Sunriser Cordova–Getafe Ferry: Airport-Direct to Northern Bohol

Cordova RoRo Port sits on the south side of Mactan Island, about 15 minutes from Mactan-Cebu International Airport. From there, Sunriser Cordova runs a direct RoRo crossing to Getafe in northern Bohol — the most logical connection for travellers flying into Mactan who want to reach northern Bohol without going into Cebu City. Economy class covers the crossing in 1 hour 20 minutes, the shortest of the Cordova–Getafe options; Standard class runs a 2-hour version. Vehicles board the same boat as passengers, so a rental car or van from the airport rides straight across to the Bohol side.

What Sunriser is, briefly

Sunriser runs a RoRo (roll-on/roll-off) ferry between Cordova on Mactan Island and Getafe in northern Bohol — passengers and vehicles share the same boat. Economy runs the shorter 1h 20min crossing; Standard runs a 2-hour version. Its small review pool skews positive on punctuality and the genuinely local feel — “good experience, on schedule!” and, on a quiet sailing, “it was like a private trip.” The honest caveat is the one inherent to a small operator: backup options are thin when a sailing cancels, and at least one rider reported being “only advised to book to another port” after a cancellation rather than properly informed. Build in a buffer.

Primary route at a glance — Cordova → Getafe, Bohol

Schedule valid as of 2026-06-23 — check 12Go for current schedules.

Schedules can shift to accommodate vehicle loading. Confirm on the day of travel, and book vehicle space ahead in peak periods.

🚢 Check Sunriser Cordova–Getafe schedules on 12Go

Cordova Port — getting there

Cordova sits at the southern tip of Mactan Island — a genuine 15-minute drive from the airport in normal traffic, by far the shortest Cebu pier to reach if you’re arriving via MCIA.

• From Mactan-Cebu International Airport: 15 minutes by Grab, ₱150–250.
• From Mactan resorts (Shangri-La, Crimson, Maribago beach area): 20–30 minutes by Grab, ₱200–350.
• From Cebu City (Fuente, IT Park): 45–60 minutes by Grab, ₱400–550. Both bridges to Mactan clog up between 4:30 and 7 PM.

Jeepneys and habal-habal also serve Cordova from Lapu-Lapu City. Arrive 45 minutes early if you’re walking on; 30–45 minutes earlier than that if you’re loading a vehicle — RoRo loading takes time.

Getafe and northern Bohol — arrival and onward travel

Getafe is a small port town on Bohol’s north coast — see the Getafe Port hub for the full terminal picture, since Sunriser shares this dock with Clemer Shipping’s own Cordova–Getafe crossing. For travellers whose plan starts inland — Chocolate Hills, Loboc, the older river towns — rather than the beach resorts around Panglao, Getafe sits closer to that itinerary than Tagbilaran does. It removes the crosstown transfer a Tagbilaran arrival would otherwise add.

Northern Bohol’s draw is inland rather than coastal: the limestone karst that forms the Chocolate Hills, the river towns along the Loboc corridor, and the older church parishes that sit further from the tourist strip than Panglao’s resorts. A Getafe arrival puts that geography within a 30–45 minute radius instead of the longer haul a Tagbilaran landing adds. It’s a routing decision more than a scenic one — the port itself is functional, not a destination.

Why Getafe over Tagbilaran: Tagbilaran carries the bulk of Bohol’s inbound ferry traffic and lands arrivals on the island’s south side, close to the Panglao beach strip. Getafe lands arrivals on the north side instead — closer to Carmen’s viewpoints and the upper Loboc corridor, further from the beach resorts. Which port is “closer” depends entirely on where the itinerary is headed.

Onward transport from Getafe runs on tricycle, habal-habal, and pre-arranged van rather than the metered taxi and larger van fleet Tagbilaran supports — a function of Getafe being a working port town rather than a shortfall. Arrange transport ahead where possible, particularly for a Standard-class arrival landing outside daylight hours.

• To Chocolate Hills (Carmen, northern viewpoints): 30–45 minutes by tricycle, habal-habal, or pre-arranged van.
• To Loboc River (upper sections): 20–30 minutes by hired vehicle.
• To Anda peninsula (eastern Bohol): 2–3 hours by car along the northern coast road.
• To Tagbilaran City: roughly 1.5 hours by bus or van.

Vehicle travellers: the RoRo format carries its advantage past the port gate. Drive on at Cordova, drive off at Getafe, and the rental keeps working on the Bohol side without a second contract or a drop-off fee in a different city. For self-drive itineraries built around the interior — Carmen’s viewpoints, the Loboc corridor, the Anda coast road — that continuity matters more than the extra 40 minutes Standard class takes over Economy.

Getafe’s own facilities are limited to what a working port town supports: a handful of eateries near the pier and tricycle stands on hand for arrivals. [FACT NEEDED: current ATM/banking availability in Getafe town, if any, beyond the port] — bring cash from Mactan or an earlier stop as a precaution. The practical case for this route holds regardless of exact facilities: Bohol’s interior sits closer to a Getafe arrival than to a Tagbilaran one, which matters when the destination is inland rather than beachfront.

Class tiers — what you actually get

Economy — basic seating in covered indoor and outdoor sections, the 1h 20min crossing. The recommended choice for almost all passengers — faster and cheaper than Standard.

Economy Upper Deck — open-air upper deck, panoramic views, same fare as Economy. Bring sun protection in dry season, a light waterproof layer in monsoon weather.

Standard — slightly enhanced indoor seating but runs the slower 2-hour version. Skip unless Economy is sold out.

A representative review captures the format: “Basic slow ferry mostly for cars/trucks/motos. Plastic chairs in and outside. Overall ok for the price. Left on time and pretty much arrived on time.”

When this route makes sense

Choose Sunriser Cordova over the alternatives when you’re arriving or departing via MCIA (15 minutes vs. 45+ to the city piers), staying at a Mactan resort (same island, no bridge), traveling with a rental vehicle (RoRo = full mobility on the Bohol side), or you simply want the shortest crossing — 1h 20min beats every other Cebu-departing route. Choose FastCat or Clemer (Pier 3 → Tubigon/Getafe) if you’re on the Cebu City side; choose OceanJet or SuperCat (Pier 1 → Tagbilaran) if your destination is Panglao or Tagbilaran City. Full comparison in best cebu to bohol ferries.

Practical detail

Terminal fees: cash at the Cordova port, small bills. RoRo loading: vehicles board first, then walk-on passengers; vehicle fees apply on top of the passenger ticket, so book vehicle space in advance during peak periods. Onboard food: coffee and small snacks — a step above the open-air-only operators. Luggage: crew help with bags during loading; Getafe disembarking is down a short ramp rather than a built gangway. One honest caveat — weather: standard rebook-to-next-sailing policy, but a smaller operator means fewer same-day backups, so have an alternative in mind for monsoon-season afternoons. Motion sickness: lower-deck indoor seating is most stable, and the short crossing keeps even a rough day manageable.

Sunriser’s other routes — out of scope here

Sunriser operates only this Cordova–Getafe route. There’s no out-of-scope tail to acknowledge.

Booking

12Go handles Sunriser reservations with instant confirmation. With limited capacity (especially when vehicles are loading), booking ahead is the right move — particularly for travellers with airport connections on either end. Print the ticket.

🚢 Book your Sunriser Cordova–Getafe crossing on 12Go

Schedules and class details reflect operator-published information via 12Go as of 2026-06-23 — check 12Go for current schedules. This site earns a commission on bookings made through 12Go partner links at no cost to you.