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Getting here

We’re based in Zamboanguita, about thirty kilometres south of Dumaguete in Negros Oriental. Here’s how to reach us, wherever you’re starting from.

Your journey at a glance

Most international volunteers fly into Manila or Cebu, take a short domestic flight to Dumaguete and join us for the last stretch.

  1. HomeBook your exit ticket and register on eTravel before you go
  2. International flight
  3. Manila or CebuClear immigration, get pesos and a local SIM
  4. 1 to 1.5 hours by air
  5. Dumaguete (DGT)Land by 10am on your arrival Monday
  6. About 30 km with us
  7. MCP, ZamboanguitaYour home for the weeks ahead

Flying in

Your destination is Dumaguete-Sibulan Airport (DGT), just north of Dumaguete. You can connect through either Manila or Cebu.

Via Manila

Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines fly from Manila to Dumaguete several times a day, taking about an hour and a half.

On a separate domestic ticket, you’ll clear immigration, collect your bags, go through customs and check in again, often at a different terminal that you reach by road.

Leave at least five hours between landing and your domestic departure.

Via Cebu

Cebu Pacific flies from Cebu to Dumaguete a few times a day, in about an hour.

At Mactan-Cebu, the international and domestic terminals are next to each other, making the transfer quicker. If the flights are full, fast ferries and buses from Cebu City are a good back-up (see below).

Leave at least three hours between flights.

Booking tips

  • Book your domestic flight as a separate ticket directly with the airline. This is often much cheaper than including it in your international booking.
  • Travelling around Christmas and New Year, or Holy Week? Book early, as domestic flights and ferries fill up fast.
  • Plan to land in Dumaguete by 10am on your arrival Monday. If your connections won’t allow that, fly in on the Sunday and spend the night in Dumaguete. Flying Fish Hostel is popular with our volunteers and is one of our pickup points.

Before you fly

  • Register on eTravel

    Everyone entering the Philippines needs a free eTravel registration, which you can complete within 72 hours before landing. Use only the official government site, etravel.gov.ph. Sites that charge a fee aren’t official. We recommend registering before you board, as airlines may ask to see the QR code at check-in.

  • Get pesos in Manila or Cebu

    There’s no ATM at Dumaguete airport, and stopping for cash on the way to base holds up the whole minibus. Withdraw the money you need before your connecting flight. ATMs usually allow around 10,000 pesos per withdrawal.

  • Buy a local SIM

    SIM cards are available at the airports in Manila and Cebu. Smart has the best coverage around our base. Bring your passport, as all SIMs must be registered.

  • Pack for the domestic flight

    Budget domestic fares often include hand luggage only, so add checked baggage when you book, as it costs more at the airport. We provide dive gear, so there’s no need to bring your own.

See our volunteer FAQ for visas, exit tickets, insurance and packing.

Arrival day

New volunteers arrive every other Monday, and we pick everyone up together in our minibus. Our pickup points are Dumaguete airport, Flying Fish Hostel in Dumaguete and Bongo Bongo Divers in Dauin.

About a week before you arrive, we’ll email you to confirm your arrival time, a contact number and where you’d like to be picked up. We’ll send the exact pickup times once we have everyone’s details.

Running late?

Delays happen. Send us a WhatsApp or an email as soon as you know you’re delayed, and we’ll arrange your pickup. You can make your own way here, but there’s no need: just let us know and we’ll make sure it works out.

WhatsApp +63 969 484 7382 Email team@mcp.email

Already in the Philippines?

Plenty of volunteers travel before joining us, and Dumaguete is easy to reach by sea. The port is about ten minutes from the airport, so head to whichever pickup point suits you best.

  • From Siquijor

    Fast craft and ferries run several times a day, taking from 40 minutes to an hour and a half.

  • From Bohol

    OceanJet fast craft from Tagbilaran take about two hours.

  • From Cebu City

    OceanJet fast craft take about four to five hours. There are also slower conventional ferries such as Cokaliong, and short flights.

  • From southern Cebu

    Ceres buses from the Cebu South Bus Terminal run down the coast to Liloan port, where a short ferry crossing takes you to Sibulan, just north of Dumaguete. From Oslob it’s a short ride to the port. Allow six to eight hours in total from Cebu City.

Making your own way

Visiting us, or simply prefer to travel on your own? The local bus is an easy option.

  1. Take a tricycle to the Ceres bus terminal in Dumaguete. Just ask for the bus terminal. Every driver knows it.
  2. Board a bus heading south towards Siaton or Bayawan, and ask to be dropped at Marine Conservation Philippines in Lutoban, Zamboanguita. The bus stops right outside our gate.
  3. Watch for our sign on the right-hand side of the road. Here’s how it looks on Street View.

Another option is to get off at the Mayabon crossing and take a habal-habal (motorbike taxi) for the last few kilometres along the coastal road. All the drivers know where we are. Bring small notes, as tricycle and habal-habal drivers rarely have change for large ones.

Find us

Marine Conservation Philippines
Siit Arboretum, Barangay Lutoban
6218 Zamboanguita
Negros Oriental, Philippines

Coming by car for a visit or a meeting? Please message us before you set off so someone is available to meet you.

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