The journey from Moalboal to Siquijor can seem daunting at first however so many tourists do it in high seasons, it should run like a well oiled machine. The Philippines is known for being an interesting travel destination due to the amount of transport you need to take to get between the islands. The journey from Moalboal to Siquijor isn’t the easiest, however with this blog you should be more than ready to tackle it.
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Moalboal to Siquijor Travel Options
Direct Ferry
4-5 Hours
From $11 pp
Ferry via Dumaguete
4-5 Hours
From $13 pp
Where Is Moalboal?
Moalboal is located on the bustling island of Cebu, home to a variety of experiences: from diving with Thresher Sharks on Malapascua island, to the vast Cebu City shopping centres and snorkelling with turtles from the beach in Moalboal. Cebu has it all, however getting from place to place can be interesting.
Moalboal lies on the southwest coast of Cebu, boasting some of the worlds best snorkelling. Just a stones throw away from the shoreline at Panagsama Beach are wild turtles and millions of sardines in a bait ball forming the famous Sardine Run. Something not to be missed.
Where is Siquijor?
Siquijor is a small island that sits just south of Cebu known for its witchcraft by the locals. Although it looks close by on a map, the journey isn’t the easiest so follow our steps below for a smooth journey.
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Moalboal To Siquijor Travel Steps
Get To Liloan Port, The South Of Cebu
1. Trike from Panagsama Beach to Moalboal Bus Stop (10 minutes, ₱100-200)
2. Bus to Bato (1.5 hours, ₱130)
3. Tricycle to Liloan Port (10 minutes, ₱70)
Option 1: Direct Ferry
4. Ferry straight to Siquijor (at inconvenient times)
Option 2: Ferry via Dumaguete
4. Ferry to Sibulan Port, Dumaguete (30 mins, ₱130)
5. Tricycle (or bus) to Dumaguete Port (20 mins, ₱75)
6. Ferry to Siquijor (40 mins, ₱250)
Final Step: Tricycle to Accommodation From Siquijor Port (San Juan is best)
Step 1: Get To The South Of Cebu, Santander Liloan Port
Both routes involve getting to the south of Cebu first, so let’s start with that:
Public Transport
2.5 Hours
From $7 pp
Private Taxi
1.5 Hours
From $28 pp
Moalboal To Liloan Port with Public Transport
- You will most likely be staying at Panagsama Beach or at least on Panagsama Road – so the first step will be to get to the bus stop outside of Jolibees in Moalboal via walking or tricycle (10 minutes, ₱100-200)
- Next you want to aim to catch the aircon Ceres bus heading south (₱130). The stop you’ll get off at is Bato near Lilian Port (₱70-100)
Moalboal To Liloan Port with a Private Taxi
Alternatively, if you are a large group or family it makes sense to get a private taxi. We went with this option as with 4 of us in the taxi, the bus ticket and tricycle would’ve nearly cost the same.
Now you would have arrived in the region of Santander, Lilioan Port you have two options to get to Siquijor
- Direct Ferry via Liloan
- Ferry via Dumaguete
Step 2: Ferry to Siquijor
Direct Ferry to Siquijor
Direct Ferry
4-5 Hours
From $11 pp
Let’s start with the direct ferry as that seems like a no brainer however there’s a catch….. at the time of writing they only run at 2am 3 times a week which is ridiculous. On Sundays they also run at 7am however to catch that you would have to stay in Liloan the Saturday to give yourself time.
Ferry via Negros Dumaguete
Ferry via Dumaguete
4-5 Hours
From $13 pp
The next, and more likely option, is the ferry via Dumaguete, Negros.
- First catch the ferry from Liloan Port to Sibulan Port (30 mins, ₱130)
- Once you arrive at Sibulan Port you will then need a tricycle to Dumaguete Port (20 mins, ₱75).
- From Dumaguete port you will be on your final ferry to Siquijor, here you can either get a ocean jet which are faster or a Montenegro which are cheaper
Montenegro | Ocean Jet |
₱ 234 | ₱ 350 |
7am, 9am 10am, 2pm, 3:30pm, 6pm | 7:20am, 11am, 1pm, 7:10pm |
2 hours | 45 Minutes |
Once you’re in Siquijor port, your final mode of transport will probably be a tricycle to your accommodation.
Best Places To Stay In Siquijor
$ Budget
Lazy Lizard Hostel
Lazy Lizard is a great budget option for your stay in San Juan. Up from the main road it is quiet, in the jungle and offers scooter hire. There’s options for private rooms or shared dorms.
$$ Mid-Range
Apo Diver’s Resort
Perhaps you want something more luxury or your here for the diving! Apo Diver’s Resort offers sea views on the beach front with a beautiful pool and chill out spot.
$$$ High-End
Coco Grove Beach Resort
Backing onto Tubod Marine Reserve this is a great luxury choice if you love snorkelling. The resort also boasts a large seafront swimming pool, free coffee and breakfast as well as an on-site restaurant.
Spacing
Siquijor’s Best Tourist Attractions
We stayed 5 nights on Siquijor and think this is the perfect amount of time to see everything the island has to offer. Here’s our highlights.
Top Pick: Cambugahay Falls
Visit early or don’t bother going, this is our top pick as it was so tranquil at 8am plus we saw an iguana!
Best Beach: Paliton Beach
One of the best snorkelling spots on Siquijor and a hotspot for traveller at sunset. The beach is lined with shacks selling rum for cheaper than water!
Off The Beaten Track: Cantabon Cave
The best cave on Siquijor and still a hidden gem on the island.
Other Blogs On Siquijor
Top Tips For Travelling To Siquijor Island
If you’re visiting Siquijor here are our top travel tips:
- Plan your transport – getting to Siquijor can seem confusing so make sure to plan your route and leave early on your travel day.
- Arrive early to Cambugahay Falls to miss the crowds and experience the natural beauty of the area, we arrived at 8am.
- Eat Local, we had some of our favourite food in the Philippines here, mainly from Roadside Diner!
- Rent a scooter to explore the natural attractions. The island is small so it’s the perfect place to learn to ride a scooter, just make sure you wear a helmet.
Final Thoughts on Moalboal to Siquijor
Overall the journey from Moalboal to Siquijor isn’t the easiest however everything usually runs like a well oiled machine. The multiple tricycles make it seem harder because they add more pieces to the puzzle, but they’re usually waiting at the stops for all the tourists so are easy to find, just make sure to barter and not get ripped off. There used to only be two ferries a day from Dumaguete to Siquijor however on our recent journey they ran nearly every hour meaning there was no need to book ahead, even on a Saturday.
