Ticao Island is among the three major islands of Masbate province. Although it is not widely known to tourists yet, Ticao Island is a hidden treasure waiting to be discovered, boasting pristine beaches, waterfalls, and friendly locals.
In this article, we will guide you on how to reach Ticao Island from anywhere in the Philippines.
You can reach Ticao Island by sea using two routes. One is through Masbate City, while the other is via Sorsogon.
Going to Ticao Island via Masbate City
If you are from Manila, you have two options to reach Masbate City: a direct flight provided by Cebu Pacific or a connecting trip. For the connecting trip, you can take a land trip via bus to Pilar port or Bulan port in Sorsogon, followed by a sea trip via fast craft or ship to Masbate City port.
For those coming from the south of the Philippines, you can board a ship from Cebu City to Masbate City.
From Masbate City, you have multiple options to reach Ticao Island.
If you are only interested in exploring some of Ticao Island’s beaches without staying overnight, you can opt for a day tour island hopping package. You can arrange this package with Masbate City Tourism Office. Typically, the tour covers the following sites:
- Halea Nature Park
- Burobangkaso Island
- Lapus-Lapus Islet (Iloilo)
- Catandayagan Falls
- Buntod Sandbar Marine Sanctuary (Masbate City)
However, if you want to explore more of what Ticao has to offer and stay overnight, you can reach the island by taking a fast craft or a ship from Masbate City Pier to Lagundi Pier. Lagundi is a barangay located in the municipality of Batuan.
The fast craft operates three trips daily, departing Masbate City at 10 AM, 2 PM, and 4 PM. The Roro ship operates one trip daily, leaving the city at 12 NN.
Going to Ticao Island via Sorsogon
If you are from Metro Manila, you have two options to reach Sorsogon: a direct land trip, or a connecting trip that involves a flight to Legazpi City followed by a land trip to Sorsogon.
Sorsogon offers two ports that provide direct connections to Ticao Island. Pilar Port has a ship service, while Bulan Port offers a fast craft service to San Jacinto Port. San Jacinto is one of the four municipalities of Ticao, located between Monreal and San Fernando.
This is the ideal option if you are traveling from mainland Bicol or if you prefer to take a land trip from Metro Manila.
Ticao Island Transportation System
The primary mode of transportation on Ticao Island is motorcycles. They are readily available along the roads, and you can easily hail one, commonly referred to as “habal-habal.” The fare for a motorcycle ride varies from 50 to 200 pesos, depending on the distance you wish to travel.
Interestingly, unlike other provincial areas in the Philippines, tricycles are not as commonly seen on Ticao Island. However, some limited vans and buses operate regularly between the Lagundi and San Jacinto ports.
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Ron Lao is an engineering graduate with a passion for writing informative content and exploring new places, cultures, and food. He loves science, cats, badminton, and anything wellness-related.
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