How to get from Dumaguete to Dipolog
If you are traveling from Dumaguete to Dipolog, ferries are the only mode of transportation available. 2Go ferries offer the most convenient service since passengers can choose from a wide range of accommodations to suit their budget, plus it’s equipped with facilities including karaoke, dining outlets, and a salon. Other ferries are the roll-on, roll-off (RORO) boats serviced by Montenegro Shipping and Cokaliong Shipping Lines. FastCat also has a fast boat option.
The oversea distance between Dumaguete and Dipolog is 100 km. By boat, it takes roughly 3 or 4 hours to get to Dipolog depending on the vessel and operator used.
The cost of ferry transport from Dumaguete to Dipolog ranges from around PHP 260 to PHP 330 per person. The cost usually depends on the type of seats or berths you choose since there are seats in common areas as well as private cabins available.
Ferry from Dumaguete to Dipolog
2Go have the cheapest ferry options from Dumaguete to Dipolog with seats available from PHP 260 for the Mega Value Class category. The Montenegro Shipping Lines is a RORO boat, and seats cost approximately PHP 352. Another RORO option is the Cokaliong Shipping Lines boat, where seats cost around PHP 320, while Montenegro Shipping Lines cost around PhP 330. If you are traveling with a group of friends or with family, it’s a good idea to share a cabin aboard a 2Go ferry for added privacy and safety. If you are a student or a senior citizen, boat lines typically offer discounts for boat tickets.
Ferries take 3 or 4 hours to reach the destination at most depending on the ferry operator. 2Go ferries take 4 hours while other RORO operators take a little over 3 hours.
There are different departure schedules to choose from depending on the ferry operator.
Note! 2GO sails from Dumaguete to Dipolog on MONDAY.
2Go leaves Dumaguete at 11:59PM every Monday while RORO boats offer more flexible schedules. The Cokaliong Shipping Lines travel from Dumaguete to Dipolog on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 7 AM. Montenegro Shipping Lines has daily trip from Dumaguete to Dipolog at 6AM and 10AM. Cancellations for ferries traveling from Dumaguete to Dipolog are rare, although operators may see it fit to terminate operation if the weather conditions are unsafe for sea travel.
General notes
2Go ferries are purely passenger ferries, which have both air conditioned and non-air-conditioned accommodations available. The whole journey is fairly quick and comfortable, and takes just 4 hours maximum.
The other operators, Cokaliong Shipping Lines and Montengro Shipping Lines, are car ferries and don’t have air conditioned rooms. Travelers prone to seasickness are better off booking 2Go ferries since there is the choice of staying in a private air conditioned room to reduce the chances of seasickness.
Travel Warnings
Although most of the country is generally considered safe to travel, you should always practice caution whenever touring the Mindanao area. There are many beautiful places in Mindanao, but there are still locations that are considered high risk.
Dipolog is considered safe for traveling, but the Sulu Archipelago as well as the Zamboanga Peninsula are risky destinations for travelers and it is best that you avoid traveling in these areas due to the presence of terrorist groups such as the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Jema’ah Islamiyah, and Abu Sayyaf.
While in Dipolog, stay in safe, populated areas particularly Dapitan. Avoid traveling to Dipolog for a long period of time to ensure your safety, and also be wary about walking around at night especially if you are alone. People in Dapitan are friendly, helpful, and charming in such a way that it won’t feel like you are in a dangerous part of Mindanao at all. Most travelers can visit Dipolog without any problems whatsoever, but it’s always best to stay in the safe side of things especially considering the fact that you are in Mindanao.