Travel Tips for Bantayan Island Tourists
Getting There
Take Ceres bus from Cebu North Bus Terminal to Hagnaya. Trips are start at 5:30 a.m. For comfort, take 6:30 air conditioned bus. Fares range from Php 55.00 to Php 88.00. In Hagnaya, book a boat ticket for Sta. Fe.
Places to Stay
Sugar Beach
Sugar Beach is among the least expensive resorts in Bantayan charging just a Php 30.00 entrance fee and with room rates as low as Php 500.00 per night. Outdoorsmen can pitch a tent in their camping area for Php 100.00 a night. Their rooms are wanting in comfort and sanitation. There’s no restaurant but one can request the caretakers to cook for them or buy food for them.
St. Bernard Beach Resort
St. Bernard offers the best quality service among resorts in Bantayan. Situated alongside a sleepy community, St. Bernard offers a wonderful respite for the weary traveler. The experience is reinforced by the excellent service of resort personnel. Food is reasonably priced and the menu offers a variety of cuisine.
Transportation
Pedal Powered Pedicabs(Trisikad)
Short distance travel, cost between Php 5 to Php 20
Shotgun ride on motorcycle(Habal-habal)
Charges range from Php 10 to Php 25 within Sta. Fe. For trips to Bantayan town and Madridejos, Php 100.00 is the norm.
Rent-a-motorcycle
Rent starts at Php 200.00/day or Php 35.00/hour to as high as Php 350.00/day or Php 50.00/hour. plus fuel cost.
Rent-a-mountain bike
Php 25.00/hour
Tricycles
For long distance travel from one town to another. Fare from Bantayan town to Sta. Fe(or vice versa) is around Php 20.00. If you want the ride for yourself, costs about Php 100.00.
Pumpboat rentals
For island hopping in islets surrounding Bantayan, range from Php 800.00 to Php 3000.00
Things To Do
Island Hopping
Known to Bantayan locals as Virgin Island, Silion Island is an isle off the mainland. Tourists frequent the place to picnic on its serene atmosphere renting cottages built on bermuda-covered lawns and white sand shorelines. The rich marine life of the Bantayan Marine Sanctuary near its shores make it also a good jump-off point to those who want to experience snorkeling.
Sunset
The Bantayan sunset is the most wonderful sunset I have ever seen. One can witness such breath-taking moment in the late afternoon at the fishport beside the Bantayan Public Market in Bantayan town.
Bantayan Public Market
Bantayan Public Market is where you buy Bantayan Island’s famed foods like the danggit and pusit. It’s also adjacent to the Spanish-era church.
Food
Danggit, Nokus, Pusit
Bantayan is known for smoked fish and squid. Retail packs are available at the Public Market. Another common meal in Bantayan is barbecued chicken and fish cooked in different ways.
D’Jungle
I came across an eat-all-you-can restaurant in Bantayan that cooks good food at reasonable prices. At Php190.00.
By: Thaddeau Ii Engaling
About the Author:
http://cebuanotourist.blogspot.com/2008/01/travel-tips-for-bantayan-tourists.html
I went to the Bantayan Islands years ago I loved it it is a great holiday destination highly recommend it.
thanks for the travel tips for bantayan island
great trip
i think i ll give a trip next holiday season
thanks for good post
Wow!. all of the room are affordable. Is this island is in philippines? Thank you for the information.
St. Bernard Beach Resort is a fantastic destination. I have stayed at the resort twice and loved every second of it!
Interesting article, I have a time share at a beach resort that I will be visiting this year in the VI, hopefully I’ll be able to incorporate some of these cool ideas while Im out vacationing.
Blackhat
Too bad, I’ve already been into Cebu, Philippines but have never been to Bantayan Island. I will make sure I’ll never miss it when I get back.
i’m planning to go there, thanks a lot for this wonderful post
Looks great but where is bantayan located? In which country?
Great article on an awesome place to go. I’ve been to some of the Virgin Islands and this sounds even better.
Thanks for the tips. I need to consider sometime I’ll visit there.
Bantayan is a beautiful Island and The Bantayan sunset is the most wonderful sunset in the world!
bantayan island…? yes i love it.
i hope i ll give a trip next holiday season
thanks for good post
@abhi:- Bantayan is a 2nd class municipality on Bantayan Island in the province of Cebu, Philippines.
Bantayan Island found in the North West regions of Cebu. This island has a very nice white sand beach resort, which is locally called “white-white sand” for is has the whitest sand beach ever and crystal clear waters that reveals the magnificent beauty of the sea. People love to go here for apart from being a very amazing beach, the food here are also delicious but with its cheap price. Bantayan Island is perfect for Filipinos and other tourists for them to spend their summer vacations. From Cebu City you need to take a bus to Hagnaya wharf. It is about 110 kilometers from Cebu Cty. It will take two to three hours travel time to get to Hagnaya wharf depending on the traffic situation. From Hagnaya take a ferry top cross the 18 km to Bantayan. You arrive in Santa Fe, from where you can go to the beach.
thanks nice post
The travel tips provided by you are really helpful for the new visitors to bantayan.
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Thanks for the very informative article. I may be visiting the islands next year. Keep up the good work and excellent travel tips.
I’ve been to Bantayan Island. I worked there. It’s the source of all the fishes and egss in the Philippines. The beaches are of course great.
Thank you this is very informative. I plan to visit Bantayan in August ’10.
Bantayan Island in Tagalog means “Guarded Island”. It’s really spot on because I’ve been there and it looks like paradise.
Tourists always need to watch their backs when they are out, be on point in everything you do!
great trip
i think i ll give a trip next holiday season
thanks for good post
I loved it it is a great holiday destination highly recommend it.may be visiting the islands next year. Keep up the good work and excellent travel tips.