Road Trip - Luzon to Visayas to Mindanao (Leyte to Surigao Part)

For the longest time, i have been wanting to write a post about our road trip experiences every time we go home to our home island, Mindanao. My good intentions vanished when i can no longer find all the receipts of all the expenses that we paid at ports. It's a good thing that last 2012 Christmas vacation, i was able to keep some that part where we have to ride the ferry boat from the Benit Port of San Ricardo, Southern Leyte of the Visayas to the Mindanao Port of Lipata, Surigao City.

There are two entry ports from Southern Leyte with which to depart from: Liloan and San Ricardo. From previous experiences, road tripping from Samar, you have to drive an extra 41 kilometer from Liloan to get to San Ricardo and although the roads are properly maintained, you need to drive through an extremely tight and winding road called Saddle Point which even the DPWH has considered to be dangerous.

Pls. see related article

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1141340182422

Anyway, since ferry boat ride is much shorter in San Ricardo(1 hour) as opposed to Liloan(4 hours) many still prefer Benit port.

Here's a breakdown of the fees that we paid:

Vehicle fare (starex)- Php 2,110.00
Adult fare-140.00
Child fare-70.00
Terminal fee-16.00
PPA fee- which i think was 20.00 per passenger. I lost the ticket :)

Anyway, i posted here some photos of the tickets i was able to keep. I really hope, i will be able to improve this post to be able to help other Road trippers to try the Maharlika nautical highway and explore the Philippines by car. Let me just add that the drive from Samar to Leyte is the most refreshing and such a sight for sore eyes for urban dwellers. The coast is such a beautiful sight to behold and food along the higway through small carenderias are tasty , fresh and inexpensive, if you know how spot one. It's easy actually, you only need to find one that's clean looking.

Ferries at Lipata - Liloan Ports

 2 of the maharlika ferry boats plying the lipata-liloan sea route is sadly lacking comfortable sleeping accomodation, at least those that i have been able to experience.  Last 2009, the ferry that we rode in still has airconditioned sleeping quarters available for commuters and we were really expecting it to be like that.  Sadly, it was not the case now.  There were only long benches available and upon taking a seat in one of those benches we were told that those padded benches were reserved for bus drivers.  I can understand that drivers need to get their sleep especially so since hubby has been driving non stop for close to 18 hours without sleep.

  I decided we are better off at the open deck where it's breezy but  this kind of accomodation is really not conducive to travellers. This is especially worth taking notice of because its a 5 hour trip and to a mother travelling with 3 kids like me, it is simply inconsiderate. Most do not even have water for their comfort rooms which is really essential. 

I truly hope the government would take notice, even inspect our vessels to really give a boost to our local travels.

 Even so, it didn't stop us and the kids to have a grand time. We just focused on dolphin watching and making friends!

Anyway fare per passenger as of January 2, 2011 for Maharlika ferries is P250 pesos for adults and toddlers ages 2 above are charged half-fare or P125.00.  If you have a vehicle, the driver's fee is already free.  The Philharbor ferries and Port Services, Inc also charges a terminal fee of P16.00 per passenger. The fare for the  Fortuner(Toyota) was about Php 3,700. Hope this helps a little :)

Road Stop: Liloan Port, Leyte

At liloan seaport,leyte there is a ppa operated hostel with airconditioned rooms with double deckers. Clean enough but not enough water to freshen up. It is good enough place to catch up on your zzzzs while waiting for the next ferry.

We missed the 10 pm ferry and the next ferry is leaving at 3am.  It just felt good to lie down even for just a few hours in an airconditioned room. We immidiately fell asleep.  We were awaken by knocks on our door around 2am.  I wanted to take a bath but there's no water so i just took a half bath.  Well, it was enough to feel freshened up. When we boarded the ferry, all the benches that had foam in it were reserved for the bus drivers so i had to content myself with sitting at the deck and enjoy the fresh air.  Most men, i suspect those who are regular ferry travelers of the Liloan route had hammocks on hand.  I felt envious that we didn't have one. It would have been nice to lie down in a hammock being rocked by the gentle waves, sleeping underneath the stars and all that stuff.