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|hitch = {{Very Good}}<rating country='ph' />

Hitching in the The '''Philippines''' is compared to other possibly the easiest of all Southeast Asian countries a little bit harder, but this often depends on your locationto hitchhike in. You can make cover 200-300 km a day, maybe a bit more, depending on the route. Near tollgates toll gates and ''on'' the NLEX/SLEX (North/South Luzon Expressway) you will probably get in trouble with the police. Nevertheless they are friendly at many checkpoints. Ferries are frustrating though.<!--The Manila MRT/LRT (Metro, not to be confused with the urban sprawl "metro manila") < whats what's this information about? --> Filipinos are well known for being very hospitable and friendly, and are a very social people. Hitching a ride is often very easy because of this trait, and in the provinces and rural areas out of the cities it is especially easy to get a lift, whilst in the city you may not be as lucky because of the chaotic schedules of the drivers, especially around the bustling traffic, however Filipinos are known to go out of their way to help people and you will be surprised how many people will try and help you. Often drivers will stop to see if you need a lift in the provinces, especially if you look like a foreigner. Many people hitchhike all over the Philippines, and drivers rarely if ever ask for money. If you travel within the island provinces out of urban centers it is a great experience for hitchhiking as many locals will always stop to see if you need a lift (especially if you give the thumbs up or wave your hand in a downwards manner, commonly used to hail a [[Jeepney]], a type of local Filipino bus), this is much more easily done if you look like a foreigner, as many locals consider you exotic and are interested in you, you often find yourself making new friends this way. It often can be harder to hitch a ride if you are travelling in some of the isolated islands, which often do not have very good road infrastructures in the first place. You will find out about this especially if you are wishing to hitch a ride in a mountainous area, where there is often a lack of flowing traffic, and often fewer vehicles because fewer people actually have them in more rural areas. Again, public transportation is common even in these areas and you can often get yourself on a local jeep or trike. In crowded town areas near Manila, hitchhiking is also difficult. You will find yourself sticking your thumb out and trying to avoid flagging down trikes or jeepneys. In these areas with dense traffic, it is frustrating trying to get noticed by a private car that is surrounded by an army of trikes. The usual method of hitchhiking amongst Filipinos is to flag down a truck. If it stops then it is prepared to give you a lift, and it is OK to get on the back. Drivers usually prefer this to a lot of negotiating beforehand "can we get a ride, where are you going etc." Details can be sorted out through the window afterwards. Riding on the back of trucks is the most normal, and you should only climb into the cab if the driver invites you. If you are a foreigner it is quite likely you will be invited, though.

Filipino's are well known There is a widespread practice of hitchhiking amongst the punk community of the Philippines. For some, hitchhiking every day and asking for being very hospitable and friendlyleftover food is a positive way of dealing with poverty, running away from unpleasant family situations and are a very social peoplefinding adventure. Hitching a ride is often very easy because if this traitThey also hitchhike buses, and in climbing on the provinces buses and rural areas out of then negotiating with the cities it especially is easy drivers to get go a liftfew kilometres for free, whilse in which often helps getting past the city you may not be as lucky because of tricky bits to a place where the chaotic schedules of the drivers, especially around the bustling trafficis heavier, however Filipino's are known to go or getting out of their way to help people and cities. If you will be surprised how many people will try and help are a foreigner you. Often drivers will stop find bus conductors very reluctant to see if help you need out this way, because they are also taking a lift in risk themselves (there are also controllers employed by the provincesbus company to check their work), especially if your look like a foreignerand people expect that foreigners have some money. Public transportation in the Philippines is very widespread and very cheapHowever, so it is rare to find many people hitching a ride in the countryforeigners often get taken by private cars, it isn't as common thing among locals as it is with touristswhich almost never happens for Filipino hitchhikers.

If you travel within the island provinces out of urban centers it is a great experience Number plates are colour-coded - white for private cars, red for government, yellow for hitch hiking as many locals will often always stop to see public transport, which can be very useful if you need are trying to spot whether an approaching vehicle is a lift (especially if you give the thumbs up minibus or wave your hand in a downwards mannervan, commonly used and therefore if you are going to hail a [[Jeepney]]be asked for money or not. Of course, a type there are plenty of local Filipino bus), this is much more easier done if you look like a foreigner, as many locals consider you exotic buses that didn't pay for the public transport license and are interested in youso have white plates, but you often find yourself making new friends through this'll still get some idea.

