Update October 26, 2014: They are now operating again here in Palawan.
I’ve been seeing the new RORO Bus here in Palawan lately. It got the craze of the people because this was the first time they saw an aircon bus that passes by the National Road. I’ve been wanting to try it out and after our trip to Sabang in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan I was finally able to ride one of these buses.
I could not help but compare the new buses to the shuttle services available from Puerto Princesa to El Nido such as Lexus Shuttle Service and Eulen Joy. The following list are my comparisons to the bus versus the van transport service.
1. Schedule
If you ask me why I love Lexus Shuttle Service it’s because of their fixed schedule. Whether they are full or not, their van will leave on schedule. Plus, they have a target travel time. Fortunately, the new RORO Bus also does that but it only has 2 trips everyday to El Nido, 6AM and 2PM. Unlike Lexus who now has 5 trips a day to El Nido.
Buses have a travel time from Puerto Princesa to El Nido of around 6-7 hours.
But according to the conductors that I’ve been talking too, there will be more buses that will arrive at the end of this month (February 2012) and their target is to have a trip every hour from 4AM to 8PM to El Nido. Not only is this good news to travellers but also to locals as the latest bus that passes on the National Road is only about 3 to 4PM, with the full implementation of the RORO Bus the locals will now have the convenience of the transportation even in the evening.
Personally, I’m excited to see the developments of the RORO Bus as this will push the quality of service and lower prices around Palawan. I think I’ll make another post on their schedules when all their buses are here.
RORO Bus Schedule.
The 11 PM Schedule for Southern Palawan is currently not running.
This is also the schedule going back.
ROUTE
North Palawan: From Puerto Princesa to El Nido or vice versa.
South Palawan: From Puerto Princesa to Rio Tuba or vice versa.
Yahoo! Night trips!!!!
Vans from Puerto Princesa to El Nido costs 500 Pesos/person but the RORO Bus only costs 483 Pesos/person. The downside of the RORO Bus though is that it is expensive when you’re only going to ride short distances like from Puerto Princesa to Roxas, vans only cost 150-180 Pesos/person while the RORO Bus costs 220 Pesos/person.
Update January 14, 2014: The current rate is 380 Pesos/person (one-way)Â from Puerto Princesa to El Nido. Southern Palawan trips are still the same.
Southern Palawan RORO Bus Tariff Rates (Click on Photo to see the readable size)
3. Comfort
One of the things I hate about the transportation in the Philippines is that it does not have good leg room for someone as tall as me but for the RORO Bus I give it a thumbs up as I could comfortably sit on the seat without hitting my knees on the front seat.
4. View Outside
Ever got a sit in the middle of van and you want to see the view outside? It’s one of the hardest feelings but with the RORO Bus I think that problem is no longer a problem.
Big Window of the RORO Bus
5. Centrifugal Force
There are a lot of zigzag parts on the road when I rode the RORO Bus, I never felt the centrifugal force that pushes me to the window whenever we made a turn like in the vans. Therefore, this ads to more comfort.
6. Night Trips
Starting March 8, 2012 the RORO Bus going to El Nido from Puerto Princesa now has a night trip everyday. Their bus leaves at 10PM and will be arriving around 3 to 4 AM. This is good as you would have more time to go around and enjoy the attraction of El Nido and Puerto Princesa than having to travel during daytime. Hooray! 🙂
Would I prefer the RORO Bus to the Shuttle Vans?
In terms of comfort the RORO Bus exceeds the Shuttle Vans but due to the lack of schedule I still prefer the shuttle vans as my priority is to have more flexibility with my time. But it’s still too early to make a conclusion, I’ll be waiting for the advancement of the RORO Buses here in Palawan.
Update: They now have more schedules than the Shuttle Vans. I now prefer RORO Bus. 😀
For more information/reservation on the RORO Buses in Palawan you may contact them at the following numbers
San Jose Terminal in Puerto Princesa – Globe 0917-597-1189, Sun 0922-890-1044, Smart 0908-920-2568
El Nido Terminal – Mang Benson or Ate Susan 0921-255-2765
If you’re looking for Island Hopping Tours in El Nido, I recommend booking with Northern Hope Tours.
Northern Hope Tours Details
Contact Numbers
- 0939-902-2216 (Smart)
- 0927-735-3221 (Globe)
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:Â www.NorthernHopeTours.com
Reserve your tours ahead of time by calling Northern Hope Tours so you could reserve a slot. They do get fully booked.
Update Log
| January 3, 2012 | Update on their contact numbers. |
| December 08, 2012 | Update on the schedule for Northern and Southern Palawan |
| March 23, 2012 | Updated the schedule for Southern Palawan and its tariff |
| March 14, 2012 | Updated the schedule for Northern Palawan |
| November 28, 2013 | Updated schedule and fare. |
| January 14, 2014 | Updated schedule and fare. |
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yehey, this is definitely better than a van!!!! will ride one of these in september! thanks for sharing pre!
