The Pasig River Ferry Service (PRFS) is presently the one water-based transportation in Metro Manila that plies the size of the Pasig River and elements of the Marikina River. As of January 2025, the choice transport possibility stays FREE to journey for all passengers. The ferry, just like a water bus, cruises alongside Pasig River from Pinagbuhatan in Pasig Metropolis to Escolta in Manila Metropolis.
For those who’re on the lookout for a special mode of transport for city exploration, this commuter ferry has stations in Pasig, Mandaluyong, Makati, and Manila. Whereas work must be performed alongside the riverbanks in lots of areas, the ferry gives a glimpse of native life and gives a view of notable landmarks from a vacationer’s perspective.
When it was first launched, the Pasig River Ferry Service was owned and operated by a personal firm, however it’s presently managed and operated by the Metropolitan Manila Growth Authority (MMDA) and the Philippine Coast Guard. Whereas it’s not probably the most dependable transport possibility within the metropolis, it gives a pleasing different to coping with site visitors jams or different transport choices.
For those who’ve by no means tried the Pasig River Ferry Service earlier than and are on the lookout for schedules and route maps, right here’s probably the most up to date info I can share based mostly on my most up-to-date ferry journey on January 30, 2025.
Take a look at the route on GoogleMaps.
The Pasig River Ferry presently has 13 stations alongside the route within the cities of Pasig, Makati, Mandaluyong and Manila. Listed below are the terminal places going downstream from Pasig to Manila.
- Pinagbuhatan
- Kalawaan
- San Joaquin
- Maybunga
- Guadalupe (close to Guadalupe MRT-3)
- Hulo
- Valenzuela
- Lambingan
- Sta. Ana
- PUP
- Quinta
- Lawton
- Escolta (close to Carriedo LRT-1 and Central Station)
I rode from the Guadalupe Station going to Escolta. You could current an ID for the passenger manifest. You’ll be issued a paper ticket indicating the purpose of origin and vacation spot, which will probably be collected on the final cease.
Deliberate stations
In accordance with information studies, there are plans so as to add 3 stations in Intramuros (Plaza Mexico), Bridgetown in Pasig, and Marikina Metropolis, however these stations usually are not but operational. Because the Marikina River is shallow, the stations in Pasig and Marikina can solely be constructed after the Marikina River turns into “navigable” after dredging actions. Previous to the MMDA takeover, there additionally was a ferry station situated in Eastwood.
The Pasig River Ferry Service operates from Monday to Saturday, daytime solely. There are not any journeys on Sundays. Coming from Guadalupe, there are 11 journeys every day at hourly intervals going downstream to Escolta beginning at 7:00 am with the final journey at 4:30 pm.
Guadalupe Downstream (Guadalupe to Escolta)
- 1st: 7:00 am
- 2nd: 7:30 am
- third: 8:30 am
- 4th: 9:30 am
- fifth: 10:30 am
- sixth: 11:30 am
- seventh: 12:30 pm
- eighth: 1:30 pm
- ninth: 2:30 pm
- tenth: 3:30 pm
- eleventh: 4:30 pm
Guadalupe Upstream (Guadalupe to Pinagbuhatan)
- 1st: 9:20 am
- 2nd: 10:00 am
- third: 10:53 am
- 4th: 11:55 am
- fifth: 1:00 pm
- sixth: 2:05 am
- seventh: 2:52 pm
- eighth: 3:52 pm
- ninth: 5:00 pm
- tenth: 6:00 pm
- eleventh: 6:20 pm
Escolta Upstream
For those who’re coming from Escolta going again to Guadalupe, there are additionally 11 journeys to take. The first journey is at 8:30 am whereas the final journey is 5:30 pm.
- 1st: 8:30 am
- 2nd: 9:00 am
- third: 10:00 am
- 4th: 11:00 am
- fifth: 12:00 nn
- sixth: 1:00 pm
- seventh: 2:00 pm
- eighth: 3:00 pm
- ninth: 4:00 pm
- tenth: 5:00 pm
- eleventh: 5:30 pm
Right here’s the total Pasig River Ferry Schedule and timetable as shared by MMDA. Whereas their official web site says the schedule was final up to date on June 7, 2022, that is nonetheless being adopted as of January 2025. The identical schedule is posted contained in the Guadalupe Ferry Terminal.
