Spending a whole month in the Philippines has been one of the best experiences of our Southeast Asia adventure. Did you know that there are over 7,000 islands in the Philippines? Yes, 30 days in the Philippines is not long enough and there’s still so much of it that we want to explore. Two of the most popular and easily accessible islands are Cebu and Bohol. Typically, you can fly into Cebu City from Manila and then make your way over to Bohol via a ferry. I will cover everything that you need to know about the Cebu to Bohol ferry trip.
Bohol is a beautiful island located in the center of the Philippines and it’s close to Cebu island. Home to picturesque beaches, the famous chocolate hills, and the cutest little tarsiers, Bohol is a tourist hot spot. If you’re planning a trip to the Philippines, Bohol should definitely be on your itinerary.
1. You Can Book Your Cebu To Bohol Ferry Ticket Directly At The Port
If you have already done a little research, you will find that just about everybody advises not to try to book ferry tickets in advance. Many travellers who have booked in advance run into problems at the port when they try to explain that they have an email booking. They’re often told that there is no proof or confirmation of booking.
The good news is that you can simply turn up at the port and book the next ferry to Bohol Island. There is absolutely no reason to book in advance – and, in fact, it’s probably best not to. There are several companies operating regular Cebu to Bohol ferry trips, so you won’t have to wait long. I think we waited for about an hour.
Also, in case it’s not yet clear, the boats from Cebu to Bohol are ferries. This is one of the best ways to make the trip. Simply purchase your Bohol ticket at the Cebu port on the day of your trip.
2. There Are Two Gateways To Enter On The Cebu to Bohol Ferry
When booking your Cebu to Bohol ferry ticket, keep in mind that there are two routes to choose from; Tagbilaran and Tubigon. The Cebu to Tagbilaran ferry is the most popular route and because it serves as a hub city, is the one that most travellers will be travelling to. This is the route that I will be highlighting.
Another thing to note is that there are five different piers at the Cebu port. Typically, different ferry companies operate from different ports. Most travellers make their way over to Pier One, which is where the most regular Cebu to Bohol ferry trips are made.
3. There Are Several Different Cebu to Bohol Ferry Operators
Yes, there are several different ferry operators to choose from. The most popular are Ocean Fast Ferries, Supercat Fast Ferry, and Oceanjet Ferry. We used OceanJet from Cebu to Bohol and it was a perfectly efficient, safe, and comfortable experience. Nothing luxurious – just a comfortable seat – all you need really. There are drinks and snacks sold onboard (much like on an airplane), but it is VERY expensive. Seriously, they charge more than most resorts for drinks. I advise packing your own snacks for the journey.
While there are various different ferries to choose from, they all offer pretty much the same thing. So if you’re wondering what is the best ferry from Cebu to Bohol? I wouldn’t put much thought into which one to go with. Ultimately, all you want is a safe and efficient way to travel to Bohol, and this is what most of them offer.
4. Choose the speedy option
Cebu to Bohol ferry, how long is the journey? Fast ferries take two hours to travel from Cebu port to Tagbilaran. Supercat Fast and Ocean Jet travel this route regularly. OceanJet departs from Cebu’s Pier One and Supercat departs from Cebu’s Pier Four. You can also easily find a ferry from Tagbilaran to Cebu for your trip back.
The trip from Cebu to Tubigon is about 30 minutes shorter than the Cebu to Tagbilaran route. The fast ferries for this route depart from Cebu’s Pier Three. Travellers heading over to Tubigoncan book tickets on board MV Sea Jet and MV Starcraft.
Fast ferries offer a high-speed passenger service. They have a cruising speed of approximately 50 kilometers per hour, and when you are on board, these boats resemble an aircraft. They include a safety instruction video just before departure. Fast ferry ticket prices are about three times the cost of regular tickets, but it’s definitely worth the decrease in travel time.
So yes, choose the fast ferry Bohol to Cebu option and vice versa. The Bohol to Cebu ferry travel time will, of course, also vary depending on which port you’re coming from.
5. Ticket price for Cebu to Bohol Ferry Trip
Typically, ticket prices are divided into three categories; Business Class, Tourist class (with aircon), and Economy (with no aircon). If you’ve tried to research Cebu to Bohol ferry prices you’ve probably come across a lot of different answers. I’m not sure if ticket prices are seasonal or if different companies have vastly different costs (unlikely).
