The long wait for less strict travel protocols is here! You might have seen a lot of your friends and co-workers online post their best summer and beach pics while you’re still hesitant to get out and enjoy the outdoors once more as you did prior to all that has happened lately. But did you know that you can visit this under the radar destination?
Bantayan Island gained popularity in Filipino pop culture when it was featured in a Filipino Rom-com movie called “Camp Sawi” or Broken-hearted camp. It’s similar to an Eat Pray Love kind of thing but makes the main characters millennials. Over the years this place has been one of the options for Filipino travelers who seek to see something new.
This place is quite opposite from other popular destinations in the Philippines like Boracay, Siargao, and Palawan. It has way fewer people and still has that exotic island charm that the places I mentioned don’t possess anymore. That’s why my girlfriend and I chose this destination since we predicted that a lot of people will visit other popular destinations like Boracay, besides it’s time for us to explore other exciting places as well.
If you want to experience pure solitude, appreciate nature, and have a quiet and relaxing island vacation, then Bantayan Island is the one for you!
How to get there?
Bantayan Island is a small island that is located on the northernmost part of Cebu. You will literally travel in air, land, and water before you reach the place making it a bit complicated and longer rather than just buying a ticket to Caticlan, taking a short boat ride then you’re in Boracay. But here it doesn’t work that way.
1) Fly to Cebu
Book a flight on the three major airlines in the Philippines. The airline flies to Cebu several times daily to accommodate the growing demand for domestic travel. AirAsia offers the best deals and discounted tickets so watch out for their frequent seat sales online!
You will arrive at the beautiful Mactan Cebu International Airport. Since the old domestic airport is still under rehabilitation after it was hit by typhoon Odette last year. Get a glimpse of the unique resort-themed airport even if you’re just traveling locally as the newer airport is allocated for international travelers.
2) Take a bus at the North Bus Terminal
When you reach Mactan Island, you will need to travel to Cebu City North Bus Terminal. Your best bet is to book a car via Grab or take an airport taxi.
3) Board a Ceres Bus bound to Hagnaya Port
Pro tip: Beat Cebu traffic by avoiding the city traffic during rush hour. It is best to travel early in the morning and be by the bus terminal between 5 am-7 am. Because of Cebu’s hot and humid climate, we opted to take the air-conditioned bus to Hagnaya Port. Our bus fare cost P240. The expected travel time should be between 4-6 hours depending on the traffic situation. Don’t forget to bring water as it is a long travel time.
Upon arrival at Hagnaya Port, you may opt to take a quick meal in the several eateries around. After that, it is time for you to board another bus to cross the sea.
4) Board into the super shuttle ferry bound to Santa Fe Port
For P140, you will cross the sea from the main island of Cebu to Bantayan Island herself. You will then arrive at Sta. Fe.
At the port, you will transfer to another boat that will take you to your preferred accommodation.
Be prepared and bring smaller bills and coins with you as there are several small fees in the ports ranging from P10-P50 that you will need to pay on top of your ticket.
PRO TIP & IF YOU HAVE EXTRA CASH TO SPEND: Save time with Air Juan – Connecting Flights
Air Juan proposes a flight from Cebu to Bantayan. It is expensive but you avoid all the hassle by flying there directly and save hours worth of travel time. More leisure time for you then.
Finding an Accommodation
There are 3 major beach resorts on Bantayan Island. One is called Kota Beach Resort, the other is Anika Beach Resort and the last one, Amihan, is probably the best hotel on the Island (the most expensive too). All are charming in their own ways but we opt to stay in Kota Beach Resort as it has access to bigger shorelines. Our room in Kota Beach Resort costs around P3,500-4,000 per night. A bit expensive, but it is totally worth it! You can also find many affordable hotels and hostels on the island if you travel on a budget.
All the hotel resorts are accessible online:
http://www.kotabeachresort.com/
https://www.amihanbeachcabanas.com/
https://www.anikaislandresort.com
The island greets you with a warm and beautiful welcome with its beautiful coastlines, powdery white sand beaches and pristine waters all around. The warm air really gets you in the holiday mood.
Activities
Island Hopping
You may go island hopping as the place is composed of several captivating islands each one comes with its own unique magical charisma that lures you in as you come closer to it.
When you get a chance to wake up early, witness a beautiful sunrise and see it goes up across the horizon in the sea. You will definitely love it!
Our favorite place in the Island Hopping that you should also try:
- Virgin Island: very nice to have lunch and enjoy the beach with friends and family
- Balidbid Lagoon: Magical place between the ocean and a natural lagoon
Enjoy the beach
What other reason would you have for visiting Bantayan right? The island was not that crowded when we visited, making it a good time to swim around, and soothe your ears with the sound of the waves, and the sounds of tropical trees dancing as the wind blows.
The beaches of the island still carry their rustic island vibes compared to the more commercialized beaches in other destinations. Witness a beautiful shoreline view in Kota Beach along with its tropical cabanas that give a luxurious holiday feel.
But our favorite, Sandira Beach, is probably the best one in Bantayan! It is a quiet, secluded beach with an incredible view! Enjoy the solitude as you breathe in the fresh sea breeze while taking as much sun as you can. Don’t forget to bring some water though, as the beach doesn’t have any, and the warm climate would dehydrate you for sure.
Cliff Jumping
Want to feel a rush of adrenaline? Then head over to Sta. Fe cliff and dive in the turquoise waters of the sea! Jump from a goldilocks level cliff that is not so high and not so low. Feel a refreshing dip in the cool water as you pierce the crystal clear water!
Mangrove Park
The island has a mangrove area rich with lush greeneries that are so relaxing to gaze at. Walk over a bamboo boardwalk and appreciate nature even more in this mangrove eco-park.
You could also kayak and paddle around the clear waters of the sea.
Rent a motorcycle and explore the island
Another exciting activity that you can do is to drive a motorcycle and explore the island! Rent a motorcycle for around P350 for a whole day! Feel free to explore and go up north to see the picturesque beauty that Bantayan Island has.
Savor on seafood
Indulge in the freshest seafood you’d get your hands on! Bantayan Island is rich with seafood that is affordable, fresher, and tastier compared to the ones you will get in Manila.
It is also worth visiting and tasting the dried fish market of Bantayan if you want to try some of the local delicacies. Bantayan or Cebu in general takes pride in their freshly dried seafood that smells like the sea!
Restaurants we tried and would definitely recommend:
- Burrito company
- Coucou Bar
- Sarapoy (Thai)
We enjoyed the wonderful diverse flavors that the island has to offer. So no matter which cuisine is your preference, there’s a restaurant that will impress your tastebuds.
After a short yet enjoyable stay on the island, we can’t wait to explore the other corners of Bantayan and learn what it has in store for us on our next visit. But all I can say is that it is a beautiful place that you should visit at least once when you tour the Philippines.
We are looking forward to visiting again and once more being captivated with this paradise an island has to offer us.
To summarize, here are some of the best reasons why we love Bantayan Island:
- Not that many tourists
- Awesome beach and pristine waters
- The Island Hopping & Sandira Beach
- The friendliness and warmth of the people
- The long ride on a motorcycle
In general, Despite the hassle of going there, the total experience and beautiful vista make Bantayan Island worth it.
Can’t wait to get our feet in the sand again and discover more awesome beaches in the Philippines!
Check out our other blog posts for more travel ideas!
