2025 Bantayan Island Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in October)

Located off the northern coast of Cebu, Bantayan Island offers powdery white beaches, serene vibes, and a perfect escape from the city. Here's a simple yet unforgettable itinerary for a 3-day, 2-night trip. 📅 Day 1: Arrival & Beach Day ✈️ Fly to Mactan-Cebu International Airport 🚐 Travel to Hagnaya Port (3–4 hrs), then ferry to Santa Fe Port (~1 hr) 🏨 Check-in at a beachfront resort in Santa Fe 🏖️ Beach time at Sugar Beach or Kota Beach Relax, swim, take IG-worthy pics 🍽️ Dinner at MJ Square or HR Music Bar 🌅 Watch the sunset from Kota Park or the beach 📅 Day 2: Island Adventure & Ogtong Cave 🚤 Island hopping tour (book via hotel or local guide) 📍 Virgin Island – clear waters, snorkeling, and chill vibes 📍 Hilantagaan Island – fishing village & local experience 🌊 Swim at Ogtong Cave (or try Paradise Beach for a quieter spot) 🍴 Lunch at Tristan’s or CouCou Bar 🚲 Bike around Santa Fe — rent a bike or scooter for a relaxing ride 🌌 Evening beach stroll and nightcap by the shore 📅 Day 3: Souvenirs & Departure ☕ Morning coffee by the beach (try Bantayan Burrito Company or The Hungry Beach Co.) 🛍️ Pasalubong shopping – local dried fish, souvenirs 🧳 Check-out and head back to Cebu City (same route as arrival) 💡 Tips: Best time to visit: March–May (dry season) or Holy Week for the famous Bantayan Semana Santa No signal in some areas – perfect for a digital detox 📵 Bring cash – ATMs are limited Support eco-friendly & local businesses 🌱 Whether you're looking for quiet time, island adventures, or just a break from the noise, Bantayan Island is a slice of paradise that’s worth the journey. 🌊✨ #BantayanIsland #CebuGetaway #HiddenParadise #TripcomTravel

#aprilblooms #localguides Tucked away in Barangay Obo-ob on Bantayan Island, Cebu, the Omagieca Obo-ob Mangrove Garden is a serene eco-park that harmoniously blends environmental conservation with community-driven tourism. Managed by the Obo-ob Mangrove Garden Integrated Ecotourism Conservation Association (OMAGIECA), this lush sanctuary offers visitors a chance to immerse themselves in the island’s vibrant mangrove ecosystem while supporting local sustainability efforts. --- 🌿 What to Expect Bamboo Walkways & Scenic Views: Meander through elevated bamboo paths that wind amidst dense mangrove forests. Along the way, you'll encounter rest stops and photo-worthy spots, including the iconic “Camp Sawi” sign, a nod to the Filipino film partially shot here . Eco Activities: Enhance your visit with kayaking or boating, allowing for an up-close experience of the mangrove habitat. For a nominal fee, you can also participate in fish feeding, adding an interactive element to your exploration . #OmagiecaMangroveGarden #BantayanIsland #EcoTourismL#MangroveConservationo#CampSawic#NatureWalksa#SustainableTravell#CebuDestinations #PhilippinesNatureC#CommunityTourismuisine: Savor authentic Bantayan Island dishes at the on-site restaurant, offering a delightful culinary experience amidst nature . --- 📍 Visitor Information Location: Barangay Obo-ob, Bantayan Island, Cebu, Philippines Operating Hours: Daily from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM . Entrance Fees: Adults: ₱50 Children: ₱20 Cottage Rental: ₱150 for 3 hours . Contact: +63 929 727 8119 . --- 🚗 Getting There From Cebu City: Take a bus or van from the North Bus Terminal to Hagnaya Port (approximately 3–4 hours). From there, board a ferry to Santa Fe Port on Bantayan Island (around 1 hour). Upon arrival, hire a tricycle or motorcycle to reach the mangrove garden, located about 15–20 minutes away . Within Bantayan Island: Tricycles are readily available for hire. Simply inform the driver you wish to go to “Omagieca” or the “Obo-ob Mangrove Garden.” --- 🌞 Tips for Visitors Best Time to Visit: To avoid the midday heat, plan your visit before 10:00 AM or after 2:00 PM. The months of January to April offer the most favorable weather conditions . What to Bring: Wear comfortable footwear suitable for walking on bamboo paths. Don't forget insect repellent, sun protection, and a camera to capture the picturesque scenery. Support Local: Purchasing meals or souvenirs on-site contributes directly to the community's conservation and tourism initiatives. --- The Omagieca Obo-ob Mangrove Garden is more than just a tourist spot; it's a testament to community resilience and environmental stewardship. Whether you're a nature enthusiast, a photography lover, or someone seeking tranquility, this eco-park offers a unique and enriching experience on Bantayan Island.

