Bantayan Island completely surprised me, it easily exceeded my expectations with stunning beaches, charming vibes, and unforgettable adventures. Curious what made it so special? Read my blog!

Disclaimer: All views expressed on this blog are my own based on my own experiences and do not represent of any entity with which I have been, are now or will be affiliated.

August 29,2023
Batangas, Philippines

Date of Trip – August 23-25

The island of Bantayan, which is located in Northern Cebu in the Philippines, has been on my list of places to travel to for a very long time. In the Philippines, the Visayas region is where you will locate the city of Cebu. I was planning on travelling to the South of Cebu because there are so many fun things to do there, but in the end I chose to go on vacation in the North of the island instead. I’m really happy that I went through with it; it turned out to be the best choice.

Bantayan island comprises of 3 towns – Sta. Fe, Bantayan, and Madrilejos. I explored all these 3 via motorbike. It was a fun and peaceful vacation. This is exactly the island life I’ve been looking for—less cars, noise, people, and stress. The people are friendly and welcoming, I ate the best seafood I’ve ever had, the food is reasonably priced, it’s very safe—I can bike around Sta. Fe even at night—and don’t forget about their beautiful beaches. I could go on saying how beautiful this island is.

You can view the infographics below for the summary:

Getting to Cebu City from Manila– I took advantage of the discount by flying with Cebupacific for a total cost of PHP1,754.6 including 20kg luggage back to Manila. I left Batangas at 1:00pm and arrived at NAIA Terminal 4 at approximately 4:00pm. I completely forgot that staying longer in this airport is not a smart idea due to the limited food options. My flight is still at 10:00 p.m., therefore I had to work first.

How to Go to Bantayan from Cebu City – Once in Cebu City, Mybus offers daily connectivity from SM City Cebu to Mactan Cebu International Airport and vice versa from 7AM TO 10PM DAILY (20-MINUTE INTERVALS).

I landed at Mactan International Airport Terminal 1 at 1:00am, so Mybus was not an option for me; instead, I booked a Grab for PHP325 to the North Bus Terminal. It takes 28-30 minutes to get from the airport to the North Bus Terminal.

I took a bus to Hagnaya Port from North Bus Terminal. Ceres Buses liner departs every hour operating 24 hours. The bus ticket costs PHP260. I arrived at 1:30 and waited an hour for it to leave. Travel time from North bus terminal to Hagnaya port is 3 hours, not including waiting time.

The total cost of a trip from Hagnaya Port to Sta. Fe Bantayan Port, including boat and terminal fees, is PHP325. The trip from Hagnaya port to Santa Fe takes about 90 minutes. Check the times of departure and arrival below. You can leave your bags on the bus, as it will leave at the same time as the roro or ship; just make sure you remember the bus’s licence plate number!

Duration of Travel from Cebu City to Sta. Fe. Bantayan – 5 hours excluding waiting time.

Tricycles are ready and eager to take you once you arrive in Sta. Fe to your final destination. The fare for a tricycle around Sta. Fe per pax is only 20 pesos. Sta. Fe Bantayan beach club and La Playa Estrella resort offer free shuttle service to and from the beach daily between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Enquire at your hotel about getting these services.

Budget – PHP18,000 inclusive of tour packages, transportation, food and accommodation

Currency – Sta. Fe has BPI and PNB ATMs, plus I spotted Landbank ATMs on Bantayan, Bantayan island, so getting cash is not a problem. In certain stores, you can pay with cash or a credit card. Tour packages typically need cash payments, so it’s best to be prepared and have some on hand at all times.

Laundry – If you will be in Sta. Fe for a lengthy period and need to wash clothes, there is a laundrette available.

Internet Connection – I have had spotty connection at the hotels I have stayed in, but on the islands, the signal has completely vanished. When I need to get some work done on my laptop, I utilize my phone as a hotspot and connect it to the internet using Globe or GOMO. You’ll have greater luck connecting at cafes and other public places outside of hotels.

Accommodation – Total amount of 3d2n stay is PHP6,647. The first night I stayed in a family room at Sta. Fe Beach Club for PHP3,947.07. There is no pre-arrival deposit required, and the check-in time is 1:30 PM and the check-out time is 12:00 PM. Although the hotel’s beachside location is wonderful, my room’s stiff pillows and thin blanket forced me to turn off the air conditioning. My shower drain was backed up and it was really unpleasant to take a shower. Throughout the rest of my time, the wifi was unreliable, and the food was mediocre at best. The kind service was the only positive aspect of this establishment for me.

