Getting from Bohol to Cebu is a little challenging if you are based away from the main tourist area of Panglao. Fortunately, there is a ferry that goes from Ubay in Bohol to Cebu City which is a convenient option if you are staying in Anda.
How to Get from Ubay, Bohol to Cebu
In this article, I’ll detail how to take the ferry from Ubay in Bohol to Cebu City. I’ll start off with the best way to book your ticket, key things that you should know ahead of time, and transportation before and after your ferry ride.
There is currently only one passenger ferry from Ubay to Cebu, which can be booked directly with Cokaliong. We took this exact ferry trip in May 2024 while exploring the Philippines, so I hope our experience helps you out on your adventure.
Key Points
Here are a few things that are good to know before booking your ferry from Ubay to Cebu:
Schedule for the ferry from Ubay to Cebu
There is only one ferry per day from Ubay to Cebu. It takes 4.5 hours for the ferry to go from Ubay in Bohol to Cebu City. The ferry leaves the Port of Ubay at 8:00 AM and arrives in Cebu City at 12:00 PM.
Ubay to Cebu ferry departure and arrival port locations
The ferry departs from the Port of Ubay and arrives at Cebu Passenger Terminal Pier 1.
Luggage allowance on the ferry
Luggage is free, but you need to carry your own luggage aboard the ferry.
Arrival time before boarding the ferry
The ticket purchase cutoff time is 7:30 AM at the Cokaliong Ticketing Office. This is to give everyone enough time to go through security at the port and board the ferry.
How to Book Tickets for the Ubay to Cebu Ferry
The best way to book tickets for the Ubay to Cebu ferry is to go to the Cokaliong Ticketing Office in Ubay in person. There is currently no way to book tickets for this ferry online.
The price for the Ubay to Cebu ferry is 450 pesos for an economy ticket and 500 pesos for a tourist ticket. There is also an additional terminal fee of 30 pesos that you must pay at the ticketing office and a municipality fee of 10 pesos that you must pay at the Ubay ferry port.
Ubay to Cebu Ferry Ticket and Seating Options
There are two ticket options for the Ubay to Cebu Ferry:
- Economy: Seats are located outside in a shaded, non-air-conditioned area. Tickets cost 450 pesos per person.
- Tourist: Seats are inside an air-conditioned cabin with more comfortable seating and a private restroom. Tickets cost 500 pesos per person.
Here are photos of both seating areas to give you a better idea of what the experience is like for each ticket option.
ECONOMY SEATING AREA ON UBAY TO CEBU FERRY
TOURIST SEATING AREA ON UBAY TO CEBU FERRY
How to Get to the Ferry Terminal in Ubay
The Cebu Ferry leaves from the Port of Ubay in Bohol. You need to purchase your ferry tickets first at the Cokaliong Ticketing Office before going to the ferry at the Port of Ubay.
The cutoff time for purchasing tickets at the ticketing office is 7:30 AM. This means it will be an early start to your day if you’re coming from Panglao or Anda. I recommend arranging for transportation to the Ubay ferry port ahead of time since it takes about 1 to 1.5 hours to get to Ubay from Anda and 2.5 hours to get to Ubay from Panglao.
When rode the ferry, we had our driver stop at the Cokaliong Ticketing Office so we could purchase our ferry tickets. After stopping at the ticketing office, our driver dropped us off at the Port of Ubay where the ferry is.
Disembarking the Ferry in Cebu
The ferry arrives at Cebu Passenger Terminal Pier 1 in Cebu City. When walking out of the ferry port, you will be bombarded by taxi drivers who want to give you a ride. Personally, we avoid taxi drivers whenever possible so we walked a couple of blocks up the street and called a Grab to pick us up and bring us to our next destination.
Our Experience on the Ubay to Cebu Ferry
The Ubay to Cebu Ferry leaves in the morning so we pre-arranged a van to take us from our accommodation in Anda to the Port of Ubay on the day of our ferry journey. We arrived at the Cokaliong Ticketing Office at 7 AM, where we purchased our ferry tickets. We decided to go with the tourist tickets for 500 pesos per person. We figured that an extra 50 pesos per person was a small price to pay for an air-conditioned cabin.
Along with the ticket price, we also paid an additional terminal fee of 30 pesos per person. After purchasing our ferry tickets, we hopped back into the van and our driver took us to the Ubay Ferry Port.
