HOW TO GET THERE
By Air
Philippine Airlines, AirPhilExpress and Zest Air has flights from Manila to Masbate City daily and on schedule. This is the same and only flight out of Masbate to Manila. At the moment, all trips are in the morning, adjust your itinerary accordingly. Travel time is about an hour.
By Land/Sea
From Manila, take a bus going to Pilar, Sorsogon. Pilar is the main port of Southern Luzon island and it is located just outside Sorsogon City. From there, it is a two hour ride on a FastCraft.
From the airport to the city center
Take a tricycle outside the airport and direct the driver to the city center. Fare is 10 PHP each and travel time is around 5-10 minutes.
From City Center to Bituon Beach
Hire a tricycle from the city center, rental fee is around 150 PHP (2-way). It's the best way to get to the beach as it is not along the national road. It would require approximately 10 minutes of navigating through a dirt road before reaching the resort. In total, it’s about 13 kilometers away form Masbate City and it will take you around 40 minutes to reach the beach.
ACCOMMODATIONS
There are a number of accommodations available in the City, from expensive hotels and resorts to cheap and affordable hostels, inns and lodging houses. If you are on a tight budget (like me), the cheapest that I was able to find was Sampaguita Tourist Inn.
Sampaguita Tourist Inn
- Address: Quezon Street, Masbate City, Philippines
- Types of rooms: Airconditioned Rooms - single/double or family occupancy Non-Airconditioned Rooms - single/double or family occupancy
- Room Rates: starts at 225 PHP per night for a non-airconditioned single room with private toilet and bath.
- Contact Details: (56)333-4729
- Notes: Clean and spacious room. Toilet and bath is a bit small but clean. The staff are courteous and helpful. For security purposes, they are equipped with CCTV cameras. I highly recommend this hostel when you visit Masbate City.
[ CLICK HERE FOR THE LIST OF TOP-RATED HOTELS IN MASBATE ]
Other Options:
- Balay Valencia
- Circle E Hotel
- GV Hotel
- Jade House Hotel
- Hotel Sea Blick
- MG Hotel
- Ranchers' Hotel
- Rendezvous Hotel
- St. Anthony Hotel and Restaurant
- Stairway Inn
- Team Centrum
- West Wind Waters Beach Resort
- Backpack Accommodation
ITINERARY
Here's my suggested itinerary for a quick weekend getaway to Masbate City.
07:00 AM - Breakfast/Check-in
08:00 AM - ETD for Bituon Beach in Mobo
09:00 AM - ETA at the beach / Swim
11:00 AM – Lunch by the beach
12:00 NN – ETD for Buntod Reef Marine Sanctuary
12:30 PM - ETA at Buntod Islet / Explore
01:30 PM – ETD for Pawa Mangrove Nature Park
02:30 PM – ETA at Pawa / Explore
03:30 PM – ETD for Masbate City
04:30 PM – ETA City Center / Explore
05:30 PM - Back at the hostel/Freshen up 07:30 PM – Dinner / Gimik
If you have more time, you can visit other tourist spots such as:
- Mt. Carmel Grotto
- St. Anthony de Padua Seminary View Deck
- Bugsayon Marine Sanctuary
- Coastal Resource Management Interpretative Center
- Tatoo Island
- Villa Bayot
- Ubo Falls
- Lumbang Cave
For additional information on Where To Go, What to do, Where To Shop and Dine, Where To Stay in Masbate City, you may click here.
EXPENSES
DAY 1 NAIA Terminal 3 Fee Breakfast Tricycle, Airport to City Center Accommodation (1 night) Tricycle Rental, City – Bituon Beach Entrance Fee in Bituon Beach Snacks Tricycle, Plaza to Cathedral Bibingka 1L Water TOTAL DAY 2 Tricycle to Airport Coffee Carmelado Terminal Fee TOTAL GRAND TOTAL | PHP 200 100 10 275 150 50 100 7 30 25 947 10 15 150 20 195 PHP 1,142 |
CONTACT DETAILS
City Tourism Office
Tel Nos. : (56)333-5608 / (56)333-5844
This is part of my Solo Weekend getaway in the province of Masbate that happened last August 13-14, 2011. Masbate is the 34th province on my list and this weekend adventure is my 8th solo trip. | |
 Map By: Wikipedia |
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Hey, im from masbate and first time ko nakapagbasa ng blogpost about masbate galing sa isang travel blogger, salamat for featuring my hometown! Sana mabisita din to ng ibang travel bloggers, para atleast malaman ng mga turista na hindi laging barilan ang nangyayari, peaceful din dito. :)
ReplyDelete@Anonymous - it's time for Masbate to be discovered by more tourists! the pleasure is mine... thanks a lot! :)
ReplyDeleteSuch detailed account! I'd like to see Masbate someday. I'm really drawn to underrated destinations.
ReplyDelete@Pinay Travel Junkie - Thanks Gay! I can't wait to read your posts about it... :)
ReplyDelete@Marcus - If Masbate City lang, oks na ang 1 day, but if you'll be exploring Ticao and Burias islands as well, I suggest you allot more time... Thanks Marcus! :)
ReplyDeleteDon't forget to visit the Pawa Mangroves Park / Sanctuary and Bontod Sandbar near Masbate City - our group enjoyed visiting these 2 places :)
ReplyDeleteHello, my name is angie and I'm going back to visit masbate I'm from there but it been a very long time that I haven't been back. I saw this website and wondering if Someone can give me direction to travel from Manila to masbate by sea or land. What is the name of the bus should I take to get ferry and ferry to masbate? And how much would cost me? I would appreciated if someone tell me. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteMost boring province ever. my province. MASBATE CITY. haha!!
ReplyDeleteHow could your hometown be discover and be more interestingif someone like you from there will be the one to drove it down. You should be proud of where you from. Hayyyssss kahiya Namangan din sayo noh
DeleteHi, just wondering if your itenirary/expneses list is good for a solo traveller? im planning to do a solo backpacking and Masbate is one on my list. any advise
ReplyDeleteI like the way you present your blogs next to Ivan Henares. Your my ideal travel guide....
ReplyDeleteHello how much for the plane ticket? Thanks!!
ReplyDeletegaano po kalayo ang burias island sa city? at magkano po pamasahe city to burias island.. thank you
ReplyDeleteHi sir, thank you for writing such a detailed and beautiful bloggs for my hometown. Hope this will help tourist to visit Masbate.
ReplyDeleteHi..the cost of your travel was not there..how much did u spend from your masbate adventure? Am interested to knw. Thank u
ReplyDeleteWas looking forward in knowing how much u spent but it was not there in ur blog (expenses) maybe u could reiterate po? Thank u
ReplyDelete