Because of its proximity to Metro Manila, Zambales is undoubtedly one of the choice weekend and summer destinations for metropolitan dwellers, especially beach lovers and sun chasers. Located in the Central Luzon region, its western border is the West Philippine Sea, blessing most of its towns, including its capital Iba, with sandy shores and clear waters.
San Antonio is popular for its stunning coves like Anawangin and Nagsasa. Tourists embark on an island hopping tour to get to some of these beautiful coves and islands. Neighboring towns San Felipe and San Narciso offer surfing spots for both beginners and advanced wave riders.
For those staying overnight or for a few days, the resort towns of Zambales not only provide beachfront and unique lodgings but also lure beach campers and “glampers”.
Already itching to explore the province? Whether riding a private vehicle or taking public transportation, the travel time from Manila to Zambales is 4-5 hours, depending on the traffic and road conditions.
For those traveling via public transportation, here are the bus schedules for Manila to Zambales route.
NOTE: This covers buses bound for Olongapo, Iba, and Santa Cruz. Although governed independently from the province, Olongapo is still geographically located in Zambales. If you are specifically headed to Subic, you can check out our MANILA to SUBIC Bus Schedules & Fares article.
WHAT'S IN THIS GUIDE?
Things to Do in Zambales
If you are still planning your itinerary, you can check out our posts below. These articles highlight the beaches and coves of Zambales.
If you’re a foreign tourist traveling around the Philippines and you haven’t figured out your internet situation yet, let us help! You can either rent a pocket WiFi or purchase a local SIM card or an eSIM. Both of these options are available at the airport and can be picked up upon your arrival.
Victory Liner
As one of the biggest bus companies in the Philippines, Victory Liner has a wide network of bus routes servicing Northern and Central Luzon areas. Its terminals in Manila are located in Pasay, Sampaloc, Cubao, Kamias, and Caloocan, while its Zambales Line has terminals in Olongapo, Iba, and Santa Cruz.
Here are the bus schedules of Victory Liner from Manila to Zambales via Olongapo, Iba, and Santa Cruz.
Note: This schedule may change without prior notice. It’s best to check Victory Liner’s official Facebook page for the updated schedule. You can also book your tickets in advance online through Victory Liner official website.
From Victory Liner PITX Terminal
PITX to Olongapo
- 07:00 AM – Inner Cities
- 10:00 AM – Inner Cities
- 01:00 PM – Express
- 02:00 PM – Inner Cities
- 04:00 PM – Express
- 05:30 PM – Inner Cities
- 07:00 PM – Express
- 08:00 PM – Inner Cities
As of: 12 February 2026
Fare: P320 (Inner Cities) | P416 (Express)
Note: The buses covering the inner cities typically make a stop at the San Fernando terminal and/or Dau transportation hub in Pampanga, while express trips usually take the SCTEX via Dau to get to Victory Liner terminal in Olongapo.
From Victory Liner Pasay Terminal
Pasay to Olongapo
- 01:30 AM – Inner Cities
- 02:30 AM – Inner Cities
- 04:30 AM – Inner Cities
- 05:30 AM – Express
- 06:00 AM – Inner Cities
- 07:00 AM – Express
- 07:30 AM – Inner Cities
- 08:30 AM – Inner Cities
- 09:30 AM – Inner Cities
- 10:30 AM – Inner Cities
- 11:00 AM – Inner Cities
- 12:00 PM – Inner Cities
- 01:00 PM – Inner Cities
- 02:00 PM – Inner Cities
- 03:00 PM – Inner Cities
- 03:30 PM – Inner Cities
- 04:30 PM – Inner Cities
- 05:00 PM – Inner Cities
- 06:00 PM – Inner Cities
- 07:00 PM – Inner Cities
- 08:00 PM – Inner Cities
- 09:00 PM – Inner Cities
- 10:30 PM – Inner Cities
As of: 22 January 2026
Fare: P320 (Inner Cities) | P416 (Express)
Note: The buses covering the inner cities typically make a stop at the San Fernando terminal and/or Dau transportation hub in Pampanga, while express trips usually take the SCTEX via Dau to get to Victory Liner terminal in Olongapo.
Pasay to Iba
- 05:00 AM – Express
- 08:00 AM – Express
- 10:00 AM – Express
- 12:30 PM – Express
- 01:30 PM – Express
- 02:30 PM – Express
- 05:30 PM – Express
- 07:30 PM – Inner Cities
- 11:30 PM – Express
As of: 23 January 2026
Fare: P615
Note: These buses might also make stops at San Fernando and Olongapo terminals.
