How to get from Cagayan de Oro to Manila (original) (raw)

Manila is accessible from Cagayan de Oro by air, by sea and by a combination of overland and sea means of transport. Not surprisingly, flying is the easiest and the quickest option. Prices vary significantly and if you book in advance flying can be not more expensive than taking a bus and a ferry or a boat but it will definitely saves you a huge amount of time.

It only takes roughly 1 hour 30 minutes to fly between Cagayan de Oro and Manila as you cover around 790 kilometres. If you opt for a bus and RoRo, the distance grows to 1,500 km; it is slightly less if you cross the ocean between the two cities. Expect to spend between 30 and 40 hours on the move – not an easy journey at all!

Cost-wise, you can grab air tickets for as low as PHP2,500 if you book at least a month in advance. If you prefer boarding a ship from Cagayan de Oro to Manila, it will set you back somewhere between PHP1,700 and PHP5,400 depending on your choice of the cabin. The bus ride should cost around PHP2,200 one-way.

Ferries from Cagayan de Oro to Manila

If you decide to travel by boat from Cagayan de Oro to Manila by sea, your transportation expenses will depend largely on the vessel and your choice of the cabin. The cost of the ticket can vary between PHP1,700 to PHP5,400.

No matter which vessel you board, your journey is going to last up to 40 hours. It is slow and it can really tough if the sea is mossy, but the onboard facilities like spas, karaoke rooms and dining parlours are meant to brighten your trip.

Note! 2GO sails from Cagayan de Oro to Manila on MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY and SATURDAY.

There are 3 vessels that sail once or twice weekly from Cagayan de Oro to Manila. St. Pope John Paul II departs every Monday at 11.59pm and every Friday at 10am. Each Wednesday, St. Leo The Great departs the pier at 11am while St. Therese of Child Jesus leaves every Saturday at 11pm.

All the ships offer very similar facilities so choose the type of the cabin you want to travel in, not the ship. The cheapest deals buy you a berth in an air-conditioned or non air-conditioned hostel-like room. An upgraded version would be the tourist and cabin classes. If you are after a hotel-like experience, opt for a stateroom and suite room type of accommodation.

Flights from Cagayan de Oro to Manila

Getting from Cagayan de Oro to Manila will cost you approximately PHP2,500–PHP5,600. The best strategy is to book your tickets at least a month ahead especially when flying on the dates around major holidays when flights can get really busy and expensive.

Both Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines daily ply the route between Cagayan de Oro and Manila. The former is a low-cost airline that can allow you to save significantly if you opt for their "fly only" option and are lucky enough to grab seats at promotional prices. The latter might cost a bit more but they offer a more comfortable flight with a wider legroom, free snacks and checked luggage already included into the price.

Flying from Cagayan de Oro to Manila is quick and convenient. Both airlines can bring you to the capital in just under 1 hour 40 minutes.

Buses from Cagayan de Oro to Manila

Philtranco buses plying Davao–Manila route call to Cagayan de Oro where the bus company has their terminal. The whole trip to Manila can take up to 40 hours. Though technically you will need to travel between the islands, you will not need to change buses. Buses use RoRo ferry service thus bringing you directly to Manila. You will need to get off the bus when it rolls on to a ferry, board the ferry yourself and then get on your bus again once on the firm land. We would recommend bus & ferry option only in case you missed well-priced flights and are not limited in time. 30 hours spent on a bus in the Philippines is a bit too much to our mind.