It often can be harder to hitch a ride if you On the main north-south route (Maharlika Highway), there are travelling in some plenty of the isolated islandsboats between Bicol and Samar, which often do not have very good road infrastructures in the first placeand a Bridge between Samar and Leyte. You will find out about this especially But if you crossing between Leyte and Mindanao there are wishing only 1-2 ferries each day. From Leyte to hitch Mindanao a ride in a mountainous areaboat travels at 5.30pm each day and possibly early morning, where their is often a lack of flowing traffic, and often fewer vehicles because fewer I'm afraid I didn't check the other direction. Trucks can take 3 people actually have them in more rural areas. Againon the ticket, public transportation is common even in these areas and so you can often might get yourself onboard a local jeep run or on a tricycle bikelift for free.

==Island HoppingSafety ==The Hitchhiking in the Philippines is the worlds second largest island nationgenerally feels safe, with over 7,000 different islandsalthough truck drivers often tell horror stories of carjacking and so on. Because of this unique geography it may be harder But remember the Philippines is home to get very far without boarding several ongoing armed conflicts and a ferry (we assume your reasonably high level of violent crime. It's not flying if your hitching a ride), often you could get dropped off at a port area and find yourself on the ferryreason not to hitch there, but once you are at your destination you may run out of luck if you wish it's good to hitch a ride, especially since many of be knowledgeable about the ferries arrive early hours or situation in the evening. However public transportation at the ports is plentiful every hour day, each place and if all else fails it really isn't much money choose how cautious you want to pay for a local jeepney or busbe.

==Personal Experiences==:I have hitchiked around many of Across the whole archipelago there is a conflict between the rural island provinces armed forces of the Philippines, especially southern Luzon/Tagalog region and the Visayas and found it incredibly easy and enjoyable, Filipinocommunist New People's are a very hospitable and fun people who genuinely wish to help outArmy. A couple of times i have prefered to actually walk the distance of Neither side has a island by foot, rather than hitch hike so i could see the various villages and sights, however particular interest in my 2-3 hour walk two vehicles actually stopped to ask if i wanted a liftcausing problems for foreigners, without me even asking or showing any intentions. I found the peoples genuine happiness to help very good in hitching but there is a ride, however public transportation is so cheap in the Philippines that often chance you really don't need to hitch might wander into a ride unless zone of active conflict. For this reason you really need to, or if that route has no public transporation servicing itcan also expect some suspicion. Many of the people who picked me up in There are few foreign travellers away from the provinces where relatively poor, so i sometimes i paid for my lift, but other times when offered they refused my money. I found many did not want my moneymain tourist attractions, and local people often many locals jump on for a free ride going through each villageguess that foreigners are missionaries, i assume they knew the driver however and it's if not uncommon to see a private persons vehicle all of , spies for the sudden seem like a taxi or busCIA. Safety This suspicion is not a big concern understandable in the Philippinescontext of decades of conflict, mayby in the bigger cities, but in the provinces generally the road rules where many people are very laidback, and it is not uncommon percieved to be seated in unsafe places (by western standards) such as the back of a ute, or on the roof of a jeephave hidden agendas. Keep in mind this Local people will tend to warn you if there is normal, and often they drive fairly slow (or their vehicle actually cannot go any faster), remember to hold conflict on. Normal procedues in hitch hiking and safety, of course apply all around the worldroad ahead. Take care

