Philippines to Indonesia by boat – This run was a common trip 10 years ago but now in 2008 there is very little boat traffic between the two places.
When the value of the rupiah plunged to around 15,000 to the USD it was not uncommon for merchants to haul goods between the 2 countries and cash out on the spread.
A cement hauler made the passage between Bitung in Suluwasi and General Santos on a regular basis.
For 20 USD you could hop on board and be there in 3 days. I think it made the round trip every week. Passengers slept out on the deck underneath a tarp.
The ship was a rickety old rust bucket but it seemed to ride the waves quite well.
I was a bit concerned that a seam could rupture sending us to Davy Jones locker because our cargo was mostly cement.
It is not all that unusual for ships in this part of the world to be lost. As a precaution I kept some large empty water bottles to use as flotation devices if everything went pear shaped.
It probably wouldn’t have made a difference but at least I felt better about it. It would also be a good idea to carry a flashlight so you could see at night because there was no light except from the stars.
A friend of mine runs a tuna boat down there from time to time but there are no commercial freighters or ferries that ply that route anymore.
Flights from Davao and Manado are the easiest way to get across now. It is less romantic and more costly but at least you can say that you made the passage in a junky old plane.
If you are dead set against using air travel you could book passage from Zamboanga in Mindanao to Sandakan in Sabah, Malaysia and go overland from there but it is kind of out of the way if you are headed to Suluwasi.
That trip would run between 2,600 pesos and 3,000 pesos.
Keep in mind that there are very cheap air fares now between Manila and Jakarta if you are just trying to get to Indonesia. Going by boat is great but is time consuming and a bit of a hassle.
Philippine Government Immigration – official link
Malaysia to the Philippines visa run
I did a visa run from Zamboanga to Sandakan and back last year to satisfy Philippine visa requirements. It is an easy run that costs around 5200 pesos and takes about 20 hours travel time each way.
Sandakan, Malaysia
Sulawasi to Mindanao by cargo boat
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
I heard from a hostel owner in Indonesia that it’s now possible to get a boat from Manado (Sulawesi) to Mindanao. Do you perhaps know if this is true? Im in Makassar now, trying to get to the Philippines without flying.
Alternatly, could I get passage on your pal’s Tuna boat? :-)
Thanks, great info!
Hello andrew,
The news is that there is an Indonesia ferry company considering this route but has not yet made it’s maiden voyage. (on this route).
The passage featured on this page is about a run that has been discontinued. The ship used was a cement freighter that was contracted to bring cement from Bitung in Sulawasi to General Santos in Mindanao.
There is a bit of discussion about this very thing on the Lonely Planet thorn tree that might be worth following.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com
then clink community >
Thorn Tree Forum >
Asia – South-East Asia Islands & Peninsula
cheers
dp
Looking for cheapest no matter how “rustic way from hong kong to davao or from indonesia to davao boat of any tpye is fine
Hello Bob,
There are no passenger boats from Indonesia to Davao at this time.
The best bet would be to take Alison Shipping from Sandakan in Sabah, Malaysia to Zamboanga in Mindanao, Philippines.
good luck
dp
Smuggling orangutans
From the newspaper Philippine Daily Inquirer read while waiting for my take out at Chow King fast food this morning. – It appears that the Bitung Sulawesi to General Santos cargo shipping route has become a major smuggling trail for those selling endangered and other exotic animals and birds.
according to the article rare animals including leopards, orangutans,sun bears, gibbons, and birds of paradise are transported from Bitung through the Celebas Sea and up to General Santos in Mindanao Philippines where then are then shipped final destinations in Japan, Taiwan, Ameica and to collectors within the Philippines.
Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation
Dr Willie Smits of the Orangutan Outreach conservation group says that wildlife trafficking has grown to a one billion USD busiess and is workig with Philippine authorities to shut down the Bitung – Gen San route
The three main wildlife trade routes are said to be
Bitung to General Santos
North Sumatra to Guangzhou China
Jakarta to other places
dutchpickle,
Is there any update on the ferry from Philippines to anywhere in Manado?
Hello ongie,
No updates on that planned ferry run – sorry. There used to be a connection between General Santos Mindanao – Philippines and Bitung which is a deep water port on the north tip of Sulawasi near Manado in Indonesia. Most boats in Manado are local transport. The boat connecting Indonesia and the Philippines was a cement hauler and the 3 day trip cost 20 USD. (including free dried fish and rice – ha ha )
One time I did depart in Manila Philippines by boat and took local ferries and Pelni ships all the way to Jayapura – Papua Barat in Indonesia. It took 40 days but was a real memory – especially the 10 days down the east coast of Sulawasi. . We left Ambon Maluku to Sorong (Irian Jaya – Papua Barat now) the night that the riots had begun – wow. Well worth spending some time in Manokwari too.
dp
dutchpickle,
I am very pleased to have found this sight. I hope a forum member may offer some advise to me. I intend to apply for a one year multi entry / exit visa to the Philippines. One of the requirements is proof of a return ticket or a ticket to your next destination. I do not plan to return to my home country so I prefer not to purchase a ticket I will never use. Could someone please suggest a cheap fare on a “rust-bucket” to anywhere that will satisfy the the PI embassy? I do understand that I must make visa runs in the future, we are trying to solve the first year. Thank you for any help, suggestions or guidance.
Jack
I’m Filipino lives in US. I want to try to go Malaysia/Indonesia by boat from any Mindanao island for adventure. Any suggestions?
Hello freddie,
Sure – no problems. The easiest route would be to take Aleson Shipping from Zamboanga/Mindanao/Philippines to Sandakan / Sabah / Malaysia.
http://www.dutchpickle.com/philippines/mindanao/zamboanga-sandakan-visa-run.html
dp
Hello Dutch,
I’m heading to Bitung, and I would like to give it a try to jump on a boat and get to Mindanao. I will ask around and in the philippinos communities in Manado. Otherwise Ill try to go to Tahuna and try to do it.
