I’ve promised in one of my earlier posts, Tips in Navigating Cebu Jeepneys, that I will be updating the route codes as well as the roads these jeepneys will pass. Unfortunately, it’s so big a task to complete with my limited time, so I will just update what I think is handier especially to tourists and visitors traveling here in Cebu.
Post and tips are UPDATED TODAY MARCH 18,2013 because of the many route changes.
Mactan Airport to SM Cebu or Ayala Center Cebu via Jeepney
From Mactan International Airport you can actually take public transport all the way to Ayala Center Cebu or SM Cebu or to anywhere you want to go. There is an airport multicab that plies the route Airport – Marina Mall – Lapu Lapu City (Opon) Mercado, route code is MI-05a. You can’t mistake them as these multicabs are the only public vehicles allowed to enter the airport vicinity and all of them are colored yellow. So anyhow take one of these yellow multicab and get off in Marina Mall. In Marina Mall you can ride another jeepney that plies the route Opon-Mandaue or Opon-SM, these jeepneys will take the Marcelo Fernan Bridge and on to their destinations.
Mactan Airport Yellow Multicab
If you are going to Ayala Center ask the driver first if his route is by way of Mandaue Coliseum and then SM (and NOT Marina -Parkmall – SM). Then request the driver to drop you off in Mandaue Coliseum. Cebuano drivers and passengers are generally friendly and will advice you when you need to get off from the vehicle.
Ride a 20A Mandaue – Ayala jeepney in the vicinity of Mandaue Coliseum. (21B Mandaue – Ayala is no longer allowed to enter the Ayala Public Terminal but if you get tired of waiting for 20A jeepneys, you can still ride 21B but know that you will have to walk from Keppel building to Ayala Center. Most likely 10 minutes brisk walk. If init ang panahon, parusa that’s why I personally prefer waiting for 20A, medyo tamad kasi ako maglakad heheheh). From Ayala you can also reach Fuente Osmena and Downtown Cebu via jeepney.
If you are heading to SM Cebu from the Mactan Airport take the same airport multicab and ride the second jeepney at Marina Mall. You can take any jeepney with signboard that says “SM”. It doesn’t matter whether the route is via Parkmall or via Mandaue Coliseum since both route will converge near the North Bus Terminal then onwards to SM.
When you arrive in SM they have a jeepney terminal there that can take you to Cebu downtown including Labangon, Pardo, Basak, Urgello etc and of course, IT park in Lahug. Downtown Cebu is where you can find the Sto Nino Cathedral as well as the Magellan Cross, Colon Street and Taboan Market. SM is highly recommended as a starting point because there are lots of jeepneys plying the SM route as well as vhires and taxis.
Anyhow there maybe only 5 or 10 yellow airport multicabs so you may need to wait a bit if you want to ride that, but you’ll be saving money! Alternatively, there are taxis in the Mactan airport that you can take and then to save just get off in Marina Mall and ride a jeepney from there.
These yellow multicabs are available 24 HOURS.
So how much would it cost you to ride a jeepney all the way from the airport to SM or Ayala? Here is the breakdown:
Airport multicab to Marina Mall – P8 ( travel time about 5 minutes)
Marina Mall to Mandaue Coliseum – P8 (travel time depends on the traffic, usually about 15 to 30 minutes)
Mandaue Coliseum to Ayala Center Cebu – P10.00 (travel time around 45 mins to an hour)
Marina Mall to SM Cebu – P14.00 (travel time anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes)
If you are heading out of Cebu, you can take the Vhire from SM, fare is only P25 to reach Marina Mall and then take the airport multicab. The airport multicab’s terminal is in Marina Mall.
Update on going to airport from Cebu City:
Since November 19 2011, the vhires from Ayala/SM no longer go to Marina Mall, their route is now up to Gaisano Mactan only. If you commute via vhire from SM or Ayala, then when you get off in Gaisano Mactan, you must take another multicab bound for Mepz. Then get off in Marina Mall and take the yellow multicab to the airport.