I spent my second night in a premium garden view room at the oceanfront La Playa Estrella hotel in Philippines for PHP2,700. There is no pre-arrival deposit required, and the check-in time is 1:30 PM and the check-out time is 12:00 PM. In comparison, this hotel was much more to my liking. The staff was kind, the room was clean, and I had no issues with the bathroom facilities. The only real drawback was the quality of the wifi.

Weather – The weather was calm and sunny. The temperature ranged from 27 to 32 degrees Celsius, making swimming a pleasure. The only weather in Bantayan island is sunny and rainy. Typically, the summer months of March through July are followed by the wet season of August through January.

Transportation in Bantayan– When you get to Sta. Fe, you have a number of options for getting around: tricycles cost PHP20 for rides within Sta. Fe, while trips to Bantayan cost PHP60 per person. You can also rent bicycles for PHP150 for 24 hours, motorcycles for PHP300, and habal-habal (motorcycles with drivers) for PHP700 for 3 towns of the island; the price of which depends on your itinerary.

Tour Package –

1. Kuya Lando’s Land and Island Tours quoted me PHP3,500, which does not include the entrance fees to Baigad Lagoon or Ogtong Cave. If you opt to do a DIY, here are the entrance fees of each

This land excursion includes (in no particular order): The Ruins (free); Ob-Ob Mangrove Garden Park (entry price 60Php);
As a guest of Sta. Fe Beach Club, I was exempt from the 225-php entrance price to Ogtong Cave. Daily business hours are from 8am to 4pm. Kota Beach Sand Bar, a free public beach, and Paradise Beach are also part of the package.
Island hopping includes Hilantagaan, where you can go snorkelling, the Virgin Islands (for which the admission price is PHP200), and Baigad Lagoon (for which the fee is PHP150). Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM
DIY cost for island hopping without guides – PHP100 ecological fee, PHP1200 for boat rental max of 5 persons, docking fee PHp200 = PHP1850

2. Kuya Cesar Contact #09974589108– quoted me PHP700 for a motorcycle tour of the Bantayan loop, which included stops at Sta. Fe, Bantayan, and Madrilejos. The PHP50 admission fee to Colina Isla Bantayan and the Bantayan Dry Market are included in the trips. We also visited Madrilejos Park and The Kota Fort, both of which were free to enter. For about PHP500, he prepared the finest seafood I’ve ever eaten, including grilled squid, buttered shrimp, two humongous boiled crabs, and buttered scallops, which I ate in Madrilejos park.

Things to Note – It is currently seaweed season, with less seaweed on the beach expected in the month of December to April.
When I initially arrived in Sta. Fe, there was a total power outage. Fortunately, most commercial spaces are equipped with a backup generator. The lack of energy, however, means that few cafes can actually serve coffee. At approximately 6:00 p.m., electricity is restored.

Things to Bring:
1. cash
2. IDs – to be presented at the airport and when boarding
3. Sunblock/hats
4. Power bank

Itinerary

Day01 August 22(Tuesday) – NAIA Terminal Airport 4

I had a long time to kill before boarding my flight to Cebu City, and there were no places to buy meals. The Cebu Pacific propeller plane was enough for about sixty passengers. After leaving Manila at 10:00 p.m., I arrived in Cebu the following day.

Day1 August 23 (Wednesday)
1:00am Manila time
Mactan International Airport Terminal 1

When we finally arrived at Mactan International Airport in Cebu City, I was in a state of extreme exhaustion due to the lengthy journey. The fact that there are food alternatives open at such an early hour was one of the reasons why I like using their airport so much. Prior to making my way over to North Terminal, I got a snack at one of their stores. When I arrived at the North bus station, I noticed that there were porters who would help you carry your luggage or bag for a price; therefore, it is best not to hand them your belongings. My fault was in allowing them to do it because I erroneously believed it was an act of kindness on their part. Every time you use the restroom in the North bus terminal, you will be required to pay a fee of 10 Philippine Pesos. We left the North Bus terminal around the wee hours of the morning, made a brief stop at Bastap, and eventually arrived in Hagnaya about the very hours of the morning.

8:00am – When I got to Sta. fe, Kuya Lando drove me to my first hotel. Not having checked in just yet, we set off on our first land excursion.

