Leyte Island
Leyte splits between Tacloban in the north-east, which has the island's airport and the San Juanico Bridge to Samar, and Ormoc on the west coast, which has the island's busiest port and its own airport. Buses and vans run the highway loop between the two through Palo and Jaro, and a separate southern chain of small RORO ferries at Liloan, Bato and San Ricardo crosses Surigao Strait to Mindanao. The island is still living with the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda (2013) and, more immediately, structural repairs on the San Juanico Bridge that ran from May 2025 into 2026 and still restrict truck weight.
- Researched
- 28 September 2026
- Reviewed
- 29 September 2026
- Ways of moving
- 11, 20 sources
- Not confirmed
- 6
- Fares seen
- 2026
11 ways of moving, each with its rule
We confirmed ten ways of moving to, from or around Leyte Island: two by air, four by water, two by road and two hired or on demand, from 20 sources. One entry is not a service at all but a rule that decides whether travel happens: a permit, a closure, a border, a season or an authority's say-so. One of them runs only on demand or when the seats are full, so there is no timetable to show; the rule is written where the timetable would be.
The fares were seen in 2026; a fare from an older year is a floor, not a price. One fare carries no year, because it could not be confirmed and the field says so. We rate 6 of the 11 high confidence, our own judgement of the sources. The entry was checked on 28 September 2026, and ends with six things we could not confirm.
Rules, permits and closures
San Juanico Bridge weight restriction and rehabilitation
San Juanico Bridge, Tacloban City (Leyte) to Santa Rita (Samar)
The bridge itself; no way around it for road traffic between Leyte and Samar except the ferries at the Camotes Sea end or flying.
- When
- Passenger cars and buses cross normally at any time. Heavy trucks are restricted: a 3-tonne limit imposed in May 2025 was eased in stages through the year and, from 17 December 2025, trucks up to 30 tonnes gross weight may cross only from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., one direction at a time on a single lane, at a maximum 30 km/h with 40 m vehicle spacing. By late December 2025 the Philippine Ports Authority reported queues clear and the interim Amandayehan Port cargo route in Basey largely stood down.
- Takes
- 2.16 km, a few minutes to drive when not queued
- Fare 2026
- No toll
SeasonOngoing structural rehabilitation since May 2025; DPWH's own December 2025 advisory called the 30-tonne, night-only rule a temporary regulated scheme while retrofitting continues, and a May 2026 report described the bridge as still under rehabilitation with a nearby rotunda project 96% built. BookingNone; the night restriction applies only to trucks over the passenger-vehicle threshold. Run byDPWH Eastern Visayas (bridge authority); no single ferry/transport operator.
By air
Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport, Tacloban (TAC)
Manila (MNL) and Cebu (CEB) to Tacloban
DZR Airport is in San Jose district, about 6-7 km from downtown Tacloban.
- When
- Multiple daily flights from Manila and Cebu
- Takes
- About 1 hour 15 minutes from Manila, under 1 hour from Cebu
- Fare 2026
- Not confirmed here; check Cebu Pacific, PAL Express and Philippines AirAsia directly
SeasonYear-round. A new terminal building is under phased construction; Phase 1 (₱761.91 million) was substantially complete by mid-2025 and the DOTr opened ₱840.75 million in fresh bidding in August 2026 for airside rehabilitation and further terminal building work. BookingOnline with the airline. Run byCebu Pacific (jet from Manila), Cebgo (turboprop from Cebu), PAL Express, Philippines AirAsia.
Ormoc Airport (OMC)
Cebu to Ormoc
Ormoc Airport lies a short distance from the city centre.
- When
- Not confirmed; Cebgo operates the route, schedule not itemised in the source
- Takes
- Under 1 hour from Cebu
- Fare
- Not confirmed
SeasonYear-round. BookingOnline with the airline. Run byCebgo.
By water
Cebu - Ormoc fast craft
Cebu City pier to Ormoc pier
Cebu North or Pier 1 area terminals; OceanJet, SeaCat and SuperCat each have their own counters.
