How To Get From Moalboal To Siquijor (Quickest & Cheapest)

You can travel the 100km distance between Moalboal and Siquijor in The Philippines in two ways:

1. Take the ferry from Moalboal to Dumaguete and then the ferry onto Siquior
2. Take the ferry from Moalboal to Liloan and then take the ferry onto Siquior

The journey via Dumaguete takes 6 hours 40 minutes and currently costs roughly 685 PHP. Meanwhile, the journey via Liloan takes 7 hours and costs 585 PHP.

I’ve taken both of these routes several times. Going from both Moalboal to Siquior and Siquior back to Moalboal. In this article, I’ll detail the two travel options and help you decide which is right for you.

My favourite way to travel between Moalboal and Siquior is via Dumaguete. This route takes less time when compared to going via Liloan. But that’s not the reason I prefer it.

Instead, I prefer travelling from Moalboal to Siquior via Dumaguete because of the flexibility.

Flexibility is essential when it comes to travelling in the Philippines. The buses and ferries here typically have timetables. However, they don’t always stick to them. Instead, there are often delays. Therefore, not having to wait hours for the next mode of transport is a significant factor.

The journey from Moalboal to Siquior via Dumaguete requires several changes. To make notes about this journey as detailed as possible, I’ve broken it down into steps.

1. Moalboal to Liloan Port
2. Liloan Port to Sibulan Port
3. Sibulan Port to Dumaguete Port
4. Dumaguete Port to Siquior

Please don’t be put off by the number of steps required. I wanted to make my notes as detailed and easy to follow as possible.

Step 1: Moalboal to Liloan Port

The journey from Moalboal to Liloan Port begins in Moalboal town. However, in most cases, you won’t be staying in Moalboal town. Instead, you’ll be staying in the popular Panagsama Beach area.

To travel from Panagsama Beach to Moalboal town, you can either;

1. Walk the roughly 45 minutes
2. Take a tricycle for around 150 PHP
3. Take a motorbike taxi for about 50 PHP

Once in Moalboal town, you’ll want to head to the bus stop. While the name of the bus stop is the Moalboal Bus Terminal, there’s no bus terminal or bus stop here. Instead, you’ll see backpackers standing at the side of the road outside of the Jollibee.

From Moalboal Bus Terminal, you’ll want to take a Ceres Bus to Bato Bus Terminal.

There is no timetable for buses from Moalboal Bus Terminal to Bato Bus Terminal. However, buses typically arrive every 30 minutes or so between 3:00 am and 6:30 pm. A bus ticket from Moalboal to Bato costs 85 PHP without air conditioning. Meanwhile, with air conditioning, it’s 135 PHP.

The journey from Moalboal Bus Terminal to Bato Bus Terminal takes around 2 hours. Then, when you arrive at Bato Bus Terminal, take a tricycle for 30 minutes to Liloan Port for 150 PHP.

Step 2: Liloan Port to Sibulan Port in Dumaguete

From Liloan Port, you’ll then need to take the ferry to Sibulan Port in Dumaguete.

Ferries from Liloan to Sibulan depart every 90 minutes between 4:30 am and 10:30 pm. The journey takes just 20 minutes, and tickets cost 70 PHP.

Sadly, you can’t buy ferry tickets for this journey online. Instead, you must purchase your ferry ticket to Sibulan when you arrive at Liloan port.

Step 3: Sibulan Port to Dumaguete Port

From Sibulan Port, you’ll need to travel the 7km on a tricycle to Dumaguete Port. Tricycles are waiting outside of Sibulan Port and cost around 120 PHP.

You can take a jeepney from Sibulan for 10 PHP; however, I wouldn’t recommend it. The jeepney drops you off on the main road, and from here, you’ll need to walk 1km to Dumaguete Port.

Step 4: Dumaguete Port to Siquior

Ferries from Dumaguete Port to Siquijor are available daily from 5:30 am until 7:10 pm. The journey takes between 1 and 2 hours, depending on:

• The ferry you take
• The port you dock at in Siquior

There are two ferry ports on Siquior Island: Siquijor Pier and Larena Pier. So check which ferry port is closest to where you’re staying on Siquior Island.

Most tourists visiting Siquior stay in San Juan. In this case, you’ll want to take a ferry that docks at Siquior Pier. Tricycles from Siquior Pier to San Juan cost around 300 PHP.

