If you asked us for paradise beaches to see on your trip around the Philippines, we’d have a good list for you, but we wouldn’t hesitate to include several on Bantayan Island. This little slice of the Visayas won us over with its kilometer‑long stretches of coralline sand bathed by that turquoise water you only find in the Philippines. That’s why we didn’t think twice about coming back several times and for longer and, although it’s not among our favorite islands, we decided to explore it in depth to tell you everything there is to do in Bantayan.
In Bantayan you won’t find too much tourism. Except for specific times like Christmas, Holy Week or the May long weekend, it’s normal to enjoy absolute peace and quiet. It’s even a little less visited than its sister Malapascua.
How many days to spend in Bantayan?
It seems that when you arrive in Bantayan time passes more slowly. Its relaxed island life captivates you instantly and, if you don’t look at the calendar, days can slip by. We say this from our own experience!
Our advice is to stay in Bantayan for at least 3 full days, not counting the days you need to get there. With those 3 days you’ll be able to relax on its beaches, tour the island by motorbike, soak up the vibe and do the little island hopping we suggest.
Bantayan or Malapascua?
Uuuhh… Now things get interesting!
Many travelers ask us whether we prefer visiting Malapascua or Bantayan. The truth is that neither island is crowded, we like both, and it’s hard to choose.
Although many people flat‑out claim there’s nothing to do in Malapascua and that it’s only worth it if you dive, we find that a rather misguided statement (not to say it makes our blood boil a little). Besides awesome dives, Malapascua has gorgeous big beaches—just look at photos of Langob Beach to see what we mean—, offers the chance to visit one of the most epic sandbars in the Philippines—Kalanggaman Island—, and has a certain je ne sais quoi that draws you in.
Bantayan, for its part, offers many more beaches to explore (easy for swimming and accessible), motorbike routes (not super varied like those in Siquijor or Siargao, though) and little tourism.
It’s true you can tell we’re partial and we adore Malapascua, but if you have time to enjoy both, we recommend it.
What to see and things to do in Bantayan
The queens of the “what to see in Bantayan” lists are the picture‑perfect beaches. Seriously, if you’ve ever dreamed of starring in one of those computer desktop wallpapers, this is your place. Even so, keep reading because we’re not only going to talk about the best beaches in Bantayan but also other activities to do that are no less interesting.
1. Relax on Bantayan’s best beach: Paradise Beach (Sandira Beach)
Most of the beaches on Bantayan Island are very beautiful, but they have a little issue: when the tide is low, they lose much of their charm. You’ll have to walk quite a bit to be able to swim and you won’t get that turquoise water color you do at high tide.
The best and least affected by the tides is Paradise Beach. Although it used to fly under the radar, more and more travelers visit it, without it ever getting crowded. There used to be some umbrellas to use, but a typhoon blew them away and there’s nothing left, so we recommend finding some shade by the cliffs.
You can get there easily by bike (it’s barely 15 minutes and many hotels rent them out or even lend them for free) or by motorbike on a short ride from Santa Fe.
If you’re carrying a snorkel mask, use it! Although there isn’t a lot of marine life to see in Bantayan, you can spot anemones with clownfish, plenty of starfish varieties, sea snakes or parrotfish.
To access, you have to pay a fee of 75 pesos per person.
Viajar por Filipinas tip: if you look at the photo, this stretch of coast is quite long and, in reality, there are 2 access points: one that leads to Sandira Beach and another to a spot called The Paradise Beach Campsite. This second part corresponds to the cliffs and, although equally pretty, there’s less sand, especially at high tide. Access from this side costs 25 pesos, but note they’ll then want to charge you the 75 pesos if you walk over to Sandira Beach.
2. Walk along Kota Beach and discover its sandbar
One of our favorite things to do in Bantayan is simply to stroll. A beautiful route to enjoy the island’s beaches and get to know local life goes from Santa Fe port towards the Kota Beach Resort. This is what’s known as Kota Beach, where we’ve spent the most hours.
Try to visit it at high tide, but also when the tide is going out. At the southern end of the beach, depending on the time of year, a very pretty sandbar forms that’s worth seeing. Plus, it creates a kind of natural pool that’s very comfortable for swimming.
3. Continue on to Sugar Beach
If you keep walking from Kota Beach Resort towards Ontong Cave Resort, you’ll reach another of the beaches to see in Bantayan: Sugar Beach.