Pasay to Santa Cruz
Express (Aircon Bus)
- 12:30 AM
- 04:00 AM
- 06:30 AM
- 09:00 AM
- 11:30 AM
- 04:00 PM
- 06:30 PM
- 08:30 PM
As of: 18 February 2026
Fare: P770
Note: Some of these buses travel directly to Victory Liner terminal in Santa Cruz via San Fernando.
From Victory Liner Cubao Terminal
Cubao to Olongapo
- 01:00 AM – Inner Cities
- 04:30 AM – Inner Cities
- 05:30 AM – Inner Cities
- 06:00 AM – Express
- 06:30 AM – Inner Cities
- 07:30 AM – Inner Cities
- 08:30 AM – Inner Cities
- 09:30 AM – Inner Cities
- 10:00 AM – Express
- 10:30 AM – Inner Cities
- 11:30 AM – Inner Cities
- 12:00 PM – Inner Cities
- 12:30 PM – Inner Cities
- 01:30 PM – Inner Cities
- 02:00 PM – Inner Cities
- 03:00 PM – Inner Cities
- 04:00 PM – Inner Cities
- 05:30 PM – Inner Cities
- 06:00 PM – Inner Cities
- 06:30 PM – Inner Cities
- 07:30 PM – Inner Cities
- 08:00 PM – Inner Cities
- 08:30 PM – Inner Cities
As of: 22 January 2026
Fare: P306 (Inner Cities) | P401 (Express)
Note: The buses covering the inner cities typically make a stop at the San Fernando terminal and/or Dau transportation hub in Pampanga, while express trips usually take the SCTEX via Dau to get to Victory Liner terminal in Olongapo.
Cubao to Iba
- 12:00 AM – Express (Regular Aircon)
- 07:00 AM – Express (Regular Aircon)
- 08:00 AM – Express (Regular Aircon)
- 09:00 AM – Express (Regular Aircon)
- 11:00 AM – Express (Deluxe)
- 02:30 PM – Express (Deluxe)
- 03:30 PM – Express (Regular Aircon)
- 07:00 PM – Express (Regular Aircon)
- 11:30 PM – Inner Cities (Regular Aircon)
As of: 23 January 2026
Fare: P502 (Inner Cities) | P600 (Regular Aircon Express) | P640 (Deluxe Express)
Note: The regular aircon express buses will take the SCTEX via Dau in Pampanga to get to Victory Liner terminal in Iba, while the trip covering the inner cities usually make a stop at the San Fernando terminal in Pampanga.
Cubao to Santa Cruz
- 03:00 AM – Express (Regular Aircon)
- 05:00 AM – Express (Deluxe)
- 01:00 PM – Express (Regular Aircon)
- 07:00 PM – Express (Deluxe)
As of: 18 February 2026
Fare: P756 (Regular Aircon Express) | P805 (Deluxe Express)
Note: The regular aircon express buses will take the SCTEX via Dau in Pampanga to get to Victory Liner terminal in Santa Cruz.
From Victory Liner Sampaloc Terminal
Sampaloc to Olongapo
- 05:00 AM – Inner Cities
- 07:00 AM – Inner Cities
- 09:00 AM – Inner Cities
- 12:00 PM – Inner Cities
- 05:00 PM – Inner Cities
- 07:00 PM – Express
As of: 22 January 2026
Fare: P308
Note: These buses usually make a stop at the San Fernando terminal in Pampanga.
Sampaloc to Iba
- 04:00 AM – Inner Cities
- 01:00 PM – Inner Cities
- 06:00 PM – Inner Cities
- 08:00 PM – Inner Cities
As of: 23 January 2026
Fare: P504
Note: These buses usually make a stop at the San Fernando terminal in Pampanga.
Sampaloc to Santa Cruz
- 11:00 AM – Inner Cities
- 02:20 PM – Express
- 04:20 PM – Inner Cities
- 11:00 PM – Inner Cities
As of: 18 February 2026
Fare: P657 (Inner Cities) | P758 (Express)
Note: These buses usually make a stop at the San Fernando terminal in Pampanga, while express buses depart from Sampaloc terminal and travel directly to Victory Liner terminal in Santa Cruz.
From Victory Liner Caloocan Terminal
Caloocan to Olongapo
- 04:30 AM – Inner Cities
- 05:30 AM – Inner Cities
- 06:20 AM – Inner Cities
- 07:40 AM – Express
- 08:40 AM – Inner Cities
- 09:40 AM – Inner Cities
- 10:40 AM – Inner Cities
- 11:40 AM – Inner Cities
- 12:40 PM – Inner Cities
- 01:40 PM – Inner Cities
- 02:15 PM – Inner Cities
- 03:15 PM – Inner Cities
- 04:15 PM – Inner Cities
- 04:40 PM – Inner Cities
- 05:15 PM – Inner Cities
- 06:15 PM – Inner Cities
- 08:40 PM – Inner Cities
- 10:00 PM – Inner Cities
As of: 22 January 2026
Fare: P299
Note: The buses covering the inner cities typically make a stop at the San Fernando terminal and/or Dau transportation hub in Pampanga, while express trips usually take the SCTEX via Dau to get to Victory Liner terminal in Olongapo.