Bantayan Island Cebu is an excellent spot for relaxation with its exquisite beauty. It has white sands, clear blue beaches, tranquil mood, and hospitable people. Truly, locals and foreign tourists alike have sought for this hidden gem! Thus, if you make right choices, you can enjoy Bantayan Island at an affordable cost. If you wish to get to Bantayan Island Cebu at a favorable time, get to North Bus Terminal between 5:00 AM to 7:00 AM. There are many buses (with airconditioner or without airconditioner) you can board to transport you to Hagnaya Port. However, the most recommended bus would be Ceres (Yellow) Bus. It would cost P 170. Also, at the North Bus Terminal, you may opt for a van. The van would cost P100 higher than the Bus’. After all, you have just had a lengthy travel to Bantayan Island Cebu. Thus, you can just wear your swim attire and dip in the refreshing, cool waters. Since the water has pure sands (not rocks or mud), you can take pleasure in water dipping or swimming. You can enjoy this until dusk. During dusk, the place becomes romantic. Lovers can walk by the shores during this time.#staycation #foodie #awesomepic #beachlife #summervacation

Paradise Beach Bantayan, also known as Sandira Beach, is one of the best beaches on the island and a must-see during your visit to this incredible destination in North Cebu! I spent around 1-hour or so enjoying the idyllic vibes at Paradise Beach Bantayan and have put together this complete guide which includes where it’s located, how much it costs to visit, and what to expect when you arrive. Paradise Beach can be found on the southeastern coastline of Bantayan Island. When you arrive at Paradise Beach, there is a small tourist office where you will have to pay the 50 pesos entrance fee before continuing down to the beach. The tourist office also sells snacks, drinks, and other small items that you can purchase to take down with you to the beach and potentially have a picnic along the shoreline.#awesomepic #foodie #beachlife #summervacation #mytripvlog

I have lived all over the world and traveled to many of the beaches. Presently, I would rate White Beach one of the best. What makes the beach so special is that it is so big and you can walk or swim out and any where you touch bottom it is white powdery sand. If you like the beach scene and people watching, the middle of the beach is great. But if crowds make you nervous then at the ends there is plenty of empty beautiful sand. It makes me feel goo just to think about it. #barocayisland #philippines #partyfun #travel

Who wouldn't love to go to a very relaxing, budget and nature friendly resort like the Bantayan Island Nature Park and Resort!! All the amazing amenities that you need are here plus there was a huge cave that has crystal clear water, ready to swim by many locals & tourists! Also, the statue of Sr. Santo Niño was also seen inside the cave. ☺️ As you arrived inside the resort, many animals were seen plus there was also a fish spa where you can relax and enjoy! a huge swimming slide was also there, restaurants, unique colorful benches and a long wide swimming pool! you will surely enjoy your time here with your family and friends!! very recommended indeed!!! 💖🥰🥰🥰 #staycation #beachlife

Located in Bantayan Island which is renowned for its white-sand beaches, Santa Fe Beach Club is undoubtedly one of the places you should visit! Bantayan Island may be small compared to Cebu, yet it is home to a few of the best beach resorts in the province! One of the must-visit beaches is Santa Fe Beach Club, which is just a 10-minutes of walk or a 5-minute tricycle ride from the Santa Fe Port. Warm white sand welcomes you the moment you step into the resort! While white sand beaches are common in Cebu, it’s not so often you can find one with pristine and immaculately clean sand.

