On the southeast coast of the island of Negros, in the central region of the Philippines, is the city of Dumaguete. It may seem like a small city to many, but it is quite large and has some similarities to Mediterranean cities due to its European architecture and promenade. Dumaguete has a lot to offer, from relaxing days on the beach and exploring its streets, to city tours or excursions to the nearby mountains, lakes and waterfalls, as well as great places to go hiking and enjoying fantastic landscapes. From here, the distance to Siquijor is quite short and it is worth continuing your journey in this direction. The small paradise island of Siquijor has a mystical charm thanks to its long tradition as a place of healing. Whether you are drawn to these traditions or want to relax on the beach, go snorkeling or explore the island, Siquijor is for you. Then we will tell you what is the best way to travel from Dumaguete to Siquijor.
Travel options from Dumaguete to Siquijor
Siquijor pier
It is only 20 kilometers in a straight line from Dumaguete to Siquijor, so you don’t have to travel a long distance. Nevertheless, when traveling by water, you have to add a few kilometers to the route, because ferries do not run in a straight line. In total, the route is about 35 kilometers. The ferry is the only option to get from Dumaguete to Siquijor.
Ferry from Dumaguete to Siquijor
A boat trip is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the sea breeze and admire the scenery, which cannot be avoided by taking the ferry from Dumaguete to Siquijor. There are several companies that operate this route as it is very popular so there are several options so you can choose the one that best suits your plans.
Montenegro Lines offers three daily services from Monday to Saturday and only one on Sunday from Dumaguete to Siquijor. Aleson Shipping Lines is another option that has departures four times a day. Another company operating this route is GL Shipping Lines which has a fleet of five ferries but does not operate on Saturdays.
OceanJet Ferry © Valentin Ayupov / Shutterstock.com
If you want to choose the best solution in terms of schedules, reliability and comfort, we recommend traveling with OceanJet. They have five ferry departures a day every day of the week and timetables are well spread out throughout the day. You can leave Dumaguete for Siquijor at 7:20 AM or get up a little less early and take the 9:40 AM ferry. There are also departures at 12:20, 14:40 and 17:00. The trip only takes around 50 minutes, so you’ll have plenty of time to find your hotel and explore the island, whatever your departure time is.
Ferry tickets can be purchased at the port, but there may be some restrictions as some of the companies we have listed close about an hour before departure. Check-in closes 30 minutes early, so make sure you get to the port in time. But you can avoid the hassle of buying tickets at the port and the risk of full ferries by booking online. In some cases, you can also get better prices than at the box office by buying tickets online.
You can book via 12Go.asiawhere you can find OceanJet ferry tickets from Dumaguete to Siquijor. There are two types of tickets: Tourist Class and Business Class, with the latter being slightly more expensive. The truth is that there is not much difference between the two options. There are more comfortable places in business, but the trip is so short that it’s not worth spending more.
Ferries depart from Dumaguete Harbor and arrive in Siquijor Harbor in 50 minutes, although in rough seas the journey may take longer as ferries have to travel slower. Don’t forget to pre-book online to find better rates and availability.