Who would have thought that Camotes Island can be reached in just an hour and 20 minutes these days! It’s amazing coz it’s true!
For perspective, we commuted to the island 7 years ago, in 2011. We took the Danao route that time and sailed via pump-boat. That Camotes adventure was one for the books, totally unforgettable, Titus almost almost fell to the sea. Memories. Lol.
Sailing time from Port of Danao to Port of Consuelo is about 2 hours on a RORO ship / pump-boat, plus an hour of commuting from our home in Mactan to the Danao Port. All in all, that trip took us about 3 hours to get to Camotes Island.
Fast track to 2018. Two days ago, we visited Camotes again!
From our home in Mactan, it only took us around an hour and 30 minutes to get to Camotes. We took the Jomalia Shipping fast craft which services the routes Mactan to Camotes Island and Camotes to Mactan.
As of May 2019 the Jomalia Camotes – Mactan regular fare is Php 500. Student fare is P400, Senior Citizen and PWD fare is P360, Children 3 to 10 years old fare is P250.
Kids 2 years old and below will sail for free.
If you plan to go to Camotes in the coming years, I encourage you to take the Jomalia fast craft. It is convenient and fast.
Here are the updated schedules of Jomalia Shipping Mactan to Camotes to Mactan:
*I have updated the Jomalia mactan to camotes v.v. schedules today May 28, 2019. Family members are in Mangodlong Rock Resort right now and they choose to sail via Jomalia fast craft going to Camotes and back.
Mactan wharf to Consuelo Port, Camotes Island schedule is every 8 AM and 12 NN .
Consuelo Port to Mactan Wharf daily schedules is every 10 AM and 4 PM.
Santiago White Beach waits for you!
Where to Buy the fast craft ticket to Camotes?
Updated May 28, 2019
For those who wants to buy ticket to Camotes, you can buy tickets at the ticketing kiosk of Jomalia located in the wharf area.
*Last year, ticket buying must be done at the ground floor area of Island Central Mall, just beside McDonalds. Good thing that they have moved the ticketing booth in the wharf area.
*Jomalia tickets in Camotes are available in Port of Consuelo.
Is It Possible To Buy Tickets Ahead To Camotes?
It is possible, yes. You can buy tickets in advance. BUT advance booking is not available at the Mactan ticketing booth. You have to go to the corporate office of Jomalia Shipping in Subangdaku, Mandaue City.
I called them last week because we wanted to book and buy tickets in advance. The Jomalia customer service rep I’ve talked with said that for advance booking, we have to proceed to Kimwa Compound, which is nearby the Subangdaku Brgy Hall in Mandaue City.
If you have queries you can contact the mobile number of Jomalia Shipping at 0949 163 0892 or try their landline number (032) 318 1549.
Knowing how heavy Cebu traffic has become, especially crossing the bridge from Mactan to Mandaue, we opted to just be early at the port on our getaway day. We figured since we were sailing in the middle of the week, the fast craft won’t be jam-packed.
Onboard Jomalia’s vessel, I saw a poster that mentions fast craft passengers to Camotes may buy from booking website barkota.com but I can’t share anything about it since we have not tried buying tickets online. You may try to check that website for online booking of Camotes ticket. Just read all the fine prints there.
Where is Island Central Mall / Mactan Wharf?
Are you familiar with Marina Mall? If you are, Island Central Mall is just across Marina Mall. It’s a big building near the main intersection of airport road and national highway.
If you are coming from the airport and took a yellow multicab, request the driver to drop you off in Marina Mall unloading area and just walk to Island Central then to the wharf.
Beside Island Central Mall is a straight road, just follow that until you get to a gated place with “Mactan Seaview” signage. Enter the gate and walk straight to the dock waiting area.
Again, it’s hot in Mactan. It’s hot in Cebu. You may want to splurge on the highest spf sunscreen you can lay hands on.
Camotes Island Vacation Starts Now!
Don’t worry about transportation to hotel or resort when you get to Camotes Port. There are lots of multicabs for big groups, and habal habal motorcycles for solo traveler waiting at the port. The fare is uniform. The drivers are carrying these placards with indicated fares.
P30 per pax to Mangodlong Rock Resort, P50 per head if you are going to Santiago Bay Garden Resort. You can also hire your driver for your Camotes Day Tour activities.
You can arrange your transport and activity with the hotel, but if you want to help out the locals in a more direct way, I suggest that you hire transport and tour services when you arrive in Camotes. The drivers / tour guide also have a rate placard for the island tours they offer.
The caveat though is that these drivers who also acts as tour guides may not have the formal training in tour-guiding but heyyyy, they live and breath island-life; I think no books can ever replace local, actual knowledge and experiences.
We love the open set-up of this vehicle that we hired to take us to Santiago Bay Garden Resort. You get unhampered view of the road leading to the resort. 🙂
We were a big group, so after we boarded this vehicle, the driver did not wait for any other passengers. I don’t know if there is a minimum number of passengers before these multicabs will leave the port. I supposed at least 3 passengers will suffice, but this is just my assumption. I suggest that when you get to the port, you just ask a driver.
We also contracted kuya driver to fetch us the following day to bring us back to the port. Same multicab fare at P50 per head.
Other transpo options in Camotes are habal-habal or motorcycle for hires, tricycles, and scooters for rent. These are available at the Consuelo port gate.
*The ticketing booth in Consuelo Port opens an hour before fast craft departure schedule.
There is a Php 5 terminal fee in Port of Consuelo. No terminal fee in Mactan Wharf.
Santiago Bay Garden Resort Experience
I’ll be sharing a review of our stay in this Camotes resort plus a bit of tips on which are the best spots for swimming and where to get a great tasting thin-crust pizza at P180 to P200. 🙂
Santiago Bay Garden Resort is in the Santiago White Beach area.
You can also get ahead of your travel preparations and check out Santiago Bay Resort or the rates of Mangodlock Paradise Resort, My Little Island Hotel, Coco Grove Nature Resort and Spa, and many more resort and hotel options in Camotes Island.
*We only stayed overnight, not enough time to do the Camotes Day Tour. On our next visit to the island, we will surely do that. Looking forward to visit Lake Danao!
Go to Camotes! Enjoy the white sand beaches and more!
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Thank you for the information. You helped me very much to plan our trip! 🙂
Hi. Thanks for the info. But i just wanna ask, if we will choose to ride in a grab car, what is the exact address going to Mactan Port? Thanks.
Hi Peve, you can book going to ‘Mactan Marina Wharf’.