Named for its fine, sugar‑like sand, at Sugar Beach you’ll find more fishermen’s bangkas. As it’s right next to Santa Fe, you can watch kids playing or Bantayan locals going about their daily life.
Although it isn’t the best spot for a dip—especially if the tide is low—it’s a very pleasant beach to soak up the island atmosphere, gaze at the millions of starfish on the shore (please don’t touch them or take them out of the sea—they die…) and watch the sunset.
Heads up: one of the best things to do in Bantayan is to keep your sunset date— they’re magical! There are several little bars on Sugar Beach, though our favorite is The Hungry Beach.
4. Discover Balidbid Lagoon
On our last visit, we decided to include Balidbid Lagoon and the Balidbid mangrove area on our list of things to do in Bantayan. We rented a motorbike and set out to explore this part of the island and got a surprise. We not only loved the mangroves (they looked like they were straight out of southern India), but we also really liked this freshwater lagoon formed at a river mouth.
To get there, we took a path that led us to this point. We asked people for “Balidbid Lagoon” and they pointed the way. When we couldn’t drive any farther, we got off the motorbike and walked along the beach. It’s also possible to include the lagoon in your Virgin Island island hopping. Talk to the bangkero (boatman) to see if they can make a stop for you.
Despite the strong wind that day, we loved this area, not just for the lagoon but also for the beaches.
Travelers tell us you can now get there by a small boat from this point. They charge 50 pesos per person for the ride plus 150 pesos per person for entry. At least now there’s a little beach bar with hammocks and loungers you can use.
Viajar por Filipinas tip: we recommend visiting at high tide, as the water color will be much nicer. Even so, be careful when swimming, as the current can be strong.
5. Hop from unknown beach to unknown beach
All these beaches to see in Bantayan have proper names, but, as you can imagine, there are loads more to discover—and you can name them whatever you like.
For example, between Ontong Cave Resort and Paradise Beach there’s a cliff area with some gorgeous little coves. To find the way down to the beach, put “Sta. Fe Cliff Diving Spot” in GoogleMaps. When you arrive, you’ll see some ruins, a small restaurant, a “sari sari,” and a jumping platform. Kids love doing flips here, but bear in mind it’s only possible when the tide is high.
Even prettier is the part that Maps.me labels as “Beaches hide by the cliff.” We spent hours there enjoying our very own private beach.
Also, on the road from Santa Fe to Madridejos lies the Balidbid area we mentioned just above. Exploring, you’ll find beautiful beaches with no one in sight.
We also love walking from Santa Fe port heading north. We’ve marked it on our Bantayan map as “Abaniko Beach Resort,” but this whole stretch of beach is great for walking and finding your own paradise beach.
6. Go island hopping: Virgin Island + Hilantagaan Island
Did you think you were going to skip island hopping here? No way!
One of the things to do in Bantayan is the island hopping to Virgin Island (also called Sillon Island), off the island’s east coast. It’s a private island where you’ll find crystal‑clear waters, spectacular blonde‑sand beaches and plenty of peace and quiet.
If you packed a mask and snorkel for the Philippines, bring them along because, although the reef isn’t in great shape, you’ll see a bit of marine life.
Plus, most routes usually include a stop at nearby Hilantagaan and some also at Kinatarcan.
Prices for this Bantayan excursion are around 1.500 pesos (2.000 if you add Hilantagaan and 4.000 if you go to Kinatarcan, as it’s farther). You can try to do it cheaper if you go by motorbike (300–350 pesos per day) to Sillon or Alice Beach, which is where the boats depart. Note that Virgin Island charges 200 pesos per person for entry.
7. Rent a motorbike or a bicycle
We’re sure you’re super comfy on Bantayan’s beaches, but it’s also worth getting a feel for island life. If you feel like it, you can rent a motorbike and tour some of the island’s main towns: Santa Fe, Bantayan and Madridejos.
Although none is particularly pretty, in Bantayan Town you can visit the Sts. Peter and Paul Church, built in 1580. It’s said to be the oldest parish church in the Visayas and Mindanao. To the north, in Madridejos, is the Old Kota Fort or Kota Park, a Spanish fort dating to 1790. Neither charges an entry fee.
There isn’t any particularly spectacular beach beyond the one we recommended to see in Bantayan, but the roads are in good condition and it’s a nice plan for a morning. Also, don’t forget to ride the stretch of road from the Obo‑ob mangroves to Sandira Beach. It’s a beautiful palm grove that stole our hearts, despite having seen millions of palms in the Philippines.