Downstream: Pinagbuhatan to Escolta
Upstream: Escolta to Kalawaan
When touring by public transport, listed below are some key stations to be aware of.
Guadalupe: That is the closest station to the MRT prepare line. It’ll take about 5-8 minutes to stroll from the Guadalupe MRT station to the Guadalupe Ferry station.
Hulo: For vacationers staying in Makati and Poblacion, that is probably the most handy station to journey to get to Binondo (Escolta) and Quiapo (Quinta). Smaller boats stationed on the park close to Museo ng Makati provide river crossings to get to the Hulo station.
Quinta: A well-liked cease for individuals who work in Quiapo or these all in favour of procuring round Quiapo and Divisoria. It’s close to the Carriedo LRT-1 Station.
Escolta: At the moment the final cease and the easiest way to entry Escolta and Intramuros with out having to park. From right here, you possibly can stroll to Binondo Chinatown or cross to Intramuros by way of Jones Bridge and the Pasig River Esplanade. That is additionally strolling distance from the LRT-1 Carriedo Station and comparatively close to the LRT-1 Central Terminal (beside Arroceros Forest Park). Lawton can also be close to the Central Station, but it surely’s onerous to cross the road from there. You’ll must cross an underground footbridge by way of Mehan Backyard.
Pinagbuhatan
Location: Eusebio Avenue, Pinagbuhatan, Pasig Metropolis (close to the Coast Guard Station at C6 Bridge)
- C6 Bridge
- Labasan Pumping Station
- Sitio Tapayan Elementary College
Kalawaan
Location: R. Castillo St. Brgy. Kalawaan Pasig
- Pasig Metropolis Corridor
- Pasig Metropolis Mega Market
- Kalawaan Barangay Corridor
- Pasig Catholic Cemetery
San Joaquin
Location: San Bernardo Avenue, San Joaquin, Pasig Metropolis
- Sumilang Barangay Corridor
- Bambang Bridge
- Napindan Hydraulic Management Strucuture
Maybunga
Location: Dr. Sixto Avenue, Pasig (beside Maybunga Barangay Corridor)
- Maybunga Barangay Corridor
- Pasig Rainforest Park
- Arellano College
- San Antonio Abad Parish Church
Guadalupe
Location: J.P. Rizal Extension, Makati Metropolis (close to MRT Guadalupe Station)
- MRT Guadalupe Station
- Guadalupe Market
- College of Makati
- MMDA Principal Workplace
- Nationwide Shrine of Our Girl of Guadalupe
- Bonifacio World Metropolis
Hulo
Location: Coronado Avenue, Hulo, Mandaluyong Metropolis (close to the church)
- Parish of Our Girl of Deserted (Mandaluyong)
- Mandaluyong Science Excessive College
- Poblacion
- Museo ng Makati
- Poblacion Barangay Corridor
- Casa Hacienda Park
- Rockwell Heart
Valenzuela
Location: A. Bonifacio Avenue, Valenzuela, Makati Metropolis (close to Bonaventure Backyard Properties, Riverside Studios and LTO Makati District Workplace)
- Makati Metropolis District Workplace
- Makati Metropolis Corridor
- Manila South Cemetery
- The Circuit Makati
Lambingan
Location: F. Manalo Avenue, Punta Santa Ana, Manila
- Lambingan Bridge
- Thomas Earnshaw Elementary College
- Earnshaw Linear Park
Sta. Ana
Location: Pedro Gil Avenue, Sta. Ana, Manila Metropolis (close to the Sta. Ana Market)
- Sta. Ana Public Market
- Liwasang F. Calde
- Our Girl of Deserted Parish Chuch (Sta. Ana Church)
PUP
Location: Polytechnic College of the Philippines (beside the Philippine Coast Guard Station), Anonas Avenue, Sta. Mesa, Manila
- Polytechnic College of the Philippines (PUP) Principal Campus
- PUP Interfaith Chapel
- Museo ni Apolonario Mabini
- Eulogio “Amang Rodriguez” Institute of Science Expertise (EARIST)
- DPWH North Manila Engineering
- V. Mapa LRT Station
- Pureza LRT Station
- Sta. Mesa PNR Station
Quinta
Location: Carlos Palanca St., Quiapo, Manila
- Quinta Market and Fish Port
- Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene (Quiapo Church)
- Plaza Miranda
- Masjid Al-Dahab (Manila Golden Mosque and Cultural Heart)
- Quiapo Muslim City
- Quiapo Heritage Homes
- San Sebastian Church
- LRT-1 Carriedo Station
- Binondo Chinatown
Lawton
Location: Muelle Del Rio Avenue, Arroceros Manila (close to the Quezon Bridge, Plaza Lawton and Put up Workplace)
- Metropolitan Theater
- Arroceros Forest Park
- Manila Metropolis Corridor
- LRT-1 Central Station
- Lawton Bus Terminal
- Plaza Lawton
- Mehan Backyard
- College of Manila
- Liwasang Bonifacio
- Nationwide Museum Complicated
Escolta
Station: Beside Jones Bridge and Plaza Yuchengco
- Escolta Heritage Buildings (First United Constructing)
- Jones Bridge
- Manila Central Put up Workplace
- Binondo Chinatown
- Binondo Church
- Calle Ongpin
- Divisoria
- Intramuros (Fort Santiago, Manila Cathedral, San Agustin Church, Casa Manila Museum)
- Plaza Lorenzo Ruiz
The Pasig River Ferry Service stays freed from cost to the general public in 2025.
