Clark International Airport (IATA: CRK), formerly Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA), is one of the major international gateways in the Philippines. But despite this, getting there from Metro Manila is quite a challenge. Hopefully, this tried-and-tested guide on how to commute to Clark International Airport the cheapest way from Metro Manila helps. Read more…
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| Photo credit: JMParrone |
GUIDE A: FROM NAIA TERMINALS 1-4 (IATA: MNL)
From NAIA Terminals 1 or 2, take a bus to EDSA and alight at EDSA-Taft Rotonda (12 PHP). From NAIA Terminal 3, take a shuttle bus at the designated bay (20 PHP) or a jeepney outside the terminal (8 PHP) to EDSA-Taft Rotonda. From NAIA Terminal 4, walk to Andrews Avenue and take a jeepney (8 PHP) to EDSA-Taft Rotonda. The landmark is Hotel Sogo.
From EDSA-Taft Rotonda, one may take an MRT or bus to Cubao (proceed to Guide B) or North Avenue (proceed to Guide C) to take the buses from there. Alternatively, walk or take a jeepney to the Victory Liner terminal near EDSA-Taft Rotonda and take a Dagupan or Baguio bus that will stop over at Dau in Mabalacat, Pampanga (140 PHP; proceed to Guide D).
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GUIDE B: FROM CUBAO, QUEZON CITY
Get to EDSA-Cubao via MRT, LRT, or the many buses that pass by. Walk or alight onto one of the several bus terminals in the area, such as Victory Liner, Dagupan Bus Lines, and Five Star. Take a Dagupan bus to Dau in Mabalacat, Pampanga (130 PHP; proceed to Guide D).
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GUIDE C: FROM NORTH AVENUE, QUEZON CITY
Get to EDSA-North Avenue via MRT, jeepney, or bus. Get inside TriNoma, or use the footbridge from the MRT station. Go down to the provincial bus stop outside the mall building. Take a Dagupan or Baguio bus from bus companies, such as Victory Liner, Dagupan Bus Lines, and Five Star, to Dau in Mabalacat, Pampanga (130 PHP; proceed to Guide D).
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GUIDE D: FROM DAU BUS TERMINAL, MABALACAT, PAMPANGA
Get outside the bus terminal and walk towards the nearby intersection, where the landmark is KFC. Cross the road to take a jeepney to Clark Main Gate, and alight at Bayanihan Terminal near SM City Clark (8 PHP). From there, take a ROUTE 1 jeepney going inside the Clark Special Economic Zone, and ask the driver to drop you off at “terminal” (12 PHP). You will be dropped off outside the gate of the airport, and you can walk from there to the terminal building. Note that the jeepneys to the airport are available 24 hours at the Bayanihan Terminal.
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GUIDE E: FROM CLARK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO METRO MANILA
Jeepneys don’t intentionally pass by the airport, so chances of catching one are slim. Hence, it is better to take an air-conditioned jeepney shuttle service to Clark Main Gate (50 PHP) from where a jeepney to Dau Bus Terminal can be taken (8 PHP), or directly to Dau (100 PHP). At Dau Bus Terminal, a bus to downtown Manila, Pasay, or Cubao (125-140 PHP) can be taken.
IMPORTANT NOTES
1. Budget per way ranges from less than 150 PHP to less than 200 PHP.
2. Allow a total of two to three hours travel time to Clark International Airport. Always expect heavy traffic in all Metro Manila roads.
3. Due to the number of transfers, commuting would favor light packing.
4. Clark International Airport has a small terminal. For domestic flights, you may be there as late as one hour before your flight, as the boarding gate is near the check-in counters. For international flights, you may be there one and a half to two hours before your flight to allow time for travel tax payment and immigrations clearance.
5. For domestic flights, counters open two hours before the flight, while for international, they open three hours before the flight. All counters usually close 45 minutes before the flight.
6. The airport opens three hours before the first departing flight that day.
For any feedback or questions on how to commute to Clark International Airport the cheapest way, leave a comment below.
Updated: July 4, 2016