Filipino, or other Asian hitchhikers should be more cautious before heading into troublespots. A few years ago, a group of 11 people, mostly teenagers, were hitchhiking together to Sagada, a popular relaxed town in the mountains, after a punk show in Baguio. They happened to pass through a spot where, a few days before, 3 soldiers had been killed in clashes with the NPA. The military thought their behaviour unusual, and arrested them on suspicion of having carried out the attacks. Despite no evidence whatsoever linking them to the attacks, the 11 people were tortured and held in prison for 9 months. In Mindanao, there is also ongoing conflict with a range of Muslim separatist groups, and because of this long history some of those groups have turned to kidnap-for-ransom, not always clearly linked to their political objectives. This is a problem in Western Mindanao, and also the fighting tends to be much heavier here than in the conflict with the NPA. There are also conflicts with paramilitaries, usually in areas where plantation or mining companies are trying to expand. Most local people who have knowledge of the conflict advise that foreigners avoid certain areas, particularly the Zamboanga Peninsula, Sulu archipelago and most of North Cotabato / Magindanao. The east of Mindanao is really fine, the road from Surigao to General Santos, or from Davao to Cagayan de Oro is as safe as anywhere in the Philippines. The north coast as far as Iligan is also usually fine. Further west there is some risk, but foreigners do go there. For people who want to travel overland to the Philippines, Zamboanga is the only place you can catch a boat to. Zamboanga city is perceived as safer than the areas around it, but many people still advise being a little cautious in this city, and leaving by boat to Cebu or Davao. == Personal Experiences ==''I have hitchhiked around many of the rural island provinces of the Philippines, especially southern Luzon/Tagalog region and the Visayas and found it incredibly easy and enjoyable, Filipinos are a very hospitable and fun people who genuinely wish to help out. A couple of times I have prefered to actually walk the distance of an island on foot, rather than hitchhike so I could see the various villages and sights, however in my 2-3 hour walk two vehicles actually stopped to ask if I wanted a lift, without me even asking or showing any intentions. I found the people's genuine happiness to help very good for hitching a ride, however public transportation is so cheap in the Philippines that often you really don't need to hitch a ride unless you really want to, or if that route has no public transporation servicing it. Many of the people who picked me up in the provinces where relatively poor, so I sometimes paid for my lift, but other times when offered they refused my money. I found many did not want my money, and often many locals jump on for a free ride going through each village, I assume they knew the driver however and it's not uncommon to see a private person's vehicle all of a sudden seem like a taxi or bus. Safety is not a big concern in the Philippines, maybe in the bigger cities, but in the provinces generally the road rules are very laid back, and it is not uncommon to be seated in unsafe places (by western standards) such as the back of a ute, or on the roof of a jeep. Keep in mind this is normal, and often they drive fairly slow (or their vehicle actually cannot go any faster), remember to hold on. Normal procedures in hitchhiking and safety, of course apply all around the world. Take care.'' Hitchhikernick - I visited in November 2023 for 3 weeks. I didn't have too much luck and had to wait long times for lifts. On several occasions I had motorcycle riders pick me up and then demand money at end, one of them literally wouldn't accept my hitching situation and even said he would drive me back to town 20km away to go to an ATM and a lecture that rides arnt free in Philippines. Of the few that I did get, one was a trucker and the rest private cars.  I managed to hitch a short distance in Manila but not recommended as is more effort than it's worth. I hitched around Taal Lake region and around Batangas and Mabini on Luzon, then Malay to Iloilo city on Panay island and around Bohol and Panglao islands. Most rides were good but the heat, the rain and the difficulty hitching in towns/cities made it not worth while, especially as there are cheap overnight busses that you can get that included ferry ticket. Managed to ride a few jeepneys for free, by saying I didn't have much money after asking price. Most people speak some English, that made it easy to communicate. Average waiting time around 2.5 hrs ==Cities===

Transport is found everywhere in the Philippines, their there often is a ferry or boat leaving port every hour depending on the port, and often not following the schedule to exact times, so it is a gamble sometimes. Flights are cheap to the Philippines thanks to a number of low cost airlines flying in servicing the nation, the premier Filipino Low Cost airline is Cebu Pacific, which also serves international flights around the region.

Be careful on [[Mindanao]] island, especially in the city [[Zamboanga]]. Getting a free boat (there is only one regular one: [[Zamboanga]] to Sabah state in [[Malaysia]]) From from [[Indonesia]] to [[Malaysia]] it's is very very hard, [[Malaysia]] immigration is pretty tough though.

===Islands===