This guide to the best things to do in Camotes is something we should have put together a long time ago. How is it possible that such a well‑rounded island so close to one of the country’s main cities is so overlooked by tourism? And how, after so many years traveling around the Philippines, had we never come to know this destination?
Be that as it may, the wait is over and, after spending quite a few days exploring the area, we’ve prepared the most complete Camotes Guide so you can also enjoy everything it has to offer.
Ready to discover a new destination far from mass tourism despite being so close to an international airport? Let’s get started!
Where are the Camotes Islands?
The Camotes Islands are part of Cebu province and the Visayas region. Specifically, they lie east of Cebu (really northeast of Cebu City), southwest of the island of Leyte and north of Bohol. As we’ll explain in How to get to Camotes (coming soon), the most direct way to go is via Danao Port, about 30 kilometers north of Cebu City. From there, you have 2 hours of sailing to Camotes. Compared with trips to other islands like Malapascua or Bantayan, it’s truly a very accessible destination.
If you look at its location on the map, it’s also feasible to reach Camotes from Leyte. As it’s a less touristic and less populated island, not many travelers venture this way.
What to expect from the Camotes Islands — why go?
Before diving into each of the possible things to do in Camotes, we want you to get an overall idea of what awaits you here. After the first two days “camote‑ing,” our first impression was that it has a feel similar to the island of Siquijor. In some ways better, in others different, in others worse… But, like the latter, here you’ll mainly find three things: dreamy beaches, cool waterfalls, and caves.
As for beaches, Camotes has better and more varied ones. Speaking of waterfalls, the ones here don’t quite reach the level of our beloved Cambugahay Falls, but hey, they’re another nice addition to your route around the island. And lastly, when it comes to caves, you could call it a tie since each island has its own style.
That said, the main difference—and one thing you should be clear about before choosing to explore the Camotes Islands—is that because it’s so untouristy, it doesn’t have a huge variety of accommodations or places to eat. They exist, but nothing comparable to the “similar” Siquijor. Forget nightlife (beyond a few videokes), cute cafés, and the like.
So if, besides waterfalls, beaches, or caves, you’re after that little‑explored feel, don’t hesitate to include these islands in your Philippines itinerary. Not for nothing do Filipinos say they’re “The Lost Horizon of the South.” You won’t regret it!
Why the name Camotes? According to an account by Miguel de Loarca from 1582, the islands already bore this name. It’s believed that when the first Spaniards arrived, they asked the locals for the name and the latter thought the question was about what they were cultivating, to which they replied: “camote,” which is simply a sweet potato. As this is the term commonly used in Latin America, it may be that a ship with Mexicans or Peruvians had introduced the term earlier. But it’s all conjecture. In any case, don’t miss trying camotes in the Camotes 😉
How many days you need to visit the Camotes Islands and a suggested route
From our experience, the minimum number of days to visit the Camotes Islands would be 2 full ones (not counting the arrival and departure days). Of course, if you can stay longer—especially if you like beaches or island‑hopping on a motorbike—you’ll enjoy it even more. Even so, with 2 you’ll be able to tick off a good portion of the things to see in Camotes that we’ll discuss throughout this guide.
What to do in two days in Camotes? You could consider an itinerary like this (if you look at it with the Camotes map we made at the end of this article it’ll make more sense):
- Day 1: loop around Pacijan Island, stopping at Heminsulan Beach, Palanas Beach, Mangodlong Beach, Bakhaw Beach (and Karaoke), a visit to Tulang Diot islet, Timubo Cave, and Heaven Cave.
- Day 2: heading toward Poro, stop at Santiago Bay, then Buho Rock Resort, Busay Falls, and Bukilat Cave.
Since Poro’s interior doesn’t have anything very representative and Mactang Beach (which we’ll discuss below) isn’t much to write home about, our recommendation is to return via the same coastal road you took. It’s in better condition than the one that cuts across the island—we can tell you from experience.
Also, we encourage you to take a look at our Instagram stories about this island to get a good idea. Then don’t forget to follow us—we do many tours like these.