I am hoping the City Government of Lapu-Lapu will reconsider their decision and restore the old routes of these vhires. I’ll be updating this post for any rerouting update. Thanks.
Fast forward to 2013 – the routes were not restored and all vhires bound for “Mepz” only goes as far as Gaisano Mactan. Fare is still the same.
Yellow Multicab Terminal in Marina Mall, beside Island Souvenir Shop
Hope this helps! Welcome to Cebu! ^_^
Airport to Cathedral or Sto Nino via Jeepney
I am again updating this post since a lot of rerouting has happened since this was last updated. Today is March 18,2013.
To get to Sto Nino or Cebu Cathedral or Colon and the downtown area, I suggest that you ride these jeepneys:
1. Airport multicab to Marina Mall.
2. Marina Mall to Maguikay Highway – these jeepneys and multicab carries the signage “highway”, get down before you see Maguikay flyover. Drivers usually announced “naay Maguikay?” ”Anyone getting down in Maguikay?” Just say yes. Request other passengers to remind you if your jeepney is nearing Maguikay, Cebuanos are kind to travelers. 
3. Ride any Mandaue jeepney with signboard “Catedral” – this will take you all the way to Cathedral. And from Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral you can walk to the next tourist spots like Sto Nino Basilica and Magellan’s Cross or even all the way to Colon St or to Plaza Independencia.
VHIRE ALTERNATIVE TO JEEPNEYS:
If your flight will arrive in Cebu after 9 AM, then there is a more convenient way for you to get to SM Cebu or Ayala Center Cebu.
1. Airport yellow multicab and get off in Gaisano Mactan Island Mall P8.
2. Ride a vhire in Gaisano Mactan, they have vhire bound for SM and AYALA. The SM vhires are filled up faster than the Ayala Vhire.
Gaisano Mactan vhire to SM – P25.00
Gaisano Mactan vhire to Ayala – P35.00
FOR THOSE with Tight Scheds and just a few hours to spare in Cebu, you may want to read this post – Attractions, Places Near Mactan Airport
Looking to ride the FERRY at MUELLE OSMENA WHARF?
Check this commuting guide – Ferry Ride to Cebu City
USEFUL POSTS on how to get from one destination to the next tourist attraction in Cebu via jeepney and public transport and more info to have a cheap Cebu tour without a package, yes you can have a DIY Tour sa Sugbo!
Cebu Heritage Walk Tour #1 – Colon Street, Philippines Oldest Street
DIY Cheap Cebu City Tour Itinerary and Tips to Famous Attractions
Cebu and Mactan White Sand Beaches and Resorts Details and Direction Tips
For more guide and tips – please check the posts on this link –
If you found this post useful please click on LIKE or SHARE the post. Your shares and likes brings a smile to this blogger’s face. Hehe
About Cille Anne
Cille is the blogger behind Penfires, a lifestyle and travel blog based in the Philippines. She bid adieu to the corporate world a couple of years ago and so far she’s lovin’ her new world working from home. A wanna-be explorer and food trip adventurer who can’t possibly win a food-eating challenge. She plans to visit the whole Philippines, Asia, and the World! Heyyy, it's within reach she insists; it's just blog hops away! Lol ^_^
Hi Ms. Cille!
Thank you very much for your blog, Very informative.. I am going to Cebu on March 1 and I will arrive in Mactan Airport by 11.45pm, i decided to stay in the airport to be safe and travel around the city by 6am because my check-in time will be 2pm. May I ask your suggestion where I can go first? Because its my first time in Cebu.
Thank you very much!
Melah
Hi Melah, I would suggest to check out Mactan Shrine first as its nearest the airport. For ideas on the other Cebu tourist sites, please check out the posts under this link: Category – Cebu City Tour
Thanks for reading!
Hello! Please help. How will I reach Regal Business Park Hotel from Mactan Airport?Anong mga jeep ang sasakyan ko? Thanks.
Hi krby, so sorry but I am not familiar with that hotel.