Starting from Cebu City, you can take a bus in the Cebu North Bus Terminal bound to the Hagnaya Port. This is the port where ferries that can take passengers to the island take off. Travel time of the bus is around three hours where average fare for each head is P180 for air-conditioned buses and P150.00 for non-air-conditioned ones. Most buses bound to Bantayan have rides as early as 4AM, with last trips at 5PM. Once you’re in Hagnaya Port, you can catch a public ferry to Santa Fe, where the ferry ride is estimated an hour travel time and has P200 approximate fare per head. Ferries from this port depart as early as 7AM and with last trips at 5PMl

We were staying at budyong next door but kept coming here for halo halo every afternoon. The halo halo is okay, and the ingredients were different one day and different on another but it was a great way too cool off. We loved the ambience. Food takes a very long time to be served, even just the young coconut juice. We had breakfast here on our 2nd day. 5the food took 45min to an hour to be served. We ordered pancakes and the filipino breakfast. The banana pancakes and mango pancake were especially good. The filipino breakfast however was served cold. When we sent back our food to be heated, it took them another 30-45 min to get them back, but still it wasn’t hot enough. The eggs and tapa were warm at best and the rice was neither hot nor cold. The tapa was not at all what i expected it to look and taste - it was tapa-ish but not really tapa. I wished I ordered the pancakes instead. The resto staff did not seem very friendly and we had a hard time calling/ getting their attention and when we needed something we had to walk over to the counter. Overall this is an okay place to eat if you’re not picky or particular about having food served hot. The ambience is good. I would still eat here, but would be picky with what i order. #bestislandtraveltowns#culturalattractions#beaches

Bantayan Island is an off-the-beaten-path tourist destination in Cebu and is said to be the Boracay of the south! There are so many awesome things to do in Bantayan Island including white sand beaches, saltwater lagoons, mangrove boardwalks, cave pools, old ruins, skydiving, and island hopping, to name a few. The 4-hour bus ride to Bantayan Island from Cebu City can get cold too because of the air-conditioning unit, so a scarf and light jacket is advisable as hand-carry while traveling. I recommend renting a bicycle to explore the island.

#omagieca #ecopark #mangroves #bantayan #summervacation#hikingtrails#urbanexplorer OMAGIECA💥 A nice two-hour adventure on Bantayan Island is the Obo-ob Mangrove Eco Park. The eco park has a bamboo walkway through the mangroves which makes for a refreshing stroll with good photo opportunities. You can also go kayaking or take a tour of the mangroves on a small boat. OMAGIECA's RESTAURANT The Eco Park has a restaurant right on the water which makes for a cool atmosphere while you dine. Park Entry amd Fees Adults – 50 pesos Students and Children – 20 pesos Kayaking – 150 pesos Boating – 350 pesos How to get there? From Santa Fe, travel on Santa Fe – Bantayan Road toward Bantayan Municipality. Pass under the “Welcome to Bantayan” sign and start looking for Obo-ob Road on your left. Turn left on Obo-ob Road. There are a couple of signs there that mention the eco park. The Mangrove Eco Park will be down on your right or you can check-out in the google map.

Westdell Mini Park amd Resort is located in Barangay Oboob in a beautiful island of Bantayan. It is a restogrill with a miniresort ambiance. Looking for a safe place to chill out? It is a perfect place to go with friends and families. The place is monitored by CCTV amd they have 24/7 security guard on duty. And hey, THERE IS NO ENTRANCE FEE! Yay! They are a restaurant so if you go there eat, drink and chill only.. you only need to pay what you ordered. But we need to pay if we wanna use there pool. FREE VIDEOKE! NO ENTRANCE FEE! Sing your heart out or enjoy the tranquil ambiance of Westdell Minipark Resort!❤️ Enjoy affordable food & drinks! RH Litro for only 99 pesos only Mucho king 89 pesos only FREE VIDEOKE!🎤 So it's your time to shine!☺️ #summervacation#beachvacation#hikingtrails#hotelstay#urbanexplorer

Located in the northern part of Cebu in Bantayan Island. This resort is really a great place for vacation and relaxation. Powdery white sand and prestine turquoise water best showcased here. Lovely beach front with a great view of the sunrise. I appreciate the staff and how they keep the place clean. Highly recommended place! #summervacation #itsmorefuninthephilippines #summervacation#beachvacation#hikingtrails#hotelstay#urbanexplorer