If you have more days to visit Camotes, you can split Day 1 into two parts and enjoy more time on the beaches.
What to see in the Camotes Islands
Sometimes we refer to this destination simply as Camotes and other times as “the Camotes Islands” because, although they’re linked by a bridge that you barely notice when crossing, the reality is that there are 4 islands. The two largest, Pacijan (known by locals as SanFran) and Poro, are where the vast majority of things to do in Camotes are concentrated. Pilar, to the east, is zero‑touristic and since there isn’t much to see there, you can skip the trip. Tulang Diot, finally, is an islet you can access to enjoy its beach from the north of Pacijan.
We want to show you the best things to do in Camotes. For that reason, you won’t find filler information here, like caves that aren’t worth it or “walks along the baywalk.” With that said, let’s start showing you everything this destination has to offer you:
Santiago Bay Beach
If you take a look at the few Filipino blogs that talk about Camotes, you’ll see this is one of their favorite beaches. We went to check it out with high hopes and it turned out to be one of the beaches that charmed us the least. While it’s true that it’s the most accessible because it’s close to many of the area’s accommodations and there are restaurants nearby where you can grab a bite (something that’s hard to find on the island), it felt to us like a Filipino beach without any special charm and without that sense of being in a pristine place.
It’s highly advisable that before heading to this or any other Camotes beach you take a look at the tide times. Try to time your visit for high tide if you don’t want to have to walk far to reach the water and to find Santiago Bay Beach looking nicer.
On the other hand, bear in mind that beaches are nature. It sounds obvious, but many people get upset about this. Beaches don’t look the same at all times of the year—not even on the same day. This matters even more in the Philippines because the archipelago is affected by two monsoons or winds that blow in different directions depending on the month. Thus, Santiago Bay is affected by the Habagat, the southwesterly wind, from June to November. What does this mean? That the water tends to be less clear and, unfortunately, that seaweed and trash carried by the sea wash ashore. We witnessed this ourselves, which is why we didn’t like it that much. By contrast, the beaches on the island’s west side were immaculate and beautiful.
Depending on your route around Camotes or the distance to your accommodation, it’s a good place to come for lunch or dinner.
Heminsulan Beach, one of the best beaches to see in Camotes
This beach wasn’t on our initial list of things to see in Camotes, but the owner of our accommodation recommended it and we decided to ride over on our motorbike. What a surprise! After feeling a bit indifferent about Santiago Bay, Heminsulan Beach welcomed us with turquoise waters, palm trees, and a much more relaxed vibe.
Although the color of the water and the sand is spectacular, we’re sure the first thing that will catch your eye are the huge floating cottages occupying one side of the beach. From 700 pesos per hour you can rent one to hang out with friends eating and drinking, but if you want more fun you’ll even see others with big slides on the sides to launch yourself into the sea. What’s the story here? It seems they started with one of these cottages and, since it was a success, they began building many more.
Don’t expect restaurants here. With luck you’ll be able to buy something to drink from a local stall and enjoy it lying on the sand. Keep in mind that this is the typical beach that attracts more Filipinos on weekends and holidays, but Monday to Friday you can be totally alone as we were. Also, from the entrance, if you look to the right and walk, you’ll find a stretch of the beach that’s totally virgin and wonderful. Nothing to envy compared to beaches like those on Bantayan, for example.
Palanas Beach
It’s not for lack of beaches in Camotes—here’s another example. Just 10 minutes by motorbike from popular Santiago Bay Beach is this other beach where we spent a good while completely alone taking a dip, Palanas Beach. On rainy days it’s worth taking the ride slowly, as parts of the road turn muddy and you need to be careful, but it’s worth it once you park at Palanas Beach Resort and enjoy, as happens in much of Camotes, the place practically to yourself.
This area isn’t particularly known for its snorkeling, but it’s a perfect spot to relax among palm trees and crystal‑clear water.
By the way, we were able to explore it entirely on our own and without paying anything, like almost all the beaches to see in Camotes that we mention in this guide.
