The most reliable recent data for the San Carlos City (Negros Occidental) to Dumaguete City route via Ceres Liner shows frequent hourly (or near-hourly) departures throughout the day. However, exact first and last trips vary slightly by source and can change based on demand, season, or company updates (especially around holidays like New Year 2026).
From commuter and schedule aggregation sites (like ph.commutetour.com, updated as of early 2026):
- First morning trip from San Carlos to Dumaguete: Around 2:45 AM or 3:00 AM (very early departures are common on this route, often as part of overnight/early Bacolod-origin buses passing through or starting local service).
- Last evening trip: Around 10:00 PM (some sources list the final one at 10:00 PM, with service winding down after that; no consistent evidence of later departures like 11:00 PM or midnight on this specific short route).
This aligns with patterns on similar Negros routes:
- Buses often start as early as 2-3 AM for long-haul connections (e.g., from Bacolod via San Carlos to Dumaguete).
- Evening service typically ends by 10:00 PM, though some northbound from Dumaguete (reverse direction) go until 10:00-10:30 PM.
Recent Vallacar Transit / Ceres Dumaguete Facebook posts (e.g., updates as of January 13, 2026) mention revised schedules and northern routes (including to San Carlos), but they don't list exact times publicly in text—posts often include images of timetables for northern destinations like San Carlos.
For the absolute latest (as schedules can adjust daily or seasonally):
- Check the official Vallacar Transit, Inc. Dumaguete Facebook page (facebook.com/YGBCDumaguete) directly—look for the most recent "Updated schedule of trips" post (January 2026 versions are available and include northern routes).
- Or head to the San Carlos Ceres terminal early and confirm with staff, as buses may depart "as full" beyond strict times on provincial routes.
If you're traveling soon, aim for early morning (from ~3 AM) or up to evening (~10 PM) to be safe. Travel time remains ~3 hours, fare ~₱360-410. Safe trip, Santiago! Let me know if you need reverse direction or more details.
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