This article is about the province. For the city, see Masbate City

Masbate is a largely rural island province, part of Bicol region in the Philippines. It consists of three major islands: Masbate island proper, Ticao and Burias. It is grouped with Bicol administratively, but its local culture and languages are Visayan rather than Bicolano.

Cities

• 1 Masbate City — provincial capital
• 2 Cawayan — port town, known for its seafood and natural attractions

Other destinations

• Batuan- The municipality of Batuan is one of the four towns comprising the Ticao Island within the Masbate province. It is situated in the southern part of the Island. Batuan is the home of the Philippines' oldest and largest mangrove tree. Batuan is where untouched natural beauty meets rich cultural heritage, offering a tranquil escape in the heart of the Philippines.

Understand

Masbate, lying off between the southern tip of Luzon and the islands of the Visayas, is the melting pot of Bicolano and Visayan cultures. Masbate residents are called Masbateños, and while the province is grouped with Bicol, Masbateño culture is more Visayan than Bicolano.

Masbate has the oldest known settlements in the Philippines, being settled at around 4000-3000 BC. The island is colonized in 1569 by Spaniards seeking its gold mines and Masbate (then spelled Masbat) served as a major waypoint for the historic Manila-Acapulco galleons. Until it became its own province, Masbate was part of Albay, and also Sorsogon, for a decade between 1908 and 1917 after being ravaged by a typhoon.

Masbate's economy is reliant on livestock, copra and gold mining, but poverty is widespread across the province, with 33% of the population living below the poverty line in 2018. Most products sold in Masbate have to be imported from other islands.

Tourism information

• Provincial Tourism Center and Cultural Office, Provincial Hospital Rd, Capitol Grounds, Ibangay, ☏ +63 56 333 1270.  (updated Nov 2020)
• Batuan Municipal Tourism Office, Municipal Hall Building, Poblacion, Batuan. WhatsApp: +639686249291, {{email|batuantourism@gmail.com}{, Facebook: Batuan Tourism.

Tourist map of Ticao Island

Talk

The main language in Masbate is Masbatenyo (Minasbate, also spelled Masbateño), a Visayan language with Bikol influence, and forms the so-called Bisakol group. Hiligaynon and Cebuano are also spoken; the former being the native language of residents at the southeastern part of Masbate Island. Masbatenyo and Hiligaynon are mutually intelligible, and both languages have similar vocabularies.

Get in

By bus

• Daily bus trips via roll-on, roll-off ships are available from Cubao and Alabang to Masbate via the following ports and bus lines:
  • Bicol Isarog Bus Lines: route from Cubao via Port of Pio Duran. Rates are: ₱2,200 for deluxe trips, ₱1,250 for regular aircon trips and ₱1,000 for ordinary trips.
  • Raymond Transportation: route from Cubao via Port of Pio Duran, Albay.
  • Elavil Tours Phil. Inc.: route from Cubao via Port of Pio Duran, Albay
  • Superlines, Inc.: newest route from Cubao-Masbate via Port of San Andres, Quezon; one lay-over at Burias Island.
• Montenegro Shipping Lines and RORO Bus from Cebu Province. The Montenegro shipping lines RORO ferry departs from Cataingan port 77 km (48 mi) south of Masbate city going to Bogo on Cebu Island. The ferry departs Cataingan port every day at noon. the trip takes six hours.
• There is an A/C bus which goes to the Montenegro booking office in Masbate City port from Cebu City every day at 8:30AM. The fare is ₱800 to Cebu City and ₱700 to Bogo City.

By plane

The province's only airport is in Masbate City (MBT ^IATA), served by a daily Cebgo flight every morning.

From Manila (MNL) to Daraga, (DRP), Cebu Pacific & Philippine Airlines is 1 hour by air and 3 hours land travel from Legazpi to Pilar or Bulan, Sorsogon, and a 1-hour ferry to San Jacinto, Ticao Island.

From Clark International Airport (CRK) to Masbate City (MBT), the travel time is approximately 1 hour for Cebu Pacific. From Masbate Airport, ride a tricycle to Masbate Port, then take a public fast craft or Roro to Lagundi, Ticao Island. From Lagundi Port, ride a motorcycle. It would take 1 hour to reach the destination.

By ferry

• From to Pilar in the province of Sorsogon. By fastcraft or RORO ferry, Montengro Shipping Lines fast ferries takes 2½ hours, and the Montenegro RORO ferry takes 4½ hours. The fare for the fastcraft is ₱396 + ₱15 port fee. For the RORO ferry the fare is ₱296 + ₱15 port fee from Pilar port gate there are vans from Legazpi City (one hour) with a fare of ₱100.
• From Cebu City Cokaliong Shipping Lines, c/o First Choice Travel Agency Masbate port gate, tickets for sale Monday to Saturday 8AM-5PM. Cokaliong has a ferry from Cebu city once a week on Saturday at 7PM. Non-A/C fare: ₱750 each way. The tourist class A/C fare is ₱890 each way.
• From Mandaon port a ₱125 van ride.
• There are pump boats from Roxas in Panay.

