Island hopping in the Philippines – with a motorbike is one way to see a lot of the country.
Here is an account of a trip from Ormoc, Leyte to Balabac, Palawan.
A typhoon was approaching so I decided not to delay and got on the next boat from Ormoc to Cebu City. This is a run that I have taken at least twenty times.
The boat leaves at 10 pm and you can sleep on the way across.
Lite shipping arrives early the following morning around 4:30 am.
Passage is around 350 pesos for a walk on. The motorbike charges were 560 pesos plus a 55 peso port fee. I got off the ferry and drove down to Car Car and around the southern end of Cebu Island to Bato.
Maayo Shipping makes the run over to Negros island for 190 pesos plus 47 peso passenger fare. It is about a half hour trip. I decided to stay in Dumaguete for the night.
After dallying along the west coast of Negros for a few days I headed to Bacolod and caught the Tri Star Mega Link ferry to Iloilo on Panay.
This boat actually unloads in Dumangas around 30 dusty kilometers from town for some reason.
I strongly suggest not going to this port if you are on foot because it is in the middle of nowhere and there are plenty of ferries that go directly to Iloilo.
The fare was 190 pesos for bike and rider and the port tax was 93 pesos.
I had to hang around in Iloilo for a few days to catch the next connection with Miligrosa-J to Puerto Princessa, Palawan. The charges are around 1,000 peso for the bike and 1,000 pesos for passage.
It was a good deal because I got to sleep two nights on the boat. I really love traveling at sea!
The weird thing was that I thought we would arrive in Puerto Princessa the following morning, but I got my wires crossed because we landed up at Cuyo Island instead.
It really worked out great because there were showers on the boat and I had only brought enough food for one day. Cuyo Island is a real gem and the people are a friendly lot.
I purchased some barracuda steaks, rice, and drinks and got back on the boat before the crowd arrived so I could take another shower. Walking around under that scorching sun really makes you sweat.
We arrived in Puerto Princessa the next morning. The boat was too far beneath the level of the dock to unload using a ramp – hence the hoist.
It took all morning to get my clearance and gate pass because the office workers “lost” my paperwork. Security finally went in there and found it for me.
Gary, Cheryl and I headed south after spending the night at their place in Puerto.
We stayed in Nara and then headed down to Rio Tuba.
Rio Tuba at the southern end of Palawan.
Passengers and bike are 350 pesos each.
We just took my bike but only went 28 kilometers on Balabac because the trail was just too muddy.
The wind and rain gave us a good beating on the way over and I was soaked. A lot of salt spray swept over that bike which really is not good because it will cause corrosion. Try to wash your motorbike completely with fresh water after exposure to salt water.
Balabac Isand
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
You’ve been busy DP. Interesting route to Palawan.
I’m looking forward to your Balabac write up
Dave
Hiya dp,
good reading and sounds like a great adventure. Love the shot of the bike being hoisted. Why were u not hanging on to it in miss air like they do in th efilms heheheh. would look very mach as they say heheh. suprised as the amount of mud still about too. any spills ? or did u manage to keep the old girl uprite. U da man.
chat soon mate. Bw Dave
p.s the girls visited the other night . gee man they can talk. bla bla bla bla.
Hi Dave,
That mud in Balabac was just too slippery. I just couldn’t get my balance under control and we dumped twice.
…did have two passangers and Gary outweighs me by 15 kilo so that might have been part of the problem but it was like driving through flooded rice fields
Giday dp
Great read! Would love to do that Palawan trip. Have done the Iloilo trip and around Panay. Will catch up with you May ’10 and get some pointers from you.
Meantime been bashing my 4wd to death mega-off road on the West Coast of NZ’s South Island. Real rough tracks and serious angle slopes covered in tree roots, boulders and streams. Loved it…. just the cost of all the mechanical repairs to consider….!!
Cheers
Lindsay
Hello Lindsay,
Sounds like you are having a killer time down there in New Zealand!
Good to hear from you!
I will be looking forward to seeing you again next year – maybe I can tag along on a trip with you and Bruce …?
For now we are waiting for Typhoon Santi to pass and then head up north to Port Barton and El Nido. I am just chilling out in Puerto Princessa catching up on the site.
Thanks for the tubes – I met up with Bruce one night in Cebu and he brought them down for me.
cheers
dp
ps – Palawan is relatively typhoon free as most typhoons pass to the north in Luzon. As it was we did not even get rain from that storm.
Hello DP! Looks like you have been getting around OK!
Say, I need some info on departure from Zambo to Sandakan. I know the Weesam Express runs that route. I just need to get some details from you, my friend! Shoot me an e-mail when you get time, and it will be much appreciated. I will explain a bit more in the mailer. Thanks, and take care. (I misplaced your e-mail address…)
Danny
Hi Danny,
please check this page
http://www.dutchpickle.com/philippines/mindanao/zamboanga-sandakan-visa-run.html
Go with Alison Shipping – it’s an easy run.
cheers
dp
Hello. Myself and a mate ( both Brits) are thinking of taking the trip outlined below April next year. I would appreciate any advise or info that you might offer. The Islands I was thinking of are: Manila ride down to Batangas, ferry to Mindoro, ferry to Panay, ferry to Negros, ferry to Cebu, ferry to Bohol, ferry to Mindanao ride down to Davao. Head north to Leyfe island then Samar then back to Luzon mainland to Naga then return to Manila. About 14 to 21 days.
I am thinking of renting basic Honda XR 200 from Nice-bikes in Angeles?? bit small but for easy roro and lifting not to mention repair at any point along the way?
Our last trip was Singapore Malaysia Thailand check it out on our web site
Cheers from Colin
cool !
It probably could be done – but 14 days would give you very little time to “stop and smell the roses” along the way
The biggest hassle will be riding through Manila right at the start of your trip. Bikes under 400 cc are not allowed on the expressway so you have to do the whole thing on the secondary roads – which is a hassle. I did it 6 times and am fairly familiar with Manila but never enjoyed that part of the journey.
good luck
dp