Motorbike rentals in Bantayan are around 300–350 pesos per day. Bicycles are 150 pesos per day.
8. Go skydiving
Maybe it wasn’t in your plans, but one of the things you can do in Bantayan is go skydiving. Do you dare?
It’s one of the few places in the Philippines where you can do it, but it isn’t cheap. The jump is around 24.000 pesos (approx. €400).
9. Stroll the Omagieca Obo-Ob Mangrove EcoPark
To stretch your legs (or arms), you can walk the boardwalks of this eco‑park full of mangroves or explore it by kayak. There’s a very nice viewpoint area where you can see the mangroves from above.
Entry costs 75 pesos if you plan to walk it or 150 pesos if you do it by kayak.
10. Enjoy the beach at Ogtong Cave Resort
The Ogtong Cave Resort has a superb beach that you can visit even if you’re not a hotel guest. Take advantage—it’s gorgeous!
Heads up: since mid‑2019 this beach is no longer free and they ask 225 pesos to enter… In our opinion, it’s not worth paying that much.
11. Go kitesurfing
Looking to do kitesurfing in the Philippines? The most well‑known tourist spots are Boracay, Siargao and a few corners in northern Palawan, but in Bantayan there’s a kitesurf club where you can rent gear and take lessons. Prices for an introductory lesson are around 3.500 pesos and gear rental, if you already know how, is 2.500 pesos for 2 hours.
Tips and curiosities for visiting Batayan
Although we hope we’ve convinced you to visit Bantayan with everything mentioned, here we want to share a few “extra” things that will surely help you enjoy this Philippine island:
- Bantayan is an island in the Philippines about 10 kilometers long and a little over 2 wide.
- ‘Bantayan’ literally means lookout. This is because it was a watchpoint for Moro raids, as you can see at Kota Park.
- You’ll likely arrive in Bantayan from Cebu or Malapascua, so your port of arrival will be Santa Fe. This is the corner of Bantayan where we recommend you base yourself.
- On arrival, you can take a tricycle to your hotel for about 20 pesos per person. You can also walk—it won’t take more than 15 minutes.
- Most foreigners you’ll find in Bantayan are retired residents. Many have settled on the island permanently.
- Many of Bantayan’s hotels and restaurants are in Santa Fe. This barangay is far from crowded, making it a pleasant place to have dinner or a beer, especially on weekends.
- If you want to save, at the market you’ll find small carinderias that open at midday. Even so, at MJ Square there are all kinds of options at good prices.
- Bantayan was heavily affected by Typhoon Yolanda in 2013 and by Ursula in 2019. It’s still possible to see the damage if you explore by motorbike.
- The best time to visit Bantayan is from December to May, when the Amihan winds usually blow less and the beaches look nicer.
- There are ATMs in Santa Fe. We recommend avoiding Euronet and withdrawing at PNB, which doesn’t try to trick you with fees.
- If you don’t ride a motorbike or don’t feel like it, you can get around Bantayan by tricycles and motorelas. The ride costs between 8 and 10 pesos per person.
- If you’re teleworking or need good internet, you’ll be glad to know that 4G works quite well in Santa Fe and many hotels’ Wi‑Fi networks do, too. Take a look at Internet in the Philippines for more information.
- If you have a health issue, there’s the Bantayan District Hospital, which is fine for minor things. If something more serious happens, we suggest going to one of the Chong Hua hospitals in Cebu City, which are better equipped. To avoid big bills, you know we always recommend traveling with good insurance for the Philippines.
Where to stay in Bantayan
If you fell in love with this island at first sight, we suggest booking accommodation at these places:
- Good value for money: Sunshine Paradise Inn
- For a little luxury: Amihan Beach Cabañas
For more options, check out these recommendations on where to stay in Bantayan.
How to get to Bantayan
You can get to Bantayan from other places in the Philippines such as Cebu, Moalboal, Masbate or Malapascua. Here we tell you how to get to Bantayan, but we’ll already tell you that the most common is to fly to Cebu City and, from the North Bus Terminal, take one of the buses to Hagnaya, where the boats to Bantayan depart.
Where to eat
You’ll find our personal selection of restaurants in Where to eat in Bantayan.
Map of Bantayan
On this map you’ll find all the great beaches we’ve mentioned, as well as other places of interest to see in Bantayan.
Do you have any questions or suggestions about things to do in Bantayan? Share them in the comments!