- When
- OceanJet: 4 sailings a day (06:00, 09:30, 13:00, 16:30 Cebu-Ormoc); SeaCat: 2 sailings a day (09:00, 12:30); SuperCat: 2 sailings a day, also 09:00 and 12:30
- Takes
- About 3 hours on all three operators, per each one's own posted departure and arrival times
- Fare 2026
- OceanJet ₱1,430-1,950 depending on class; SeaCat ₱1,300-1,800; SuperCat ₱1,100-1,500 on the route summary, whose own class table instead lists ₱1,210 economy and ₱1,650 business
SeasonYear-round but cancelled in rough seas; pamasahe.com's own cancellations feed regularly posts OceanJet and SeaCat suspensions on Leyte-facing routes during tropical depressions. BookingOnline with each operator or at the pier. Run byOceanJet, SeaCat, SuperCat.
Cebu - Tacloban overnight RORO
Cebu City pier to Tacloban port
Cebu pier; Roble Shipping and Trans-Asia both call at Tacloban.
- When
- Roble Shipping sails from Cebu Tuesday, Friday and Sunday at 20:00, and from Tacloban Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 20:00, arriving 01:00 the following day
- Takes
- 5 hours
- Fare 2026
- ₱750 (sitting) to ₱7,000 (Mabuhay Cabin Suite/VIP), with a ₱850-1,200 range across ordinary Economy and Tourist classes
SeasonYear-round RORO service; check for weather cancellations. BookingAt the pier or online with the operator. Run byRoble Shipping.
Liloan (Leyte) - Lipata (Surigao) RORO
Liloan port, Southern Leyte to Lipata port, Surigao City - the shortest crossing of Surigao Strait onto Mindanao
Liloan port at the southern tip of Leyte; reached by bus or van from Tacloban, Maasin or Sogod.
- When
- Montenegro Shipping Lines runs six round trips a day, roughly every 4 hours from 00:00; FastCat runs a separate, faster two-sailings-a-day service (06:00 and 18:00 from Liloan)
- Takes
- Montenegro: 3 hours; FastCat: 3 hours 30 minutes
- Fare 2026
- Montenegro: ₱600 regular, ₱480 student, ₱429 senior, ₱300 child; FastCat: ₱464-560 across Economy to Business Class
SeasonYear-round, subject to sea conditions. BookingAt the pier; a valid government ID is required. Run byMontenegro Shipping Lines, FastCat.
Benit, San Ricardo (Leyte) - Lipata (Surigao) RORO
Benit port, San Ricardo municipality at the southern tip of Leyte, to Lipata, Surigao City
San Ricardo is past Liloan on the southern coast road; ask for the San Ricardo Shipping Lines pier.
- When
- Six sailings a day from Benit: 05:00, 10:00, 13:00, 16:00, 20:00, 23:00, and the same schedule back from Lipata
- Takes
- 1 hour 30 minutes
- Fare 2026
- ₱300 passenger; motorcycle ₱1,000 and tricycle ₱1,500 with the driver carried free; 4-wheelers ₱3,100 (compact car) to ₱3,800 (van), each with two free passenger passes
SeasonYear-round, subject to sea conditions. BookingAt the pier. Run bySan Ricardo Shipping Lines.
By road
Tacloban - Ormoc highway bus and van
Tacloban to Ormoc via Palo, Pastrana, Jaro and Carigara - the Maharlika Highway corridor across the island's neck
Duptours and similar operators run from the Tacloban bus/van terminal; drop-off in Ormoc is near the City Park on Larrazabal Street.
- When
- Very frequent, close to hourly through the day in both directions per Duptours' own timetable
- Takes
- 3 hours
- Fare 2026
- ₱200 flat, per the operator's own fare block
SeasonYear-round. BookingNone, pay on board. Run byDuptours (van), plus assorted bus lines.
