9 Top Places to Visit in Bantayan Island

Off the northwestern coast of Cebu lies a majestic island with pristine waters and glowing white sand: Bantayan Island. Having a chance to travel to this island in 2024, I present to you the best spots or top places to visit in Bantayan Island.

How To Get There

Although it does take time to reach this island. Let’s keep this simple with this itinerary:

Cebu City- Whether you’re landing through Cebu International Airport or taking a long ferry ride to Cebu Port, Cebu City is the gateway to your Bantayan journey. If you have spare time, you can actually book a one-day Cebu City tour and explore tourist spots around the city.

Cebu North Terminal Bus Station– From the airport or the port, or your accommodation, ride a taxi to Cebu North Terminal Bus Station. I suggest using Grab as taxis tend to overprice. Grab’s price range from the airport or the city center is just around 150-250 pesos.

Bus Station to Hagnaya Port- You can ride either a van or a bus to Hagnaya. Vans travel faster than buses, but for safety reasons, I recommend you ride a bus (my van anxiety can’t take it lol). Take the Ceres bus line to Hagnaya port (Ceres are the yellow buses), which costs 299 pesos. The whole ride takes around 3.5-4 hours, but don’t worry, you won’t get bored with the scenic view, or just take a nap while travelling.

Hagnaya Port to Santa Fe Port, Bantayan Island- Once you reach Hagnaya Port, ride a ferry to Santa Fe Port. You have two ferry options: Island Shipping Ferry or Super Shuttle Ferry. The first one is much cheaper at only 325 pesos (including terminal fee), and the latter is 384 pesos (including terminal fee) but slightly faster. The ferry ride takes around 45 minutes to 1 and a half hours max.

Welcome to Bantayan Island– You pay an island fee of 30 pesos upon arrival. From Santa Fe port, you can ride a trike, or rent a scooter (300 pesos per day), or find your accommodation shuttle if you opted to. The first thing that captured my attention upon arrival is how clean the port is with the visible white sand and turquoise water. You can literally feel the island paradise vibes from the port!

Now Goes the Top Places to Visit in Bantayan Island

1. Kota Beach

My first impression of Kota Beach is that it’s like Boracay without actually going to Boracay! Apart from its pristine waters and powdery white sands, the waters close to the shore is really shallow that when the lowtide comes, sandbars emerge.

• Entrance Fee: Beach access is free for those staying at Kota Beach Resort, plus the amenities.
• Pro Tip: There are free ways to get to the beach. We went through a public pathway beside the resort (where motorbikes are parked and locals sell fresh seafood) and made it to the beach front, then you can walk from there to the sandbars.

2. The Ruins

This site has gained popularity just in recent years. Fun fact: there’s nothing major about the history of the Ruins. Basically, it’s just a house owned by a German back in the 90s and left to be dilapidated for an unknown reason. Since then, people have vandalized the remnants of the house with cool graffiti that makes the site picture worthy. Also, it sits right at the edge of a cliffside where you can do cliff diving on a high tide.

• Entrance Fee: Totally free. And it sits beside the highway. However, at peak season during summer, tourists may flood the spot.

3. Obo-ob Mangrove Eco Park

The Omagieca Obo-ob Mangrove Eco Park is around 20-30 minutes (by motorbike or car) travel from Santa Fe. It’s a community project by the people of the barangay which then turned into an ecotourism site. You walk through a long wooden boardwalk that snakes through a dense canopy various species of mangroves. You can do fish feeding, kayaking, and boating. Also, take a picture of sites where the famous filipino movie ‘Camp Sawi’ was shot.

• Entrance Fee: Adults will need to pay 50 pesos, and 20 pesos for children.

4. Baigad/Balidbid Lagoon

This saltwater lagoon is a must-try if you go to Bantayan. Having to drive our own scooter was very convenient. When we got to where the Google map was saying, however, they said it was closed and that we needed to reach a resort called Baigad Lagoon Beach. This resort owns part of the lagoon where you can do water sports and activities such as kayaking. You can also go swimming in an outdoor pool, as well as enjoy the bar with drinks. The lagoon is connected to the beach, and the water is crystal clear!

• Entrance Fee: The entrance fee to the Baigad Lagoon Beach is 200 for tourists. You can pay 100 pump boat if you don’t want to walk a kilometer to the resort.

5. Ogtong Cave

Both the cave and the beach are located within the premises of Ogtong Cave Resort, thus explains why the entrance fee is a bit expensive. The cave is spectacular, although really small and sometimes crowded with people. The water is cool and refreshing, but I think the place is just overhyped. You can also dip in the pool outside or choose the adjacent beach surrounded by beautiful rock formations.

• Entrance Fee: 200 per person, including access to the cave, pool, and beach.

6. Sandira Beach

If you’re looking for a less crowded beach, then I recommend Sandira or Paradise beach—yes, as the name says, it really is a paradise. Like all the beaches in Bantayan, the water is clear and the sand is powdery white or caramel. The sand stretches long where you can walk while watching the beautiful sunset. However, there are some parts with seaweeds and urchins. So be very careful!

• Entrance: Access to the beach is only 50 pesos.

7. Bantayan Church (Sts. Peter and Paul Parish)

If you’re into history or architecture, a quick stop at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, more commonly known as Bantayan Church, is a must. It’s one of the oldest churches in the Visayas, dating back to the 1580s, built using coral stones and egg whites (yes, the old-school cement method!). The church has survived both natural disasters and wars, and still stands beautifully today.

• Entrance Fee: Free, but donations are always welcome.

8. Virgin Island / Hilantagaan Island

For a real island-hopping adventure, set your sights on Virgin Island and Hilantagaan Island—two small islets near Bantayan known for their clear waters and amazing snorkeling. The Virgin Island is more developed, with cottages, a small bar, and activities like kayaking and cliff jumping. Hilantagaan is quieter, more of a local fishing village vibe with welcoming locals and untouched beaches.

• Boat Rental: Ranges from ₱800–₱1,500 depending on the boat size and how many islands you plan to visit. Prices are negotiable.
• Entrance Fee (Virgin Island): ₱250 per person
• Pro Tip: Pack snacks and water. There are vendors that sell food, but the choices are limited and also expensive.

9. MJ Square

After a day of beach hopping and adventures, MJ Square in Santa Fe is the perfect place to unwind. This food hub is a mix of laid-back restaurants, cool cafés, and bars. Whether you’re craving seafood, pasta, Filipino dishes, or milk tea—MJ Square has something for everyone. There’s also live music on some nights!

• Budget: Meals range from ₱150 to ₱400.
• Pro Tip: Share the meal with your friends to save more.

So that’s it guys, hope you will have an amazing trip in Bantayan Island. There’s so much more to visit, but if you have a tight schedule and budget, you definitely want to just pick if not all, most of my recommendations above. I tell you, Bantayan is heaven on earth. If you have questions, let me know by dropping a comment below.