the exact amount but budget is P200. ( Please check other blogs for the exact amount).

  27. Hello Valerie,

    Thank you for this post. We will fly to Iloilo from Manila but our main destination is Boracay since mas mura ung flight to Iloilo than to Caticlan or Kalibo and baka makagala pa within Iloilo. Since 10PM yung dating namin jan sa Iloilo any suggestion on inns or hotel na mura that we can stay for 5 to 6 hours so we can catch the first trip at 5AM kinabukasan?

  29. Nice on val! Planning to visit the Island on December 12. Good thing I was able to bump to your blog. Very helpful. 😉

  31. Hi valerie thank you for this amazing info,my brother and i are both ofw and we’re going back together in phil.next year and we’re planning to bring our family in boracay.God bless you.

  35. Hi Valerie!

    By plane po ba ang Iloilo to Caticlan? or Iloilo to Aklan? pano po ba makapunta ng Boracay from Aklan? how much is the fare, the schedule of the trip, and how long and how many hours it will takes?

  36. Hello!! Thanks for this!! As i found this the most informative and helpful web, wanted to provide an update, the boats from caticlan to boracay are now running until 10pm. Price is 30php + 175php for non residents. The exact price of the bus ride from iloilo to caticlan is 367php. Xx

  38. Hi Val,

    Very nice article. We are going to stay in iloilo for a few days before going to Boracay and thinking of using public transportation to Caticlan.
    How far is the Ceres Bus terminal in Caticlan to the Fairways and Bluewater ferry terminal?

  40. Hi Valerie,
    Thank for this very informative blog. I wrote you months ago with questions regarding our trip to Boracay on July 2018. This time, we are planning to take the RORO from Bacolod to Iloilo. How long is the travel time from Bacolod? How long is the travel from Iloilo to Caticlan via Ceres Liner? If we would be taking the RORO to Iloilo, can we take the earliest bus going to Caticlan? Thank you again.

  41. Hello mam! Thanks for this blog very informative po lalo na saming commuters, ask ko lang po may bus po ba from iloilo na hanggang kalibo or roxas lang?
    And what time po kaya last trip?
    Kasi may tour po kmi sa iloilo and 6pm pa po ang tapos ska 1 night lng din po ang nabook nmin for iloilo
    ksi plano na namin sa kalibo next night dahil flight na rin po thanks mam!

  42. Hi Valerie,

    Do you have any idea how much it would cost per pax if we took the van going from Iloilo to Caticlan? I can’t find any answers from the internet at least the latest quote. I hope you could help! Very informative post by the way! 🙂

  43. Hi Glenda,

    Here are my answers:
    1. Travel time from Bacolod to Iloilo via Roro is 2-3 hours.
    2. Travel time from Iloilo to Caticlan via Ceres is 6-7 hours.
    3. Earliest bus to Caticlan is at 5:30am-6am. Yes, you can take it if you take the early Roro schedule from Bacolod.

    Hope these will help! Enjoy your trip!

  44. Hello maam,

    Thanks for the information. Just additonal query, do youbremember how long it takes from Iloilo to Passi via Ceres?

  46. hellow Val,i was reading the inquires and your replies…very informative….my family will be there in iloilo this may 24 and the next day to boracay..is there any early bus schedule going to caticlan from iloilo? and can you help me find a good and safe hotel in iloilo which is near to airport…as an update how long is the travel from iloilo to caticlan..thanks a lot , thisis bing from general santos city

  47. Hello Bing!

    Here are my answers to your inquiries.
    1. The earliest bus is at 5am. You can also take the bus to Kalibo then transfer to Caticlan.
    2. I only saw pension houses near the airport but I can’t really recommend – I haven’t stayed there or know someone. In Iloilo proper, you can try Days Hotel Iloilo and for budget, Ong Bun.
    3. Travel is 6 hours

  48. Niceblog Ms Valerie.I’m also from Iloilo but now resides in Luzon, but we’re going home every year, at least. & next week we’re going to Boracay (before it closes 😢), from iloilo via Ceres Liner. I’ll be with my kids & your blog really helps, all my questions are answered. Madamo gid nga salamat!

  50. Thank you for this very informative post!

    Planning to do a solo trip and hoping na mkapasok pa din sa Boracay..:)

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