Lake Sebu is pegged as South Cotabato’s summer and eco-cultural center. If you are planning to visit this beautiful and unique South cotabato municipality, here is the quick guide on how to get to get there:

The nearest airport going to Lake Sebu is General Santos city airport. Flight from Manila to General Santos city is approximately 2 hours. Alternatively, you may also take a Davao flight from Manila with an approximate travel time of 1 hour and 35 minutes.

If you are coming from General Santos city airport, skip step number 1.

1. Davao airport to Koronadal, South Cotabato

From Davao’s Francisco Bangoy International airport, take a cab to Ecoland bus terminal. Cab fare is approximately 200 Php to 250 Php and travel time is approximately 30 minutes.

Once you reach the Ecoland bus terminal, there are a number of bus classes going to General Santos City. If you want to save time, executive buses can take you to General Santos in 2.5 hours. These buses come with toilet, free wifi and do not have any stopovers. Executive bus fare is 300 Php. Alternatively, you can take other buses with cheaper fares but they stops more often and will approximately bring you to General Santos city in 3 to 4 hours.

2. Geneneral Santos to Koronadal, South Cotabato

The bus from Davao to Gen San will drop you off at Eusebio Bulaong public terminal. From there, take a bus to Koronadal, South Cotabato.  Bus fare is 90 Php and travel time is approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour.

If you are coming from General Santos airport, head to Eusebio Bulaong bus terminal.

3. Koronadal to Lake Sebu

The bus from Gen San will drop you off at Koronadal City bus terminal. From there, just walk few meters to Denmark terminal and hop to a van going to Lake Sebu. Van costs 80 Php and travel time is approximately 30 minutes to 45 minutes.

The van will pass Surallah, South Cotabato’s agri-industrial municipality.

The van will drop you off at Lake Sebu’s landmark. From there, a number of habal habal are waiting to drive you to any part of Lake Sebu.

On the van going to Lake Sebu, I was lucky to get to know these very friendly, welcoming and accommodating Lake Sebu Locals (Gretchelle, Larry and Maricel) which also happen to be members of the rich in culture T’boli tribe.

Given that you have taken non-stop buses, the total travel time from Davao  is approximately 4.5 hours to 5.5 hours. Total fare would be 720 Php.

If you are traveling from General Santos City, travel time is approximately 2.5 hours to 3 hours. Total fare is 180 Php.