Bakhaw Beach and “Karaoke Beach”
We love getting off the main route in search of new beaches and places. Sometimes we end up in the middle of brambles or with mud up to our knees, and other times we stumble upon beaches like these.
On the way to the little islet of Tulang Diot we decided to leave the main road and, unexpectedly, we found what became our favorite beach to see in the Camotes Islands: Bakhaw Beach. Here you’re greeted by turquoise waters, fine sand, palm trees and even some interesting snorkeling in the surroundings. You’ll also see a few huts where you can have a drink. When we passed by this beach we were totally alone—not only swimming, but even these huts had no one running them.
Following the unpaved road that passes here and continues north, you’ll see another beach also called Bakhaw Beach on Google Maps. We decided to nickname it “Karaoke Beach” to tell them apart because it was full of small groups of Filipinos enjoying their private karaokes and a few shots of Tanduay. If you go over to say hi, they’ll probably want to invite you to both. Go on—sing your heart out while you toast with them!
Mangodlong Beach
You can access this other beach through the resort of the same name. The entrance fee is 30 pesos, but if you say you’re going to dine at their restaurant you can enter without paying anything else. We had a delicious mango shake for 80 pesos. By paying an extra 100 pesos you can swim in their pool but, honestly, with the beach they have we think that’s more than enough.
Mangodlong Beach is a pretty cove with crystal‑clear water which, like the rest of Camotes beaches, we recommend visiting at high tide. Take a dip, relax in their hammocks, have lunch there if it coincides with mealtime (the food is fine and prices are reasonable), and you can even take a fresh‑water shower for 15 pesos if you want to continue your Camotes route without salt and sand.
On the right side of the cove you’ll see a rock formation from which to jump into the sea. Go closer and you’ll see it’s a huge octopus built into the rock! Don’t look for an explanation—it’s pure Filipino style.
Tulang Diot, an interesting islet to see in Camotes
North of Pacijan Island (the left‑hand Camotes) awaits a small islet (literally, “small island”) with a lovely beach where you can go for a good swim. Although we were told that you can sometimes spot turtles here and find some good snorkeling, we didn’t come across them (it seems you need to hire a boat and be taken to areas away from the beach), so we just let ourselves bob in the waves and relaxed on the sand.
As with other beaches in the area, here you’re guaranteed crystal‑clear water and that sense of switching off that less crowded destinations give us. We, for our part, went during the week, but we don’t doubt that on weekends the islet could have more local tourism coming to spend the day with family. That’s also part of the charm of these kinds of destinations—discovering how Filipinos love to enjoy time with their family and friends.
How do you get to Tulang Diot? It’s super simple. First you need to head to Tulang Dako Beach—we show it on the map at the end of this article. There you’ll see a small booth where you’ll pay 50 pesos (20 for the way there, 20 for the return, and 10 for environmental fees). The crossing takes about 5 minutes because, as you’ll see on the map, it’s right in front of the coast. Sometimes the people charging for the round trip will tell you that you have to wait a long time until there are 10 people, but that you can pay for the whole boat and leave right away. Ignore it! Tell them you’ve got plenty of time and in a few minutes they’ll take you even without waiting for anyone else.
On the islet they may ask you for the ticket (they didn’t give it to us), so make sure they do. We brought food we had bought at a restaurant on Tulang Dako Beach intending to eat at one of the tables on the islet, but the price convinced us to have a relaxed meal on the sand—150 pesos for a small table and two chairs! When we arrived, we realized they also served some basic meals and instant noodles, in case you’re thinking like we did.
As you can see in the photo, the islet is gorgeous and is totally worth a visit on your Camotes route. Plus, we think it’s a very budget‑friendly plan.
Buho Rock Resort
If you come to explore Camotes you’re going to want to visit, no question, Bukilat Cave—its star cave. As you’ll most likely (and also most advisably, from our perspective) stay on Pacijan Island, Buho Rock Resort will be on your way and is an ideal option to add to your tour of the area. This complex is set in a zone of rugged cliffs and they have built, at the bottom, an access to the sea from which you can jump via a couple of diving boards or slide down two big slides (when we visited they needed a bit of maintenance).