Hi Cille =)
Thank you very much, you help me a lot to arrange my itinerary, a big challenge to me =)
always take care =)
Melah
Have a marvelous trip here in Cebu this 2013!
hi Cecille,
which public vehicle can I take from Ayala Centre that will take me to Island Stays in Mactan?
Plz help me
Hi Donee, there is no direct route but it’ll be easy to commute there =)
First, go to Ayala jeepney terminal take a Mandaue jeepney bound for “Parkmall”, fare is P10. I am not sure if it is 20A or 20B, please confirm with driver if they are passing Parkmall area. Don’t take “Ibabao” jeepneys.
Then just before the Coca Cola Bottlers/San Miguel Complex in Mandaue Highway, you can’t miss it there is a gigantic bottle of beer on top of the building, there is a fork in the road. The Parkmall jeepney will take the slightly downward sloping road to the right, after a few meters it will take another right turn. You can now get off in the jeepney stop since that’s where jeepneys bound for “Opon Merkado”, “Tamiya” and “Mepz” picks up passenger.
Should you take the wrong Mandaue jeepney, don’t worry, just get off in the gasoline station in front of San Miguel and walk to the back of the gasoline station to see the Mepz bound multicabs. If you take the correct jeepney, you will not have to walk a few meters.
NEXT, ride any multicab with the “MEPZA” or “Bag-O” sign board. Get off in Marina Mall and just walk back to the hotel or get off before the intersection with traffic light. Di ka puedeng bumaba in front of Island Stays Mactan since the building is beside the traffic light, no stopping allowed. Fare from Mandaue to Mepz is I think P9 or P10.
Hope this helps!
hi cille, how can i get to taboan public market from pier 1 cebu via jeepney?
hi chona, beside Pier Uno is Fort San Pedro and Plaza Independencia, just walk to the end of the Plaza then you’ll see 12G labangon bound jeeps. Get on one, tell driver or konductor to drop you off corner of Taboan Market, you’ll right away see the mini bridge.
Enjoy danggit and Cebu pasalubong shopping!
Hi cillen,nice to see ur blog
Thanks I came to cebu tommorrow,to see ur beautiful country
Kang
Hi Kang,
Thanks! Hope you’ll enjoy Cebu and the Philippines!
Cille =)
hi, cille! my husband & I are scheduled to have our vacation in Cebu this May, & so far, I find your tips on how to navigate Cebu via commute very informative. hope to meet you when we get there!
side question: we booked the crimson resort & spa mactan for 2 days since my hubby really loves the beach, is it really as nice as the pics & videos posted?
Hi Kate =) thanks! about your query I haven’t been to Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan but I’ll ask my friends who have been for their comments and will get back to you. Give me til Sunday, weekend lang kasi nag oopen ng facebook yung iba hehe.
thanks for the reply, cille! anyway, we haven’t booked any hotel or B&B for our cebu city tour yet, may marerecommend ka bang place? we plan to have the tour via commute lang kasi so mas ok kung accessible yung place via commute & malapit sa tour spots.thanks!
Hi Cille, your blog is so helpful and informative. thanks for posting. how many mins will it take me from mactan airport to reach talamban leisure center? near talamban gaisano? super thanks!
hi chuck, thanks too for reading =)
on your Question – you’ll get there in estimated 30 minutes if you take a taxi and request the taxi to take the “Maguikay road” not the “A.S. Fortuna” route to go to Talamban. If commuting, it’ll be close to an hour since you will have to change transpo four times from the airport.
Hi! This is such an informative post for budget travellers! Btw, can you give a rough estimate of how long it would take to get to the airport from SM Cebu via jeepney and Vhires? Thanks!
Thanks Shoane =)
With normal traffic, you’d be at the airport in an hour from SM. If you are bringing large bags, it’s better for you to take the taxi since Vhires are cramp.
Alternative commuting by jeepney from SM is to take 01K and then alight in CDU or Cebu Doctor’s University. From there, you can now ride multicabs bound for “Bag-O” or “Mepza”. This goes to Marina Mall then finally you can transfer to the yellow multicab at their terminal beside Island Souvenir store.