Transportation in the Philippines

By Air and Sea: Exploring the Philippines

The Filipino Archipelago is relatively easy to navigate even with the thousands of scattered islets. Options for getting around can run the gamut from the mundane to the unique. The capital of Manila is linked to most of the countrys top destinations through the large domestic carriers as well as through smaller chartered outfits. Ferries are the backbone of the Philippines’ transport system. Large wooden outriggers known as bancas, ply the waters between the islands at all hours of the day. Luxury ferries and huge ships offer greater degrees of comfort and safety. Sea travel in the Philippines is recommended for those on a budget with time to spare. As a general rule of thumb, avoid boats that are crammed with passengers or in a state of disrepair. The ocean waters can get rough even in the driest of summers, and ferry disasters are not unheard of. To travel to lesser visited islands, smaller boats may be your only mode of transport.

By Land

The country has a wide network of national highways, serviced by a well established bus system. Some of these buses are comfortable and come complete with air conditioning and limited seats per row, while others are rickety contraptions crammed with passengers. Like in most developing countries, traveling by bus here is affordable, but might be more of a challenge than Western tourists are prepared for. Jeepneys are a uniquely Filipino mode of transport, recommended at least within the city for sheer novelty value. Each jeepney is decorated in colorful thematic designs that range from the intense to the downright inane. Within the country, they are regarded as a symbol of national pride, and there are more than 30,000 of them in Manila alone. Another uniquely Filipino mode of transport for commuting short distances is the trike, which is a loud motorcycle with an attached sidecar. They generally congregate near busy market places and cinemas. If hurtling along bumpy roads while being tossed around in your trike doesn’t qualify as your idea of a peaceful holiday, hire one of the many metered taxis that cruise the streets. The air-conditioned ones are slightly more expensive, but infinitely more comfortable. For a more elegant way to see the sights in the city, take a short trip on a calesa, a horse drawn carriage. The Philippines’ rail network is not very popular with locals and visitors alike, due to the interminably long journeys and frequent interruptions.

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