Cagayan de Oro City to Marawi City bus guide

Mindanao Star runs Cagayan de Oro City to Marawi City as one bus on one ticket. The trip leaves the Bulua Terminal on the western edge of Cagayan de Oro, follows the coastal national highway to Iligan City, then turns inland and climbs into Lanao del Sur to finish at Marawi, on the northern shore of Lake Lanao.

Route overview and terminal information

Board at Bulua, not Agora. Cagayan de Oro dispatches its westbound services from the Bulua Terminal, while Agora handles the eastbound and southbound runs. The two are on opposite sides of the city, so arriving at the wrong one costs the better part of an hour.

• Average travel time: 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours, including brief stops at the municipal terminals along the coast.
• Departures: Two daily trips from Cagayan de Oro: 12:00 NN and 3:00 PM.
• Fares: P265.00 for the air-conditioned ticket, with the Student, Senior, and PWD rate at P215.00.

Where the bus stops

The run splits cleanly into two halves, with Iligan City as the hinge between them.

• 1. The Misamis Oriental coast: Opol, El Salvador City, Alubijid, Laguindingan, Gitagum, Libertad, Initao, Naawan, Manticao, and Lugait, following the shoreline of Macajalar Bay. Laguindingan is the stop for the region's airport.
• 2. Iligan City: The midpoint and the largest stop on the route, where passengers travelling only this far get off.
• 3. The climb into Lanao: Baloi and Pantar in Lanao del Norte, then Saguiaran in Lanao del Sur, before the bus reaches Marawi City.

Practical travel tips

• Check the terminal before the schedule: Bulua is the westbound terminal. Passengers used to catching long-haul buses at Agora regularly turn up at the wrong side of Cagayan de Oro for this one.
• Plan the evening: A 3:00 PM departure puts you in Marawi in the early evening. Know where you are going and how you are getting there before you leave Cagayan de Oro.
• Dress for the elevation: Marawi is well above the coast and cools down sharply after sunset, which catches out passengers who boarded in Cagayan de Oro's heat.
• Carry a valid ID: The route crosses provincial boundaries and passes routine highway checkpoints. Keep a government or student ID in your hand luggage rather than packed away.