Weesam Fast Craft at Bongao Commercial Port
Tawi-Tawi is a hard place to reach and its jump-off point is Zamboanga City. The most common means of traveling to and fro Bongao, the capital of Tawi-tawi is by sea. Curently, there two options, the Aleson Shipping Lines Ferry and the Weesam Fastcraft. The former is slow but it’s how the locals do it and can be quite interesting and the latter is fast and comfortable.
Ferry to Tawi-tawi overnight economy bunks
Going to Bongao, we first took the Aleson Shipping Line’s ferry. Now this one is very popular but is very slow. The ferry usually leaves at 6 in the evening and arrives 16 hours later, around 11am the next day. This is how the locals do it and its a very interesting ride. We had designated bunks on our tickets at M/V Trisha Kersten 2. It’s the first time I took a long ferry ride like this. It’s a bit uncomfortable at first since the bunks are open space there are annoying smokers, some little crawlers at the bunk beds and of course the boat swaying wildly like a pendulum on some hours. But you’ll get used to it after a while. Restrooms are ok and there’s a canteen there for some fast chows.
Ferry to Tawi-tawi overnight economy bunks
We took the Weesam Fastcraft on our way back to Zamboanga. This one plys the Zamboanga – Sandakan, Malaysia route and stops by Bongao and Jolo. This one feels like a long bus ride with a travel time of 8-9 hours from Bongao, leaving port at 12:30pm arriving in Zamboanga around 9pm. It has comfortable seats and air conditioning on the first class seats are good. There is also a small canteen on the lower deck beside the restrooms.
Aside from this option we learned about the Hapit-hapit. It’s actually jumping from one island to another and catching a ride there from Jolo – Siasi – Bongao.
There is also an option to take a flight via Seair going to Bongao, but the fare can be pretty expensive at 3700+ one way. And we often hear that it’s hard to buy tickets for this.
Essentials:
Aleson Shipping ply the Zamboanga-Bongao on Mondays, Wednesday and Friday; Fare is P1,000 (economy)/P1,100 (aircon cabin)
Zamboanga Office: 9915874, 9912687, 9932082, 9912099
Manila Office: 7120507, 7407969, 7407966
Weeesam Fastcraft plys Zamboanga – Jolo – Bongao – Sandakan every Monday and Thursday. Vice versa every Tuesday and Friday
Fare for adults (eco) P1,200; (first class) P1,400; students (P1,190/P1,360); senior citizens (P1,120/P1,280); children (P600/P700)
Zamboanga: 992.3986,9923756 or mobile 0922.8998499
Jolo: 0905.8402540; 0926.8736976
Bongao: 0917.7997733
Sandakan: 0006089-212872
At least, travel to Tawi-Tawi is so much better these days. Decades ago, the boat gets about three days to reach Bongao from Zamboanga and so much filthier and stinkier. I’d throw up to no end during these past voyages…
sixteen hours?! wow! you can do a lot of things from that length of time. although half of it is spent sleeping. thanks for sharing the details ferdz for future trips.
wow, was that trip just two months ago? seems like only last week. it was well and good that we weren’t able to book for the airconditioned quarters because the passengers smoke and treat it like the economy class deck anyway. the seair option is of course, faster, but is more commonly used for commercial purposes rather than ferrying tourists/visitors. and it’s true, the flights can be booked full in advance so if one is in a hurry, the viable option would be to use the slow craft, weesam or go hapit-hapit.
haba pala ng byahe! 3700 for seair?! mas mahal pa sa fare ko MNL-GSC
what a trip ferdz. these things really make such trip more memorable. i don’t know if i can come to this part of mindanao in the near future.
16 hours. 16 hours. ok ok. 16 hours. >_<;
Does anyone know if these prices from Zamboanga to Sandakan are correct? Even at first class P1,400 it is very cheap?
Or is this just the Zamboanga to Tawi-tawi price? If so does anyone know the Price from Zamboanga to Sandakan?
WOW Major Tom! I couldn’t imagine traveling that long unless it’s superferry. Buti na significantly na cut down ang travel time ngayon.
Nothing much to do than sleep Dom! Kaya best to bring a book or music player when you’re out there.
Onga eh Og, hassle din sa aircon, it’s not as cool or well ventilated. Ang cramp pa ng space.
Medyo me kamahalan nga talaga airfare dun Allan kaya nag boat na lang kami.
It’s quite memorable nga Oman. Hopefully madalaw ka on those parts.
Hehehe. Make you think twice, thrice ano Pao?
Hi Dave! The fare stated are for Zamboanga-Tawi-tawi only. You could try calling up the numbers above to inquire.
great info! hope one day, i could get to tawi-tawi din… but will wait for a seair flight na lang! hahaha!
Hi Ferdz,
Thanks for that clarification. I will call the numbers to try and confirm
Dave
Very informative. Not a lot of info on Tawi Tawi and Jolo so this is very much appreciated. Looks like I’ll be doing this sooner now that I have an idea on the logistics.
Many thanks from a fellow Pinoy backpacker.
Leng
Is there a cabin accomodation good for two or four persons? And my gosh! 16 hrs, is there a signal for mobile phones all through out the trip?
Hi Liza! I wouldn’t recommend getting the cabins. When we were there, the cabins looked cramped and the aircondition was down and there were people smoking inside. Unless things have changed I would prefer to be outside.
do this trip still available now?
oh men, ang tagal pala ng byahe kahit nasa zamboanga na.
very informative post. thanks Ferdz!