Dumaguete – Dapitan – Dipolog
Several shippng lines make the trip between Dumaguete, Negros and Dapitan in Mindanao.
Montenegro, Aleson or Cokaliong liners will have a boat departing every few hours from the pier in Dumaguete
The regular fare is 246 pesos on Montenegro or Cokaliong. If they are full you have to book tourist class which is 386 pesos.
If you have an early morning departure it is a good idea to have money broken down ahead of time.
The ticket offices start with no change in the till and will just write on the back of your ticket what they owe you in change. It is very difficult to chase down the purser to get your refund.
In calm weather it only takes about 4 hours but during a storm it can take 5 1/2 to 6 hours. You ticket will have a bunk number on it and you can catch a few hours of sleep.
I prefer the Montenegro lines because the boat is smaller and it has good cross ventilation. On the Coklaliong you can be uncomfortably cool in the air conditioned tourist class cabin. If you arrive at the terminal just before departure the economy might be full and you will have to upgrade to the more expensive “tourist class”.
I really don’t care for air conditioning because none of the ones in the Philippines have thermostats to shut them down when it is cold. They just keep going and going and you can sick from the cold.
Blankets are issued in tourist class if you ask for them.
There are some great cafes as you leave the docks in Dapitan. An outstanding meal of shrimp costs only 50 pesos so it is a good idea to get refreshed before heading out on the trail especially if you are taking the bus down to Zamboanga.
Getting to town or the bus terminal in Dipolog takes a bit of haggling with the tricycle drivers. The standard fare is 40 pesos but that is per person and they try to get 6 people on the motorcycle side car.
If you don’t have other passengers to split the fare with it will run 240 pesos.
That is far too much, so try to hook up with other people as you leave the boat if you are traveling alone. Everyone is going to town because there is nothing at the pier except for a few restaurants and ticket offices.
Another option is to take a motorcycle to the crossing and take a 10 peso multicab to town but if it is your first trip there it will be somewhat confusing to figure it out.
I have stayed in Dipolog before but not in Dapitan.
Dipolog seems a clean and pleasant town with rather light traffic and the road heading south is very peaceful and beautiful.
Mindanao gets a lot of bad press but it is an amazing place to visit. Palawan and Mindanao are tops in my book but Mindanao doesn’t have the tourist infrastructure that Palawan has.
Dumaguete to Dipolog by 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
Appreciate your article! I am planning an MC trip down to Davao from Cebu and Dumaguete to Dipolog was one of the routes I was considering.
Hello tjader,
The north coast of Mindanao is nice. The road south from Surigao to Davao is the easiest.
…suggest not going through Cotabato City – Sultan Kudarat
cheers
dp
hi,
am planning of doing a mini mindanao tour on may of this year. i would like to start from zamboanga and would like to visit dipolog, dapitan, cagayan de oro, bukidnon and davao,
can you advise as to how take this route via bus. can you also tell me as to how long is the bus ride and any pointers where to stay and sights places to see.
i am flying from manila to zamboanga and would like to fly out davao to manila
thanks much
saj
Hello saj,
You have it listed perfectly:
From Zambaonga take the Rural Transit bus to Dipolog.
From Dipolog take the bus to Cagayan de Oro.
Then you can take the bus from CDO through Bukidnon to Davao. This is a relatively easy run, but I would suggest taking the Rural Transit rather that a mini van.
The road along the north coast of Zambaonga del Norte to Ozamis is often overlooked, but it’s really nice!
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…another option would be to take the bus from Zamboanga directly to CDO, bypassing Dipilog (if you are in a hurry)
Happy trip!
dp
Thanks much dp.
Hi can i ask, a have a Flight This coming November 30 from Dumaguete im just wondering if theres a RORO – of boat Going to Dapitan around 10am //
aside from Ocean Fast Farries is theres an other Way???
Hi,
Just want to inquire the present fare of ferry from Dumaguete to Dipolog. My family will go there early of 2013.
thanks,
Hello Elmer,
I do not have the most current fare info for this run – there are about 4 ferry companies that go between Dumaguete, Negros and the pier in Dapitan, Mindanao and then you must take a tricycle or jeepney the rest of the way to Dipolog, Mindanao.
You will just have to check the ferry offices at the pier in Dumaguete when you get there k?
dp