Looking for the best things to do in Bantayan Island? Look no further. Bantayan Island is known for its white sand beaches and clear blue waters. But there’s more to Bantayan Island than its picturesque beauty.
We’ve compiled all worthy Bantayan Island activities you should try. Dare I say this is the most up-to-date guide you’ll ever come across on the internet as me and my sister had just been there last week.
Also Read: Bantayan Travel Guide 2023: Travel Requirements, Getting There, Fares, Sample Budget, and More!
What to Do in Bantayan Island, Cebu 2023
There’s so much to see and so many things to do in Bantayan Island. I’ve only included activities you would truly enjoy.
Don’t know how to there? Check out How to Get to Bantayan Island in 2023.
Without further ado, here are 18 activities to include in your Bantayan Island itinerary:
1. Go island hopping in Bantayan Island
If you are visiting for a day or two, island hopping is one of the best things to do in Bantayan Island. Most island hopping tours in Bantayan Island hit three birds with one stone — Virgin Island, Hilantagaan Island, and Baigad Lagoon.
The itinerary usually stops first at Baigad Lagoon where you can see mangroves and clear lagoon water. The next stop is Virgin Island, the highlight of tours here where you can enjoy the white sand and crystal clear blue water. The final stop is Hilantagaan Island just off the shores for snorkeling.
Depending on your arrangement, you may do Bantayan Island hopping tour for one entire or half day. Ask your hotel’s front desk about island hopping tours, or go directly to Santa Fe Tourism Office to arrange an accredited Bantayan Island hopping tour for you.
- Cost: From 3,500 PHP (~65 USD) for all-in package tours
- Location: Santa Fe Tourism Office, F. Duarte St., Poblacion Santa Fe, Bantayan Island
- Contact: +63 927 983 2492
2. Watch beaming sunrise/sunset at Kota Beach
Kota Beach is arguably the most popular tourist spot in Bantayan Island for its accessibility, located right in front of Kota Beach Resort. If you’re staying around Santa Fe’s commercial center, you can walk to this public beach through multiple entry points.
Accessibility aside, its popularity isn’t unwarranted as Kota Beach has a white sand bar and clear water you may enjoy at any time of the day. But twilight at Kota Beach hits differently. I recommend bringing your beach mat, a bottle of beer, and some chips while watching a glorious sunrise or sunset by the beach.
- Admission: Free
- Hours: 24 hours
- Location: F. Duarte St., Poblacion Santa Fe, Bantayan Island
3. Skydive 15,000 ft above Bantayan Island
Get a bird’s eye view of Bantayan Island by jumping off a plane 15,000 feet above the ground. If you are an adventure-seeker looking for the best things to do in North Cebu, skydiving in Bantayan Island should be on your list.
Guests are required to attend a 20-minute class first. Hand-held camera photos and videos are included in each skydive. Make sure to have at least 4 gigabytes of storage device and wear comfortable clothing and a good pair of shoes.
- Cost: 20,500 PHP (~370 USD)
- Location: Santa Fe, Bantayan Island
- Contact: +63 917 167 3226 (Skydive Greater Cebu)
- Website: SkyDiveCebu.com
4. Go overnight camping at Paradise Beach Campsite
If you want to do something out of the usual in Bantayan Island, why not go camping at Paradise Beach Campsite? The property has a relatively wide camping ground over a cliff that gives you a good view of Paradise Beach which you can also use to swim.
Contrary to its name, the undeveloped pathway to the campsite is craggy, so your ride going here can be challenging and not paradisiacal, to say the least. Despite that, it’s surely one of the best things to do in Bantayan Island!
- Admission: 30 PHP (~0.5 USD)
- Hours: 24 hours
- Location: Santa Fe, Bantayan Island
- Contact: +63 32 232 0268
5. Enjoy one of Cebu’s best beaches in Virgin Island
About 20 minutes boat ride off the coast of Poblacion Santa Fe, you will arrive in Virgin Island — one of the most popular tourist attractions near Bantayan Island and one of the best islands in Cebu.
