Masbate

Masbate is a largely rural island province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region. It consists of three major islands: Masbate, Ticao and Burias. Its capital and largest city is Masbate City.

Understand

Get in

By bus

• There's a daily bus trips going to/from Manila to Masbate via Pilar port. from Pilar port to Manila it is ₱1150 one way for aircon buses and ₱850 one way for ordinary buses.
• Montenegro shipping lines bus/ferry/bus to/from Masbate to Cebu Province. The Montenegro shipping lines RORO ferry departs from Cataingan port 77 km south of Masbate city going to Bogo city on Cebu Island. The ferry departs Cataingan port every day at noon. the trip takes six hours.
• There is a RORO A/C bus which goes from the Montenegaro booking office in Masbate city port to Cebu City every day at 8:30AM. The fare is ₱800 to Cebu City and ₱700 to Bogo City.

By plane

One daily Philippines Airlines flight to and from Manila taking about an hour. Expect a turboprop plane. The fare from Masbate Airport to Manila is very high. Instead, you could take a fast ferry then van to Legazpi City then fly from there to Manila.

Cebu Pacific fly from Masbate to Cebu.

By ferry

• from Masbate city to Pilar in the province of Sorsogon. By Fastcraft or RORO Ferry, Montengro Shipping lines fastcraft takes 2½ hours. and the Montengro RORO ferry takes 4½ hours. the fare for the fastcraft is ₱396 + ₱15 port fee. For the RORO ferry the fare is ₱296 + ₱15 port fee from Pilar port gate there are vans going to/from Legazpi City (one hour) with a fare of ₱100.
• There is a ferry once a week from Masbate to/from Batangas in Luzon.
• From Masbate city to Cebu city Cokaliong Shipping lines, c/o First Choice Travel Agency Masbate port gate, tickets for sale Monday to Saturday 8AM-5PM. Cokaliong has a ferry to Cebu city once a week on Saturday at 7PM. Non-A/C fare: ₱750 each way. The tourist class A/C fare is ₱890 each way.
• From Mandaon port a ₱125 van ride. From Masbate city there are Pumpboats going to/from Roxas city.

Get around

Transport outside Masbate City is limited to tricycles for short distances and Vans and buses for longer distances which make stops at various points along the two-lane paved highway that runs from Masbate City to the western and southern points on the island.

• There is a bus/van terminal in Masbate city (next to the city market) with minivans and buses going to most places around Masbate Island. The van fare from Masbate City to Mandaon is ₱125.

See

Do

• Bituon Beach is a small private beach south of the barangay of Mobo where guests can stay overnight in bungalows.
• Rodeo Masbateño is held annually.
• Magcaraguit island in Dimassalang, Masbate offers white sand beaches.
• Swimming with manta rays. Dive and swim with the manta rays in Ticao Island. 
• Buntod Sandbar. A 10-minute boat ride from the city will take you to Buntod Sandbar, which vanishes during high tide. 
• The Rodeo Masbateno is held annually every 2nd week of April. Unlike the US rodeo, the Philippine rodeo is more of a ranch practice in handling the cattle that was turned into a game. The events consist of casting down, carambola, steer roping, steer wrestling, bull riding, load carrying and whip cracking. There are two categories for participants: student and professional. Under each category, there are women’s and men’s divisions.

Buy

Malls & supermarkets

• Gaisano Capital Mall Masbate, Cagba Street & Central Nautical Highway (400 m south of Masbate airport). 10AM-8PM. Has a Jolibee. 
• LCC Department Store and Supermarket, Zurbito street (next to masbate port). 8AM-8PM. (updated Jul 2016)
• Novo Department Store, Quezon Street. 9AM-7PM. (updated Oct 2016)
• LCC Express Mart Supermarket, Quezon Street.. 8AM-9PM. (updated Oct 2016)

Banks & ATMs

• PNB Bank, Quezon Street. 24-hour ATM. Visa Card ATM. (updated Jul 2016)
• MetroBank, Zurbito Street. 24-hour ATM. Master Card/Visa Card ATM. (updated Sep 2016)
• Bank of the Philippine Islands, Quezon Street. 24-hour ATM. Master Card/Visa Card ATM. (updated Sep 2016)

Eat

• Amperez Grill
• Port Zirteas, Mabini St, Masbate City. Small resto with a homey ambience. 
• Jollibee, Quezon street, ☎ [phone]. 7AM-10PM. Has breakfast from 7 till 11AM. 
• Mang Inasal, Quezon Street. 9AM-9PM. A fast food outlet. (updated Sep 2016)
• Chowking, Quezon Street. Fast food restaurant (updated Jan 2018)

Drink

Sleep

Budget

• G V hotel, Danao street, ☎ [phone]. Fan/AC double rooms with own bathrooms and cable TV. ₱550-750. 
• Sampaguita Tourist Inn, Quezon street, ☎ [phone]. Very small no window fan and a/c rooms with own bathrooms and cable TV. Has free Wifi. Single fan room ₱300; single air-con room ₱500.. 
• Ranchers Hotel, Tara Street, ☎ [phone]. Check-out: noon. f₱an double room. From ₱350. (updated Oct 2016)
• St Anthony Hotel, Quezon Street, ☎ [phone]. Check-out: noon. Fan single room with own bathroom. From ₱300. (updated Oct 2016)
• Victoria DuHotel, Tara Street, ☎ [phone]. Check-out: noon. Fan rooms. From ₱350. (updated Oct 2016)

Mid-range

• Balay Valencia Ibanez St Tel. No. 056 - 3336530 A quaint hotel in the middle of the city. Adequate rooms, aircon/non aircon, TV, free wifi connection, breakfast included, meals available upon request. Rate starts at ₱500 a night for a fan room up to ₱850 for an AC double. Room facing the street side might be a little noisy.
• Team Centrum SeaMens Hotel. 28 Danao Street, adequate but over priced rooms. Air-con, TV, no hot water ₱1000/night.
• Novo Hotel, Quezon Street, ☎ [phone]. Check-out: noon. AC double room with own bathroom and cable TV. from ₱900. (updated Oct 2016)

Splurge

Connect

• Internet cafes. 8AM-9PM. ₱15 per hour. (updated Aug 2016)

Stay safe

Cope

Go next

• Metro Cebu.
• Legazpi City via Pilar port.
• Roxas City via Mandaon port