You’re welcome Christian! Enjoy your trip sa Palawan sa September. 🙂
ah, RORO bus pala frm PP to El Nido, kala ko natuloy na yung RORO so El Nido. Date kase may malawakang pagboycott sa pagtayo ng RORO sa El Nido.
Gael, hindi natuloy yung RORO port sa El Nido yung prinopose kasi ay dun mismo sa bayan ng El Nido. Kaya tinanggihan nila kasi malaki yung pinsala magagawa sa ganda ng El Nido.
Yung meron na RORO Port ay ang Taytay, Palawan at dun daw dadaan yung mga papunta at galing Cubao.
Wow good to know! This looks more comfortable pa. Our arrival in PP in June is past noon time so pasok yung 2pm schedule samin. 🙂
Hopefully Gabz by June matupad na yung hourly trips nila from 4AM to 8PM, at least wala ka na hahabulin masyado na schedule. 🙂
wow! may stopover din ba yan? mabilis ako maihi. hehehe
Meron naman. Roxas and Taytay ang stopover o pwede mo kalabitin si Manong Driver at itigil ang buong bus para maki-CR sa mga bahay sa kalsada. hehehe
WOW! this is a great development.. I prefer buses than shuttle buses for long trips!i have to try this when I go to El Nido soon! Sana mas madami na silang trips by then…
perfect! babalik ako elnido this april!
Kumusta na ba ang schedule ng Ro-Ro bus from PP to El Nido? Talaga bang 5hrs lang ang biyahe? Kasi we have to take a plane from PP at 1pm, kaya medyo worried ako na maiwan ng plane if we left El Nido late. Is the Ro-Ro bus schedule now on a regular basis? Thanks heaps.
Hi Juanito, even if Ro-Ro Bus does make it 5 hours you’ll be arriving in San Jose Terminal in Puerto Princesa at 12NN. I suggest you ride the first trip of Lexus Shuttle Service around 5AM so you can be sure to reach your flight.
Hi Juanito. As a (not so long time) resident of El Nido, I must say that you have to add at least an hour to the 5-hour land trip from PPC to EN because of the stopovers in Roxas and Taytay. The 5-hour trip is under ideal conditions, i.e., dry weather. Josiah, you are a great help in spreading the news that El Nido should not be expensive. Thanks.
PS: Naunahan mo pa ako dito sa RORO bus na to,hehehe. Mid-march ill be commuting to PPC via this bus. I’ll keep you posted. Great blog!
I’m glad to be of help to El Nido, Armie. 🙂
Actually, I’m also a (not so long time) resident of Palawan too. 😛
We also tried the RORO Bus going to El Nido just last Sunday, Feb 26. We made it in exactly 5.5 hours. Departed PPC 6am then we arrived in El Nido 1130am. We had a 30 min stop over in Roxas plus yung mga pag pick up nila ng passengers along the way. Overall, it was comfy. Kuya Driver and Conductor said they also have plans of having trips to Southern Palawan soon. 🙂
Great to hear na na-experience mo na rin ang RORO Bus to El Nido Riz. Very comfortable compared to other transportation going to El Nido. Sana dumami pa yung mga buses nila at sana makapunta na rin ako sa Southern Palawan soon. Keep on travelling. 🙂
Nice one!!! This is just what I needed.. Thanks!!!
i can see a bigger crowd in el nido in the coming days. not years as development is really fast.
Me too! hindi lang dahil sa holy week. Ang ganda ng service na ginagawa ng RORO Bus dito sa Palawan. 🙂
Nice. We’re going to El Nido this June and I can’t stand being in a van for hire because of my height. 5 hours ba talaga ang travel time for the Roro Bus?
Hi Ethan! Not really, it could extend up to 6 hours. But their target travel time is 5 hours.
Actually, their bus that leaves at 10PM is slower than their usual trips. According to them it will arrive around 4:30AM to 5AM.
Finally, find a review on roro bus. Thank you for sharing this information. 🙂 Will be visiting El Nido again and nice to know that there are some development in their transportation. 🙂
Hi Rina, you’re welcome. Enjoy your trip to El Nido. 🙂
Hi, guys, so happy that I found this post about transport in Palawan!
I will be arriving in PP next wednesday 25th April around 11:25. My plan is to visit the Underground River in Sabang before proceeding to El Nido.
So, do you know if RoRo buses can take me to Sabang in the afternoon of 25th April around 14:00?I saw there is a bus to El Nido, but, how can I get to SaBang and then from Sabang to El Nido? Can I still go with RoRo buses?
If is not possible on the 25th, I will stay in PP and will go to Sabang on the 26th, no problem.