If you want to spend a fun time jumping again and again into turquoise water with an easy way to climb back up, don’t think twice and go for cliff jumping at Buho Rock Resort. Entrance costs only 20 pesos (the pool is paid separately), so you shouldn’t even hesitate.
Bukilat Cave, the best cave to see in Camotes
The Camotes Islands stand out, among many things, for the large number of flooded caves and cenotes they have. On our route we visited many of them and we’re going to show you the must‑sees here. Many others are so minor that we don’t even think it’s worth mentioning them and wasting your time.
The best, the most spectacular, the top #1 cave to see in Camotes is Bukilat Cave. Not only the prettiest on the island but even one of our favorites in the Philippines. Entrance costs only 50 pesos.
As you go down the stairs leading inside, the backlight will keep you from seeing well where you’re heading but, suddenly, wow!, you’ll have before you a huge rocky chamber where light pours in spectacularly through several natural windows pierced in the ceiling. The sunbeams falling in the darkness onto the turquoise water create a stunning effect!
Here you can take a refreshing dip in its two natural pools, enjoy its rock formations, and have a lovely photo session with its plays of light. Do keep in mind the floor is very slippery and, right at the entrance, you’ll have to walk through an area where the water reaches your ankles. Water shoes are highly advisable or, at the very least, flip‑flops!
At the entrance to Bukilat Cave there’s a small sari‑sari where you can buy snacks and soft drinks, but don’t expect restaurants in the area.
Other caves to see in Camotes
We visited several caves in Camotes and missed out on others because they were closed due to collapses or lack of maintenance. So you don’t spend your time and money on things that aren’t worth it, we recommend you go to the ones we’ll name below. Almost all of them open from sunrise until roughly sunset.
Keep in mind that, although they aren’t very deep and the access isn’t hard, they’re still places with little oxygen, so we don’t recommend visiting if you suffer from asthma or have mobility issues.
It’s always advisable to go to the Camotes caves when the tide is high because they have more water and look prettier. Even so, don’t worry—you can swim at any time.
1. Timubo Cave
It’s possibly the best‑known of the caves to visit in Camotes after Bukilat. In other words, it’s the one everyone goes to on Pacijan Island, also because it’s close to the islet of Tulang Diot.
Why do we like this cave? Because its access is really cool—down some stairs there’s a large, well‑lit chamber full of rock formations. Plus, after crossing a “small river,” you reach a chamber with a fairly long pool to take a dip (the water temperature is perfect) and there’s also a pretty chapel. We loved the experience and admission is 75 pesos per person.
2. Heaven Cave
Almost neck‑and‑neck with the previous one, despite being much smaller and shallower, what blew us away about this place is the adventure it offers—not for everyone, especially those a bit claustrophobic. After going down a few steps, you’ll find a small chamber with some stalactites and clear water; you can swim there without any issues.
The fun part comes when the guide (he kindly offers to go with you and is included in the entrance price, 60 pesos per person), if the tide is high, tells you to hold your breath to pass to the next chamber. Don’t panic—he’ll do it first, and you’ll see you’ll need to do about a 10‑second breath‑hold and barely half a meter. The reward? A network of chambers filled with columns, stalactites, and stalagmites. He’ll even take you for a short walk through the cave and show you a heart‑shaped rock. To get back, you’ll have to hold your breath again.
Honestly, we know it may sound tough, but it was an experience we enjoyed a lot.
3. Paraiso Cave
Compared with the two above, this one can’t compete, and we actually found the entrance fee a bit pricey (100 pesos), but it’s more or less on the route of things to see in Pacijan. So if you have the time and feel like it, you can visit it too.
It would be the mid‑point between Heaven and Timubo—not so much “adventure,” more accessible, and less deep. The area is very neat, with some quirky statues and a small restaurant (note: in season they sell great avocados for 80 pesos a kilo). You enter the cave down long, well‑lit stairs and, at the end, there’s a very pleasant pool for a dip. It reminded us of the cenotes around Mérida, Mexico.
