We’re done with the Cebu city and Danasan Eco Park Adventure tour and so it’s high time to explore the islands that I am curious about ever since my Cebuano friends kept on advertising these islands to me and that they are must-see places near main island Cebu. They were indeed correct. It was all worth the long, several boat rides on the open seas.
| Date | Place | Preview |
|---|---|---|
| August 30, 2016 | Cebu City |  |
| August 31, 2016 | Danasan Eco Adventure Park |  |
| September 1, 2016 | Bantayan Island |  |
| September 2, 2016 | Malapascua Island |  |
| September 2, 2016 | Kalanggaman Island |  |
| September 3, 2016 | Leyte |  |
Places Visited
September 1, 2016
September 1, 2016
Bantayan Island
- Ceres Bus fee from Cebu City to Hagnaya Port: PHP 200.00
- Hagnaya port terminal fee: PHP 10.00
- RORO ship: PHP 170.00
A more or less 6-hour travel time was required to get to Bantayan island through the Ceres Bus at the Hagnaya port in Cebu, which includes the RORO ship ride (about 2 hours). We also paid for the Hagnaya port terminal fee before boarding the ship. Our main goal was to arrive early in the morning in Bantayan so we could spend the day going around the place, especially the famous Virgin Island.
There were no advanced bookings so we got to the bus station as early as 2 AM. We were fortunate to get seats and we tried our best to sleep during the travel after the bus left at 2:30 AM. I am not really talented in this. I keep struggling when it comes to power naps and sleeping in the car, bus, or plane. Oh well.
By tricycle or pedicab is the most common transportation in Bantayan. The Bantayan boys who drive either a tricycle or pedicab know exactly when the ROROs arrive and they, like paparazzis, rush to the front, not allowing us to breathe, to offer us rides with negotiable prices. Since there were three of us (me, my Dad, and Mikee), we paid PHP60.00 for the nimble Bantayan boy to bring us to the Coucou Hotel Bar and Restaurant.
Coucou Hotel Bar and Restaurant did not disappoint us, we already felt relaxed just by looking at the cottages/dining area as we passed by them from the front entrance. We just wanted to lie down right there and then. The place was also quiet, add to it the warm weather, with lack of sleep, all I wanted to do was just doze off.
One thing though, the rooms on the second floor are accessed through stairs only and the gaps are too high for small children or elderly. Even we made the effort to climb it though it was just a short flight of stairs, probably about less then 10 steps, but big ones.
Bantayan’s highlight is it’s tiny Virgin Island some 15 minutes away by small boat, which we immediately visited after lunch. I have created a separate page about this beautiful island here.
After inspecting the whole of Virgin Island, we still had time to check out the rest of Bantayan especially its shallow shores and danggit dried fish. I don’t know how to swim so this is the perfect beach for me, no need to worry about deep waters.
If you just wanted to chill and literally do nothing but stare at the waters, skies, and seaweeds, then Bantayan is the best place. No distraction at all. We spent only 1 day and 1 night in Bantayan so we ended the day purchasing our pasalubong dried fish for our families from the town proper, around 15 minutes ride from the coast.
- Danggit: PHP 520.00/kg
- Squid: PHP 720.00/kg
| Date | Place | Preview |
|---|---|---|
| August 30, 2016 | Cebu City | |
| August 31, 2016 | Danasan Eco Adventure Park | |
| September 1, 2016 | Bantayan Island | |
| September 2, 2016 | Malapascua Island | |
| September 2, 2016 | Kalanggaman Island | |
| September 3, 2016 | Leyte | |
