Bantayan Island Tours
Welcome to Bantayan Island! A website that will bring you information about Bantayan island, honest reviews. We’ll tell you where we go and what we liked. We’ll also tell you what I didn’t like. I visit Bantayan Island along 
with my Filipina assistant.
We both love going to the island, its not crowded with a lot of tourist. You may have the beach to yourself. You’ll see more Filipino on the beaches than you will tourist.
Holy Week is the only exception to that. Bantayan Island is famous for its solemn observance of the crucifixion of Christ. During this time, prices are generally twice as much and you need to book your room well in advance. I may get over there for a day trip this year. I would like to report on what is going on over there. However, not being a rich tourist or even a poor tourist, I cannot afford a week on Bantayan Island this year. Maybe next year I’ll be able to participate in one of the biggest celebrations in the Philippines.
Bantayan Island is a fairly small island just off the northern tip of Cebu Province in the eastern central part of the country. Cebu is part of the Visayas Region of the Philippines. The main islands of the Visayas are Panay, Negros. Cebu, Bohol, Leyte and Samar.
The white sand beaches of Bantayan Island are clean. You might run into a little trash here and there but the resort owners and perhaps city governments pay people to clean the beach as well. I have little interest in getting into the water around major cities and if this looked to be dirty, I would not be out there. The water is clear.
When I’ve been there, the beaches toward the north are warmer than those on the south. The only downside is the water is not as deep at low tide and there is more seaweed. The warmer water probably has something to do with the little bit of seaweed that is here and there. There are some areas here and there with a rocky bottom that can be less than comfortable on tender feet not use to such things. I don’t think you could ever get around all of that kind of thing.
On the south side of the of the Santa Fe Wharf, the beaches have a lot of dead coral and shells if you’re interested in collecting those. They’re great for your aquarium.
I’ll close this introduction of Bantayan Island and get busy posting about my visits to the Island. I will most often post pictures of the places I visit. You’re welcome to share your opinions or call me out on something if you disagree. I would love to see more of the disagreeing without being disagreeable on websites. For now, you should make your plans to visit Bantayan Island.
Lke Me!
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well unfortunately bantayan was really great..thats the i love to come back and come back again.. i had grown up there…
Share some of your experiences you gained while growing up there?
Hi,
Nice pics and commentary. It would be great if you mention how to get there from Cebu City. The tour companies from hotel desk I have checked are charging P5000+
I am staying in Parklane hotel, will be here for another 2-3 days.
Thanks
I keep forgetting to do that. I think I wrote detailed description on http://cebuexperience.com
You need to take a taxi to the “north bus terminal” and then grab a bus to Hagnaya. The have the signs in the window but ask one of the porters, a lot of people will likely get to you before you can ask and ask were you are going and just tell them hagnaya. The bus will cost you about P100 only.
From there you take a ferry to Bantayan Island takes about an hour to an hour and a half. You might find a taxi to take you for about P2500 plus fuel and maybe lunch. If you stop to eat, feed the cabby too, its customary here. Shouldn’t cost much. He may know a great road side fish market to stop at. That will cost about P100 per person if you find the right kind of spot and great fish too.
The buses are kind of rough but if money is an issue, its the way to go. Going out of Cebu City, the traffic can be rough, try to go just after morning rush hour, or better yet before it. It wont be too bad going out of the city. When the buses are not moving, its hot.. No air conditioned buses now, atl least there were none the last time I asked. If comfort is important to you, then a bus is not the way to go. You can also look for vhire which means van hire. About the same cost as taxi but could be as much as P4500.
Sorry there is not more info. The site is pretty new. If you make it, let us know what you think. I find it pretty hard to believe anyone could go there and not be pleased. If it gets hot, seek out that floating bar!
Hi Rusty, are there some high-end resorts too with private beaches, or are tge resorts all within a similar price range?
There are resorts in the high end. Marlin Resort and Ogtong Cave Resort. One of those has in room jacuzzi and prices from around $100 to $200 a day for the rooms. I don’t think any of the beaches are private but I don’t think you’ll find any of them crowded either. The only time that might change would be during Holy Week then you must at least double room rates.
Hi Rusty, Wow that’s pretty pricey for local isn’t it? Anything a little cheaper that those two?
Lots of places but you wanted upper end.
Tickety Boo is similar to Tristan’s but fancier.. For me they need more fans. They have a nice restaurant that over looks the bey but was too hot for me.
I plan to try Saint Bernard’s on my next visit. Rooms are around P1000 to P1500 at those two places and both are on the water but Saint Bernard’s doesn’t have a structure on the water.
Tristan’s is really nice for sitting in their open air restaurant and relaxing and getting into the water. AT high tide, their water laps right up to their stairs onto the beach.
I’m hoping go next month. Things are looking good as Jessie is paying.
Rusty, Marlin’s Resort seems to have gotten some good ratings, and prices vary I guess. Are there a lot of foreigners around the Island? The island is really beautiful I bet.
I don’t think there are a lot of us.
You’ll find pockets of them. Quite a few hang out at Hard Kock, perhaps their beer is chepaer, I’m not sure.
They mostly play cards and get polluted.
You’ll see some at the resorts but there really isn’t a lot of anyoen there on the beaches, on the beaches around resorts that is.
I found a place last night for as little as P300 but I can’t remember the name of it now. It doesn’t have a beach and no air con. I was about to reserve a room but discovered no air con. I don’t want to sleep without one.
Been in Bantayan once, and I’m planning of visiting the place again for the Valentines Day… Will check some of your articles here at least to learn more from your tips…
-Bert
Hi guys, i’m planning a weekend getaway (on a budget) to Bantayan Island. will be going on my own. any suggestions on where to stay and what to do? I’ll be in the island before noon on Friday and will leave for the city Sunday afternoon. would appreciate travel tips. thank you so much!