Written by Hannah McKinsey, Jake Evans, Sophie King, John Santos
18/08/2025
Vyacheslav Argenberg, Wikimedia Commons
Samar Province is accessible via several key transport hubs, with major entry points including Calbayog City and Catbalogan City within Samar, and Tacloban City in neighboring Leyte. Ferries also connect Samar to Luzon and other Visayan islands.
By Air:
The fastest way to reach Samar is by flying into Tacloban City (Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport - TAC) in Leyte, which serves as a primary gateway. Flights from Manila to Tacloban typically take around 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes, with indicative costs ranging from PHP 2,000 to PHP 18,000, depending on the airline and booking flexibility. From Tacloban, you can take a van, which takes approximately 2 hours to Catbalogan City or 4-5 hours to destinations in Eastern Samar like Dolores.
Direct flights are also available from Manila to Calbayog City (Calbayog Airport - CYP) in Samar, with a flight duration of about 1 hour. Upon arrival, tricycles can take you to van terminals for onward travel within Samar, such as a 1.5-hour ride to Catbalogan City.
For travelers from Cebu City, flights to Tacloban City take around 30 minutes, and Cebu Pacific operates flights to Calbayog City approximately four times a week.
Eastern Samar is also served by Borongan Airport (BPA); flights from Manila typically route through Cebu and can be more costly, ranging from PHP 7,000 to PHP 15,000 for a round trip, with limited schedules.
By Bus and Ferry (from Luzon):
A more budget-friendly option from Manila involves taking a bus from terminals such as PITX or DLTB GMA Kamuning. This journey leads to Matnog Port in Sorsogon, taking about 12-16 hours. From Matnog, a ferry crosses to Allen Port in Northern Samar, which typically lasts 1-2 hours. Once on Samar Island, the bus continues to major cities like Catbalogan or Calbayog, or you can transfer to local vans or jeepneys. The entire trip can take between 19 to 24 hours, with fares generally ranging from PHP 1,000 to PHP 1,880.
By Ferry (from Cebu):
From Cebu City, overnight ferries depart for Calbayog City three times a week. Alternatively, you can take a fast craft (2 hours) or a regular ship (5 hours) to Ormoc City in Leyte, and then proceed to Samar by land.
Within Samar:
Inter-city travel across Samar is efficiently handled by air-conditioned vans and local mini-buses, which connect key urban centers like Catbalogan and Calbayog, and extend services to Tacloban City.
For shorter distances within towns and cities, tricycles are widely available.
Motorized bancas serve as transport for coastal areas and nearby islands.
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