Getting About

Simply moving around the philippines is one of its joys - a vast public transport network makes almost everywhere accessible. your travel options run the full gamut from aircraft to spluttering motor boats and on to jeepneys (brightly decorated jeep conversions), tricycles and motorbikes moreover, it is often quite a sociable experience, the crews almost universally freindly and helpful, ready to got to great lenghts to help out.

"The passenger ferry route linking Puerto Galera to Luzon is run almost entirely by surprisingly large and powerful BANCAS, such as the one preparing to leave Puerto Galera's Muelle Harbour"

Not surprisingly, the most convenient form of long-distance trans-island travel is the domestic airline network operated mainly by Philippine Airlines although a growing numbers of other operators, such as Cebu Pacific Air and South East Asia Airlines, now contribute routes. However, island-hopping is the one of the great adventures of Philippines travel, making for an experience unique to the country. Although most of the mid-length routes are operated by sleek, fast air-conditions Catamaran, most shorter routes are run by bancas, or pump-boats. These are traditional Philippine craft with long narrow hulls that are stabilized ny by huge outriggers usually made of multiple bamboo poles. ideal for the sheltered shallow waters of the Philippines Islands, air-conditioning comes in the form of the sea breeze coupled with the ocational shower of spray of the boat's outriggers. Keep your camera well-protected!

Left: The jeepney is without doubt the quintessentially Philippines mode of public transport Brilliantly painted and decorated, immensely noisy and usually bleaching clouds smoke, they are the backbone of the country's rural transport.

Below: for those cross-town hops, the Tricycle is definitely the way to go. Wether carrying luggage-laden tourists or a gaggle of local schoolgirls.this machines do their job superbly.

On land, long-distance routes across the larger islands, particularly Luzon and Mindanao, covered by a plethora of bses from a host of competing companies. Comport levels and prices vary enormously between companies but best buses operating out of the main cities are usually very comportable, to the point of being excessibly air-conditioned - always be sure to take some warm clothing onto such a bus.Remoter rural areas - as well as many urban routes - are open served exclusively by that quintessentially Philippines form of transport, the jeepney. Cheap ang practical, they are also very slow, crowded and - specially for tall people - painfully uncomportable! Ther are, however, immensely sociable, allowing visitors truly to get in touch with rural Philippines life in a way that probably would not be possible otherwise.

Taxis are, of course, very handy for those cross-town hops, particularly when carrying luggage. However, they generally don't exist in small towns and out in the countryside, and are replaced instead by motorized tricycles - motorbikes with a covered and often vibrantly painted sidecar attached. In remote rural locations eve these might not be an option, in which case taxis will usually come with two wheels, in other words a ride on the back of a motorbike for every modest fee. Be sure not to have too much luggage if you decided to take this option!