Bantayan
Hi there! 👋 I’m @benjtupas and welcome to another Travel PH82 Guide 🇵🇭 where I write DIY and budget-friendly guides for group and solo travelers on how to visit all 82 provinces of the Philippines!
For today’s guide, let’s virtually explore Bantayan in the province of Cebu!
I've been in this province for around 10 times (mix of speaking engagements and leisure). I've also explored all of Cebu's prime tourist spots such as Temple of Leah, Sirao Garden, Simala Shrine, Whale Shark Watching, Tumalog Falls, Kawasan Falls, and Badian Canyoneering.
Bantayan Island is a great destination if you want to avoid the crowd of these prime locations.
Although a 3-day stay is already enough to enjoy the entire island, I stayed here for 5 days to explore more restaurants, cafes, and drink some more. 😂
Let's start this solo traveler-friendly guide. 😍
Going There:
✈️ Book a flight to Mactan Cebu International Airport.
🚗 Book a Grab or taxi going to North Bus Terminal.
🚌 At the North Bus Terminal, take the bus going to Hagnaya Port. There's also a van if you want less people in the vehicle and will arrive faster.
⛴️ Ride a ferry from Hagnaya Port to Sta Fe, Bantayan Island.
You can book your tickets via Klook in advance to reserve your slot.
⏱️ It's a 5-hour trip from the North Bus Terminal to Hagnaya Port to Sta Fe so bring your headphones and ready your shows on Netflix.
🥄 Don't worry about the food and bathroom breaks, there's a bus stop midway and before you board the ferry.
Day 1: Check-in and Relax
🏠 Check-in at your accommodation - I stayed at R & D Island Lodge. - It's really cheap and just beside MJ Square, the central place for restaurants and bars. - I booked via Booking.com
🥄 Dinner and drinks at MJ Square I ate at Panyang and ordered spicy prawn
Just chill and get ready for your tours so you'll have energy.
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Before we go to Day 2 and 3, I booked the island and land tours with "Team Bantayan Island" days before the trip.
I paid P4,250 for both tours. It was really cheap for exclusive and solo tours. The cost of living there is also really cheap.
Thanks to Kuya Junie (+639508131135) of Team Bantayan Island for being an awesome driver and guide, for taking my photos, for following my custom itineraries, and for keeping my gadgets safe while I'm enjoying the activities. ❤️
Day 2: Island Tour with Team Bantayan
🏝️ Hilantagaan Island (Snorkel) 🏝️ Baigad Beach Lagoon (📷 See more photos here) 🏝️ Virgin Island (📷 See more photos here) 🥄 I went to MJ Square again to eat at Bantayan Burrito I ordered one of the best beef burritos and calamansi juice
Travel Smarter ✈️ and Pursue Your Passion ❤️
Day 3: Land Tour with Team Bantayan
🥄 Breakfast at Tapa Master in MJ Square 🚗 Beautiful mural of Bantayan Church 🚗 Omegieca Mangrove Garden You can find the famous sign from the movie Camp Sawi with Yassi Pressman, Bela Padilla, Arci Muñoz, Kim Molina, and Sam Milby 🚗 The Ruins 🚗 Paradise or Sandira Beach 🚗 Ogtong Cave 🚗 Sta Fe Sandbar 🥄 Dinner at Tinderpoint in MJ Square 📷 See more photos here
Unfortunately, it was raining in and out during both tours. The photos are a little gloomy. It was fun nonetheless.
Day 4: Work and Food Trip
🥄 Breakfast at World Touch Cafe - They have fast internet and plugs near the tables so you can charge your devices. - Their coffee and home-made breads taste really good. 🥄 Lunch at Tiki Bar 🧺 I washed my clothes at Coin Laundry Cafe It's a self-serve laundry shop with a cafe. Perfect for digital nomads who wants to stay long term to escape the concrete jungle. 🥄 Twisted (Ice cream)
Travel Smarter ✈️ and Pursue Your Passion ❤️
Day 5: Go Home
🚌 Just reverse the "Going There" guide above. That's another 5-hour trip going to the airport. 🥄 Rico's Lechon ✈️ Fly back home
I actually stayed in Cebu for 5 days because I got stranded twice due to Koren Air overshooting the runway of the airport and after that was resolved, there was a typhoon. Back to back problems but it was a fun adventure and another story to tell soon.
Thanks for reaching this far!
👋 Say hi on Instagram @benjtupas if you have any questions about the trip.
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🔗 Please share this with your friends who want to visit Bantayan
SEA you on the next one. 👋
Travel Dates: October 23 to 27, 2022
Last updated