Busay Falls
Busay Falls are the most famous waterfalls to see in Camotes. Although they’re far from the wow‑factor of Siquijor’s Cambugahay Falls, it’s a very pretty spot that you’ll pass by on the way to Bukilat Cave. If it’s rained in the days before, you’ll be in luck and can enjoy them at full flow. If not, they’re still a nice place to beat the Philippine heat.
Once you park your motorbike by the road, you just walk down a path for 5 minutes to reach the access. Don’t expect anything complicated—it’s super easy to get there. Entrance is 20 pesos, but when we visited they were doing improvement works and weren’t charging.
The top of the waterfall is shaped like a slide and we saw hints that there might be some way (we doubt it’s very safe) to get up to the top to slide down, but we didn’t find it. If you give it a try, be very careful—the floor is super slippery.
Lake Danao
Before starting our hunt for the best places to see in the Camotes Islands, we did some research in guides and small Filipino blogs. They all mentioned Lake Danao as a must‑see and, once on the island, you can see it promoted as one of the big tourist attractions.
As we always do, we’re going to be totally honest with you and give you our unfiltered opinion. You don’t need to come here unless you have time to spare. You’ve got beaches, caves, and waterfalls to discover that are much more worthwhile. If, on the way to Tulang Diot or Timubo Cave, you’ve got extra time and want to stop by for a look or even to eat, go ahead. But don’t come here expecting a fascinating lake.
Is it pretty? Yes, it is. It’s a huge lake surrounded by vegetation where you can rent a small boat (which surely looked better 20 years ago) and go for a pedal or row. There are a couple of restaurants and a zip line that takes you to a small islet. But that’s about it—it’s not something you’ll remember a few days later.
Those who will surely remember—and curse—every day they spend there are the animals caged in deplorable conditions that are part of Lake Danao Park. We saw monkeys going crazy with anxiety from being locked 24 hours in fridge‑sized cages, baby monkeys screaming in panic, and a huge snake that didn’t seem to have any will to live left. That was more than enough for us to turn around and, despite how hungry we were, leave without eating so as not to leave a single euro in this kind of “zoo of terror.”
Entrance here is 10 pesos per person and 5 for the motorbike.
More things to do in the Camotes Islands (if you have more time)
If you have 3 or more days to visit Camotes, you can also add these:
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- Amazing Cave: another cave to see in Camotes. It’s one of the smallest and the entrance fee is 100 pesos.
- Nonok Beach: right next to Heaven Cave is this small beach that almost disappears at high tide, but where you can have a great swim. From our perspective, the prettiest and best‑kept part is the one next to White Sand Beach Resort Malbago. You’ll locate it easily on the map we’ve left at the end of this Camotes guide. On weekends it’s normal to find islanders having family gatherings.
- Mactang Beach (historic beach): we drove all the way around Poro Island because we like a bit of adventure and we ended up at this beach. It’s really nothing special and swimming at low tide is almost impossible, but, as a curiosity, they say Magellan and Lapu‑Lapu (the local chieftain) fought here, with the former dying. It seems odd to us because, in theory, it was in Mactan (next to Cebu, where the airport is), but in fact there’s even a sculpture with a huge globe at the beach entrance.
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- Diving and freediving: we asked around a lot because we were keen to discover a new area for diving in the Philippines, but between the sky‑high prices and how unappealing the dive sites seemed to us, we ruled it out. We also met a freediving instructor in the north of Pacijan, near Tulang Diot. If you go for either of these two activities, we’d love you to tell us. In terms of snorkeling, we didn’t see much. Apparently, if you hire a little boat around Tulang Diot it’s feasible to see more things and even turtles.
- Panganuron Falls: a somewhat more secluded waterfall on Poro Island. We didn’t go, but the photos we’ve seen look quite interesting.
- Stay in the Tudela area and from there hop to the Four Islands in Leyte: yes, one thing to do in Camotes is that island‑hopping we liked so much. Depending on sea conditions, it’ll take between 90 and 120 minutes, so a good idea would be to stay overnight on Digyo and return the next day. If this plan appeals, we can give you a contact if you leave us a comment.