Such a wonderful place where you can enjoy their beautiful white sand beaches! And the people are are very friendly 😍 #easylife#seasidephotoguide#naturalwonders#summervacation#beachvacation

This place is amazing! it has the longest stretch of beach in the island. Placid also has an open air restaurant with a bar that features Free Videoke provided you purchase some drinks while enjoying singing. If you are shy, then you can just listen while sipping your favorite drink somewhere at the corner. Placid resort also offers one of the best beach accommodations for your perfect holiday’s rest. #summervacation#beachvacation#hikingtrails#hotelstay#urbanexplorer

Kota Beach Resort is a facility established on this tropical white beach area of Bantayan Island, Cebu Province. It is known for its curve-shaped white sand shoreline making it great for swimming and other fun beach activities. The resort is specially located on a vast beach stretch with a fantastic sand bar that metamorphoses every day.At Kota’s location, you have the beautiful lagoon, sandbar, surreal eight shades of blue sea with a background of dancing coconut trees. The staffs were accommodating and warm! Our stay here was my most memorable trips ever! #urbanexplorer #summervacation #summervacation#beachvacation#hikingtrails#hotelstay#urbanexplorer

KOTA BEACH with & Mini Sandbar (Resort Hopping) when you vidit the place, there’s an entrance of P50 per head among visitors who are not checked in. But this can be waived when you eat in their restaurant. And sometimes, some staff are generous enough to allow guests to enter with no entrance fees and let them enjoy the beach. With or without the entrance fee, you will never regret visiting this paradise. Because surely, your Bantayan experience won’t be complete without this. location: F. Duarte St, Santa Fe, Cebu #urbanexplorer #summervacation #urbanexplorer #hotelstay #beachvacation #summervacation#beachvacation#hikingtrails#hotelstay#urbanexplorer

1.1) BOOK A HOTEL IN ADVANCE (1 month) and GET A CHEAPER PRICE - this for me, is not recommendable as border controls, local government policies of your origin and destination and hotel policies changes from time to time depending on the number of Covid cases in the area. Make sure to take screenshot of the booking. (1.2) BOOK A HOTEL 1 WEEK OR DAYS BEFORE THE TRAVEL DATE - this is what we did since there was a storm and i was skeptical if i will push through thr trip or not kay checkpoint in Bogo was suuuuper strict. (intense) According to my research, gi tangtang na ang checkpoint After booking a hotel, (2.) CONTACT THE HOTEL - don't wait for them to contact you. If possible, book directly to their website NOT on Booking Apps. Example: We booked Kota Beach - we exchanged Emails and normally they will ask for payment first to secure your booking. Since I was skeptical, I didn't pay and asked if we could pay cash once we check in, they refused. Two days before the travel date, they emailed me back said they will reserve a room for us and i could pay when i get there. They will ask for (3.)VALID IDS, we gave passport (Brgy. Bantayan, USA) Visa nalang kuwang. 😂 You will SEND a picture of YOUR GOVERNMENT IDs to them and they will be the one who will contact Sta. Fe Tourism. After one day, they will send the (4.)QR CODE. This QR CODE IS YOUR A MUST UPON ENTERING STA FE. No QR CODE, labay kas dagat. 😂😂 Again, it's the hotel who will process this and send it before the travel date. Should you wish to transfer hotels like we did, you should do all these twice. PS. Make sure to book the accredited hotel/resorts. Not all establishments have the permit to operate. You are also required to bring GOVERNMENT IDs. But now, you have to BRING COMPANY ID AND COE. If you have travel pass, quarantine pass, judt bring them too (for border checkpoints purposes) (5.) FACE MASK AND FACE SHIELD #uniquehotel #maydaytrip #urbanexplorer

Perfect place to unwind especially now we are stressed about the situation today. Just be safe always wear mask and keep your distance. Leave no trace just enjoy and appreciate the beauty of nature. #holidayvacation#staycation#tripinspired

Philippines can be a bit overwhelming with the amount of islands to visit, but choosing bantayan Island for holidays couldn't be better. Either jumping from a cliff side, helping the local to get out the boat from the island or relaxing in a local tour, anything is ok. #givethanks