With its crystal clear blue water and fine white sand, Virgin Island is definitely worth visiting where you can play beach volleyball, chill on the hammocks, jump off cliffs, snorkel, and do all sorts of water activities.
Virgin Island, also known as Sillon Island, is privately owned by a resort, so tourists can’t just go there at any time without a guide. Ask your hotel’s front desk about Virgin Island tours, or go directly to Santa Fe Tourism Office to arrange an accredited boat transfer.
- Fees: 200 PHP (~3.5 USD) for admission, 1,200 PHP (~22 USD) for boat transfer
- Hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Location: Santa Fe Tourism Office
- Contact: +63 927 983 2492
6. Jump off ragged cliffs at The Ruins
A favorite spot of local kids, The Ruins is located right by the cliff, known for cliff-jumping, one of the most popular things to do in Bantayan Island. The Ruins is the remains of a house left by a German expat after Typhoon Yolanda destroyed it in 2013.
The iconic remains are mainly walls filled with graffiti. For locals, it’s the most popular tourist spot in Bantayan Island for cliff jumping and diving.
Caution, though. Make sure the water level is deep enough for you to jump. The first time I went there in 2017, I made a mistake by jumping into waist-deep water.
- Admission: Free
- Hours: 24 hours
- Location: Santa Fe, Bantayan Island
7. Get close to underwater life at Hilantagaan Island
Hilantagaan Island is a small fishing village that’s a 30-minute boat ride away from Bantayan Island. The surrounding waters of Hilantagan Island is home to rich, diverse marine wildlife.
Often part of an island hopping tour in Bantayan Island, snorkeling in Hilantagaan Island is a must-do activity. You can dock and explore the island a little bit, but do note that the beaches here are not as good as those in Virgin Island.
Ask your hotel’s front desk about Virgin Island tours, or go directly to Santa Fe Tourism Office to arrange an accredited boat transfer for you.
- Fees: 1,200 PHP (~22 USD) for boat transfer
- Hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Location: Santa Fe Tourism Office
- Contact: +63 927 983 2492
8. Be in touch with nature at Omagieca Mangrove Garden
More popularly known as Camp Sawi (“Camp Miserable”) where the broken-hearted get to ponder over their lost love, Omagieca Obo-ob Mangrove Garden and Eco-Park is one of the best places in Bantayan Island if you want to meditate or be in touch with nature.
Omagieca Mangrove Garden is surrounded by a thick mangrove forest, accessible through a bamboo-made boardwalk elevated on concrete stilts. Along your walk, you will be greeted by welcome arches and quotes on boards (in Filipino) to somehow soothe your sorrowful heart. There are hut stations where you can stop for a rest since it’s a pretty long walk.
Climb up the Bamboo Tower to get a 360-degree view of the entire mangrove forest and the sea. Don’t miss it!
Omagieca Mangrove Garden has a restaurant serving Filipino food. Other activities you can do are fish feeding, mangrove planting, and if the tide permits, kayaking, scuba diving, freediving, and helmet diving. Just outside are small souvenir shops and snack stalls.
- Admission: 55 PHP (~1 USD) for adults, 20 PHP (~0.5 USD)
- Hours: 6:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Location: Barangay Obo-ob, Bantayan
- Contact: +63 929 727 8119
9. Learn kitesurfing skill
Kitesurfing is a technical skill that you need to learn before you can fully experience it. In Bantayan Island, you can learn the basics of kite surfing through a 1-day course and get to ride the board by yourself. Once learned, you can kitesurf pretty much anywhere in the world.
- Cost: From 8,100 PHP (~150 USD)
- Hours: 7:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Contact: +63 995 092 4047
- Location: Batobalonos St., Poblacion Santa Fe, Bantayan Island
- Website: KiteBantayan.com
10. Take a quick dip at Ogtong Cave
Located inside a private resort of the same name, Ogtong Cave is a small chamber with cold, clear blue water. With its limited space and waist-deep water, Ogtong Cave is not ideal for swimming.
