Dapitan, also known as the Shrine City of the Philippines, is a city in the province of Zamboanga del Norte, located on the island of Mindanao, which is the second largest island in the Philippines.

Get in

To get to Dapitan means either taking a flight from Manila or Cebu to the neighboring city of Dipolog, where the airport is located, or sailing to the Port of Pulauan (sometimes Pulawan), which is located within the city of Dapitan although ferry schedules often list the destination as Manila-Dipolog.

By plane

• The two airlines that fly to Dipolog Airport (DPL ^IATA) are Philippine Airlines(PR) and Cebu Pacific Air(5J).
  • From Manila, Philippine Airlines has daily flights from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL ^IATA) Centennial Terminal 2, while Cebu Pacific has daily flights from Terminal 3.
  • Both airlines also operate flights from the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (CEB ^IATA) to Dipolog.

By ferry

From the Dapitan port there are ferries to/from Dumaguete, Cebu City, Manila and Zamboanga.

• 2GO Travel. - Dumaguete, Cebu, Zamboanga and Manila.
• Montenegro shipping lines. - Dumaguete
• Cokaliong Shipping lines. - Dumaguete -4PM. Cebu via Dumaguete.
• Supper Shuttle ferries. - Dumaguete -5AM
• Aleson Shipping lines. - Dumaguete -10:30AM

The one-way fare from Dapitan to Dumaguete is from ₱320 + port fee.

By bus

• It is 135 km by bus from Dapitan to Ozamiz. the bus takes 3 hours. and costs ₱170.
• The bus from Dapitan to Dipolog takes 45 minutes and costs ₱20.
• There are also buses going to/from Ipil, Zamboanga, Pagadian, Iligan, Cagayan de Oro.

Get around

• From the ferry port gate to the Highway (2 km) cost 20 on a Motorbike Tax. when you get to the highway you can take bus going to Dipolog 15 or Ozamiz 175.
• Tricycle anywhere in downtown Dapitan, ₱8.

See

• Liwasan ng Dapitan. During his exile, Jose Rizal, with the assistance of the Spaniards, beautified this simple town square to make this like those typical of European cities (updated Jul 2019)
• Gloria's Fantasyland (inside Dakak, see #Sleep). The first outdoor amusement park in Mindanao. (updated Jul 2019)

Buy

Malls & supermarkets

• Prince Retail, Manuel L Quezon Street, ☏ +63 65-9082015. 6AM-8PM. The only mall in town. (updated Jun 2016)

Sleep

Several enterprising residents also operate bed and breakfast inns and pension houses.

• Home Sweet Home, Sunset Boulevard. Check-in: noon-8PM, check-out: noon. A family home that now operates as a bed and breakfast by the bay. From ₱700. 
• Monina Pension House, Justice Florentino Sinagu Street (near plaza), ☏ +63 65-2136715. Check-in: noon, check-out: noon. Has A/C double rooms with cable TV with en suite bathrooms and others with outside bathrooms. ₱500/₱700. (updated Jun 2016)
• Raguels Pension House, 39 Leonor River Street Sta Cruz, ☏ +63 9472816989. Check-in: noon, check-out: noon. A/C double rooms with own bathroom and cable TV. ₱600, but only 3 rooms are at this price. (updated Jun 2016)

Connect

• Internet cafes. 8AM-10PM. There are many net cafes all over town, but the opening hours and prices are all pretty much the same. From ₱10 per hour. (updated Jun 2016)

Go next

• Dipolog
• Dumaguete
• Ozamiz