Iloilo to General Santos Ferry

The Iloilo to General Santos route is one of the long-haul inter-island voyages in the Philippine ferry network, linking the port city of Iloilo on Panay Island in the Western Visayas with General Santos City, the tuna capital of Mindanao on the southern coast. Unlike the short island hops of the central Visayas, this is an ocean crossing of roughly a full day at sea, running down through the Visayan and Mindanao waters.

Operator and vessel

The service is operated by 2GO Travel, the country's largest sea-travel provider, using one of its large ocean-going passenger vessels equipped with cabins and multiple accommodation classes for the overnight legs. General Santos is one of the southern anchor ports on 2GO's long Luzon–Visayas–Mindanao itineraries, and Iloilo is a major Visayan hub on the same network.

Crossing time and frequency

This is a long crossing of around 24 to 25 hours at sea, so it is very much an overnight-plus voyage rather than a day trip. Frequency is limited to roughly once a week in each direction, which reflects its role as a scheduled long-distance link rather than a commuter service. Because it is weekly and demand can be high, advance booking is strongly recommended.

Ports and accommodation

• Iloilo Port in Iloilo City, Panay — a principal Western Visayas passenger and cargo terminal.
• General Santos Pier (Makar Wharf) in General Santos City, South Cotabato region, Mindanao.

Because of the length of the trip, 2GO offers a spread of accommodation from economy and tourist berths up to business class and VIP suiterooms, with fares typically running from around ₱2,800 up to roughly ₱9,600 depending on class. Reduced fares apply for children, senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Travellers should treat this as a genuine overnight sea journey and pack accordingly.