One of the best sunsets I've ever seen in my life. Spending a week here is not enough, maybe moving entirely to this place will make it up. Bantayan Island in Phillipines, a place that you'll never forget and the cocktails in every bar are so cheap you can't imagine. #givethanks

More amazing views from Bantayan Island in the Phillipines, cristal water, white sands, amazing cocktails and wonderful seafood all over the island. Be prepared to experience a special trip to this place. #givethanks

Cebu, a popular vacation destination in the Philippines, is on the rise again. When it comes to Cebu, most Asian tourists (especially 🇰🇷🇨🇳🇯🇵) only think of Moalboal, Mactan, and Oslob. However, if you take the time to explore, you'll discover many more affordable and beautiful islands. Bantayan Island, located north of Cebu, is a bit of a trek, but its affordability and beauty make up for it. Because of its remote location, it's still relatively uncommercialized, attracting countless backpackers from around the world. Naturally, the island's abundance of backpackers has fostered a thriving nightlife, with bars and clubs serving alcohol, making it a great place to enjoy a day and night. I stayed here for two nights and three days, but with the commute time, I wish I had stayed another day. I'll provide a complete guide to my Bantayan itinerary, including directions from Cebu. 🛻 From Cebu, take a bus from the North Bus Terminal to Hagnaya Port. The fare is approximately 300 pesos and the journey takes approximately 4 hours. Due to poor highway conditions in Cebu, the journey often takes longer than expected. We recommend leaving early and allowing plenty of time. Once you arrive at Hagnaya Port, you'll need to transfer to a ferry to Santa Fe. This also costs approximately 300 pesos and takes approximately 1 hour. Santa Fe is the busiest city on Bantayan Island, and most accommodations are located here. Because there aren't many cars, we recommend renting a motorbike to get around. However, for those who find driving difficult, you can also arrange for a tricycle. 📍Day 1 After arriving at your accommodation (Edsan Apartments), head to Kota Beach. After swimming, have dinner at the nearby The Hungry Beach. Afterwards, we enjoyed some local bars and returned to our accommodation. 📍Day 2 We visited nearby islands, including Virgin Island, Hilantagaan Island, and Balidbid Lagoon, for snorkeling and diving. If you book with a local tour operator, you can book a banca boat and transportation for 1,500 pesos per person. However, options like lunch are separate, so we recommend booking a tour that suits your group. After returning from the island hopping tour, we watched the sunset at Ruin and had dinner at BRIZ Store & BBQ, a BBQ restaurant near our accommodation. 📍Day 3 After waking up late, we enjoyed a unique massage at a nearby Japanese herbal massage service. We then visited Mangrove Camp Sawi by motorbike before returning to Cebu. There are many attractions to see on the north side of Bantayan Island, including a cathedral and Kota Park. If you have an extra day, we recommend heading north. Personally, Virgin Island is one of the most beautiful islands I've visited in Southeast Asia. Because it's privately owned, the entrance fee is steep, but it's well worth it. However, the food and drinks inside are expensive and not particularly tasty, so I recommend purchasing some in advance at Bantayan Island during your hopping tour. #TravelPlanning #OverseasTravel #SoutheastAsiaTravel #PhilippinesTravel #CebuTravel #Bantayan #BantayanIsland

