From Cebu to Bohol - TravellingMOOD

With thousands of islands, when visiting the Philippines, it is normal to travel from one island to another to discover the country. There are many places worth recommending, such as Cebu City (the oldest city and the first Spanish settlement), with a large number of old buildings and forts. In addition, the city is close to beautiful beaches and fantastic diving spots. From Cebu, you can head to Bohol, the 10th largest island in the Philippines, known for its excellent beaches and resorts, as well as the Chocolate Hills and numerous caves and waterfalls, as well as several pretty islands off the coast. Whether you want to relax on the beach or want to be active, you can enjoy it all in both places. Read on to find out what transportation options are available when traveling from Cebu to Bohol.

Tagbilaran Harbor on the island of Bohol

Travel options from Cebu to Bohol

Both Cebu and Bohol are islands and are not connected by bridges or tunnels, so to get from Cebu to Bohol you have to cross the Cebu Strait by sea. As the crow flies, it is only 38 kilometers from one coast to the other, but the main ferry goes to Tagbilaran, south of Bohol, so the total journey is 90 kilometers. There are two standard ferries which are quite slow. The best option for tourists are fast ferries that cover the route in two hours. You can also fly from Cebu to Bohol, but there are no direct flights, so you’d have to change flights. Considering the cost and inconvenience of flying from Cebu to Bohol, we don’t recommend it unless you’re not considering a boat trip.

Fast ferries from Cebu to Bohol

OceanJet Ferry at Cebu Passenger Terminal © Valentin Ayupov / Shutterstock.com

There are five ferry companies that offer fast connections from Cebu to Bohol, and they all have several sailings a day. FastCat and Weesam Express offer fewer departures than Super Cat, OceanJet and Starcraft, but are also good options. Whichever company you choose, the trip will take around two hours, so no ferry travels faster than another. The prices are also very similar but look at all the seating and class options as some are a bit more expensive than others.

Ferry tickets from Cebu to Bohol can be booked online 12Go.asia. They partnered with OceanJet, which offers multiple departures throughout the day, with the first one at 5:10am. There is usually no more than an hour between one departure and the next, and they even have extra services during peak hours. The last OceanJet ferry departs at 18:40 and arrives in Bohol at 20:40.

With OceanJet, you can choose from three different ticket options depending on your budget. The cheapest is to opt for the Open Air ticket, which allows you to sit in a not very comfortable chair on the open deck on the sides. While comfort isn’t unusual with this option, it allows you to enjoy the breeze and the scenery. For a few euros more you can also buy an economy class ticket. This allows you to enjoy a more comfortable sitting inside, in a room with air conditioning and a TV. Finally, you can choose a more comfortable seat in Business Class, where the seats are more padded. This option costs about twice as much as an outdoor venue.

As we have already mentioned, traveling by ferry from Cebu to Bohol we reach Tagbilaran port, which is located in the south of the island. In Cebu, ferries depart from Pier 1. Tagbilaran is the capital of Bohol Province and has hotels, resorts and beaches nearby, making it a good place to start your visit to Bohol.

Slow ferry from Cebu to Bohol

Almost all tourists prefer to pay a little more to get from Cebu to Bohol in a shorter time and with more comfort, so they usually choose a fast ferry. But slow ferries are also an option to consider, especially if you have to stick to a tight budget.

A slow ferry makes the journey much longer. The journey takes 4 to 5 hours, so it will take you at least twice as long to reach your destination. The biggest advantage of this ferry is that it is the cheapest alternative to sailing from Cebu to Bohol and you can choose between several ticket options, from Economy to Private Room.

Ferry companies serving the Cebu to Bohol route include Trans-Asia Shipping Lines, Lite Shipping Corporation and FJ Palacio Lines Incorporated. Tickets for some ferries can be booked via the carriers’ websites, for others you need to call by phone. Keep in mind that being the cheapest travel option, it is quite popular with locals during holidays and high season, especially Easter. Therefore, if you are traveling on these dates, try to book your ticket as far in advance as possible.

Both fast and slow ferries are good options for crossing from Cebu to Bohol. The decision you make will depend on your budget and travel plans. Please note that during the typhoon season, from September to February, there may be delays and even cancellations of ferries.