Star Shipping – Ferry between Allen and Matnog – connecting Luzon and Samar Islands
The Philippine National Highway runs all the way from Manila to Davao and Zamboanga in Mindanao. There are ferries between Luzon and Samar Islands and connecting Leyte and Mindanao. Reservations are not needed – vehicles are loaded as they arrive.
The ferries run continuously unless there is bad weather.
Star Shipping is one of the 3 or 4 companies that ferries buses, trucks and other vehicles between Matnog on Luzon and Allen in northern Samar. The crossing is straightforward and easy – just make sure to have a few photo copies of your vehicle registration.
A small car costs around 960 pesos plus terminal fees including driver. Passengers pay 120 each. A motorcycle costs 300 pesos plus terminal fees, and the driver and passengers must pay 120 pesos each.
People riding the bus have the fare included in their tickets, but they have to get off and go through security while the driver loads the vehicle.
Allen
Matnog
Heavily loaded trucks are put in the center and the light empty buses are on the sides. Small cars and motorbikes are the last to load and the first off when you get to the other side. All vehicles back in during loading so light vehicles are in the front.
The ramp is raised but if there is any kind of a sea, the water will splash through the seams and soak your vehicle with salt water. Salt is very corrosive so be sure to give your vehicle a good wash down with fresh water if it got wet on the way over.
Allen to Matnog Ferry
Climbing Mount Apo
General Santos
Growing Orchids
Judy's Resto Bar
Logging with Motorcycles
Mount Mayon
Balabac Island
Biri Island
Calbiga Cave
Capul Island
Mangrove Swamp Palawan
Mikes's Resort
Hiya Ricky i forgot to tell u the other day when u travel on the ferry from Southern Leyte to Surigao the ferry price is not inclusive of the bus price. It cost me around P276 with the ticket and terminal fee.
Hope thats helpful to someone. I caught the non- aircon from Ormoc on the 29th dec to go visit my son in Tagum. Davao. I got non a/c as its the only one that goes in the day time the nite one is a/c.
Cy mate.
hey ricky, how much will it cost me if i have a starex van with me from allen to matnog?
Hello Euclid,
I am not sure, but would venture a guess that it will run around 1200 pesos. Passengers will have to pay an additional fare of 120 pesos each plus, the terminal fee of around 20 pesos.
dp
hi dutchpickle,
could you provide me the names of the other roro ferry operators plying the matnog-allen route. thanks
Hello tony,
I am not sure their names, but other companies leave from the same pier and you can get tickets in the same building.
I always book with the company leaving next – they seem to alternate , with departures every hour or so. They do not have a set schedule and leave when the boat is full (with motor vehicles).
cheers
dp
how much will it cost for a ten wheeler cargo truck? passenger fee plus terminal, etc.
Hello Jasmin,
There are 3 ferry companies that make the Allen to Matnog run and they charge the same fare.
I do not know the fare for commercial vehicles like buses or cargo hauling trucks.
here is another link on the subject
http://www.dutchpickle.com/philippines/samar/allen-ferry.html
take care
dp
hi, can ask about the schedule of arrival and departure of ferries from Allen, Samar????
Hello reg,
There is a steady flow of ferries that leave every hour or so. The ferries are loaded as the vehicles arrive.
Reservation are not needed.
dp
How much is the fare cost of car on board of a vessel from Manila to Roxas City?
Hi Charlie
Star Shipping just does the run between Matnog on Luzon Island connecting to Samar Island at the port in Allen.
dp
ask lng po..pupunta po kami sa palumpon ormoc leyte, ang daan po namin is from matnog..ang sasakyan po namin ay roro going matnog…may dala po kaming 6 wheeler na truck may kargang gamit sa bahay. magkano po kaya ang charge sa truck at kasama na po ba dun ang driver at pasahero… everyday po ba ang byahe from mtnog to allen samar. san po ba kayo pedeng matawagan….eto po number ko
Hello Neony Dolera
The “dutchpickle” website does not have fare information for cargo and large vehicles. There are several shipping companies that make the Matnog to Allen route so you can take your choice. They make regular trips and depart when the ferry is ful – then they start loading the next one.
good luck
dp
friends… what is the time schedule of ferries sailing from Allen port to Matnog port…
what is the last trip of the ferry or the first trip of the ferry if ever i cant catch the last trip……
can I still catch a ferry if my trip start at palompon in the morning, then tacloban city-catbalogan city-calbayog city-allen port…. what is the best way tor ride…..
thanks,
Andrew Tampus
Hello Andrew ,
Sounds like you already have the plan – you might be able to avoid going all the way into Tacloban City. If you have enough gasoline just head directly to the San Juanico bridge and follow the western Highway to Catbalogan.
Maybe the first ferry crossing between Allen and Matnog will be around 7 am – not sure but there is a fresh boat taking off every hour or so up till 8 or 9 pm.
happy trip
dp
Good day!
ask lng sana ako how much the fare to matnog-to allen? jeepney yng gagamitin,16 setters.,
Thanks,
Brian
Hi, just found your site. Very interesting and useful. You seem pretty knowledgeable so I hope you can help me.