Caloocan to Iba
Inner Cities (Aircon Bus)
- 05:00 AM
- 06:00 AM
- 07:00 AM
- 08:00 AM
- 09:00 AM
- 10:00 AM
- 11:00 AM
- 12:00 PM
- 01:00 PM
- 02:00 PM
- 02:30 PM
- 03:30 PM
- 04:00 PM
- 04:30 PM
- 05:00 PM
- 06:00 PM
- 07:00 PM
- 11:00 PM
As of: 23 January 2026
Fare: P495
Note: These buses usually make a stop at the San Fernando terminal and/or Dau transportation hub in Pampanga.
Caloocan to Santa Cruz
Inner Cities (Aircon Bus)
- 04:00 AM
- 07:20 AM
- 08:20 AM
- 09:20 AM
- 10:20 AM
- 11:20 AM
- 01:20 PM
- 03:00 PM
- 05:30 PM
- 08:00 PM
- 11:55 PM
As of: 18 February 2026
Fare: P648
Note: The buses covering the inner cities usually make a stop at the San Fernando terminal in Pampanga.
From Victory Liner Avenida Terminal
Avenida to Olongapo
- 05:00 AM – Inner Cities
- 07:00 AM – Inner Cities
- 09:00 AM – Inner Cities
- 12:00 PM – Inner Cities
- 05:00 PM – Inner Cities
As of: 22 January 2026
Fare: P308
Note: These buses usually make a stop at the San Fernando terminal in Pampanga.
Avenida to Santa Cruz
- 06:00 AM – Inner Cities
- 08:00 AM – Inner Cities
- 03:20 PM – Inner Cities
As of: 18 February 2026
Fare: P657
Note: These buses usually make a stop at the San Fernando terminal in Pampanga.
Cisco Bus Co.
Cisco Bus Co. operates daily trips from Manila to Zambales, Nueva Ecija, and Pangasinan. The company shares a terminal with Five Star Bus in Cubao and Pasay. Buses bound for Santa Cruz in Zambales are stationed at the Pasay terminal at #2240 Aurora Boulevard in Malibay. Look for the Five Star Bus terminal. By the way, these buses also stop at Alaminos before proceeding to Santa Cruz.
Here’s the trip schedule of Cisco Bus from Manila to Zambales via Santa Cruz.
Note: This schedule may change without prior notice. It’s best to check Cisco’s official Facebook page for the updated schedule.
Pasay to Santa Cruz
- 05:00 AM
- 07:45 AM
- 09:00 AM
- 12:00 PM
- 02:30 PM
- 04:00 PM
- 05:30 PM
- 09:00 PM
As of: 3 November 2025
Fare: P710
Note: This route includes a stopover at the bus terminal in Alaminos, Pangasinan.
Where to Stay in Zambales
Olongapo is ideal for those who want to stay near Subic Bay and the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. If you want to stay in one of the beach towns, San Antonio, San Narciso, and San Felipe are dotted with accommodation options — camping, glamping, homestays, resorts, and hotels. You may also opt to stay in Iba if the provincial capital is your next destination. Santa Cruz is a border town, which is perfect for those who want to explore both Zambales and Pangasinan.
Remember to book your hotel in advance, especially during peak season. Here are some of the top accommodations as rated by online users.
Top Hotels on Agoda
- CRYSTAL BEACH RESORT
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - YOUHAN BEACH RESORT
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - THE PENTA BEACH RESORT
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - FUNTASEA HOTEL AND BEACH RESORT
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - BOM DIA HOSTEL
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here!
Top Hotels on Booking.com
- WHITE CASTLE BEACH RESORT
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - MEGANS PARADISIO BEACH RESORT
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - PLAYA ALBA BEACH FRONT AND RESORT
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - THE PALMS RESORT & BAR
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here! - BAKASYUNAN RESORT AND CONFERENCE CENTER
✅ Check Rates & Availability Here!
If you want more suggestions with more details about each hotel, you can also check our Top 10 Beach Resorts in Zambales article.
Find more Zambales Hotels!
Updates Log
2026.02.18 – Updated schedules and fares
2025.01.15 – Updated Cisco schedule and added Victory Liner PITX – Olongapo route info
2024.05.10 – First uploaded
Related Article: How to Get to Zambales
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