The Ruins Bantayan – This is all that’s left of a German expat’s house after it was wiped out by Typhoon Yolanda in 2013. The Ruins Bantayan are more than just a graffiti-covered abandoned building; they’re also a great place to cliff jump when the tide is out.

Ob-Ob Mangrove Garden Park – As the farthest stop on our land journey, this is one of the areas where the iconic Camp Sawi and Camp Wagi signs from the Philippine film may be found. Twenty minutes strolling through the mangrove was just what I needed to unwind.

Ogtong Cave – Among all the stops on the island, this one is my favourite. The water in this small cave is a beautiful shade of turquoise. The water was so clean that I decided to go for a swim. You can see right through to the ground, it’s that transparent. After the other three people departed, I had the entire cave to myself, and it was wonderful to just chill out and swim.

Kota Beach Sand Bar and Paradise Beach – Seaweed prevented me from going, but I plan to return.

Around noon, I was done with the land tour and decided to eat at the Pizzeria La Filomina conveniently located besides the highway. All of their food, including the pizza and pasta, is produced in-house. Their brick-oven pizzas are delicious, and their pasta is just what I was hoping for in terms of flavour and texture. Pizza costs between PHP370 and PHP450, while pasta costs between PHP250 and PHP350. This inexpensive Italian restaurant is excellent.

I then went back to the Santa Fe Beach Club to check in, after which I got cleaned up and slept for a total of four hours. I woke up at about five in the afternoon and made the decision to ride my bike all throughout Santa Fe. It was such a serene and restful environment. I really appreciated the fact that there were fewer cars in Santa Fe. The iced coffee at Umi no Cafe helped me unwind after my bike ride. Their PHP160 iced white chocolate was exactly what I needed to cool down. I also met Kuya Cesar, who is going to drop me off at my next destination, which is in a different town called Bantayan.

Bantayan, Bantayan Island – With the assistance of Kuya Cesar, I was able to rent a motorcycle complete with a driver for the cost of PHP250 round trip. He drove me to Kermit’s, which is a motorbike ride of about 20 minutes from Santa Fe, and he dropped me off there to have dinner.

Kermit’s – Their graham mango cake is one of the nicest desserts in Bantayan town, and it costs only PHp100-150 for a slice. For an additional PHP250, I indulged in some juicy and flavorful grilled pork ribs. I also make sure Kuya Cesar has something to eat.

St. Peter and Paul Church -We also visited this church. Bantayan Island is home to the first and thus oldest Parish in Visayas and Mindanao, which was formed in 1580. The church is made of corral stones from the island. The church was consecrated to St Peter and Paul once it was finished.

Rested and freshen up when I reached Sta. Fe around 10:00pm

Day2 August 24 (Thursday)

Having finished breakfast at 8 a.m., I got ready for the day’s island hopping adventure. After checking in at the harbour, we headed to the first of our snorkelling islands, Hilatagaan. I had a good time there despite the strong currents, though I didn’t stay long because there weren’t many fish to see.

Because of how close together the islands in Bantayan are, we were able to go from snorkelling off Hilantagaan to visiting Virgin Island. The gorgeous waves and powdery white sands of this beach were a dream come true for me. I had a great day swimming and taking pictures here. Even though there are rocks in the beach, I still had a great time here because the weather was so nice.

After cooling off with some swimming at the Virgin Islands, we continued on to our final stop, which was Baigad Lagoon. This was hands down my favourite island because it was the most calm and had only one restaurant where you could get food and drinks. In fact, they are in the process of developing this region by constructing hostels and a swimming pool here. Because I had such a great day at this location, I feel perfectly content dozing off on one of the hammocks while reading a good book. It was a very pleasant and peaceful experience overall. You can also bring food into their cottages with you and have a picnic there.

Island hopping around Bantayan Island was a fantastic way to decompress. A half-day is plenty for the task. It’s something I think everyone should give a shot at, in fact. After my day of island hopping, I made my way to Sunday Co. for a cup of coffee. Although it was not my fave coffee shop, I did not regret spending PHP160 on an iced Vietnamese coffee. In addition, I left Sta. Fe Beach Club and went to La Playa Estrella for the second day of my vacation.

Around 2:00 in the afternoon, I met Kuya Cesar to begin my Bantayan loop. Taking a motorbike around the three towns on Bantayan island was a fantastic experience. Even though I forgot my phone on the way to our first stop, Kuya Cesar was gracious enough to return for it. Colina Isla Bantayan was the first stop on the journey. It’s PHP50 to get in and is about a half-hour motorbike ride from Sta. Fe. It’s a great place to spend the afternoon unwinding, and you can even have a bite to eat while gazing out over all of Bantayan Island. Anne, the owner, whom I met, confirmed my impression that the cafés will soon be opening there.

