Makati City has some of the strictest traffic rules in Metro Manila. Traffic marshalls actively enforce rules. This means that you can't tell your bus to let you on or off anywhere within its route except at designated stops. Moreover, the colour coding scheme is active all day unlike in other neighbouring cities when they are only enforced during rush hour.
By River Ferry
Pasig River Ferry service has been suspended since January 2011. No word on when it will be back.
The Pasig River Ferry (http://www.prrc.com.ph/in...) stops at two stations in Makati: Valenzuela near the city government complex and Guadalupe near Guadalupe Bridge. Although neither station is in a convenient spot for tourists, which makes this option far less convenient than hailing a taxi. It may be worth keeping the ferry service in mind as another means of getting into Makati from other riverside districts such as Intramuros in Manila.
By train
The Metro Rail Transit MRT elevated train has four stations along EDSA. These are the Guadalupe, Buendia, Ayala and Magallanes stations. Getting off at the Ayala Station will set you in the middle of the Ayala Centre, a complex of shopping malls and restaurants.
The MRT is a quick and inexpensive way to get into the city. The cost of an MRT ticket ranges from 11 to 14 pesos.
By bus
Buses plying the Epifanio De los Santos Avenue EDSA route from Baclaran in Paranaque to Quezon City and Caloocan City pass through the Central Business District daily. As mentioned above, you can't load or unload just anywhere, you have to wait or go to the designated stops. There are separate loading and unloading zones which you must observe.
By car
Two of Metro Manila's main arteries pass through Makati. The Epifanio De los Santos Avenue EDSA pass along the southeast part of Makati and connects the city with Mandaluyong City and Pasay City. The South Luzon Expressway SLEX runs through the western part of Makati and connects the city with Manila to the north and with southern Metro Manila. The Skyway, an elevated highway built on top of SLEX, provides residents coming from southern Metro Manila a fast way to reach Makati. SLEX and EDSA intersect at the Magallanes Interchange, which is the most complex system of elevated roadways in Metro Manila.
Other major roads in Makati include Buendia Avenue Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, which connects EDSA and SLEX in the north; Ayala Avenue, an important street that runs through the Central Business District; and Makati Avenue, which connects Ayala Avenue with Buendia Avenue and also extends north to cross the Pasig River to Mandaluyong City.