Bantayan Island is a beautiful island that is known as one of the most breathtaking islands in the world. Though it is only no more than 100 square miles in size, it also serves as Cebu’s fishing grounds. It is situated in the Visayan Sea, at the northern tip of Cebu. It is best known for its powdery white sand and immaculately clear waters.
This island with unspoiled white sand beaches is called Bantayan Island after the term “Bantayan sa Hari” which translates to “Watchtowers of the King”. The story behind this is that 18 watchtowers stood on this island as Governor-General Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera’s defense against Moro pirates.
Nowadays, apart from being a large supplier of fish for different parts of the Philippines, Bantayan Island has also become a sanctuary for beach lovers and island hoppers alike. Popularized by the movie “Camp Sawi”, one of the famous places on Bantayan Island, it is now known as a perfect getaway. So, if you’re chasing for the sand, sea, and sun, you must go and try activities on Bantayan Island.
Since the Bantayan Island is considered the Boracay of the South, there are a lot of activities in Bantayan Island that you could enjoy to immerse yourself in the true island life experience.
This leads us to one of the best activities on Bantayan island: swimming in the famed Kota Beach. Known as the shooting spot of Camp Sawi, it is a perfect getaway spot because of its azure blue waters, cool breeze, and radiant sunsets.
You can also immerse yourself in the wonderful nature spots on the island like Kota Park, the Santa Fe Butterfly Garden, and the Obo-ob Mangrove Garden that provides you a glimpse into the vibrant environment we live in.
If you’re into more water activities on Bantayan Island, you can try snorkeling and diving on its many beaches. There are also a lot of diving spots you can enjoy, such as the Sta. Fe Cliff Diving Spot.
There are a lot of activities on Bantayan Island for you to choose from. Whether it’s taking a lazy day on the hammock or exploring the promised beauty of the island, you will never run out of adventures on the island.
When you’re looking for serenity, you must visit the famous places on Bantayan Island. Here are some of our recommendations:
Popular for its 1970s Fort, the Kota Park is one of the must-see famous places in Bantayan Island because of its radiant sunsets, calming beach area, and pier. It truly is a lovely way to end your day.
Popular for being the shooting spot of Camp Sawi, Kota Beach is a solemn hideaway with clear blue waters and an amazing landscape. You can also do many activities and try out the delicacies of Sta. Fe, Bantayan in the area.
Ogtong Cave is a secluded swimming spot that is usually frequented by those seeking peace of mind in the waters. It is highly recommended to advance book during peak swimming seasons to try out this experience.
After island hopping the many islands in Bantayan, the breathtaking view in the lighthouse on Kitarkan Island provides tourists with a full view of the sand, sea, and sun of Bantayan island.
If you’re traveling with kids, it is best to take time and visit the Santa Fe Butterfly Garden that presents you with over 22 species of butterflies that you can learn about and marvel from.
Planning to visit Bantayan Island in the next coming days? Checkout the weather in Bantayan Island.
If you’re planning a trip to Bantayan Island, you must know how to get there first. Since it is a province of Cebu, you need to get to Cebu City first.
Book a flight going to Cebu City. Upon landing at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, going to the island itself would be easier.
At the Mactan airport, you can take the MyBus that leaves every 30 minutes from 7 AM-11Am, or every 20 minutes every 11 AM to 9:30 PM.
You can also take a Ceres bus going to Hagnaya Port at the North Bus Terminal. This will take you to the ferry you have to ride to go to Bantayan Island. Travel time usually takes 4 hours.
You must board the Island Shipping or Super Shuttle ferry going to Santa Fe Port. Its first trip is as early as 3 AM and the last trip is 5:30 PM. Travel time takes one hour.
Once you have arrived at the Tourism Office, pay the Ecological Fee that is about Php 30, then take a tricycle to your resort if you don’t have a pre-arranged shuttle service. Fare is only about Php 20-25.
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