Ormoc - Maasin van and bus via Baybay and Inopacan
Ormoc south along the west coast highway to Baybay, Inopacan, Hilongos and on to Maasin in Southern Leyte
Vans and buses depart near Ormoc City Park, between Larrazabal Street and the Ormoc baywalk
- When
- Frequent through the day, exact intervals not confirmed
- Takes
- About 1.5 hours to Inopacan
- Fare 2026
- About ₱100 per person Ormoc-Inopacan
SeasonYear-round. BookingNone, pay on board. Run byVarious local bus and van lines, unnamed in the source.
Hired, booked and on demand
Tacloban tricycle
All destinations within Tacloban City
Flag one anywhere on the street; downtown ranks cluster around the market and bus terminal.
- When
- Constant, all day
- Takes
- Minutes within the city
- Fare 2026
- The LTFRB region-wide minimum PUV fare in March 2026 was quoted at ₱13 for traditional jeepneys and ₱15 for modern units, with a 20% discount for students, seniors and PWDs; a 2016-era Wikivoyage figure of about ₱8 per ride is long out of date and should not be used
SeasonYear-round. BookingNone, hail and pay the driver; report overcharging to LTFRB Region VIII. Run byIndependent tricycle drivers under city franchise.
Cuatro Islas (Four Islands) boat hire from Inopacan
Inopacan Baywalk to Himokilan, Mahaba, Digyo and Apid islands off Leyte's west coast
Register and pay at the white building on the Inopacan Baywalk; no advance booking, arrive early to find a boatman.
- When
- On demand, whenever a bangka and enough passengers are arranged
- Takes
- A full day trip covering all four islands
- Fare 2026
- ₱3,500 for a boat of up to 10 people, ₱4,000 up to 20, ₱5,000 up to 30, plus entrance fees of ₱30 (Filipino) or ₱150 (foreigner), a ₱100 Hindang/Inopacan protection fee and a ₱20 environmental fee; overnight stay on Digyo adds ₱500 to the boat price
SeasonYear-round, weather permitting. Bookingon demand, arranged at the pier the same day. Run byIndependent boatmen, rates set by local government.
What we could not find out
6 things the researcher looked for and did not find, in their own words, with where to ask instead. None of this goes into the planner; it stays here until someone confirms it.
- 01
Ormoc Airport (OMC) flight frequency and current fares from Cebu were not itemised in the sources found; check Cebgo directly.
- 02
Jeepney and V-hire fares specifically between Tacloban and Baybay were not separately confirmed; the ₱13-15 LTFRB minimum is region-wide, not a route-specific fare.
- 03
No current source was found describing the Maharlika Highway's condition inside Leyte itself (as opposed to the Samar rehabilitation project); ask locally about road quality between Tacloban and Ormoc.
- 04
The exact current (September 2026) day-to-day load-limit and hours-of-crossing rule for the San Juanico Bridge could not be confirmed beyond the December 2025-January 2026 reporting; check DPWH Region 8 advisories before planning any truck or large-vehicle crossing.
- 05
What Yolanda (2013) specifically changed in ongoing local transport infrastructure, beyond the well-documented San Juanico Bridge damage and its bombed-out old rebuild, was not separately confirmed for Tacloban or Ormoc port facilities.
- 06
The Tacloban tricycle is filed as tuk_tuk because SCHEMA.md tells every Philippine entry to file it that way; the vocabulary is not missing a word for it. No tricycle-specific fare was found for Tacloban, only the region-wide LTFRB jeepney minimum quoted in that option, so ask the driver or check the city franchise rate before paying.
What the planner can route today
The options above live on the place page, not in the departure board: a boat that comes when you phone has no time to show. What the board can do for Leyte Island is this.
- Y
- Scheduled flightsCebu City/Lapu-Lapu City (CEB), 110 km
- N
- Trains and coachesno timetable feed known for this country
- Y
- FerriesBaybay, 15 km; sailings estimated
- Y
- Driving and taxiOpenStreetMap roads; cab fare from the country band
- N
- Bike and scooter shareno share feed known
- N
- Cruisesno open itinerary source anywhere
Y routable now · F found, not yet implemented · N no source known. Nearest place with more: Burauen, 20 km.