I want to travel from Legaspi (after being in Donsol) to Liloan in S Leyte in around 2 weeks time. I guess the direct route, Matnog-Allen-Calbayog-Tacloban-Sogod, is the best way and I note that the buses from Manila to Mindanao ply this route. However, I have had little joy trying to get a bus confirmed. Do you know if I can easily get a bus running from Legaspi (or nearby) to Tacloban (in one day) and then a day or so later, after a day in Tacloban, from Tacloban to Liloan. If so any idea of costs and how long the trip would be.
Thanks in advance.
Hello Jerry.
From Donsol take a jeepney to the main highway at a place called Putiao. They will all know where it is – it’s just a small bus stop / sari-sari cluster on the side of the road. From there just wait until a bus with an empty seat stops and takes you on. You will have to go to Catbalogan, Samar next – perhaps spend the night there. From there Grand Tours shuttle service makes trips to Tacloban about every 45 minutes.
Get down to the Tacloban terminal and catch a bus to Sogod from there. Where in the Sogod area do you plan to be? This is an important question because it will make a big difference if you are headed to Padre Burgos on the west side of Sogod Bay or if you plan to head down the Pintuyan Peninsula on the east side of the bay – to or past the port of Liloan. Are you planning to do whaleshark watching or diving in Sogod bay? Almost all the dive shops are near Padre Burgos on the west side of the Bay. If you plan to go west you can also catch a bus going to Maasin and connect with Padre Burgos from there.
If you are headed to Surigao in Mindanao – you will want to get on the ferry in Liloan, Leyte.
cheers
dp
Thanks for the good information. Very useful.
I’m going to near Liloan, so I’ll head down the east side of the bay – bus or taxi?
Thanks again for your help. J
Hello Jerry,
There are no taxis on the eastern side of Sogod Bay – also known as the Pintuyan peninsula. Many buses from Tacloban will be heading to the port of Liloan because they will continue onwards by ferry to Surigao on Mindanao and likely continuing onwards to Davao. You can take a bus from Tacloban to that point very easily but there is very little going on there.
Just a word – the eastern side of the bay is very undeveloped and accommodation and services are limited. Simple lodging is even rare.
There is no divers accommodation or service that I am aware of – on the Pintuyan Peninsula. I usually take my own motorbike. Most divers get there by boat from the other side of the bay or from other islands like Bohol etc. I find the water to be very clear and beautiful. The corals are very crisp and look good. If you did come across a whale shark or mantas the view will be outstanding.
There are 3 or 4 dive shops in the Padre Burgos area on the western side of the bay. Apart from them the accommodation is limited and there are virtually no restaurants.
You can continue down to the tip of the Pintuyan Peninsula to the San Ricardo ferry terminal where there ire limited trips to Mindanao. There is no accommodation down there so you will be stranded if you do not have your own vehicle. Usually I will take the ferry from Liloan when I am bound for Mindanao. From that port there are at least 4 trips a day.
Good luck and happy trip!
dp
Hi dutch, this is our 1st time to travel by land, coz we want adventure.
we live here in quezon city now and we are planning to go to butuan city this coming holy week.
can you help us where the exact route we can go by land.? coz we really dont have any ideas. and this will be our 1st time in long distance travel.
we will use a car to go to butuan..
Hi roncarvs,
This sounds like a nice trip ! Quezon City Manila to Butuan City Mindanao should be a fairly easy run with two ferry trip crossings between islands. Getting out of Manila will take a little time but once clear just get on the highway heading to the southern tip of Luzon Island. You will pass near Naga and Sorsogon and end up at the port of Matnog.
The road ends at the ferry terminal at Matnog on Luzon Island where there are regular runs across to Allen in Samar. The trip across takes about an hour or so. You will get out of your car and sit on the upper deck in the ferry. After docking you get in your car and drive off the ramp. The highway will be a short distance from the pier – just take a right turn when you meet it and head in the direction of Calbayog – Catbalogan – Tacloban (Leyte)
It will take up to 5 hours to get through the island of Samar. The beautiful San Juanico bridge connects Samar Island to Leyte Island. Just drive across the bridge and turn left when you hit the main road in Leyte. Head towards Tacloban and go in the direction of Liloan where you see the signs. It is not necessary to go to Ormoc City on the western side of the island because that is a longer route. Just follow the road going to Liloan, Leyte where the ferry terminal to the port near Surigao, Mindanao is located. There are at least 4 trips a day and you will dock at a port a few kilometers outside of Surigao City in Mindanao.
When you get off the ferry drive up to the main highway ( a few kilometers ) and take a right turn and head to Butuan – Yippie ! almost there
If you choose to spend the night in Surigao just take a left at the intersection and head to town from there – it might be 10 kilometers or so to Suriago – can’t remember.
