Getting There: Masbate

Visitors may take a 12-hour bus trip from Cubao, Quezon City to Pilar town in Sorsogon province, where one can take a fast craft or roll on, roll off (Ro-Ro) vessel that leaves for the island province of Masbate daily.

The trip from Pilar to Masbate will take about two hours by fast craft while about four hours through RoRo. Prepare between P900 (ordinary bus) and P2,000 (airconditioned bus) for the Cubao to Pilar trip.

Fare for the fast craft going to and from Masbate is P400 per person while a Ro-Ro ride costs P250 per person. Upon reaching the Masbate port, tricycles can be hired to go anywhere in the city for P8 per person.

Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific fly to Masbate daily. The flight takes an hour or more. The trip costs between P4,000 and P7,000 depending on the day one books the flight.

But there are other available routes to reach Masbate like taking a 45-minute plane ride to Legazpi City. From the Albay provincial capital, one can take a passenger van to Pilar. Prepare at least P3,000 for airfare to Legazpi and P80 for a 45-minute van ride to Pilar port.

It will take 11 hours by bus from Metro Manila to Legazpi City. Fare ranges from P700 to P1,100.