Camotes to Cebu tickets

About the ride from Camotes to Cebu

With their breathtaking beauty and budget-friendly accommodations, the Camotes Islands are a can't-miss destination for anyone visiting the Philippines. But after a few days (or more!) of exploring its enchanting attractions, it’s time to head back. For most people, this will mean going from the Camotes to Cebu. Let’s see how you can make this trip.

The Camotes are a group of three islands nestled between the larger Cebu and Bohol Islands. They are one of the staple getaways in the Philippines mainly because of two reasons: their jaw-dropping beauty, and their proximity to the larger islands around them.

The distance between the Camotes and Cebu is just 45 miles by air. That’s pretty close, but how do you get from one place to the other? 

There’s one mode of transportation between Camotes and Cebu, and that’s a direct ferry line. Easy and convenient, the ferry takes you from one of the Camotes ports straight to Cebu City – no stopovers or detours, just a simple and direct route to your destination.

Depending on the ferry you choose, you’ll either depart from the south of Poro Island, or from the western shore of Pacijan Island.

Either way, the ferry trip from Camotes to Cebu takes around 90 minutes. That means you can even visit the city on a day trip. Considering Cebu is a huge transit hub for the Philippines, it’s an ideal stopover if you want to continue your journey to some of the other beautiful locales this country has to offer.

 

What to see when traveling from the Camotes to Cebu 

A trip from the Camotes to Cebu lends itself to some truly awe-inspiring views. You’d better charge your battery for this one, because the pictures you’ll take will earn you some serious bragging rights!

Heading out from Poro Island will take you past the rugged, green shores of Pacijan. You’ll pass the stunning marine sanctuary of Santiago Bay, glistening in all its glory. If you’re departing from western Pacijan, you’ll once again be able to admire its incredible white sand beaches – time to wave goodbye!

It won’t take long for the shores of Mactan Island to appear in your view. Acting as a sentinel to the city of Cebu, Mactan Island is the smaller neighbor of Cebu Island. Mactan may be small, but to tourists, it’s no less important than the city it’s protecting. Mactan-Cebu International Airport is located on the island, making it a hub for all the local comings and goings.

Approaching the island will take you past the beautiful Magellan Bay, named after the famous explorer, and the first person to circumnavigate the globe. You could say that Ferdinand Magellan is a pretty big figure in these parts. 

That’s because he was the person to introduce Christianity to the Philippines, some 500 years ago. In fact, because of him, Cebu City is known as “the birthplace of Christianity in the Far East”.

Once you pass the bay and the bridges connecting Cebu and Mactan, you’ll make your landing in one of the local ports. Depending on the ferry you take, you’ll either disembark in Cebu City, or in Mactan. If you’ve got a plane to catch, we suggest you choose the latter.

 

How to get from Camotes Islands to Cebu

Taking a ferry

Hopping on a ferry from Camotes to Cebu is as easy as one, two, three. All you need to do is pick the ferry option you need, and enjoy the ride. There are two ferry operators leaving Camotes: Oceanjet and Jomalia. Both offer daily departures, with all options taking around 90 minutes to reach their destination.

Oceanjet offers rides from Cebu to the Camotes via an Open Air Ferry, Tourist Ferry or Business Ferry. All three ferries leave from the dock at Poro Port on Poro Island and arrive at Cebu Pier 1 in Cebu City. Departure times are typically in the early morning and early afternoon.

Before you board your Oceanjet ferry, you should know that there’s a 15 kg bag per passenger limit. If you happen to exceed this, you’ll need to pay an extra fee of 10 PHP per each additional kilo. Also, be aware that porters may also charge you 50-100 PHP to carry your luggage on board.

All three Oceanjet ferries offer clean seating areas. With the exception of the Open Air Ferry, the Tourist and Business options boast A/C equipped cabins. 

If you’d prefer something a little more cozy, Oceanjet’s Business ferry offers more comfortable reclining seats. The prices are reasonable: the Open Air and Tourist options are around $13, while the business Ferry will take you aboard for $21.

The ride might take just 1.5 hours, but it’s good to know that all options have toilets on board.

Last but not least, you can go with Jomalia’s High Speed Ferry. This is the most popular ferry operating from Cebu to the Camotes. Leaving from the Camotes Consuelo Wharf on Pacijan Island, and arriving at Cebu-Mactan Ferry Terminal on Mactan, this is the ideal choice if you have to catch a flight. The airport is just a five minute cab ride away.

Jomalia ferry departures are at 10:00 am and at 4:00 pm every day. Their luggage policy allows you to bring two bags. There are indoor as well as open-air seats, if you want to soak in the best views. The inner cabins have A/C if you’d prefer to cool down. Jomalia ferries have toilets as well, and the staff speaks English in case you need anything else.