2024 • 6 • 24

Over the past couple of years, Masasa Beach has emerged as a favorite hideaway among the Manila crowd. What used to be a best-kept secret has become a go-to weekend destination especially for campers.

Although relatively remote, Masasa Beach is quite accessible, even if you’re taking public transportation. If you’re used to switching modes of transportation multiple times in one journey, you probably wouldn’t mind spending 3 hours on the bus, another hour in the jeepney, and 45 minutes on a passenger boat.

1. Ride the bus going to Batangas City Grand Terminal.

• You’ll find buses going to the Grand Terminal at terminals in LRT-Buendia and Taft in Pasay, and Cubao and EDSA-Kamias in Quezon City.
• If you want a shorter travel time (and I know you do), ride the bus with the sign CALABARZON. That bus will bypass the cities of Tanauan and Lipa, which means no traffic.
• Speaking of traffic, leave early. Leave in the early morning, if possible, to avoid the horrendous Manila traffic.
• Fare: P249 from EDSA-Kamias (lower if from LRT-Buendia and Alabang).
• Travel time: 2-3 hours, depending on your point of origin.

2. At the Grand Terminal, take a jeepney to Anilao.

The jeepney area is located a short walk from where the buses drop off passengers. Just make your way on foot toward the area where the small canteens and stores are located. The jeepney queues are behind these stores. If you can’t find it, just ask anyone where the jeepneys to Mabini/Anilao are parked.

• Travel time: 40 minutes – 1 hour.
• Fare: P70.

3. Get off at Anilao Port or Talaga Port.

• Anilao Port (aka Mabini Multi-purpose Port) is used from the start of amihan season, sometime in December, until the end of Philippine summer, sometime in June. When habagat season kicks in, they move it to Talaga Port in Brgy. Talaga. There is no fixed date because it depends on the conditions of the waves and currents. But you may call the Mabini Tourism Office to be sure: +63 969 643 3420.
• The Gulugod Baboy stop is different so don’t get off when the jeepney stops next to a corner along the way and other tourist-looking passengers alight. They’re probably going to Gulugod Baboy, which is NOT your stop. I’ve done this route many times and a lot of people make this mistake. Get off when you’re at the port.
• There is a Tourism Office on the other side of the port so if you need assistance, you can pay a visit.

4. Take the public boat to Tingloy Port or Masasa Beach.

Before going on a bot to Tingloy Port, you need to pay the fees first. There’s an environmental fee for both Mabini and Tingloy which costs P100 in total. There’s also a terminal fee that costs P5. You also need to pay a P100 trash bond, which is refundable on the condition that you fill the bag they provide you with trash. You can get a refund at Tingloy Port before boarding a boat back to Anilao.

You have two options:

• Option 1: Catch the boat to Tingloy Port. Travel time: 45 minutes – 1 hour. There are two ferry companies that travels between Anilao and Tingloy Port- Tingloy Ferry and Montenegro Lines. Their fares vary a bit and they have different boat schedules too. We’ll put the details below.

  At the port, ride a tricycle to your homestay or to the start of the hiking trail to Masasa Beach (P80 per ride).

• Option 2: Catch the boat that goes straight to Masasa Beach. There are public boats that go directly to Masasa Beach, but they are fewer and their sched is even more unpredictable. Fare: P100.

Tingloy Boat Schedule

Below is the schedule of boats and fares going to Tingloy Port from Anilao Port or Talaga Port.

Tingloy Ferry

08:00 AM
10:00 AM
12:00 PM
01:30 PM
03:00 PM
05:00 PM

Fare: Regular, P160; Student, P116; Senior Citizen/PWD, P104; Children (3-12 years old), P72

Montenegro Lines

07:00 AM
08:30 AM
11:00 AM
01:00 PM
03:00 PM
05:00 PM

Fare: Regular, P162; Student, P130; Senior Citizen/PWD, P116; Children (3-12 years old), P81

However, based on experience, the schedules above are not always followed. The boat usually only leaves as soon as the boat is full, so during off-peak season and weekdays, prepare to wait longer.

Note that the last trip from Tingloy to the mainland is at 5:00pm. This means that if you’re on a day trip, you need to catch that last boat or you’ll be stuck in the island or forced to charter a private boat, which is waaaay more expensive.

If you’re visiting on a weekend, you might be overwhelmed by the crowd. Visitors tend to stay and camp on the main beach. But Masasa Beach is long. You can find quieter spots in the farther corners in the area.

Find resorts near Masasa Beach!

If you’re not camping and you don’t do homestay, you may stay at one of the many resorts in Anilao and just visit Masasa Beach on a day tour. Search for a resort below.

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