Due to the large network of roads and highways in the Philippines, bus travel has become a preferred mode of exploring the country, especially for those on a budget. There are different kinds of buses to choose from, from luxury liners where you can enjoy long road trips on lazy boy chairs, or simple buses with air conditioning and movie entertainment. For those on a really low budget, they can also opt to go on open-air buses, which are significantly cheaper than air conditioned buses.

Buses are a practical choice for those traveling in large groups and many of the local bus companies offer charting services for large groups as well, such as for company outings and special trips with a large group.

The continually developing roads around the country have made bus travel the most practical choice for seeing the many tourist spots around the Philippines. Within the cities of Manila, it is quite obvious that buses dominate the highways and major streets. There are a number of bus terminals that can take one to almost any point in Luzon.

Longer trips spanning more than 4 hours usually stop over for 30 minutes to pick up and drop off other passengers, and in these stopovers you can also expect to use a public bathroom. It’s highly advisable to avoid drinking large amounts of fluids because one can’t just ask the bus driver to stop in the nearest bathroom. Ask the bus liner where and how often the bus will be stopping over during the course of your travel.

Bus Types

There are basically 3 types of buses:
1. New air conditioned official buses with TV
2. The older non-air con official buses
3. Private buses

Safety Tips

Traveling by bus also means that one must practice safety precautions. Generally, bus travel in the Philippines is safe, but it’s important to never compromise safety just as you would in other modes of public transportation. Before you hop onto a bus, it’s recommended that you give the telephone number of the bus company and bus number to a family member in case of any emergencies. Also, when en route to your destination, never publicly display that you are carrying a big amount of money and also don’t wear expensive or flashy jewelry, clothing, and accessories. Especially in cases of long bus trips, be sure to carry change including coins and small bills for stopovers and when you want to purchase snacks and meals along the way. Lastly, dress down and try as much as possible to avoid attracting a lot of attention to yourself.

Onboard Entertainment

When it comes to entertainment options, these are quite limited and vary depending on the kind of bus you are taking. Most buses are equipped with one television so that everyone can watch television or a DVD. Other than that, radios are the only other entertainment option aboard the bus.

Bus Terminals in Metro Manila

Bus companies have several terminals scattered throughout Luzon. Within Metro Manila, one can find bus stops in the following locations:

1. Alabang
2. FTI
3. Baclaran
4. Magallanes
5. EDSA Shaw Boulevard
6. Ortigas Avenue
7. Las Pinas
8. Cubao
9. Coastal Road
10. Pasig
11. Novaliches
12. SM Fairview
13. PhilCoa
14. UP Diliman
15. Zapote
16. Taft Avenue

These are just some of the bus stops around the Greater Manila Area (GMA). They are very easy to find. The bus fare for travel within GMA is around PhP 15 upwards, depending on the bus facilities and the distance of travel.

List of Bus Companies

For out of town travel, here is a list of bus companies and their destinations in Luzon area:

Victory Liner

Terminals: Caloocan, Cubao, Kamias, Pasay, Sampaloc, Dagupan, Baguio
Destinations: San Fernando, Iba, Olongapo, Tarlac, Baguio, Dagupan, Bolinao, Alaminos, Aparri, and Tuguegarao.
Read more about – Victory Liner

Philtranco Service Enterprises

Terminals: EDSA, Pasay, Cubao
Destinations: Legaspi City, Daet, Naga, Bulacan, and Clark.
Read more about – Philtranco

Dangwa Tranco

Terminals: Sampaloc, Cubao
Destinations: Benguet, Ifugao Province, Cordillera Administrative Region
Read more about – Dangwa Tranco

Farinas Transit Company

Terminal: Laon-laan cor M. dela Fuente Sts. Sampaloc, Manila
Destinations: Vigan, Laoag
Read more about – Farinas Transit Company

JAM Transit

Terminals: Taft Avenue, Cubao
Destinations: Quezon province, Laguna, Batangas
Read more about – JAM Transit

Five Star Bus Company

Terminal: Aurora Boulevard
Destinations: Bolinao, Dagupan, Cabanatuan.
Read more about – Five Star Bus Company

Dominion Transit

Terminal: Cubao
Destinations: La Union, Abra, Ilocos Sur
Read more about – Dominion Transit

Baliwag Transit Incorporated

Terminal: Cubao
Destinations: Aparri, Tuguegarao, San Jose del Monte, Baliwag
Read more about – Baliwag Transit Incorporated

Franco Frederico Lines

Terminal: Sampaloc
Destinations: Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur
Read more about – Franco Frederico Lines

Aladdin Transit Corporation

Terminal: Sampaloc
Destinations: Cagayan Valley, Ifugao, Laoag, Baguio, Kalinga, Isabela, Dagupan
Read more about – Aladdin Transit Corporation

ALPS Bus

Terminal: Tel. No.: (02) 911 2186
Destinations: Batangas City in Batangas Province
Read more about – ALPS Bus

Autobus Transport Systems, INC.

Terminal: Dimasalang corner Laon-Laan, Sampaloc, Manila
Tel. No.: (02) 743-3227
Destinations: Aparri, Tuguegarao in Cagayan Valley Province, Banaue in Mountain Province, Laoag in Ilocos Norte Province, Lagawit, Tabuc, Tuwaw
Read more about – Autobus Transport Systems, INC.

Bataan Transit INC.

Terminal:
Destinations: Balanga, Mariveles in Bataan Province
Read more about – Bataan Transit INC.

