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| Unbusy highway |
Bantayan Island is a beautiful Island, and currently Cebu's semi-secret little Island Paradise; small numbers of travelers over the years have slowly been putting the word out located just off the northwest tip of Cebu's mainland.
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| Beachfront |
There aren't any huge corporate hotel chains here; there are smaller hotels/resorts with cottages & rooms in just about every price range from less than P 250 – P 2,000 per night.
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| Resort where I stay |
Island Life here is slower and more relaxing, but that’s really the beauty of it all, as some roads are still yet to be paved, and locals who farm & raise livestock live very simply in bamboo & coco wood houses; the warmth and friendliness of the local people here only serves to make Bantayan a more unique & very special place for all who visit.
With regards to food, small street side eateries featuring basic local food (fish & pork soups, ground pork dishes, afritada, noodles, all with rice) at cheap prices for those on a tight budget or just to taste something different and local. These meals are usually around P20+ and the cheapest dishes I’ve had there is the ‘egg omelet’ at P10, and a delicious bowl of spicy noodle soup at P5. I want to live here if you really want simple and healthy life.
During dinner, I’m looking for fresh seafood to fill my empty stomach. I tried “eat-all-you-can” at the Jungle for P300. Wow, food was great as well as the drinks. After my dinner, a bottle of beer made my Bantayan trip memorable.
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| Seefood Restaurant "Eat-all you-can" |
Early in the morning, my next on list – island hopping – Virgin Island. Virgin Island is accessable via a short boat ride from Bantayan Island .Travel time usually 25-40 minutes (for P 600 ) depending on the boat and it’s a favorite Island Hopping spot for travelers who want to get away to nice secluded beach and have lunch or brunch cooked up by the caretakers on Virgin Island. Entrance fee is P 50.
I had been too many beaches in northern part of the Philippines but this totally different. Pristine clear water, few tourist and white sand at your feet is quite remembering. Love..love…love beach bumming!
Before I leave Bantayan, I take one more shot at Ogtong Cave, located at Sta. Fe. My purpose is not to visit the resort but the cave itself.
Ogtong Cave is quite popular among the must see sights in Bantayan Island. It’s located within the Ogtong Cave resort grounds. Unfortunately, I was not allowed to swim inside the cave during my visit- it was disappointing, however since I love nature; I just take some pictures and let my feet half submerge.
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| Top view of Ogtong Cave |
Way Points :
By Land:
Most people get there by bus and then a ferry. If you leave from Cebu City, you’ll want to head to the North Bus Terminal, asks your cab driver to take you there. Once there, you’ll find assistants often called dispatchers that will guide you to the bus you want to take. You might have to wait for a bus to come in. Bus will cost you around P100 for two – three hours to Hagnaya.
From Hagnaya take a ferry to Bantayan. Island Shipping provides air con in first class. There will also be a TV during most trip. The cost at the time of this article is P165 for first class. Super Ferry also provides a ferry to Bantayan. Super Ferry does not have air con nor first class. The Super Ferry is about P150 as is second class using Island Shipping. The trip across takes about an hour to an hour and a half.
By Air:
Every day schedule to Cebu via PAL, Cebu pacific offers you lower prices. From Cebu,since there is a small private airport on Bantayan Island and there is also a service that runs from Cebu City to Bantayan Island you can go directly to Bantayan. If not, your option is to take land.
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