Cebu Airport to Moalboal

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Moalboal is one of the tourist hotspots on Cebu. Even though we always recommend spending a few days in the city first, many travelers want to go straight from Cebu Airport to Moalboal. In this detailed guide, you’ll find out how to get from Mactan Airport to Moalboal quickly and smoothly.

Cebu Airport to Moalboal: travel time

Depending on the transport you choose, the trip from Cebu Airport to Moalboal takes a different amount of time. The fastest option is a taxi or a private transfer straight from the arrivals area at the airport. On a scooter you’re on the road for about the same amount of time, even if you still have to pick the bike up from the rental shop, because it’s easier to weave through traffic in Cebu and south of the city. The bus is definitely the slowest option, because waiting times, stops along the way, and the transfer to the bus terminal eat up valuable time.

• Taxi / transfer / car: approx. 3:15–4:00 hrs
• Scooter: approx. 4:00–4:30 hrs
• Bus: approx. 4:30–5:30 hrs (including transfers to and from the bus terminals)

Info: The total distance from Cebu Airport to Moalboal is only 105 km, by the way.

Cebu Airport to Moalboal by taxi / transfer

A taxi or car is the fastest and most comfortable way to get from Cebu Airport to Moalboal. Right in the arrivals area of the terminals you’ll find taxi stands where you can hire a driver. Prices are extremely variable and negotiable – more on that later.

Also recommended, and only slightly more expensive, is booking a driver and vehicle in advance* online. The advantages are that you don’t have to hunt around on arrival and the driver picks you up right at the exit. You can also easily book the right vehicle online. For example, you can reserve an SUV or minivan for larger groups or families and make the trip even more comfortable. An SUV or minivan is also a great choice if you’re arriving as a diver with a lot of gear.

Here are the approximate prices for a trip from Mactan Airport to Moalboal:

• Public taxi at the taxi stand (regular sedan): 2,500–3,500 PHP (about 40–60€)
• Private transfer (regular sedan): 3,400 PHP (about 55€)
• Private transfer (SUV): 4,000 PHP (about 65€)
• Private transfer (minivan, 8 passengers): 4,800 PHP (about 79€)
• Private transfer (minibus, 16 passengers): 9,500 PHP (about 155€)

We recommend booking the transfer through GetTransfer*. The service is reliable, and for the extra comfort and choice of vehicles the prices are only slightly higher – a difference you can really ignore – or even at the same level.

Cebu Airport to Moalboal by bus or public minivan

Unfortunately, Cebu Airport has no bus terminal or minivan service offering a direct transfer to Moalboal. Anyone who has traveled in Thailand knows that onward connections from ferry terminals and airports to tourist towns are very straightforward. That’s not the case in the Philippines. Even though Cebu is very well developed for tourism, we have so far not been able to find a single bus or minivan service directly at the airport. So you’ll first have to get to the bus terminal on your own and continue from there to Moalboal.

We’ll now explain in detail, step by step, how to take the bus and minivan to Moalboal.

Bus to Moalboal

• Take the MyBus right in front of the terminal at Cebu Airport. The MyBus takes you to the MyBus Terminal at SM City Cebu. The ticket costs 50 PHP. The trip takes 30–60 minutes, depending on traffic. The MyBus runs every 30 minutes between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
• From there, take a taxi to the Cebu South Bus Terminal. The ride costs about 150 PHP. The trip takes 15–30 minutes.
• Alternatively, you can of course also take a taxi directly from Mactan Airport to the Cebu South Bus Terminal.
• From there you can take the Ceres Liner bus toward Bato via Barili. A ticket for an air-conditioned bus costs 220 PHP. The trip takes 3 hours. The bus runs 24/7 every 30 minutes.
• Get off at the Moalboal bus stop.
• From there you’ll need a taxi or tricycle to your final destination. The ride takes around 10 minutes, and a tricycle costs 150 PHP, or 50 PHP per person.

Minivan to Moalboal

• Take the MyBus right in front of the terminal at Cebu Airport. The MyBus takes you to the MyBus Terminal at SM City Cebu. The ticket costs 50 PHP. The trip takes 30–60 minutes, depending on traffic. The MyBus runs every 30 minutes between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
• From there, take a taxi to the V-Hire South Terminal. The ride costs about 150 PHP. The trip takes 15–30 minutes.
• Alternatively, you can also take a taxi directly from the airport to the V-Hire South Terminal.
• From the terminal, take a van to Moalboal. A ticket for an air-conditioned minibus costs 230 PHP. The trip takes 2 hours and 30 minutes. Vans only leave once they’re full. Vans don’t have enough room for large luggage. In Cebu City the vans already start running from 4:00 a.m.
• Get off at the Moalboal bus stop.
• From there, take a habal-habal or tricycle to your hotel. The ride costs 50 PHP per person, or 150 PHP for the whole habal-habal / tricycle. The trip takes about 10 minutes.

You can check schedules and ticket prices, and reserve bus tickets in advance, here…

Cebu Airport to Moalboal on your own scooter

If you arrive at Cebu Airport early in the morning, your own scooter is also an option for getting from the airport to Moalboal. We’ve already covered where you can rent a scooter in Cebu City in a separate post, but the fastest option from the airport is RC Motorental Cebu.

Take a taxi from the airport to RC Motorental Cebu; the ride takes around 20 minutes and should cost around 250 PHP. Ideally, contact the owners ahead of time via Facebook or WhatsApp so they can reserve a motorbike for you.

From there you can ride comfortably to Moalboal on the scooter. The trip takes around 4 hours. Use Google Maps for navigation (holders are usually mounted on the bikes) and ride via Carcar City, then over the Carcar–Barili Pass across to Moalboal.

The route is in very good condition, and experienced scooter / motorcycle riders who have already spent time on the road in Asia should have no trouble handling the traffic.

Note: The scooter is only an option if you’re traveling as a backpacker, because there’s no way to stow luggage.

Cebu Airport to Moalboal by rental car

A rental car is also an excellent way to drive to Moalboal yourself. Rental cars are available right at Cebu Airport; you’ll find a separate rental guide here…

By rental car you’ll need around 4 hours from Mactan Airport to Moalboal. Be sure to get an international driving permit in advance, though.

Still have questions about how to get from Cebu Airport to Moalboal? Just leave a comment and we’ll be happy to help!