📅 Itinerary Day 1. From mainland Cebu, we arrived on the island at 5am via roro. Our hostel, #CasaIsabel doesn't open until 6am so we asked our driver to drop us at a nearby 24-hr Silogan house so we could have our bfast. Afterwhich, we took a nap, sleeping the morning away bec we were so tired and sleepy from our 4-hr bus ride the night before (gor issues 😅). Then around lunch, we went to Ogtong Cave. We paid P300 each for the entrance. We swam our hearts out there for an hour. Next, we went to The Ruins which is nearby Ogtong. To our surprise, we saw our name painted on its wall so we had fun taking a picture with it. It was windy & low tide around that time so there was no cliff jumping. Then we went to the market to buy fresh seafood for dinner. Casa allows us free use of their kitchen so we just DIYd our dinner. Day2: First on the list was the Mangrove where the famous Camp Sawi & Camp Wagi are. Entrance is P75 each. T'was quite an eventful day. My hubby accidentally dropped his phone in the water and dove after it! Thank goodness he retrieved it still alive so I guess his brief adventure was worth it afterall 😅. Bantayan trinklets are sold there too. Then we went to Bantayan to buy dried fish, choco lanay & had his phone cleaned. I'd say u should also see their church! It is magnificent. Our last stop was Kota Park in Madridejos. There, we basked in the beauty of the sunset. Truly, and as always, Bantayan sunsets do not disappoint. Back in 2019, there used to be a small restaurant in Kota that served crab meat. I couldn't forget it & was hoping to try it out again with my hubby. But apparently, it isn't there anymore so we decided to call it a day & went back home to Sta Fe. Day3: It was time to go back to the city. But before that, we hit the beach! Beaches in Sta Fe are just walking distance from most hotels around the area. Normally, they're white sand and crystal clear. But then we came at a time when typhoons Dante and Crising just left PH plus the Habagat winds were making the water rough and murky so we just chose not to bother it anymore. We just sat there by its shore, breathing in the seabreeze (or wind), listening to the crashing of its rough waves, and just soaking it all in and appreciating how blessed we are and how good life is. All in all, it was just a short but sweet trip. We did not even have a well planned-out itinerary. We just wanted to breathe. Luckily, we have Bantayan in our midst, our sweet respite.

🏰 Under the Cebu Sun – Discovering Kota Park & Kota Fort 🌊 Tucked along the northern shoreline of Bantayan Island, Kota Park sits where history meets the sea—a perfect stop on your Bantayan land tour. Built around the 1790s as Presidio de Lawis (the Spanish-era fort), this site once stood guard against Moro pirate raids. Over time, it became a cemetery before being transformed into a scenic park. Today, only remnants of the stone fort remain—towering walls, ancient pillars, and a gentle sense of time reflected in the breeze.   ⸻ 🌅 What to Expect: • Free entry, making it ideal as a no-cost stop ($0 admission)  • A 187-meter boardwalk—locally dubbed the “bridge to forever”—that stretches out over the water to a watchtower-lookout. It offers calming sunset views and glimpses of sea life beneath.  • A small green park lined with palms and shaded benches—perfect for picnics or quiet afternoon strolls   We arrived at Kota Park around 10AM, after a chill scooter ride from Santa Fe. The breeze was still cool, the roads almost empty, and the sun just starting to warm the day. As we parked near the entrance, the stone walls of the old Spanish fort welcomed us—weathered, mossy, and full of stories. There weren’t many people yet, which made it the perfect time to explore and take photos without the crowd. The boardwalk stretched out into the sea like a peaceful path to nowhere. Walking to the end, all you could hear were waves and birds. It’s quiet, calm, and honestly… kind of magical. This place isn’t just for photos—it’s where time slows down. Perfect for a morning stop before heading to lunch or your next spot.

You’ve probably seen the white sands of Bantayan… but have you been underneath it? Tucked inside the grounds of Ogtong Cave Resort is one of Bantayan’s best-kept secrets: a natural underground limestone cave with crystal-clear water. 🕳️ What to Expect The cave is small but surreal—cool, shallow spring water, smooth rock walls, and that echo that makes you want to whisper. It’s a perfect place to hide from the midday sun and take a quiet dip. I slipped into the water for a short swim, and instantly felt the difference from the salty sea. It’s like a natural bathtub, cool and refreshing—just what you need after a long morning of island hopping or land touring. 🏖️ The Resort Ogtong Cave Resort itself is peaceful and low-key. You’ll find: • Beach access • A pool with ocean views • Gardens and nipa-style rooms Even if you’re not staying overnight, you can pay a day entrance fee to access the cave and explore the area. ⸻ 📝 Travel Tips: • Entrance fee applies (even for cave only) ₱300 per person • Bring a towel and water shoes—rocks can be slippery! • Best visited during the land tour as a side stop (ticket not included in most tour packages) • Go early if you want to avoid the small crowd that usually comes midday ⸻ 💬 Is it worth it? Well.. It’s not a huge cave, but it’s a refreshing little adventure that adds variety to your Bantayan itinerary. Perfect combo: Land tour + quick dip in Ogtong Cave = island life done right 🌴💦