When you arrived to the Phillipines, to which immigration office have you gone? was all smooth? Any other tips would be great.
Thanks in advance,
Martin
Hello Martin,
I believe that the run between Bitung – Sulawasi, Indonesia and General Santos – Mindanao, Philippines has been discontinued. There was a brisk trade between the two communities when the value of the rupiah plummeted 10 – 15 years ago but it is no longer a trade route.
I have heard that this route is still heavily used by those that are involved with the illegal wildlife trade but can not give you any details.
When I did this trip we reported to the immigration dept in General Santos but I do not have current info on that.
note – The trip between Sandakan in Sabah, Malaysia and Zamboanga in Mindanao, Philippines is still straight forward and rather easy Aleson Shipping.
cheers
dp
I want to go Bali to manila without flying. Is there any way to go by ship. If yes can you provide detail information of the ferry company cost and travelling time. It would be great help from your side.
Hello – there will be no direct boat from any point in Bali to Manila.
You could make a series of trips and get to Sandakan, Sabah
http://www.dutchpickle.com/philippines/mindanao/sandakan.html
and then take a ferry from Sandakan to Zamboanga, Mindanao.
http://www.dutchpickle.com/philippines/mindanao/zamboanga-sandakan-visa-run.html
From Zamboanga you could get a boat to Manila but they are not frequent.
dp
Hi,
The indonesia to gen santos boat trip still available? Thanks.
Joe
I think that run has been discontinued years ago.
dp
Hello together,
it has been said a lot about the boat journey, but what’s about the visa? Is it possible to get a visa on arrival in Zamboanga by sea?
Hope someone has an answer
Cheers
Maximo
…not sure really – I have received a visa in Zamboanga and General Santos, Mindanao in prior years after arriving by sea before. I had onward air tickets out of the Philippines in my possession at the time.
I had arrived in Gen San – Mindanao- Philippines from Bitung, Sulawasi, Indonesia but that route is not running at this time.
The Sandakan – Sabah – Malaysia to Zamboanga – Mindanao Philippines route is likely not running at this time either ( due to tension with the Sultan of Sabah conflict and the Maylasian governmet ) .
The Philippine immigration office in Zamboanga is first rate ! however I suggest not trying that route at this time – no real “danger” – just a hassle with the shipping lines
dp
Hello dutchpickle,
thank you for your answer. I arrived today in Bima, Indonesia. And recognized, that the ferries between, Sumbawa, Sulawesi and Kalimantan are rare as well.
That’s why I would like to be sure if the ferry between Sabah, Malaysia and Zamboanga, Philippines are runnig at the moment.
Do you know the company who runes the ferry on this route? Maybe a website where I can check the timetable.
That’s the one for the ferry in Indonesia: http://www.pelni.co.id
Cheers
Hello dp,
thank you for your answer. I arrived in Bima yesterday and recognized, that the ferries between Sumbawa, Sulawesi and Kalimantan are pretty rare.
Probably I have to fly know (here two websites for national flights in Indonesia: http://www.merpati.co.id/en , http://www.lionair.co.id
But I still would like to go to the Philippines by boat. But I would like to be sure if there is a ferry running. Do you know a website of a company running ferries between Malaysia or Indonesia and the Philippines?
The website for indonesian ferries is: http://www.pelni.co.id
Hope for a soon answer again
Cheers
trying to get around immigration. Is it possible to get a boatment to bring me to the philippines from malaysia at night? Is the coast guard patroling the area?
Hello James –
It would be a very unwise decision to try to get around immigration that would lead to a lot of future problems.
… there are plenty of elite military units patrolling the area between the Philippines and Malaysia.
…scratch that plan ok?
…bad idea.
dp
Hello Maximo
There are no Pelni ships traveling between Indonesia and the Philippines at this time.
dp
Check Aleson Shipping
http://www.dutchpickle.com/philippines/mindanao/zamboanga-sandakan-visa-run.html
I think that this route might be suspended at this time due top the friction from the Sultan of Sabah issue going on at this time in the area.
http://www.dutchpickle.com/philippines/mindanao/sandakan.html
dp
how much it cost From Zamboanga to Indonesia?
There are no ferries from Zamboanga to Indonesia that I am aware of. In the past I have gone by ship between Bitung Suluwasi and General Santos Mindanao Philippines but I do not think that is available anymore.
dp
is the zamboanga-sandakan route still possible? thanks.
Hello Chris,
I am not sure, but I think so. I was in Mindanao Jan-June 2016, but did not make it over to Zamboanga City this year. I used to make that Sandakan, Sabah trip for visa extensions but I don’t go that way any more.
One thing to note is that the ferries in Dumaguete, Negros often advertise trips to Zamboanga but they are referring to the Zamboanga province in Mindanao, which is rather close to Dumaguete, Negros unlike Zamboanga City which is quite distant.
dp
update year 2017 by dp
At this time I do not know of any ferry or boat connection between Mindanao and Indonesia for passengers.
I have done the Zamboanga City, Philippines to Sandakan, Malaysia run a number of times in the past but I do not think that is available in year 2017.
I love travel by boat but travel by air is easier and still inexpensive / barato .
Travel within the Philippines is common and easy. Travel within Indonesia is very common within the country.
International travel by ferry is not done as easily because of the immigration hassles and political reasons.
…if you are a free spirit you can get lost for years traveling the islands of Indonesia. Pelni Ships are the biggest carrier for long distance but there are hundreds if not thousands of smaller boats for inter island connections.
selamat jalan
dp