I am guessing that you will take about 3 days ti make the trip – depends on how long you want to be at the wheel : )
I suggest stopping at the ruins in Cagsawa near Mt Mayon along the way. You will pass right past this location on the highway near Legaspi. If it is daytime and a clear day – the view of the mountain will be amazing.
Naga, Luzon and Tacloban, Leyte might be good places to spend the night..
http://www.dutchpickle.com/philippines/leyte/basic-rooms-hotel.html
http://www.dutchpickle.com/philippines/bicol/moraville-motor-lodge.html
happy trip
dp
hi dutch im goin’ to tacloban ang get the car of my dad because he had no license to take it back to manila i just wanted to know how much is the fare of nissan car 95 model in ferry going to sorsogon? or does any roro having a route going to batangas or anywere just closer in manila..?
pls….. i need your help..
I doubt there is a ferry from Tacloban, Leyte to either Batangas or Sorsogon, in Luzon but am not sure of the possibilities.
If you are in Tacloban it might be an interesting drive to just cross over the San Juanico Bridhge to Samar and drive up to Allen, Samar and then take the ferry across to Matnog, Luzon. (about a 1 hour ferry crossing) The road in Samar has been greatly improved a few years ago and it is an easy run from the south side of Samar island to the north end (maybe 5 hours driving).
From the port in Matnog, Luzon just head north on the National Highway passing near Sorsogon and later passing the turn to Batangas but just keep driving towards Manila. I suggest taking two days to make the trip from Tacloban to Manila. Allow more time if you plan to do some sight seeing along the way. (a stop over in Cagsawa-near Legaspi would be a good place to eat and enjoy the view of Mt Mayon)
I estimate driving this route would take about 20- 24 hours of actual driving time depending on your speed and road and traffic conditions.
another option might be to take a RORO ferry from Cebu to Manila direct but you would have to get the car to Cebu first. I would just drive direct from Tacloban to Manila myself. Does the car itself have current registration and do you have a drivers license? (not sure with the details you provide)
dp
Hi.. I would like to ask.. how long does it take to drive from Manila to Matnog Port?
and is the ship lines open 24 hours?
Planning to leave Manila to Matnog at around 12 Noon..
Thank you
Hello rolly –
It would depend on what part of Manila you are leaving from and how the traffic is that day. You are likely taking the express way to get out of Manila? It takes forever if you don’t.
If you leave Manila at 12 noon you will not make it to the Matnog, Luzon pier until the following morning. There are regular crossings between Matnog, Luzon and Allen, Samar island during daylight hours but the later it gets (after maybe 9-10 pm there might not be another crossing for quite some time – maybe even morning time 5am or so)
I suggest leaving Manila early morning and spending the night somewhere along the way and make the ferry crossing the following day. Very few places to buy gasoline late at night in Samar.
How about making a stop in Cagsawa near Mt Mayon to see the ruins on the way south. This is quite near Legaspi which is a great place to spend the night.
http://www.dutchpickle.com/philippines/bicol/mt-mayon-getting-ready-to-rumble.html
Another stopover possibility would be in Donsol to see the whale sharks there.
http://www.dutchpickle.com/philippines/bicol/donsol-detour.html
I did drive from Manila to Ormoc City in 24 hours on my motorcycle one time but it was a hard trip.
What is your final destination?
dp
Hi
Would just like to inquire if there is a shorter roro route from Port of Manila or Batangas Port going to Mindanao (Davao or Marawi in particular). Or are there any shipping lines/ferry services plying from Manila direct to Davao?
Hello velay,
Marawi is located n an inland lake in northern Mindanao. It is easy to get to by bus from Illigan on the north coast of Mindanao but can not be reached by ferry from Manila. You could also drive from CDO (Cagayan de Oro) easily enough… at times there is tension in the Marawi area – you likely know this area already?
Davao is on the southern part of Mindanao. Just google your options from Manila or check the newspapers.
There are no ferries between Batangas and Davao that I am aware of.
also…there are bus companies that make the run between Manila and Davao – the buses go through Samar – Leyte – down to Surigao, Mindanao and then continue onwards to Davao. It is a long run but so is the ferry.
dp
I suggest flying.
Gud eve po, ask q Lang po qng ilang beses sasakay ng barko mula matnog papuntang butuan city..
Hello Angel – The roro ferry from Matnog connects southern Luzon island to Allen , Samar island. This is just a short hop and is part of the Philippine National Highway.
Butuan City is way down on Mindanao island.
To get to Butuan from Matnog it is best to cross on the ferry to Allen and drive through Samar on the National Highway over the San Juanico Bridge
http://www.dutchpickle.com/philippines/leyte/san-juanico-bridge.html
to Leyte. Continue driving to Sogod and then down to the San Ricardo ferry terminal on the southern tip of Leyte Island.
http://www.dutchpickle.com/philippines/leyte/san-ricardo-ferry-terminal.html
…this is a long trip but can be done in a day. Another option might be to take a ferry all the way from Manila to Surigao and then drive from there to Butuan – I do not know the ferry schedule for that option.
Take the ferry across to Surigao and then drive the rest of the way to Butuan, Mindanao.