Beyond Cebu

• Virgin Island Bantayan Island

• Bantayan Island

• bantayan island sunset

• Bantayan Island beach

Bantayan Island - One of Asia's unknown tropical paradises

Bantayan Island is our favourite tropical Islands in Cebu, it gets all our ticks for a great holiday destination. Beautiful beaches, a sleepy laid back town, friendly people and just generally a fantastic place to unwind. Bantayan Island has got some of Cebu's gorgeous beaches you will ever see (it rivals that of Philippines own Boracay and even Thailand's beaches) and what's more you don't have to compete with the crowds you get in other parts of Asia (with the exception of Holy week!) This is not an island for action and adventure like its neighbouring Malapascua. Come to Bantayan to laze, read and enjoy a beer by the beach.

Bantayan Island has 2 smaller islands worth visiting, one is Virgin Island because of the beautiful beaches. The other island, Hilantagaan is less well known and more of a fishing village, but it does have a beautiful white sand bank that you can swim at.

Over the years we use a guy by the name of Glen (cell 0909 8825989) to organise motorbike rental and island hopping. Bargain hard!

Bantayan Resorts

Bantayan Island offers some of the best beach resorts in Cebu from beach cottages to more luxurious rooms. You won't find big resorts here it's more low key affair. Santa Fe is where all the beaches and resorts are located most are within walking distance of Santa Fe. If you don't have accommodation pre booked as soon as you step off the boat at the pier you will be swarmed by porters (they get commissions from the hotels/resorts they take you to) willing to take you to many of the resorts. The accommodation is located north and south of the pier as well as some cheaper options in town, even if you do not stay on the beach most resorts/rooms are within walking distance of the beaches. Rates start at about 300 Peso for cheaper cottages not on the beach right up to 16,000 Peso for Ogtong Cave Deluxe Suite with Jacuzzi.

Bantayan Island attractions

The number one reason tourist come to Bantayan Island is for its white sand beaches and crystal clear waters. Try to visit Virgin island (day trip) price negotiable with the vendors but you should be paying 1000-1500 Pesos only. We got as cheap as 800 Peso direct with a fisherman! You can organise barbeque (bring your own fish/food) and cooking facilities - vendors will help with this (at a cost!) You can do a bit of snorkelling ( but it's not that great), swim or just relax. Another place to reach is Paradise Beach a beautiful little cove sometimes you have to pay to enter depends if there is a guard to collect. A great way to see other parts of the island is to rent a motorbike, the longer you rent the cheaper you can get it. The average price is around 350 Peso per day but if you rent for 4 or more days you can get 250 Peso per day (you have to get the motorbike from a vendors or local - check the bike over before you agree on the price to check for scratches that they might claim later you caused!). You can ride to Bantayan proper or up to Kota Park in the north of the Island. It's great riding the back roads and discovering the other parts of Bantayan Island.

Holy Week (Easter) is the time of year that Bantayan Island changes from a sleepy island to a noisy overcrowded island! Boats to the island are packed, vacant land becomes camping grounds for hundreds of tents, rooms are booked out and prices triple (and more!) Roumel's beach resort goes from 1000 Peso to 6000! The island was supposedly granted permission by the Pope in 1843 to be allowed to eat red meat on Good Friday and Filipinos being the meat loving people they are flock to Bantayan to enjoy their meat! Although not a festival and the town even promotes it as a religious celebration not a fiesta you can't help but feel the party atmosphere with such large numbers of people. 2011 was quite tame compared to other years.

Cebu Festivals

Bantayan Island celebrates the Palawood Festival on the last week of June. It cultivates the life of a fisherman through dance and music.

People who've been here

Bantayan Island Restaurants

All the restaurants are located on the one street of Santa Fe and are easy walking distance from each other. They serve fresh seafood, local and international cuisine. D'Jungle , Blue Ice , Balikbayan Restaurant, Marisquera O' Portuguese Bar and Restaurant, HR Bar as well as some local barbeque places.

Cebu to Bantayan

Bantayan Island can be reached by V-Hires (vans) or Bus from Cebu North Terminal (look for Hagnaya sign on the front of the bus) it takes 3 and a half hours travel time. You can catch air con (around 150 Peso) or regular buses (around 80 Peso) on the yellow Ceres bus liner. Taxi from Cebu City to Hagnaya you can get for around 3000 Peso depending on your bargaining skills! From Hagnaya take a ferry boat to Sta. Fe which will take about 45 minutes to cross (170 Peso). Aviatour will resume flights (from the 25th Jan 2012) 3 times a week Wed/Fri/Sun  departing Cebu at 7.00am (a 30 min flight) fares from 2500 P plus tax each way (which is cheaper and quicker than a taxi!).  Coming back you may be able to catch a taxi (at Hagnaya port) that has dropped off passengers going to Bantayan at a much lower price. We have got back although we shared with someone else for 1000 Peso that was March 2011 after about 5 minutes negotiating.

History

The name Bantayan is derived from the phrase “Bantayan sa Harì”, meaning Watchtower of the King (of Spain), referring to the many watchtowers built in the area during the early part of the Spanish occupation of the Philippines. They were strategically distributed around the island as defense against the attacks of seafaring marauders. Remnants of these stone structures can still be found today.