Buses in the Philippines ｜ Getting Around
Buses in the Philippines; it’s an unavoidable part of travel if you spend any amount of time here. While it’s not the most glamours way to get around, it’s often the cheapest way to get somewhere. Often times it’s really the only suitable option.
As a semi-professional bus rider, I’ve complied a list of tips and tricks to help you make the best of your bus journeys around the Philippines.
➣It Will Take Longer Than Expected
The traffic in the Philippines is legendary. You will no doubt find yourself stuck in traffic, crawling to your next destination. While it’s a guarantee in all the big cities, there is a surprising amount of traffic in the more rural areas.
To avoid setting yourself up for disappointment, plan on being on the bus a few additional hours, even for shorter trips.
When we drove into Cebu city, it took an hour and half to go the final 10km. We actually hopped off the bust a few hundred meters before we got to the bus station because we had stopped moving.
Pro Tip: Try leaving or arriving at an off hour to avoid the worst traffic.
➣Comfort Is Non-Existent
The buses aren’t exactly what you would call comfortable. Most have seen better days. The shocks are worn down, so you feel every bump, the upholstery on the seats will be ripped up, curtains won’t stay shut, anything plastic will probably be broken. While the quality of the buses do vary wildly, there are no first class buses to choose from.
If you want comfort, better bring your own travel pillow.
Pro Tip: Buses in the Philippines don’t come equipped with toilets and bathroom stops are few and far in-between. Make sure you take care of business before you depart.
➣Freeze or Fry
There are few choices you’ll get to make when taking the bus, but most of the key decisions you’ll get to make is if you’ll take an AC bus or not.
The non-AC buses can get incredibly hot, and when you stuck in traffic there won’t any breeze to help cool you down. Expect to get hot and sweaty with the locals who can’t afford to take the AC bus.
The AC buses are the opposite extreme, with the AC going full blast for the whole ride. It feels good at first, but after a few hours you’ll be wishing you were in a warmer place.
Out of the two options, I think the AC buses are better.
Pro Tip: Bring a jacket, especially if it’s a trip on a night bus.
➣Entertainment
Most of the buses I was on had a TV or a bunch of TVs. They ran a bunch of pirated movies. Some with Filipino subtitles, some that were overdubbed. You will have no control over the volume, so expect to hear something blasting out from the speakers above your head. The drive might forgo a movie all together, and just blast whatever music they want to hear. This is also happens on the night buses. Hooray.
At the very least, you should Some noise canceling headphone and your own music/movie would be well advised too.
Pro Tip: Make sure your Smartphone is charged up and loaded with tunes and TV shows. Don’t forget the noise canceling headphones.
➣The Incessant Sound of Beeping
Like it or hate it, beeping is a part of life in the Philippines. I can’t even begin to understand all the reasons why, but for buses, jeepneys, taxis, and tricycles, they do it to attract potential passengers. It is one of the most annoying things about the Philippines.
Don’t expect a reprise from beeping if you’re on a night bus trying to sleep. Those drivers will beep at every bus stand they pass, and there’s a lot of those.
Pro Tip: Bring ear plugs, which are better than noise canceling headphones when you’re trying to sleep.
➣Come Prepared
You’ll never be entirely sure how long your journey will take, so at a minimum make sure you have some water. It’s advisable to have some snack food with you. Longer bus journeys will make pit-stops at places where you can buy food, but it will limited. You might also be stuck in traffic for hours.
Pro Tip: Bring nuts. They are lite, easy carry, don’t make a big mess, and packed with protein.
➣Random Vendors
Don’t be surprised if you see random vendors hopping on the bus to sell stuff as you’re exiting an urban area or entering. This is all part of how things are here. Usually they are selling food items, which could be a good opportunity to try something very local.
Pro Tip: Make sure you have small bills and/or coins if you want to buy something.
➣They’ll Say Anything
I partly chalk this up to the language barrier, but the staff at the stations, on the buses, and even the drivers, give inconsistent and sometimes outright wrong information. We’ve been told lots of wrong information when buying tickets; like there are no AC buses or the bus will leave in half an hour, only to find out it’s leaving right now.
Schedules mean nothing, so don’t wander too far away from the bus you want to take. Make sure you’re getting on the right bus.
If you’re waiting at a bus stop for a bus to come, it could be an hour late or an hour early. They really keep you on your toes.
While on the bus, keep an eye on your location with GPS, so you make sure you’re going to the right place and/or getting off at the right place. Don’t depend on the staff to do this for you.
Pro Tip: You are responsible for yourself, so you better act on that.
Warning: Watch out for this SCAM!
Buses in the Philippines; Frustrating, But Fun
Buses in the Philippines can be a frustrating experience, but it can also be a lot of fun is you have the right attitude and expectations. I wanted to share my experiences, not to dissuade your from using the bus, but to prepare you so you can have a better adventure.
Need more information about the Philippines?
Check out our full write up on Manila HERE. (Coming soon)
See our full write up on Angeles City HERE. (Coming soon)
Read our full write up on Cebu HERE. (Coming soon)
View our full write up on Laoag HERE.
Look at our full write up on Vigan HERE.
