🇵🇭 Enjoy Cebu 100 times more, the beautiful island I want to keep to myself, Bantayan Island

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