At the port, we went to a small window where we paid a municipality fee of 10 pesos per person to a government official. Once that was done, we passed through security. The security check was straightforward—they asked us to open our bags for a quick inspection, and then we were allowed into the ferry port’s waiting area. The waiting area was simple, clean, and reminded me of an airport waiting area. There’s even a small snack bar where we grabbed some coffee while waiting to board.
The ferry started boarding at 7:40 AM, 20 minutes before departure time. As we stepped on the ferry, we were greeted by the ticket desk where they checked our tickets and directed us to our seats. But before settling in, I had to explore.
The ferry was in fantastic shape, easily the nicest one we’ve been on in the Philippines. I noticed Japanese writing on the ferry so I asked one of the ferry workers and they confirmed that it was an old Japanese Ferry. Little touches of Japan were everywhere—from the signs to an old vending machine, now fitted to accept pesos.
As the ferry set sail, we took our seats in the tourist cabin. These seats were a treat—clean, comfy, and we had an entire row to ourselves! The tourist cabin even had its own restrooms.
The sea was on our side that day—calm and smooth, making for an easy journey. Before we knew it, we were pulling into Cebu City’s Passenger Terminal Pier 1 at 12:30 PM, ready to continue to our next adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Ubay to Cebu Ferry
How Much Luggage Can I Take On the Ferry?
There isn’t a hard-set rule on the luggage limit for the Ubay to Cebu ferry. However, you must carry all your own luggage aboard the ferry. There is also no luggage storage area on the ferry, so you need to keep your luggage close to you when seated. If the ferry is full, your seat may become crowded with your luggage if you bring too much. When we rode the ferry it was not full so we put our luggage in the seats next to us.
How Long Is the Ferry Ride from Ubay to Cebu?
The ferry travel time from Ubay to Cebu is about 4 hours. It is normal for ferries in the Philippines to run late, so plan for extra time. When we rode the Ubay to Cebu ferry, it departed Ubay at 8:00 AM and arrived in Cebu City at 12:30, for a travel time of 4.5 hours. If the seas are rough, expect the ferry ride to take longer.
Is the Ubay to Cebu Ferry Safe?
When we rode the ferry from Ubay in Bohol to Cebu, it felt very safe. The ferry was large and in great condition.
I hope our guide helps you out on your next Philippine ferry adventure.
Where to Stay in Bohol
Depending on how long you stay in Bohol we recommend splitting your stays between Panglao and Anda. If you are in Bohol for less than 4 days we recommend basing yourself out of Panglao, but if you are staying longer I recommend staying at least 2 nights in Anda. Here are recommendations on places to stay:
- Luxury: Amorita Resort (Panglao)
- Mid-range: Casa Amihan (Anda)
- Budget: Bluewaves Apartment (Panglao)
If you prefer to find your own place to stay, you can visit Booking.com to explore all your accommodation options in Bohol.
What to Pack for Bohol
Here are some of our must-have items you might not have thought of when packing for a trip to Bohol.
- Crocs: During our time in Bohol, I was so glad to have Crocs to protect my feet when exploring rocky terrain and chasing waterfalls. They are the ultimate shoe in the Philippines for a reason – many Filipinos wear them too!
- Snorkel: With all the amazing snorkeling spots in Bohol, it helps to have your own snorkel set like this one if you plan to do some underwater activities! 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 Bohol.
- 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 Bohol! It packs down nicely and was there for me anytime I went swimming, or just needed to brush sand or dirt off.
Are You Following Our Bohol Blog Series?
During our 11-day adventure in Bohol, we found some of the island’s most stunning natural wonders—epic waterfalls, caves, 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 planning your trip here: Bohol Travel Guide
- Our Bohol accomodation/area guide: Where to Stay in Bohol
- Our Ultimate Guide to Bohol: 24 Awesome Things to Do in Bohol
- How to plan your Bohol vacation: Bohol 3 Day Itinerary
- Interested in chasing waterfalls?: 5 Best Waterfalls in Bohol During Dry Season
- Our favorite hike in Bohol: Alicia Panoramic Park Hike
- Our favorite day tour in Bohol: Balicasag Island Snorkeling
- Our favorite waterfall in Bohol: Dimiao Twin Falls (Pahangog Falls)
- Our favorite place to swim in Bohol: Cabagnow Cave Pool
- How to rent a motorbike in the Philippines
I hope you enjoyed our guide to riding the ferry from Ubay, Bohol to Cebu.
