Oslob is where you’ll find the famous whale shark watching in Cebu, but it’s a long way from Moalboal. We didn’t realize just how far it was until we looked it up — over two hours away!
Instead of booking a pricey transfer or rushing a day trip, we decided to go from Moalboal to Oslob the cheapest way possible: by bus. Even though the bus routes were confusing at first, it turned out to be much easier than expected.
In this post, I’ll walk you through exactly how to get from Moalboal to Oslob by bus, what to expect along the way, and a bit about our experience doing it ourselves.
I’ll also share a couple of motorbike routes to get from Moalboal to Oslob, so you can pick one that suits your travel style.
How to Get from Moalboal to Oslob by Bus
There’s no direct bus from Moalboal to Oslob, so you’ll need to transfer at the Samboan-Bato Bus Terminal.
It’s a straightforward process, and I’ll walk you through it step by step below:
Step 1: Get to the Jollibee Bus Stop in Moalboal
Yes, Jollibee. This fast-food chain also happens to be an official bus stop for southbound buses in Moalboal. While you wait, you can grab a burger like we did. Buses stop here every 30 minutes on their way south.
To get to the Jollibee bus stop from your accommodation, take a tricycle to Jollibee.
Step 2: Take the Bus to Bato (via Barili)
Next, watch for a bus headed to Bato via Barili. It’ll have a sign in the front window showing the route.
These buses come in both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned versions. You can wait for an A/C bus if you prefer, but bus fares will be slightly higher in air-conditioned buses.
Luckily for us, the first bus that arrived was air-conditioned, so we hopped on.
When boarding the bus, take your seat first. You don’t need to pay upfront.
Instead, a conductor will come around to collect your bus fare. They only take cash. The conductor punches some holes into a paper receipt, depending on where you are going. I tried to decipher the receipt, but couldn’t figure it out. Let me know if you can.
This first leg of the trip takes about 2 hours, so sit back and relax.
- Warning: Do not take the Bato via Oslob bus in Moalboal, or you’ll take a much longer route going in the opposite direction.
You don’t need to worry about missing your stop. The last bus stop is the since Samboan-Bato Bus Terminal, where you get off the bus and transfer to a different bus.
You’ll know when you get there because the bus will pull into a parking lot and make everyone get off the bus. Just don’t forget your luggage in the storage compartment below!
Step 3: Transfer to a Bus Bound for Cebu via Oslob
Once you arrive at Bato Terminal, look for a bus heading to Cebu City via Oslob. Some buses just say “Cebu via Oslob” — It’s the same thing.
If you’re unsure, just ask the bus conductor which bus is going to Oslob. That’s what we did. He was happy to point us to the correct bus.
This second bus ride is much shorter, around 30 minutes. If you’re heading to the Whale Shark Watching Center, there’s a Whale Shark bus stop right in front of it—just tell the conductor you need to get off there.
If you’re staying in Oslob town proper, the Oslob bus stop is across from the 7-Eleven on the main road. That’s where we got off, and from there, tricycles are lined up to take you to your final destination.
Moalboal to Oslob Bus Price
Below are the prices we paid for air-conditioned buses for each leg of the Moalboal to Oslob bus route:
- Moalboal to Bato: 150 pesos per person
- Bato to Oslob: 50 pesos per person
Moalboal to Oslob Bus Route Map
I’ve mapped out the exact route the bus takes from Moalboal to Oslob below to make your trip easier.
Here’s an outline of the Moalboal to Oslob bus route map below:
- The route starts at the Jollibee in Moalboal
- Makes a stop at the Samboan-Bato Bus Terminal for a transfer
- Ends at the bus stop in the town of Oslob
Feel free to use this map to plan your trip and get a better sense of the bus route. It’s super helpful, especially since there aren’t many official signs or schedules along the way.
Riding the bus from Moalboal to Oslob
The bus system in Cebu can be a bit confusing. There’s no single schedule or unified network. Instead, there is a mix of private bus companies running their own routes and timetables.