Many thanks in advance for your help!
Hi Bee82, to know how to get to Sabang please visit this post http://www.lakas.com.ph/2012/02/how-to-get-to-sabang-puerto-princesa-palawan/. Thanks.
they have now southern palawan trip.
wow, nyt trip sounds fantastic!! been trying to plan a tour tis july and we want to maximize r stay due to limited tym… tis nyt trip is really a good news 4 us.. however, is it safe to travel at nyt frm PPC to elnido considering d rough rds and they said there are no street lyts? is palawan safe frm terrorist/holdapers? 😯
Concreting of PPC to El nido are almost complete. The travel reduce at 6hrs from 12 hrs. Law enforcers should double its security for the safety of passengers. ROro bus should post a security guard at terminal. No pick up of passengers during night time
Hi Lemuel, pauuwiin mo naman ako. I work somewhere in the middle of the national road in Palawan and live somewhere in the town where the RORO bus passes. I ride the night bus by being picked up in the middle of the road in order to come home. But I understand your concern for security.
haaay.
this is bittersweet..ayos yon roro kasi convenient.. kaso medyo nakakalungkot lang din dun sa mga local transpo businesses sigurado apektado sila dun..
oh well.. price to pay.tsk
hi ayan.. apektado talaga kami na mga local transpo sa palawan.. walang consultation na ngyari o public hearing basta basta na lang sumulpot ang RORO.. wala na nga silang franchise para sa palwan.. gusto pa nila halos sila na lng lahat ang bumyahe at dagdag pa sila ng dagdag ng mga units nila.. sobra na sila.. di makatao ang gngwa ng RORO BUS… ❗
this is very helpful. will be going to el nido this year. yeeee! Thanks.
Hi Gracey, enjoy your trip to El Nido this year! 🙂
I tried this during my recent trip to Palawan (as in last last night lang =)) and it was super comfy. Hindi rin super lamig unlike other aircon buses. And the night trip was fast (about five hours lang), way shorter than nung papunta, which took almost 7 hours.
😀
Great to hear you liked their service. 🙂
hi, from puerto princesa to rio tuba gaano po katagal ang byahe?
Thanks for this info. I live in south of Palawan. Any idea how many units do they have now in Palawan? Maybe the trip should be every hour.
to roro bus palawan your drivers and conductors are riping the company off there are picking people up and not giving tickets out just pocketing the money .they noticed i was watching them and gave me my fare back to keep my mouth shut after i asked why some people on the bus had no tickets
Hi just want to ask if do we still need na magpareserve sa bus or pwede na prang walk-in lang? Thanks
Hi Josiah! Ask ko lang kasi we are planning to go to El Nido this November and night trip ang gagawin namin byahe from PP-El Nido (10pm). May masasakyan ba kami na trike going sa mga resorts/lodgings pagdating doon (ETA is around 4am)? Or we can walk from there going sa mga resorts/lodgings? what do you suggests? thanks, your blog really helps a lot 😛
Hi Kram, meron masasakyan na mga tricycles pero I think x2 na ang presyo nila, so 20 pesos per pax na. I don’t advice walking at that time going to the town medyo malayo pa kasi at wala gaano bahay on the way.
Additional question, mga ilang minutes ang travel time nito papunta sa mga resort? If ever we go back to PP by RORO bus at 10pm, dun din ba kami sasakay sa pinagbabaan namin? Or they have a different terminal? Thanks again! 😛
Roro bus..apektado lahat ng transportation group sa palawan.. bumabyahe ng walang franchise para sa palawan.ANG RORO BUS AY ISINASAKAY SA BARKO AT HINDI BUMBYAHE NG RIOTUBA TO ELNIDO.. paano nakaklusot ang mga ito sa mata ng LTO? LTFRB? AT SA LALAWIGAN NG PALAWAN?Nakakaawa nag mga tao na nagsisikap sa palawan na mga taga dito sa atin.. 🙁 .
I felt sorry for the existing transport group in Palawan. But you know RORO Bus lang ang 1st nakapag introduce ng Night Trip sa Palawan., RORO BUs lang sa palawan ang me aircon bus units, RORO Bus lang komportabling bus sa Palawan…Bakit di na lang nila gayahin…..
hello mel.. wala naman problema kong may mga franchise sila na para sa rota nila na palawan.. ang problema wala na nga silang franchise.. dagdag pa sila ng dagdag ng mga bus nila.. paano na tayong mga palaweno na sumusunod sa ltfrb para sa franchise? gusto yata nila sila na lang ang bbyahe dito sa palawan.. na di naman yan mga taga dito at walang franchise..
Hi..meron po ba route from legend hotel to airport?mga 250 pax po
need reply asap
Hello..do you know if you can hire a taxi to El nido and how much it should cost?
