If on your trip around the Philippines you are going to visit Bohol, it is very likely that you will have to pass through Cebu. The country’s 2nd most important city has an airport (Mactan–Cebu International Airport), which receives flights from other destinations in the country and from other places around the world. So, if you are going to Bohol, you will probably end up landing at one of the two terminals. Here we want to tell you, step by step and without much fuss, how to get from Cebu Airport to Panglao (Bohol) without stressing along the way.
By the way, as we explain in How to get to Bohol, there are direct flights to Bohol from some destinations in the Philippines. Even so, you won’t find direct flights from many others, such as Siargao, so it is often more convenient and economical to fly to Cebu and then go to Bohol this way. Keep reading and discover how to get from Cebu Airport to Panglao.
Where is Panglao? And Alona Beach?
Before we start explaining how to get from Cebu Airport to Panglao, it is best to locate yourself on the map a little.
Bohol lies southeast of Cebu and they are separated by a strait. Meanwhile, Panglao is a small island (16 kilometers long by 7.5 wide) connected to Bohol by two bridges. Being so close, accessible by public transport and home to some of the most beautiful beaches, many travelers choose to stay in Panglao and, from there, visit Bohol.
There is no ferry from Cebu to Panglao, so to get from Cebu Airport to Panglao, you will first have to go to Bohol.
Alona Beach is the most touristy area of Panglao and the one with the greatest number of services, restaurants and bars (there is even a McDonald’s now!). Although the beach is no longer as pretty as before and is somewhat crowded, especially at certain times of the year (Chinese New Year, Holy Week or Christmas), you can stay in the surrounding area and find quiet corners. There are plenty of good‑value hotels in Alona Beach and from here you can easily go snorkeling or diving in Panglao or Balicasag, tick off the things to do in Panglao and visit the Chocolate Hills and other places in Bohol’s interior.
Alona Beach is in the southwest of Panglao.
How to get from Cebu Airport to Panglao (Bohol)?
You will land at one of Cebu Airport’s two terminals (the domestic or the international one) and, from here, you have several options to get to the port. Ferries to Bohol depart from Pier 1 of Cebu Port.
Step 1: How to get from Cebu Airport to Cebu Port
In this case, you basically have 2 options:
a) Taking a taxi or a Grab car:
Cebu’s white taxis, unlike those in Manila, are usually fairly honest (they use the meter, they don’t take you around the block…), so when you leave the terminal, look for the “White Taxi” signs. “Yellow Taxis” are the airport ones and are more expensive; it is not worth choosing them.
On the other hand, Grab cars (Southeast Asia’s Uber) are always a comfortable bet, since you request them from the mobile app and you almost never have to wait in a long line. Download the app, set that you want to go to the port, head to their designated pick‑up area (there are even Grab signs) and then pay in cash whatever the app shows. They are slightly more expensive than white taxis, though.
The price of the ride from Cebu Airport to the port depends on the duration of the journey and this, in turn, depends on traffic. As in Manila, Cebu usually has heavy traffic during rush hours, which are more or less from 8:00 to 10:00 and from 16:00 to 20:00. Therefore, do not plan for less than 45 minutes (30 minutes without traffic) when planning the trip.
Keep in mind that if you are arriving from an international destination, you will need to go through immigration formalities. In addition, we also recommend getting your SIM card to have internet in the Philippines there. Allow 60–90 minutes.
It usually costs around 200–300 pesos to get from Cebu Airport to the port.
b) Taking the MyBus bus
If you are not in a hurry to get from Cebu Airport to Panglao, an alternative is to take the MyBus company bus from the airport. These run from both T1 and T2 of the airport to a shopping mall called SM City Cebu from 7:00 to 00:00 every 20–30 minutes. The ticket costs 50 pesos.
From SM City Cebu to the pier you will need to take another one, which departs at 8:40, 9:40, 10:40, 11:40, 12:40 and 14:40 (better reconfirm schedules). The ticket costs 25 pesos.
You can check schedules on their Facebook page.
As you can see, it will come to around 75 pesos. So if there are 3 of you, it is usually more cost‑effective to take a taxi.
©MyBus
Step 2: How to get from Cebu Port to Bohol
The next step in this guide to getting from Cebu Airport to Panglao is to take a ferry.
