Manila to Batangas

There are 3 convenient ways of getting to Batangas:

• SiKat Package Tour

• Super 85 Package Tour

• Bus

Unless you are a very experienced Philippine traveler, we suggest that you take the SiKat or Super 85 bus-ferry package.  The SiKat and Super 85 offer a bus-ferry combination from Metro Manila (Ermita) to Batangas by bus and from Batangas to Puerto Galera by ferry for about P400 one way. Your choice between SiKat or Super 85 depends mostly on what time you want to get up in the morning (see schedule below) and sea conditions.  In our case, the decision depended on how many beers I drank the night before.  Since I didn't want to blow chunks on the ferry, I abstained from alcohol and we took the early bus via Super 85.

Super 85

The Super 85 bus leaves from in front of the Royal Palm Hotel in Ermita on Mabini Street at 7:30 AM.  The bus was actually a 7 passenger van and it was packed with 7 people plus all of our luggage.  After leaving the Royal Palm Hotel, the van also passes by the Swagman to pick up another group of passengers.  The trip to Batangas was quick, but not very comfortable.  The Super 85 ferry is not actually running at this time so the company uses the Sabang Princess outrigger (picture previous page).  As long as the seas are calm, the outrigger takes 1/2 hour less to travel from Batangas to Puerto Galera than the SiKat.

SiKat

The SiKat bus leaves at 9:00 AM from in front of the City State Tower Hotel in Ermita on Mabini Street.  The trip to Batangas with SiKat is more comfortable because they use a large air-conditioned bus. Their ferry is a large catamaran but is not really any more comfortable than the outriggers ... only slower.  Getting on and off of the SiKat is easier because there is a gang plank from the dock to the bow of the catamaran.

Public Bus

You can also take the cheaper (P100) air-conditioned Jam bus from Pasay to Batangas.  The Jam bus to Bantangas leaves almost every hour from the Jam Terminal at the corner of Taft and Gil Puyat Ave, across the street from the Atrium Suites Hotel. Even more convenient is the TriTran bus that leaves every half-hour from their terminal at Gil Puyat and South Superhighway.  Coming back to Manila, you will never want for a TriTran bus, there's a whole bunch of them lined up and ready to go.  Once these buses arrive in Batangas, I don't know if they will take you all the way the Batangas Pier.  You may have to arrange for a trike to the pier.  

Entering Muelle Bay