Cebu City South, SM North Bus and Resort Terminals
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Loading...You can now reserve a seat online download the Topline App for bus services departing from South Bus Terminal in Cebu City. It’s mandatory to reserve a seat on longer routes to other popular inter-islands which include a ferry seat for example on the Sugbo Transit express to the island of Siquijor and vice versa.
Routes that require a reservation must usually be completed at least 24 hours in advance by visiting the local tickets counter or kiosk, most prefer cash sales. You can still opt to pay cash at the ticket counter inside the Bus Terminal in Cebu or pay cash to the onboard conductor if necessary, major contactless scan and pay App based services are accepted in most major Bus Terminals in Cebu City. The two main bus companies in Cebu are Ceres Liner and Sugbo Transit Express, there are other localised bus operators in Cebu, that ply the provinces within Cebu, usually non air con buses.
The new modern smart card and App based ticket-less system implemented by The Cebu Provincial Government and designed by Topline Hi-Tech Synergy Corporation. The new contact-less technology is for departing buses from Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBS), which aims to streamline the old-school style ticket issuance by the onboard conductor, which often created a longer dispatch delay.
Cebu’s biggest bus terminal has started shifting to the use of “QR code tap cards and App” as it veers towards being fully cashless. The ticketing system includes the use of re-loadable tap cards, which can be reloaded at various outlets including 7-11 stores, which mostly operate 24-7.
You should consider the modern air-con buses on any journey more than 2 hours, especially for comfort, some have WIFI (not reliable) and tv-movie or music. Buses will make 1 or 2 15 minute rest stops along the route at dedicated areas or at the modern Tourist Rest Area, all have comfort rooms, places to buy hot, cold foods, native snacks and souvenirs.
You may board and deboard almost anywhere along the route at other unspecified stops or dedicated bus shelters, some services make limited stops on some express routes to specified destinations in Cebu. The destinations are clearly marked in the drivers window and will specify the routes, every bus route heading back towards Cebu City will be marked as Cebu.
Most bus services in Cebu don’t always run to a stritch timetable from the South and North Bus Terminal in Cebu City and Cebu Provinces, although the departure boards inside Terminals have real-time schedules. However the frequency to most destinations in Cebu is very reliable departing every 40 to 60 minutes from early morning to late night. Bus services in Cebu don’t operate 24 hours daily, there is typically a break in service on longer routes between 11:00 PM until 03:00 AM. Expect buses to be extra busy during Weekends, National Holidays, Holy Festival, Easter, Christmas, Local Festivals and the January Sinulog Festival.
Is it safe to travel from Cebu SM North and South Bus Terminals between 03:00 to 5:00am?
Yes it’s perfectly safe to travel at dawn or early hours of the morning, both terminals are safe at those hours, terminal security are well located throughout the terminals, keep valuables by you at all times never leave valuables unattended especially camera equipment and smart phones
Cebu City SM North Bus Terminal
SM North Bus Terminal, adjacent to SM City Mall Cebu City and MyBus Terminal at the corner of Sergio Osmeña Jr Boulevard and Kaohsiung Street at the North Reclamation Area
At Cebu SM North Bus Terminal, you can take any bus that goes to Bogo, Maya port for Malapascua island, Medellin, San Remigio, Hagnaya Port for Bantayan island, amongst other destinations in the Northern part of the Cebu Provinces
If you are concerned about the return journey by bus from north or south, back to Cebu City or scheduling from seaports in Cebu, buses are conveniently lined-up in the parking area very near to disembarkment point, you will notice and hear the bus conductors, and they will direct you to there bus, all buses will be making the same route back to Cebu City, some bus routes may convey to SM North Bus Terminal. Most buses depart within 30 minutes once enough passengers are onboard, buses are also very frequent back to Cebu City from south and north Cebu beach resorts and tourist attraction, in fact during peak travel there is a bus every 30 minutes from pick-up points transiting to Cebu City
Bus and Ferry bound for Bantayan island from Cebu SM North Bus Terminal;
You can take Ceres Bus that goes to Hagnaya Port which connects Bantayan island, Hagnaya port is where you can take a island shipping ferry or super shuttle ferry to Santa Fe Wharf (frequent departures, not 24 hour service), the journey time by ferry is 1 hour 20 minutes
