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Voykit pocket guide · Philippines
Lubang
Skip unless you have 3–4 days and want an off-grid island with beaches, dive sites and almost no tourists. Not a day-trip or a stopover.
Lubang Island, northwest of Mindoro, is one of the Philippines' least-visited islands. It has beaches, dive sites and a quiet pace, but no scheduled flights and limited facilities. Most travellers who come stay 3–4 days to decompress and explore by tricycle or motorbike.
- Country
- Philippines
- Best months
- Dec–May (dry season)
- Avoid
- Jun–Nov (typhoon risk, rough seas for ferries)
- Stay
- 3 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- PHP
- Money
- Philippine pesos (₱) in small notes for jeepneys, market stalls, tips and taxis; malls and hotels take cards.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₱1,500–2,500 excl. bed · Mid ₱2,500–4,000 excl. bed · High ₱4,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Globe and Smart sell SIMs at airports; SIM registration with passport is required by law.
- Emergency
- National emergency 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B, C · 220 V · 60 Hz · US flat pins common; check your devices for 220 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10% if no service charge.; Grab / taxi: Round up.; Boat crew: ₱100–200 per tour.; Massage: ₱50–100.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; refill stations cheap.
- Toilets
- Called 'CR' (comfort room); bring tissue; many lack toilet seats.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Ferry Nasugbu–Tilik (one way) | ₱350–500 |
| Tricycle ride (within town) | ₱30–60 |
| Simple meal (rice + viand) | ₱80–150 |
| Bottle of water (1.5 L) | ₱30–50 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- LBX · Lubang Airport
- No scheduled flights as of 2026; check for charters.
Typical fares
- Ferry Nasugbu–Tilik
- about ₱350–500, 1.5–2 h (check)
- Tricycle Tilik Port → Lubang Town
- about ₱50–100
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Tricycles are the main transport; negotiate the fare before you ride. Motorbike rental is possible but check availability. Roads are basic.
See and do
Known for
- Off-grid beaches and dive sites
- Lt. Hiro Onoda's surrender site (1974)
- Lubang Airport (no scheduled flights)
- Two municipalities: Lubang (north) and Looc (south)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Sabang, Mindoro | Ferry to Batangas, then bus/van to Sabang | About 5–6 h |
| Puerto Galera | Ferry to Batangas, then bus/van to Puerto Galera | About 5–6 h |
| San Jose, Mindoro | Ferry to Batangas, then bus south | About 6–7 h |
Sleep
- Lubang Town (north)
- Inland from Tilik Port; most accommodation and eateries are here.
- Looc (south)
- Quieter, fewer options; closer to some beaches and dive sites.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much? | Magkano?mag-KA-no |
| Where is the port? | Nasaan ang pantalan?na-SA-an ang pan-ta-LAN |
| I need a tricycle. | Kailangan ko ng traysikel.kai-LA-ngan ko ng trai-SI-kel |
| Thank you. | Salamat.sa-LA-mat |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Smile, handshake; 'po' to elders; avoid: Loud confrontation
- Beckoning: Palm down, wave; avoid: Palm up (used for animals)
- Invitations: Accept food offered or decline politely; avoid: Refusing bluntly
- Time: Expect 'Filipino time' socially; avoid: Lateness for flights and boats
- Churches: Covered clothes; avoid: Loud tours during Mass
Scams and watch-outs
- Ferry schedules depend on weather; rough seas can cancel crossings for days.
- No ATMs on the island: bring enough cash from Batangas or Nasugbu.
- Limited medical facilities; serious cases need a ferry back to Batangas.
- Mosquitoes: bring repellent, especially in the wet season.
Lubang is generally safe, but roads are unlit at night and medical evacuation is slow. Bring cash, repellent and a first-aid kit.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Lubang yet. Suggested stay: 3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Off-grid beaches and dive sites
- Lt. Hiro Onoda's surrender site (1974)
- Lubang Airport (no scheduled flights)
- Two municipalities: Lubang (north) and Looc (south)
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata — Lubang Island: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3265254
- Wikivoyage: Lubang, revision 4075835 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4075835
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Lubang
Dalhin mo ako sa address na ito, pakiusap.
Take me to this address, please.
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- National emergency911
English is widely understood; Tagalog phrases are a courtesy.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/lubang). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.