As the sun set, we made our way to Madrilejos Park to enjoy the seafood feast that Kuya Cesar had prepared, which included buttered shrimp, scallops, grilled squid, and boiling crabs. The seafood here is the greatest I’ve ever had. I got some of their lemon juice from a neighbouring food park while I enjoy my seafood. The Kota Fort, which is thought to have been constructed in the 1790s and provided a safe haven for people during times of invasion, may be found in this location. The land around the fort used to be a cemetery, but it was turned into a patio for what is now called the Kota Heritage Park. Additionally, the Bontay Walk is accessible from this location. You will be able to see Lawis, which is literally the most southern point of the Bantayan Island, when you visit Kota Heritage Park. The area has been renovated and improved to the point where it now functions as a beach resort with breathtaking views of the open sea and the sunset over the Visayan islands.

Since we missed the sunset at Madrilejos Park, we headed to the Bantayan dry market to stock up on gifts. Dried fish, or danggit, is a popular in Bantayan and they bring them to the larger cities of Cebu and Manila. Bantayan Island is famous for more than its beaches; the local speciality, buwad, is dried fish. Popular pasalubong goods may be found in plenty in Bantayan, with options ranging from the ubiquitous danggit or the more out-of-the-way fish tocino. Videos in here.

As soon as I got to Sta. Fe, I went straight to Kuya Cesar and hired a bike from him for another 24 hours at a cost of PHP150. After cleaning up, I got on my bike and rode around Sta. Fe until I found the relaxing and refreshing Amihan Beach Cabana resort. I discovered that they have a bar, so I decided to go there and have a drink. I asked for a Hurricane cocktail that was made with rum as the base spirit. It had a delicious flavour, but the alcohol was so potent that I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to ride my bike back to my hotel. Due to the welcoming and helpful nature of the locals, I had a wonderful stay at this location. When I go to Bantayan again, I might spend the night in this hotel.

I went back to my hotel, freshen up and rest

Day3 August 25 (Friday)

I still can’t believe this is my last day on such a stunning island, so I got up at eight in the morning and rode my bike around Santa Fe once more. I was seeking for a quiet spot to eat when I came across the Hungry Beach Co. It is a site where you can choose to eat at one of several restaurants that face out over the beach. This one is much more to my liking than MJ, which is placed close to the road. I had the iced macchiato, which cost PHP120, in Balay, which is one of their culinary spots. I also tried the skinsilog, which cost PHP140, just besides Balay. The morning on Friday was filled with a welcome sense of calm. What a fantastic match: the delicious skinsilog complements the silky smoothness of the coffee beautifully.

After finishing my breakfast at Hungry Beach Co, I went over to CouCou Bar and Hotel Restaurant to try their dessert. This restaurant includes nipa huts where you can dine, and the staff is friendly. I had Halo Halo, a typical Filipino dessert with mixed fruits, crushed ice, leche flan, and ice cream on top, which is then poured with milk. This dish set you back PHP150. This restaurant was a pleasant and relaxing experience for me.

I went back to the hotel to finish packing and get ready to go. There is a complimentary shuttle that will take you from La Playa back to the Sta. Fe port. When I arrived at the Sta. Fe port, the first thing I did was pay the terminal fees and the roro costs. After that, I made sure that I reserved my seat on the bus that would take me to the Hagnaya port and the North Bus terminal. A conductor will check your roro tickets while you are still on the bus, and then he or she will exit the vehicle once it is already parked in the roro. At that point, you will be required to go to the roro for the length of the journey. After you have arrived at the port of Hagnaya, you will be transferred to the bus for the remainder of your travel to Cebu City, and your payment for the bus will be collected at that time.

After that, I spent the following few of days travelling to Cebu City.

My time in Bantayan island was the highlight of my Cebu trip. It’s a place where sitting back and watching the world go by is totally okay. It’s a simple way of life. I’ve travelled extensively around the Philippines, and Bantayan Island in Northern Cebu is by far the most tranquil area I’ve ever visited. I never imagined it would happen, but Bantayan has surpassed even Boracay as my favourite island in the Philippines. Bantayan, I adore you.

Love,
Maria, sometimes, Niskie