Although Bohol has several ports, since your goal is Panglao or Alona Beach, it is best to choose to go to Tagbilaran Port, which is the island’s most important one. There are plenty of boats from Cebu to Tagbilaran from 5:00 to 17:40, about every hour. The trip takes around a couple of hours. As you will see below, there is a night boat, but it is slower.
To go from Cebu to Bohol, the companies operating the route are:
- Oceanjet: the one offering the most departures, roughly every hour. You can book them through 12go, Klook or Bookaway. Prices range between 800 and 1,200 pesos, depending on the class. The journey takes 2 hours.
- Lite Shipping: the only one operating later, with a boat at 22:00. It is the cheapest (around 600 pesos) but takes 4 hours to reach Tagbilaran. In the opposite direction, that is, from Bohol to Cebu, it departs at 11:59 noon and on certain days at 23:59. You can buy tickets online here.
There are also boats from Cebu to Tubigon, a port located 90–120 minutes from Tagbilaran and, therefore, farther from Panglao. For this reason, we only advise going there if you arrive very late, since there are boats at 00:00 and 1:00.
Is it necessary to book the Cebu to Bohol ticket in advance? It depends on the season and the time you want to go. During periods of very high demand—such as national holidays, Christmas, Holy Week or Chinese New Year—and for the 17:40 ferry (the last fast one), it is better to book. We also recommend booking if you want to skip the line and pay online (you know that in the Philippines few things can be paid by card) or if you want to avoid the hassle of fixers or intermediaries, who in Cebu are very persistent and will try to scam you. Unfortunately, this is one of the most common scams in the Philippines.
Keep in mind that, as in much of the Philippines, port fees are not included in the ticket. Do not get upset—you would have had to pay them anyway—but for administrative reasons, they are paid separately (It’s more fun in the Philippines!). So, before entering the terminal, you will have to pay 30 pesos as terminal fees. Children under 12 do not pay.
Regarding luggage, you must keep in mind that Oceanjet only allows one piece of luggage of 15 kg and dimensions not exceeding 25×35×40 cm. For larger luggage, it is necessary to check them in and pay 50 pesos for each. Really, it is 50 pesos and not 100, no matter how much they insist.
Traveler to traveler: do not forget to bring a sweatshirt or something warm—it is cold on the ferry!
Step 3: How to get from Bohol Port to Panglao
You have arrived at Tagbilaran Port in Bohol; now, to finish our journey from Cebu Airport to Panglao, we need to go from the port to the hotel you have booked in Panglao or Alona Beach. As you know, we tell you about many alternatives in Where to stay in Panglao.
Depending on the time you have and the money you want to spend, the options to go from Tagbilaran to Panglao are as follows:
a) Taking a taxi, a van or a transfer
The fastest way to go from Tagbilaran Port to Panglao is with a taxi, a van or a transfer. You will easily find them when you leave the port or, directly, they will offer them to you as soon as you get off the ferry. The journey takes about 30 minutes. It is normal for them to charge around 500 for the whole ride (4 people).
Also, to avoid hassles, haggling and the like, you can book this transfer through KLOOK.
b) Taking a tricycle
Another comfortable—though slower—way to go from Tagbilaran to Panglao is a tricycle. You already know that up to 10 people can fit in Filipino tuk tuks if they really try, so if there are 3 or 4 of you and you want to save money, you can reach the Alona area for about 300 pesos per vehicle.
c) Taking a bus or a jeepney
The cheapest (and also the slowest) way to go from the port to Panglao is by jeepney or bus.
To get from the port to the terminal where the jeepneys to Panglao depart you can take a tricycle (it is normal to pay 10 pesos per person) or walk (20 minutes). You will see that they depart constantly. The ticket costs 25 pesos; just keep in mind that you will be quite squeezed in and that, since they make so many stops, the trip usually takes almost an hour.
Since May 2019 there has been an air‑conditioned bus from the Dao terminal to Alona Beach, which also passes by the airport. The company is Southern Star Bus Transit and it departs every 30–45 minutes from 6:15 to 20:45. The ticket costs 80 pesos. A tricycle from the port to the Dao Terminal (Integrated Bus Terminal) costs 20 pesos per person.
Welcome to Panglao! Now you just have to enjoy what this island has to offer. To do so, be sure to read our Bohol Guide carefully.
Do you have any questions about how to get from Cebu Airport to Alona Beach? We will be happy to answer you in the comments!
