Bantayan Island is a tropical paradise that deserves a spot on every beach lover’s bucket list.
The island boasts beaches with the finest and whitest sand, and sparkling blue waters that will make you want to swim all day. In fact, the popular Filipino movie ‘Camp Sawi’ was filmed on one of the beaches in Bantayan Island.
Take note that there are three different municipalities in the island: First is Santa Fe, which is the entry point for all tourists from Hagnaya port. You’ll also find here the best beaches and most of the island’s tourist spots.
Next is Bantayan proper, which is 30-minutes away from Santa Fe. This is where you’ll find the St. Peter and Paul church.
Madridejos is the last and farthest municipality on the island. You’ll want to visit this place if you’re interested in the island’s history and heritage.
There are so many tourist spots to see in Bantayan Island. And the best way to get around the island is by renting a bicycle or motorbike. You can already rent one as you arrive in Santa Fe, or you can ask your hotel if they offer rentals.
And once you get your transpo ready, it’s time to make your way to these 5 awesome places in Bantayan Island!
Kota Beach
There are several beaches in Santa Fe, but Kota Beach is one of the best in Bantayan Island. If you’ve been to White Beach in Boracay and loved it there, then Kota Beach might easily be your favorite beach too!
Kota Beach is famous for its long stretch of fine white sand and sand bar embraced by the denim blue ocean. It’s definitely a beach bum’s paradise! And it often gets busy during the summer. Nevertheless, Kota Beach is still a beautiful place to see regardless of the season you visit.
The beach is right in front of Kota Beach Resort. But you don’t have to go through the resort or book a room to access the beach.
There’s a small road between Kota Beach and Marlin Beach. It’s open to the public and you can pass through anytime, even at night.
Balidbid Lagoon
Balidbid Lagoon is a scenic, winding waterway where the river meets the sea. If you’re able to get an aerial shot, you’ll see that the view from above is just as beautiful as when you’re standing there yourself.
White sandy shores, mangroves, and palm trees line the meandering trail of saltwater. And paddling on a stand-up board is the best way to enjoy this gorgeous tourist spot!
If stand-up paddle boarding doesn’t interest you, you can walk upstream, take a dip, then go with the flow and let the water take you to the end of the inlet.
Keep in mind, though, that the current in some areas is strong despite the water looking calm. Better stay off the waters if the locals warn you that it may not be a good time to swim there.
The best time to go to Balidbid Lagoon is during the dry season, from November to April. The weather is perfect and the water is calmer. It would be great if you visit when it’s low tide so the sandbanks are visible.
Sandira Beach
Sandira Beach is also known as Paradise Beach for a reason. The azure waters, powdery white shoreline, rocky outcrops and tiny beach caves will make you want to spend an hour or so in this idyllic spot.
There’s also a small reef just offshore. So you might want to take your snorkeling gear when you swim at Sandira Beach. There’s nothing much to do here besides swimming, snorkeling, and lounging because there’s no establishments around.
There are huts and chairs at the western end of Sandira Beach. But because there aren’t many trees in the area, the entire place is exposed to the sun for most of the day. So come prepared with your sunglasses, sunblock, and drinking water!
Sta. Fe Cliff
The Sta Fe Cliff Diving Site is also often called “The Ruins” simply because there’s an abandoned and uncompleted structure in the vicinity. Tourists love taking photos at the ruins, but the most interesting part here is the cliff.
Just follow the stairs built among the rocks, and you’ll see the best diving spot. The cliffs are high, so you’ll need to take extra caution and loads of guts to jump into the waters!
But, of course, you don’t have to jump if you don’t want to. You can just admire the seemingly endless view of the sea.
Virgin Island
Virgin Island is a 30-minute boat ride away from Bantayan Island. And this place will surely keep any beach bum entertained for the entire day!
There’s a cliff jumping area at the northern end of the island, where you get to enjoy the azure waters at a whole new level – literally.
The small cliffs have bamboo boards built into them. The lowest is at 3 meters, next would be 5 meters, while the highest is 8 meters. Seeing how clear and blue the waters are from the top make it even more exciting to jump!
But if too much thrill isn’t your thing, the coastal walk is still a fun way to enjoy the waters. The trail takes you to the edges of the rocky coastline, and gives you a stunning view of the main beach.
There are also bamboo ladders in some parts of the boardwalk. You can use these ladders to get into the waters if you want to go swimming or snorkeling.
And the highlight of Virgin Island has definitely got to be the main beach. It looks so dreamy, like something you only see on postcards. The white sand is as fine as sugar, while the waters are so clear, as if you’re looking through glass!
You can bring your own snacks and refreshments when you visit Virgin Island. But you’ll also find beach bars, sari-sari stores, and small restaurants in the area. There are also shaded huts underneath the palm trees, so you get a nice spot to chill for a while.
You want to know more about Bantayan Island check out our full guide here: How to travel to Bantayan Island and what to do there in 2022? Check out our complete guide!
