My first trip to Bantayan Island, located north of Cebu City, Philippines, was back in May 2009 with my friends. After that, I decided I should return to that “little Boracay of Cebu” every year.
How to Get There?
Going to Bantayan Island will really test your patience, especially with the 2–3 hour bus ride and 1½-hour barge trip. Air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned buses are available to take you from the Cebu North Bus Terminal to Hagnaya Wharf.
Cebu North Bus Terminal Schedule:
5:30 AM, 6:30 AM, 7:30 AM, 8:00 AM, 8:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:00 noon, and 1:00 PM but these are just estimates and may change depending on whether the bus is already full or not.
As for the fare, it ranges from 110 to 160 pesos. I forgot the exact price, so it would be best to ask the conductors first to make sure.
Ferry Boats Santa Fe to Hagnaya: 5:00 am to 5:30 pm
As soon as you reach the pier of Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island, you’ll feel like jumping straight into the blue, crystal-clear seawater. The main means of transportation here are tricycles or tri-sikads, whichever you prefer, as long as you pay around 20 pesos per head to your destination.
You can also rent bicycles (150 pesos) or motorbikes (I’m not really sure how much) if you want to explore the island more.
We always stay at Sugar Beach because it offers very affordable room rates, ranging from 700 pesos (non-peak season) to 2,000 pesos. They also have bigger rooms for families and barkadas.
You can bring your own tent for a fee of 350 pesos per tent, or rent one from them for 700 pesos. Sugar Beach also has one of the widest shorelines compared to other resorts in the area.
The next day, we decided to go island hopping, and two of my friends rented a bike as well. I really can’t remember how much the boat or bike rental cost (since I didn’t rent a bike). Anyway, you can just ask the locals and haggle a little for a cheaper price.
Budget for 2: 5000-6000 pesos