Hi Tony, there are no taxis from puerto princesa to el nido but you can hire a van to take you to el nido from puerto princesa. I suggest contacting Lexus Shuttle Service for the vans. I hope that helps.
hi we are going to el nido this march and we are planning to go to underground river on our fourth day wat is d earliest time of departure from el nido to sabang? dadaan din po ba ang roro bus? Thanks! 😛
sir ano pong oras ng departure ng roro bus papuntang rio tuba
Ive been experienced sa RORO bus na yan, nag roller coaster kami. approaching zigzag road tumatakbo ang sinasakyan naming bus ng 100 to 120 speed. mabilis at raskal mag patakbo ang driver.
hndi namin na enjoy ang byahe instead takot ang naramdamam nanim dahil sa kunting pag kakamali lang sa bangin kami pupulutin. When we reach irawan check point nag complaint kami sa police on duty. Hindi sila concern sa safety ng passengers, after sila sa magiging pursyento nila per trip.
Josiah,
Thank you very much for this information–really helpful…including the comments from fellow travelers.
Would you know kung meron pa rin roro bus?
Punta kami ng El Nido next week.
Mukhang Ok yung night trips nila =)
Cheers!
Daisy
Hi Daisy!
You’re welcome! Yes, Roro bus is still operating here in Palawan. And I agree on their night trips. Saves time and money. 🙂
I saw a new set of buses in Puerto Terminal, this time its a color white, yellow and red. The bus name is CHERRY. According to driver of Roro bus, those buses were sister company of Victory Liner in Manila.
I actually rode with them once for a short trip. I’ve heard a lot of good plans from them. I’m still waiting and seeing on how they will improve before I collect data from them. ^_^
Hi Josiah, are the van and bus prices still the same now? Thanks in advance!
Hi
First, congrats for your blog and thanks for all the info you share with us 🙂
I checked this post and looks like the RORO buses is working again but I would like to be sure, I’ve been reading that they had problems before and stop operating, and now according to your post they are working again but with less buses, am I right?
Thanks in advance
I heard that the Cherry Bus is already running regular trips to El Nido with a schedule too and all their buses have GPS units to monitor safety. Has anyone tried riding the Cherry Bus?
Hi Josiah, have I’ve been refering your blog to plan for my Palawan trip next year. Why are the RORO buses not operating as of Sept 2014 as you updated? Is it temporary due to off-season or are they no longer operating in Palawan? Cos a night trip buses would really do me a favor during my trip soon. Are Daytripper,Lexus or any other buses vans company make night trip now? Thanks.
Hi Nadira, I’m not really sure why they stopped and if ever they would be going back. There’s Cherry Bus that you can ride that takes the night trip. Though I don’t really recommend doing the night trip.
May I ask why you would not recommend the night trip> I will be travelling with the whole family. Mom, sister and her kids. and were planning to leave PP past 5pm. I would rather spend the night in PP if its not safe, although it will definitely affect our itinerary. would appreciate tips and suggestions. Cheers!
What I mean about night trips are the trips that would leave around 9PM or 10PM, as you would not have enough time to rest for your tour or flight. I’ve done it before and I’m still doing it now, but I do not recommend it. Only if you really need to do it.
If safety is a concern, I’ve done the night trips more times than I could remember and nothing has happened to me for all the night trips that I did.
Hi Josiah,
Thank you for setting up such an informative blog. I’m looking to travel at the end of Sept to first week of Oct.
I research that it is the raining season, do you think that it is still worth travelling to around this period?
Thanks
Yes. It’s still worth it to travel to El Nido even on those dates. I’ve tried Island Hopping on those months. But it would be unlucky if there is a storm during those times as the Island Hopping Tours do get cancelled for safety reasons.
This website was so useful that we decided to go to El Nido with Roro bus. Unfortunately, I have to warn everybody : Roro bus are all old and in extremely bad state. Not at all as shown on this blog. We had asked for a bus with air-conditioning, and were told these don’t exist. Well, I’m sure some do exist, because I have seen the pictures here, but maybe there are 1 or 2, out of the whole fleet of buses. On our way, we have crossed several Roro buses, and some also overtook us. There were all crap and completely broken. The comfort is non existent.
To come back, we chose a mini van. The comfort was not better because it was crowded (we were 4 or 5 per row) and 2 people got sick several times. Both trip were awful and in overall I think I would still recommend the Roro buses to the mini van, unless you are in a big hurry. At least, you will see how the locals travel 😉
Hey Simon, I’m really sorry about your experience. I do agree that RORO Bus had seriously degraded their quality over time. There were even times that their aircon buses were full of sacks of rice and fertilizers. It as no longer as comfortable as before. I do hope that there would be a transportation company that has many units that provides quality transport. Daytripper provides great quality but they only have a few units.