Here are the Bohol ferry to Cebu prices based on our experience. We booked a tourist class ticket (with aircon) on Oceanjet and it cost 550 php. It only cost 50 php more than the section without aircon. The business class ticket would have cost us 1,000 php per person. Based on my research, you can expect to pay somewhere between 450 and 800 php for a standard ticket from Cebu to Bohol.
6. There Is An Additional Terminal Fee
In addition to the cost of the Cebu to Bohol ferry ticket, you will also need to pay a 25 php terminal fee per person. It’s completely separate from the ticket fee and is payable as you enter the terminal building. It’s easy to miss, so make sure that you don’t proceed to security until you have paid your terminal fee. There is a small sign that will direct you to the terminal fee counter.
There are terminal fees that are payable throughout the Philippines – even at airports. We were surprised by an 800 php terminal fee that we had to pay when flying out of the country from Cebu International Airport. So yes terminal fees are payable all across the country.
7. There Is An Additional Fee For Baggage
There is a security check and waiting area at all ports – just like at airports. Once you have paid your terminal fee you will proceed through security where your bags will be put through the security scanner. From there you can head over to the baggage counter. This part is a little chaotic.
But basically you need to pay for your baggage at the counter, and then a porter will come over and tag your bag. From this point on your baggage is in the hands of the porter. It might be a little worrying because all the baggage just stands there waiting for someone to transport it onto the ferry. Thankfully it all went very smoothly for us and we didn’t have any problems. Once you reach Bohol, all the luggage is placed on the ledge next to the ferry (where you disembark), and you can simply pick up your bags as you leave.
The baggage fee varies according to the size of your bag. We had THE biggest bags and paid about 100 php for each bag. Typically it only costs about 50 php, but be prepared to pay more if you have large bags. As for small bags, you can usually take them onboard with you. There is a section at the front of the ferry where a few small bags can be stored.
8. The Ferry Schedule
You can easily find a Bohol Cebu ferry schedule online so I won’t include my own one here. Also, different ferry companies have different schedules so it gets a little complex. Ocean Jet offers 14 daily trips from Cebu to Bohol (Tagbilaran). The first trip of the day is at 05:10 am and the last trip leaves Bohol at 18:40 pm. Make sure to check the Cebu ferry schedule before your planned departure.
Tagbilaran to Cebu city has a very similar schedule with just a few minutes difference. The first trip out of Tagbilaran is at 06:00 and the last trip of the day is at 18:30 pm. However, keep in mind that delays do occur, so schedules are likely to fluctuate during the day. Throughout our travelling and ferry trips in the Philippines, the longest delay that we had was about 30 minutes. But our Cebu to Bohol ferry ran according to schedule.
9. Onward Travel Once You Reach Tagbilaran
Once you arrive at Tagbilaran port, there are both taxis and tricycles waiting for passengers. A tricycle ride to Alona Beach on Panglao Island will cost you around 300 PHP, while a taxi is likely to cost about 700 PHP. These prices are always negotiable. We usually use the Grab taxi service but there is no Grab in Bohol, so you will need to use the taxis that are available. The Jeepneys are also an option and they work quite well. However, it won’t be that easy to travel on a Jeepney with a lot of luggage. So if your main concern is to make it to your accommodation as quickly and conveniently as possible, a taxi or tricycle will be a much better option.
What To Do In Bohol?
Bohol is full of beautiful places to see and exciting activities to do. From the beautiful Panglao island beaches to visiting the picturesque Chocolate Hills and spending a sunny afternoon on the Loboc River, Bohol is an exciting island to visit.
If your time is limited, you may want to check out the Bohol tour options that are available. This is a great way to explore the island in a short amount of time.
But Bohol isn’t the only island that is easily accessible from Cebu. There are a few other islands that you can easily reach from Cebu.
Philippines Visa Requirements
If you’re planning a trip to the Philippines and need help with visa information, I would suggest checking out iVisa.com. The visa process can be very time-consuming, not to mention confusing. iVisa strives to make the whole process simpler for travellers by taking care of all the nitty-gritty details.
Like it? Be sure to pin for later
Hey Travel Babes. I’m Hayley a.k.a Ms Blissness – Adventurous dreamer and free spirit. I’m on a quest around the world with my husband, Peter. Join us on our journey for some travel inspiration and a lot of Love and Light xx. More about me…