Batangas Express Bus

Terminal:
Destinations: Batangas City in Batangas Province
Read more about – Batangas Express Bus

Cagsawa Tours

Terminal:
Destinations: Legaspi in Albay Province, Naga in Camarines Sur
Read more about – Cagsawa Tours Bus

Candon Bus Lines

Terminal:
Destinations: Candon in Ilocos Sur Province
Read more about – Candon Bus Lines

Celyrosa Bus

Terminal:
Destinations: Batangas City in Batangas Province
Read more about – Celyrosa

CROW Bus

Terminal: (02) 851-8852
Destinations: Nasugbu in Batangas Province, Mendez in Cavite Province
Read more about – CROW Bus

Dagupan Bus CO., INC.

Terminal: New York St., Cubao Quezon City
Tel. No.: (02) 727-2330
Destinations: Agno, Anda, Alaminos City, Bolinao, Dagupan City, Manaoag, San Carlos City in Pangasinan Province, Baguio City in Benguet Province, Tuguegarao City in Cagayan Valley Province
Read more about – Dagupan Bus CO., INC.

Dalin Bus

Terminal:
Destinations: Tuguegarao City in Cagayan Valley Province
Read more about – Dalin Bus

De Leon Express

Terminal:
Destinations: Pangasinan Province
Read more about – De Leon Express Bus

ES Transport

Terminal:
Destinations: Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija Province
Read more about – ES Transport Bus

Florida

Terminal:
Destinations: Tuguegarao City in Cagayan Valley Province, Laoag City in Ilocos Norte Province
Read more about – Florida Bus

German Espiritu Liner

Terminal:
Destinations: Balagtas in Bulacan Province
Read more about – German Espiritu Liner Bus

Genesis Transport Services, INC.

Terminal: Unit 101 A Giselle Park Plaza Edsa Corner Rotonda 1300 Pasay City
Tel. No.: (02) 551-0842
Destinations: Balanga, Mariveles in Bataan Province, Baler in Aurora Province, Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija Province, Baguio City in Benguet Province
Read more about – Genesis Transport Services, INC.

Gold Line Tours

Terminal:
Destinations: Bulan, Matnog & Magallanes, Sorsogon
Read more about – Gold Line Tours Bus

Jasper Jean

Terminal:
Destinations: Dasmariñas in Cavite Province
Read more about – Jasper Jean Bus

JAC Liner

Terminal: EDSA corner Kamias, Quezon City
Tel. No.: (02) 682-5750
Destinations: Lucena City in Quezon Province
Read more about – JAC Liner Bus

Maria De Leon

Terminal: Gelinos Street 1000 Manila
Tel. No.: (02) 731-4907
Destinations: Vigan City in Ilocos Sur Province, Laoag City in Ilocos Norte Province
Read more about – Maria De Leon Bus

Nelbusco

Terminal:
Destinations: Santiago City in Isabela
Read more about – Nelbusco Bus

Partas

Terminal: 816 Aurora Boulevard corner P. Bernardo St., Cubao 1109 Quezon City
Telephone (02) 727-8278 (PARTAS8)
Destinations: Laoag in Ilocos Norte Province, Vigan in Ilocos Sur Province, Baguio in Benguet Province
Read more about – Partas Bus

Philippine Rabbit Bus Lines, INC.

Terminal: 819 Oroquieta Street 1000 Manila
EDSA, Balintawak, Quezon City
Tel. No.: (02) 734-9836 , (632) 3643477
Destinations: Angeles City in Pampanga Province, Tarlac City in Tarlac Province, Sta. Cruz in Zambales Province, Alaminos City and Bolinao in Pangasinan Province, Baguio in Benguet Province, San Fernando in La Union Province, Vigan in Ilocos Province, Laoag in Ilocos Norte Province
Read more about – Philippine Rabbit Bus Lines, INC.

RCJ Lines

Terminal: 1558 España, Sampaloc, Manila
Destinations: Laoag City in Ilocos Norte Province
Read more about – RCJ Lines Bus

RJ Express

Terminal:
Destinations: Arayat, Macabebe in Pampanga Province, Cabiao, San Isidro in Nueva Ecija Province
Read more about – RJ EXPRESS Bus

Royal Eagle

Terminal: (02) 833-9074, 832-1006
Destinations: Apalit in Pampanga Province, Hagonoy in Bulacan Province, Roxas and Santiago City in Isabela
Read more about – Royal Eagle Bus

Santrans

Terminal:
Destinations: Norzagaray in Bulacan Province, Dagupan in Pangasinan Province
Read more about – Santrans Bus

Saulog Transit INC.

Terminal: 1377 Quirino Avenue, San Dionisio 1700 Parañaque
Tel. No.: (02) 825-2926
Destinations: Cavite City in Cavite Province, Olongapo City in Zambales Province, Baguio City in Benguet Province
Read more about – Saulog Transit INC Bus

Sierra Madre Transportation

Terminal:
Destinations: Arayat, Candaba in Pampanga Province, Cabiao, San Isidro in Nueva Ecija Province
Read more about – Sierra Madre Transportation Bus

ST. Joseph Transportation

Terminal:
Destinations: Laoag in Ilocos Norte Province
Read more about – ST. Joseph Transportation Bus

Superlines

Terminal:
Destinations: Daet in Camarines Norte Province, Legaspi City in Albay Province
Read more about – Superlines Bus

Tritran

Terminal:
Destinations: Laguna Province, Batangas Province
Read more about – Tritran Bus

Viron Transit

Terminal: 1209 Blumentritt Cor. Dapitan St., Sampaloc 1000 Manila
Tel. No.: (02) 741-0405
Destinations: Manaoag in Pangasinan Province, Vigan City in Ilocos Sur Province
Read more about – Viron Transit Bus

With all these destinations and affordable bus fares, there’s no excuse not to hop onto the next bus going to breathtaking sights in Luzon.