Practical information about the Camotes Islands
You’ve already seen everything you can do in the Camotes Islands, but here we’re going to get a bit more practical and give you some facts that will help you plan your visit.
Tips for visiting Camotes
Based on our experience, here are some tips for visiting Camotes:
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- Best time to visit Camotes: between December and May, since it’s the dry season, as in the rest of the Visayas. Even so, we went in peak rainy season (July–August) and enjoyed it a lot. There were a few downpours, but you can already see in our photos the blazing sunshine we also had. We talk about this in depth in Best time to travel to the Philippines.
- Set expectations: Camotes is still a low‑tourism destination and the supply of accommodation and restaurants is neither large nor high quality. That doesn’t bother us (quite the opposite!), but it might not be for you. We don’t know how long this will last, since there are plenty of development plans and we see potential, but for now, that’s the situation.
- Choose where to sleep wisely: within Pacijan Island distances aren’t that long, but honestly from Pacijan to Bukilat Cave is a lot, and doing a round trip is a slog. Also, the restaurant offer isn’t very big and we don’t think driving a lot at night is advisable. For this reason, as we explain just below, we think it’s better to stay in Santiago Bay. We recommend booking accommodation in advance, especially Friday to Sunday, because it’s a very popular island for people living in Cebu.
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- Internet connection: you already know we work online and also share our adventures on social media (here you can see the Stories we made about this island). In Camotes we were even able to work, but don’t expect amazing Wi‑Fi. During our visit, we found that the Smart network works a bit better than Globe across most of the island. Around Santiago Bay, the connection is quite good and there are even a few resorts with Starlink now. You can read more about this in Internet in the Philippines.
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- Money: there are a few ATMs on the island, but they’re usually from rural Philippine banks and foreign cards are sometimes not accepted. Bring plenty of cash from Cebu just in case and don’t bet everything on one card. In Cebu you have an HSBC ATM—the only ones that don’t charge local fees in the Philippines. We talk at length about this in Money in the Philippines.
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- Healthcare: there’s a hospital in San Francisco and a clinic in Consuelo, but you can imagine they’re not nearly as well equipped as we’d like. If something serious happens, you’ll have to go back to Cebu. That’s why it’s important to always travel with good travel insurance for the Philippines, which even covers emergency evacuation. We don’t want to be doomsayers, but accidents happen (a fall on the little scooter… it wouldn’t be the first time for us). Click here and get 5% off the one we use.
Where to stay in the Camotes Islands – Best area
This was something that gave us a bit of a headache when we searched online because it’s not at all clear which is the best area to stay in Camotes. After a lot of research and a few days there, we can tell you that, without a doubt, the best is to stay on Pacijan Island. And once there, if you want more restaurant options and not to ride the motorbike much at night (which sounds very reasonable), the Santiago Bay area and surroundings. It’s also what we might call an “in‑between point” between Pacijan and Poro, although the distance is really veeeery long.
Even so, there are some very nice hotels on Pacijan with their own restaurant and, most importantly, pretty beaches; so if your budget allows, staying at a resort would be our choice.
Within the limited hotel offer where to stay in Camotes, after pounding the island and even peeking into hotels, we can recommend these:
- Camotes Backpackers Hostel: this is where we stayed, both for location and price. About 5 minutes’ walk from Santiago Bay, it’s a newly opened hostel/guesthouse run by a Nordic‑Filipino couple, with double rooms, family rooms, little huts, and a shared dorm with air‑conditioning. We felt comfortable, the internet worked relatively well and the restaurant food is good value for money.
- RedDoorz at Homa Resort Hotel: this private villa was recently converted into a RedDoorz hotel and, located not far from Santiago Bay, you only need to see photos of the infinity pool to fall in love.
- Sunset Vista Sea Front Guest House: very close to one of our favorite beaches, Bakhaw Beach, and Tulang Diot. A humble but seafront and clean spot, run by a lovely couple. Breakfast included. If you have more budget, this one is even better.