The journey time from Cebu SM North Bus Terminal to Hagnaya Port, and onwards by ferry to Bantayan Santa Fe Wharf is 4 hours to 5 hours and we recommend an earlier departure time of 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM. The bus will make at least one very short rest stops of just 15 minutes for passengers to buy food & drink or use the restroom, you should expect to reach Bantayan Santa Fe Wharf at around 12:00PM to 1:00PM, including the Bus journey from SM North Bus Terminal and ferry service to Santa Fe Wharf
Don’t be tempted to leave SM North Bus Terminal towards Hagnaya Port for Bantayan islands after 1:00PM, because the ferry services at Hagnaya Port do not operate 24 hours daily and your likely to miss the last ferry, alternatively rent a car or hire a taxi one way for up to 4 passengers from Cebu City to Hagnaya Port, estimated at ₱2000 to ₱2800 per taxi
Missed The Last Ferry to Bantayan island
You may still be able to reach the island, local boat owners or fishermen will nearly always be willing to take you to Bantayan island
Occasionally, weather conditions will cause the authorities and the shipping companies to suspend ferry operations for passenger safety, If this happens and you find yourself stuck at Hagnaya Port, don’t worry, there are a couple of resorts and lodgings close by
Cebu South Bus Terminal
New Automated fare system at South Bus Terminal in effect on April, 15 2021
The Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT), Cebu’s largest public terminal, now features an automated and cashless ticketing system, for buses bound south of Cebu City and southern Provinces
Cebu South Bus Terminal Cebu City
All Buses depart from South Terminal for jouneys heading southbound at:
N. Bacalso Avenue, Cebu City, 6000 Cebu
Facilities & Services at Cebu South Bus Terminal
Air-conditioned pre-departure or waiting lounge
Food and snack outlets
Souvenir shops
Restrooms or toilets (washrooms)
Arrival and departure info
Organized boarding gates
BUS ROUTES
Main routes from Cebu South Bus Terminal at N. Bacalso Avenue, Cebu City
The Siquijor Sugbo Transit Express Service is advanced ticketing only, book at least 24 hours prior to scheduled departure.
Book tickets to Siquijor at Ceres Bus Garage Kiosk located at 471 Cebu South Rd, Pardo, Cebu City, 6000 https://goo.gl/maps/jG3Y9KNadvojidK28
East Coast Destinations
The East Coast Destinations from this terminal will bring you to the following places (cities and municipalities)
Talisay City, Minglanilla Municipality, Naga City, San Fernando, Carcar City, Simala Parish Church and Shrine, (59 km), Sibonga Municipality, Argao Municipality (66 km), Dalaguete Municipality (85 km), Alcoy Municipality (95 km), Boljoon Municipality (103 km), Tanawan-Oslob Municipality (117 km), Liloan Port via Oslob – Santander Municipality (134 km), Dumaguete – Negros Oriental via Liloan Port (Bus and Ferry 168 km), Siquijor via Liloan Port – Santander (Bus and Ferry 170 km), and Bato-Samboan Bus Terminal via Oslob (143 km)
West Coast Destinations:
Toledo City, Pinamungahan Municipality, Aloguinsan, Municipality, Barili, Dumanjug, Ronda, Alcantara, Moalboal, Badian/Alegria for Kawasan Falls, Malabuyoc, Ginatilan for Falls, Samboan for trio of Falls, Santander and Bato-Samboan Bus Terminal via Barili
Southern Beach & Resort Destinations
Locals and foreign travelers prefer Argao Beach Resorts and Alcoy Beach Resorts, the Whale Shark Watching in Tanawan, Oslob Municipality is one of the most visited attractions to the south of Cebu City
In the West Coast, the most prominent and popular destination among beach lovers, divers and vacationers include Moalboal Beaches, Resorts, Dive Center, including Dolphin, Shark Watching, Sea Turtle and the Sardine Run
V-Hire shared vans bound south currently depart separately adjacent to the back part of Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT)
The price is inexpensive on shorter routes by Independent V-Hire, and very competitive on longer routes, by Air-Con Bus the cost is inexpensive to any destination in Cebu for the international tourist
You’ll reach your destination faster in a white van (toyota) independent shared V-Hire, the drivers are always keen to speed up the journey and they do make sudden road maneuvers or overtake traffic. V-Hire’s will also be stationed at major Cebu attractions and other bus terminal all over Cebu, and you can have the option to ride one to the attractions, ports or back to Cebu City. It’s perfectly legitimate to stop them anywhere the pass you by, you’ll hear the drivers honking there horn passing you by indicating there is space in the van, during busy holiday, weekend or Cebu festival the buses fill up fast and your option may be to ride a shared van
Not recommended for passengers;
People with disability (PWD)
Suffer from claustrophobic
Pregnant
More than 2 children
Travel sicknes