Get around

Outside of Masbate City, transportation is limited to tricycles for short distances and buses and UV Express vans for longer distances. Buses make stops at various points along the two-lane paved highway that runs from Masbate City to the western and southern points on the island, while UV Express do the route without stopping, though there are also illegal services that stop practically anywhere and must be avoided.

There is a bus station in Masbate City where you can catch a van or buses going to most places in Masbate Island. The van fare from Masbate City to Mandaon is ₱125.

For buses going northbound in the province (i.e. Aroroy, Baleno, Milagros, Mandaon, and Balud), ordinary bus rates will range from ₱40-200, depending on distance covered.

For faster travel, UV Express reach most towns in mainland Masbate, with point-to-point fares starting from ₱108.

• Getting around Ticao Island. Motorcycles or habal-habal and tricycles are the main modes of transportation for going around the Island.

See

• Bakhawan Festival. Bakhawan Festival, which means “Mangrove Festival,” is celebrated in the Municipality of Batuan every 10th of May, where everyone is encouraged to plant mangroves and to spread awareness of the important role of mangroves in our lives. The festival is a celebration of life, a thanksgiving for the gift of nature, the wealth of culture, the bounties of harvest in the seas, and the serenity of island living. The festival features colorful street dances, cultural performances, music, and local showcases, inspired by the richness of island life and the natural beauty of Bongsanglay Natural Park. It also serves as a platform for environmental awareness, promoting the importance of Bongsanglay Natural Park in climate resilience, fisheries, and biodiversity conservation. More than a celebration, the Bakhawan Festival reflects the unity of the community, blending culture, nature, and advocacy—inviting residents and visitors alike to appreciate, protect, and take pride in their coastal heritage.

Do

• Bituon Beach is a small private beach south of the barangay of Mobo where guests can stay overnight in bungalows.
• Rodeo Masbateño is held annually.
• Magcaraguit island in Dimassalang, Masbate offers white sand beaches.
• Swimming with manta rays. Dive and swim with the manta rays in Ticao Island. 
• Buntod Sandbar. A 10-minute boat ride from the city will take you to Buntod Sandbar, which vanishes during high tide. 
• The Rodeo Masbateno is held annually every 2nd week of April. Unlike the US rodeo, the Philippine rodeo is more of a ranch practice in handling the cattle that was turned into a game. The events consist of casting down, carambola, steer roping, steer wrestling, bull riding, load carrying and whip cracking. There are two categories for participants: student and professional. Under each category, there are women’s and men’s divisions.

Things to Do in Batuan, Masbate.

• Bongsanglay Natural Park. Bongsanglay Natural Park is a hidden gem in Ticao Island, where diverse wildlife and lush mangrove forests create a serene haven for nature lovers and adventurers alike. "It is the home of the Philippines' oldest and largest mangrove tree. Explore 1.5 km of trail surrounded by a century-old mangrove forest. Experience the underwater world by Snorkeling. By night, you can set up a camp surrounded by fireflies and experience one of the most beautiful shows in the World, The Bioluminescence.
• Tatus Island. The island is surrounded by pristine coral reefs and reef walls, which make the island the crown jewel among Batuan's stunning Dive Sites. The island has a Cave in its main entrance that leads to a lagoon, which is home to thousands of bats and sea snakes. The perfect blend of heart-pumping adventures and calming retreats awaits in Snake Island.
• Bongsanglay Beach. A pristine stretch of paradise on Ticao Island, where powdery white sands meet crystal-clear waters, offering a perfect escape for relaxation and adventure.
• Matabao Island. A serene tropical getaway in Ticao, where vibrant coral reefs, shipwrecks, clear waters, and unspoiled beaches and sandbars invite you to experience nature at its finest.
• Matabao Island World War II Shipwreck. In Matabao Shipwreck, whether you are an Open Water Diver or advance, you can dive into the magnificent sights of Matabao shipwreck's historical and natural wonders. The shipwreck skeleton remains intact after it sank during World War II.  The shipwreck serves as an underwater artificial reef that attracts fish and larger predators in the ocean. The wreck becomes the host of Coral Reefs and Fishes that have made it home.

Buy

Malls and supermarkets

• Gaisano Capital Mall Masbate, Cagba Street & Central Nautical Highway (400 m south of Masbate airport). 10AM-8PM. Has a Jolibee. 
• LCC Department Store and Supermarket, Zurbito street (next to Masbate port). 8AM-8PM.  (updated Jul 2016)
• Novo Department Store, Quezon Street. 9AM-7PM.  (updated Oct 2016)
• LCC Express Mart Supermarket, Quezon Street.. 8AM-9PM.  (updated Oct 2016)

Go next

• Cebu Island via Cataingan
• Albay via Pilar
• Panay via Mandaon