- Ana Jean Lodging House: another good alternative would be to stay near Consuelo Port, the main port to/from Cebu. Plus, it’s close to the best beach area on Pacijan Island. It’s humble but cheap, so we think it’s one of the best places to sleep in Camotes.
- Mangodlong Paradise Resort: for us, the best resort in Camotes. We were lucky enough to go in and check it out and it’s a proper resort, with a huge pool, beach, and restaurant. You can also pay a day‑pass (500 pesos, 250 of which are consumable) to use the facilities.
One detail: Camotes sleeps from Monday to Thursday, but on weekends it gets many visitors from Cebu. So don’t sleep on it either and book ahead because, since the hotel supply in Camotes isn’t big to begin with, on weekends it’s reduced considerably and you can end up with sky‑high prices.
How to get there
Basically from Cebu City (or Mactan) or from Leyte. We’ll tell you everything in detail in How to get to Camotes.
How to get around Camotes
Public transport in Camotes is practically non‑existent. If you’re lucky, you’ll see the odd shared private transport pass by, which won’t stop no matter how much you flag it down. For this reason, Camotes mainly requires a motorbike so you can explore it on your own. Prices are around 400 pesos but, as always, we pulled some strings to find you better rates. So if you want to rent a motorbike for at least 2 days, our contact can give it to you for 350. He only has a couple, so it’s better to book in advance and not wait until you get to the island to let him know. If you want his contact, just tell us below in the comments and we’ll pass it on to you.
If riding a motorbike doesn’t quite convince you, if you don’t feel like doing it on some of its dirt roads, or if there are several of you and you want to be driven, we also have another contact that might interest you. Our friendly trusted tricycle driver, Russel, does daily tours from 1,500 pesos. If this option appeals more, you can also ask us for his contact.
If you’re many more, the island has lots of multicabs. These are like “ventilated” vans or jeepneys. We don’t know the prices, but obviously it’ll be a more economical option if there are more than 6 of you. Any hotel will organize it for you in no time.
Where to eat in the Camotes Islands
As with accommodation, the limited tourist development of this Filipino destination also shows in the few places to eat in Camotes. Even so, we had time to try quite a few and here are the details:
- Pito’s Sutokil & Bamboo Rock Resort: a legend in Camotes and the go‑to for Filipino groups traveling to the island. It’s very popular and takes its name from a dish called Sugba‑Tola‑Kilaw. It didn’t blow our minds, but we liked the mushroom sisig and the prices seemed good. It’s by the sea, in Santiago Bay.
- Santiago Bay Garden & Resort: the restaurant at this resort has such views over Santiago Bay that, for us, it’s the best in the area. Good prices too.
- Camotes Backpackers Hostel: as we mentioned, we stayed here and had time to try several things. The pizzas are Filipino‑style, so don’t expect anything very Italian, but they’re good. The burgers, though small, are tasty, and the same goes for the pasta. As vegans, they adapted several dishes for us. Breakfasts are pretty good because they bake their own bread and have single‑origin coffee from the mountainous areas of the Philippines, made in a good coffee machine. Seriously, this is much appreciated when you’ve been traveling many months around the country drinking instant coffee.
- Mangodlong Rock Resort: the restaurant at this resort is in a prime spot because the beach is great and the prices aren’t bad at all. Plus, if you order something, you don’t have to pay the entrance fee. We had a vegetable curry here that wasn’t bad at all.
- When´s foodhub: at the spot where the bangkas to Tulang Diot depart there’s this modest place where we ate some really tasty noodles for very little money—and took them to the island.
In San Francisco you’ll find plenty of eateries/carenderias, and the grilled‑skewer stalls pop up like mushrooms on both islands as soon as the sun starts to set. In San Francisco there’s also a kind of open‑air food court called Katunggan, in case you’re passing by.
Map with the best things to do in the Camotes Islands
So you can locate the things to do in the Camotes Islands we’ve mentioned in the guide, we’ve made this map:
As always, if you have any questions or want to suggest something, we’ll be happy to read you in the comments.
