Cebu.travel
A pelagic thresher shark gliding through deep blue water near Malapascua Island, Cebu
~145 km · 4.5-5 hours by private car

How do I get from Mactan-Cebu Airport to Maya Port?

Distance
~145 km
Travel time
4.5-5 hours by private car
Best for
Divers and island-hoppers making the Malapascua boat
Quote
Same day
Fixed, all-in - no invented fares

Short answer

New Maya port sits at the northern tip of Cebu, and from Mactan-Cebu International Airport (CEB) it is one long road run: roughly 145 km and about 4.5-5 hours by private car. The drive crosses a Mactan bridge onto the mainland, bypasses Cebu City and follows the northern road up through Danao, Bogo and Medellin to Daanbantayan and the port.

This is the road leg on its own, ending at the pier gate - the right page if you are booking the Malapascua outrigger yourself, meeting a resort boat, or staying on the Daanbantayan side rather than crossing at all. It is also the whole of what we run on this corridor, door to gate, with no crossing in the middle and no car waiting on the far side, so one quote covers the entire journey you are asking about.

The timing that matters is daylight. The public outrigger crossing to Malapascua takes about 30-40 minutes, runs through the day and stops in the late afternoon, so send us your flight number and the boat you are aiming for and we work the pickup backwards from it.

Step by step: Mactan-Cebu Airport (CEB) to Maya Port (Daanbantayan)

  1. 1
    Meet your driver at arrivals

    Your driver waits at Mactan-Cebu airport with a name board and heads straight north. No detour into the city to find a bus terminal, which is the part that costs the most time with luggage and dive gear.

  2. 2
    Cross onto the mainland and drive north

    The route crosses a Mactan bridge, bypasses Cebu City and follows the northern coastal road through Danao, Bogo and Medellin. About 145 km and 4.5-5 hours, depending on how heavy traffic is getting off Mactan and through Mandaue.

  3. 3
    Arrive at New Maya port

    You are dropped at the port itself, bags out of the vehicle at the gate rather than a walk short of it.

  4. 4
    Take your boat from there

    The Malapascua crossing is about 30-40 minutes on a public outrigger and is your own booking, paid at the pier. If a resort boat is collecting you, give us the time and we set the drop-off around it.

Ways to travel, compared

  • Airport transfer to Maya Port (what we arrange)~4.5-5 hrs

    Meet-and-greet at arrivals, then door-to-gate to New Maya port in a private air-conditioned vehicle, timed to the boat you are aiming for, with luggage and dive gear handled. Fixed, all-in price for any flight time - request a quote.

  • Ceres bus, via the city~5-6 hrs all in

    There is no bus from the airport to Maya. You first transfer into Cebu City to the North Bus Terminal, then take a Ceres bus north. Cheapest by a distance, but slow, and a missed connection at the start can cost you the last boat at the end.

  • Maya to Malapascua outrigger~30-40 min

    The crossing itself, if the island is where you are heading. Boats run through the day and stop in the late afternoon; a small public fare paid at the port. Not part of our quote unless your written quote says so.

Want more than a transfer?

Add stops on the way to Maya Port (Daanbantayan)

Landing with time to spare before you need to be at Maya Port (Daanbantayan)? Your driver can meet the flight, keep your luggage in the vehicle while you stop for lunch or a look around, and still have you there for the hour you name. Send us your flight and the time you need to arrive, and the gap gets built into the quote instead of spent at the terminal.

  • The car waits at every stop
  • Luggage stays in the vehicle
  • Fuel, tolls and parking included
  • Entrance fees paid locally, as you go

We'll pre-fill Mactan-Cebu Airport (CEB) Maya Port (Daanbantayan). Put the stops you want in the notes box and we'll come back with one all-in price.

Mactan-Cebu Airport (CEB) to Maya Port (Daanbantayan): FAQs

How long is the drive from Cebu airport to Maya Port?

About 4.5-5 hours for roughly 145 km. It is the longest road transfer on the island, and the variable part is the start - getting off Mactan and through Mandaue - so leave a margin if you are catching a specific boat.

Can you drop me at Maya without the Malapascua boat?

Yes, and that is exactly what this route is. We run the road leg and drop you at New Maya port. The outrigger crossing is a separate public boat you pay for at the pier, or your resort’s own boat if they are sending one.

What time do the Maya boats stop?

The public outriggers run through the day and stop in the late afternoon, so the aim is to reach the port by mid-afternoon at the latest. Send us your flight number and we time the pickup around the boat you want.

Is there a direct bus from Mactan airport to Maya?

No. You would first get into Cebu City to the North Bus Terminal and take a Ceres bus north from there, which puts a transfer with all your luggage at the front of a five-hour journey.

Can you do the return trip, Maya Port (Daanbantayan) back to Mactan-Cebu Airport (CEB)?

Yes - the same private car and driver, the other way round over the same ~145 km. Send us your flight time with the quote request and we work the pickup back from it, so you reach Mactan-Cebu Airport (CEB) with time to spare instead of guessing. Most people book both legs at once.

Travelling the other way?

Maya Port (Daanbantayan) Mactan-Cebu Airport (CEB)

We run this route in both directions. For the trip back you tell us your flight time, and we work the pickup back from it, so you get to the airport with room to spare rather than watching the clock on the road.

We'll pre-fill Maya Port (Daanbantayan) Mactan-Cebu Airport (CEB) on the form. Just add your dates and details.

Travellers

What guests tell us

  • ★★★★★

    Landed at midnight and our driver was right there with a sign. Smooth ride to Moalboal and the price was exactly as quoted. So much less stressful than sorting it at the airport.

    HHannah & TomCanada · Airport to Moalboal
  • ★★★★★

    Booked an Oslob day trip for my parents from abroad. Everything was arranged by email before they flew. They felt safe the whole way, exactly what I hoped for.

    JJoan R.OFW, Dubai · Oslob tour
  • ★★★★★

    We needed a van and driver for three days of island hopping. Clear pricing, friendly driver, and flexible when our plans changed. Would book again in a heartbeat.

    MMarco D.Australia · Multi-day tour
  • ★★★★★

    Quoted a Kawasan Falls trip on a Sunday and had a fixed all-in price within the hour. No haggling, no surprises on the day. Exactly what we needed with two young kids.

    PPriya S.Singapore · Kawasan Falls
  • ★★★★★

    Our driver waited patiently while our flight was delayed two hours and still got us to the hotel relaxed and safe. Honest people who clearly take pride in the service.

    DDaniel K.South Korea · Mactan to Cebu City
  • ★★★★★

    Organised a whole Bantayan Island weekend for our family group chat from Manila. One contact, one price, zero stress. The kids loved the driver.

    RRhea M.Manila · Bantayan weekend
  • ★★★★★

    Booked from the US for our honeymoon and were nervous about transport. They answered every question fast and the car was spotless. Felt looked after the whole trip.

    AAshley & BenUSA · Honeymoon transfers