To make things trickier, online information is spotty at best, and even if you do find a schedule, don’t expect it to be accurate. Buses in the Philippines tend to run on “island time”. They show up when they show up.
My best advice is to not plan a strict timeline when catching the bus from Moalboal to Oslob. Just go in with an open mind, and be flexible if things run late, as they usually do.
Can You Ride the Bus from Moalboal to Go Whale Shark Watching in Oslob?
Technically, yes. But I don’t recommend it.
The bus ride from Moalboal to Oslob takes at least 2.5 hours and buses run infrequently and unpredictably. There’s no reliable schedule, and there’s always the possibility of a delay. That makes it risky if you’re trying to get to the Whale Shark Watching Center by a certain time.
From what I could find, the earliest buses leave Cebu City around 4:00 AM, which puts them in Moalboal around 6:00 AM. If you catch that bus, you might reach the Oslob Whale Shark Center by 8:30 AM at the earliest. But that’s cutting it close since ticket sales often stop by 10:00 or 11:00 AM, and during busy days, they cap the number of visitors. You could show up and find it’s already sold out.
So while it’s possible, it’s not ideal.
My advice is to go to Oslob the day before, stay the night, and head to the whale shark center first thing in the morning. That way, you’ll beat the crowds, avoid the stress, and have a much smoother experience overall. That’s what we did.
Read our full blog post: Oslob Whale Shark Watching: Complete Guide
Riding a Motorbike from Moalboal to Oslob
If you’re riding a motorbike, you’ve got a couple of solid route options to get from Moalboal to Oslob.
The most straightforward way is to follow the same coastal route the bus takes. It’s the quickest and easiest option. The route around the coast is flat, paved, and has sections with ocean views that make the ride even better.
An alternative is a mountain route that cuts across the center of the island. It’s scenic, quiet, and barely has any traffic. We took this road on a trip from Dao Falls to Oslob, and it was an awesome ride. The road had recently been paved and was in excellent condition, except for one short section that was still under construction.
What to Pack for Cebu
- Water Shoes: If you plan to go canyoneering, a solid pair of water shoes like these are needed. If not, you can always wear crocs or even your sneakers if you don’t mind them getting wet!
- Snorkel: With sardine run in Moalboal and whale shark watching in Oslob, it helps to have your own snorkel set like this one for the best experience! Plus, you won’t need to worry about renting a snorkel, which may be of… questionable quality.
- Sunscreen: For some reason, sunscreen is expensive in the Philippines and I’ve even encountered places selling fake sunscreen that doesn’t work! So I recommend bringing your own sunscreen to Cebu.
- Dry Bag: With all the sand, salt, and water flying everywhere during our adventures, I was so glad to have a dry bag to keep all my things safe from the elements!
- Travel Towel: In my opinion, a travel towel like this one is super necessary for a trip to Cebu! It packs down nicely and was there for me anytime I went swimming, or just needed to brush sand or dirt off.
Our Free Cebu Google Maps Locations
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Are You Following Our Cebu Blog Series?
During our 7-day adventure in Cebu, we found some of the island’s most stunning natural wonders—milky blue waterfalls, limestone hikes, and incredible snorkeling spots. To help fellow adventurers, we’ve put together guides to the best places we found. You can check them out by clicking the links below.
- Start your planning here: Cebu Travel Guide
- Our Ultimate Guide to Cebu: 15 Incredible Things to Do in Cebu
- Our favorite waterfall (+ secret adventure) in Cebu: Inambakan Falls
- Hike to the highest point in Cebu: Osmeña Peak
- Our favorite hike in Cebu: Casino Peak
- Our favorite day tour in Cebu: Kawasan Falls Canyoneering
- The hottest hot spring we’ve ever visited: Mainit Hot Spring
- How to see the Moalboal Sardine Run without a tour
- Oslob Whale Shark Watching Complete Guide
- How to get from Cebu City to Moalboal
- How to get from Moalboal to Oslob
- How to rent a motorbike in the Philippines
I hope you enjoyed our guide about how to get from Moalboal to Oslob. Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions 🐸