So far as Metro Manila goes, the ferry journey is probably the most scenic possibility. You get a glimpse of the native tradition and it’s a pleasing different to driving and parking or being caught in site visitors. There are some good riverside murals and notable landmarks together with Circuit Makati, Malacanang Palace, Isla de Convalecencia, Manila Central Put up Workplace and Jones Bridge. I discovered it extra nice than driving to the realm or taking the crowded LRT-1 throughout rush hour. Nonetheless, journeys are restricted, so issue that into your journey plans.
- The ferry is greatest for vacationers who aren’t in a rush to get to their vacation spot, those that wish to reap the benefits of free rides, or these to strive different transport.
- Whereas there are alleged to be 11 journeys every day at hourly intervals, the departure instances usually are not strictly adopted. I bought to the Guadalupe Terminal at 1:30 pm and was instructed the subsequent journey was 2:30. The ferry left at 2:09 pm because it had already reached the passenger restrict. It took 56 minutes to get from Guadalupe to Escolta by ferry.
- Excluding the ready time, the ferry can transport passengers from Guadalupe to Manila from 45 minutes to an hour, which cuts down journey time considerably than land-based commutes.
- In accordance with their web site, there are 4 ferry boats with a capability for 55 passengers every. After I rode, the boat was considerably smaller and will solely match 30 folks.
- Passengers can solely journey on a first-come, first-served foundation, so if the ferry is full, you could find yourself having to attend one other hour for the subsequent journey. Except you’re working with an organized tour group, they don’t enable reservations.
- There isn’t any ferry service on Sundays.
- Stations could also be skipped if there are not any passengers taking place or using from there.
- Opposite to standard perception, it doesn’t odor unhealthy when using this ferry alongside the Pasig River. It’s virtually refreshing.
- Pets usually are not allowed on the ferry.
- You may’t take images or movies within the neighborhood of Malacanang Palace. For the very best view of the palace going downstream, sit on the appropriate aspect of the boat.
- For those who plan to journey with youngsters, they solely enable youngsters aged 5 and up touring with dad and mom or guardians.
- It might be nice if they might improve the journey intervals to encourage extra passengers to journey this. The Pasig River is underutilized for transport and tourism. With the excessive curiosity within the new Pasig River Esplanade, ferry rides could possibly be an important addition to excursions.
- In my view, there must be smaller boats to ferry passengers throughout the river from Intramuros to Binondo just like the crossing in Makati to Hulo station.
Each folding and full-size bicycles are allowed on the Pasig River Ferry, making it simpler for bike commuters and leisure bikers who wish to go bimodal and mix their journeys with a river ferry journey to get to the Escolta or Intramuros space from different elements of the metro. Nonetheless, solely two bikes are allowed per journey because of the restricted seating capability. There are bike racks outdoors the Guadalupe Ferry Terminal.
The PFRS might droop its operations throughout a storm or different environmental disturbances or for safety measures round Malacanang. Based mostly on feedback on their social media pages, the schedules usually are not frequently adopted particularly within the smaller stations or these upstream from Guadualupe (Pinagbuhatan, Kalawaan, San Joaquin and Maybunga stations). For inquiries and journey schedules, please message MMDA’s PFRS Fb web page immediately. Although they don’t all the time reply to feedback, they reply to direct messages.
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