Ferry tickets for Dumaguete to Siquior cost between 120 PHP and 430 PHP. The price depends on the ferry company and the port you dock at on Siquior Island.

There are several ferries between Dumaguete and Siquior daily. However, the timetable changes regularly. As such, check the times for your specific travel date with BookAway.

⏱️ Time: 7 hours
💵 Cost: 585 PHP ~

The journey from Moalboal to Siquijor via Liloan takes around 7 hours. This journey is more direct than going via Dumaguete and costs 100 PHP less.

However, to travel from Moalboal to Siquijor via Liloan, you must start your journey at around 6:00 pm. You’ll also have to wait a couple of hours at Liloan Port.

That’s because the ferry from Liloan Port to Siquijor leaves at 2:00 am. Meanwhile, buses from Moalboal to Bato (where you’ll change for Liloan Port) only operate from 03:00 am to 6:30 pm.

If you’re happy travelling to Siquijor through the night to maximise your time on the island, then going via Liloan is an excellent choice.

Travelling from Moalboal to Siquijor via Liloan requires several changes. To make notes about this journey as detailed as possible, I’ve broken it down into steps.

1. Moalboal to Liloan Port
2. Liloan Port to Larena Port

Remember that ferries from Moalboal to Siquijor via Liloan only depart four times weekly. They leave at 2:00 am on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays and at 07:00 am on Sundays.

Therefore, if you take the ferry on Tuesday, you must leave Moalboal on a Monday evening. While if you take the ferry on a Saturday, you’ll need to leave on a Friday, etc.

Step 1: Moalboal to Liloan Port

Step one of travelling from Moalboal to Siquijor via Liloan is the same as going via Dumaguete. However, unlike travelling via Dumaguete, there are strict times you need to leave Moalboal.

If you want to get the ferry on Tuesday, you must leave Moalboal on one of the last buses to Bato on Monday evening.

If you want to get the ferry on Thursday, you must leave Moalboal on one of the last buses to Bato on Wednesday evening.

If you want to get the ferry on Saturday, you must leave Moalboal on one of the last buses to Bato on Friday evening.

The last bus leaving Moalboal Bus Terminal is at 6:30 pm. However, given the lack of flexibility, I’d recommend getting to the bus terminal as early as 5:00 pm.

Moalboal Bus Terminal is in Moalboal town. However, in most cases, you won’t be staying in Moalboal town. Instead, you’ll be staying in the popular Panagsama Beach area.

To travel from Panagsama Beach to Moalboal town, you can either;

1. Walk the roughly 45 minutes
2. Take a tricycle for around 150 PHP
3. Take a motorbike taxi for about 50 PHP

Once in Moalboal town, you’ll want to head to the bus stop.

While the name of the bus stop is the Moalboal Bus Terminal, there’s actually no bus terminal or bus stop here. Instead, you’ll see backpackers standing at the side of the road outside of the Jollibee.

From Moalboal Bus Terminal, you’ll want to take a Ceres Bus to Bato Bus Terminal.

There is no set timetable for buses from the Moalboal Bus Terminal to Bato Bus Terminal. However, buses typically arrive every 30 minutes or so. Hence why, I recommend arriving earlier than the estimated last bus at 6:30 pm.

A bus ticket from Moalboal to Bato costs 85 PHP without air conditioning. Meanwhile, with air conditioning, it’s 135 PHP.

The journey from Moalboal Bus Terminal to Bato Bus Terminal takes around 2 hours. When you arrive at Bato Bus Terminal, take a tricycle for 30 minutes to Liloan Port for 150 PHP.

Step 2: Liloan Port to Siquijor

If you leave Moalboal Bus Terminal at 5:00 pm, you should arrive at Liloan Port at around 7.30 pm. It’s then a 5.5-hour wait until the ferry at 2:00 am.

Hence, this is the reason I recommend travelling on the 7:00 am direct ferry on a Sunday.

The ferry from Liloan Port in Santander, Cebu’s southernmost town, to Larena Port on Siquijor Island takes 2 hours.

You should arrive in Siquijor at 4:00 am if you travel on Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday. While if you are travelling on Sunday, you should arrive at 9:00 am.

Ferry tickets from Liloan to Larena cost 200PHP per person and can only be bought in person at Liloan Port.

When you arrive at the Port of Larena, you’ll find tricycles waiting to take you to your accommodation. Tricycles from Larena Port to the popular tourist area of San Juan take roughly 45 minutes and cost 500PHP.