Years ago, I remember when I caressed the stalactites (sorry, I was dumb yet so enamored by the rock formation), the cave attendant called me out, which looking back I honestly appreciate because that showed they genuinely care about the cave.
Here’s my genuine thought about Ogtong Cave now: it’s not what it used to be. The cave is not as clean as before, so paying 200 PHP (~3.5 USD) might not be worth it. However, if you are a cave enthusiast, it might still be worth checking out.
- Admission: 200 PHP (~3.5 USD)
- Hours: 7:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Contact: (032) 438 9129
- Location: Ogtong Cave Resort, Santa Fe, Bantayan Island
11. Go beach hopping
Bantayan Island boasts some of the best beaches in Cebu, making beach hopping one of the best things to do in Bantayan Island. Some of the beaches you should check out are Kota Beach, Sugar Beach, Sandira Beach, Paradise Beach, Santa Fe Beach, Baigad Lagoon Beach, and Virgin Island.
Kota Beach and Sugar Beach are located on the same shoreline and are free to use. Sandira Beach and Paradise Beach are located next to each other; the entrance fee is 60 PHP (~1 USD) and 30 PHP (~0.5 USD), respectively.
Santa Fe Beach is located right across the now-closed Santa Fe Beach Club near Santa Fe Port and is free to access. Baigad Lagoon Beach and Virgin Island are accessible through boat transfers.
12. Chill at Baigad Lagoon Beach
Baigad Lagoon is the latest attraction in Bantayan Island that soft-launched in 2022. As of this writing, a resort is being built here, but you can definitely come here to relax and take pictures as there are already chairs and tables, swings, and other facilities available.
Baigad Lagoon is accessible by walking through the shoreline from Baigad Barangay Hall.
Alternatively, you can take a boat either at the Baigad old wharf or the Baigad Lagoon pump boat station demonstrated in the photo below. Take the latter if you want to see the mangroves going to the lagoon.
- Cost: 100 PHP (~2 USD) for entrance, 100 PHP (~2 USD) for 2-way boat transfer per head
- Hours: 7:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Contact:
- Location: Barangay Baigad, Bantayan, Bantayan Island
13. Experience Bantayan Island nightlife
Santa Fe is the nightlife area in Bantayan Island where bars, clubs, cafés, and restaurants abound. Go out on weekends, but don’t expect a nightlife like that in the city since establishments in the island close down past midnight.
Nevertheless, Santa Fe is worth checking out at night. If you want to dance and have a good time, Hr musicbar hosts a disco on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. If you want to dine and chill, Coucou Bar is a good place.
For a chill music night out is what you’re looking for, TapaMaster Bantayan Island has live bands on weekends. For a more relaxed by-the-beach drinking session, The Hungry Beach Co and Stumble Inn Beach Club could accommodate you well. If you feel like singing, Ato Ni Bai is the most popular karaoke bar in town.
14. Hunt local goods at Bantayan Market
Bantayan town is 20 minutes scooter ride away from Poblacion Santa Fe. I recommend visiting Bantayan’s public market if you’re looking for local goods and delicacies.
For the strong-willed gourmands, trying local delicacies could be one of the most interesting things to do in Bantayan Island.
First on your list is danggit, a sun-dried rabbitfish that’s quite popular with locals. You need to cook it, though. When cooked, it’s crispy and best dipped in vinegar and paired with rice. The fishy smell can get really strong, so be warned.
Taguangkan is a grilled delicacy. It’s the chicken’s womb or ovary where the egg is formed. It’s worth trying but not for the faint of heart.
- Opening hours: 5:00 am – 7:00 pm
- Location: Bantayan Municipal Wharf Road, Bantayan, Bantayan Island
15. Visit the historic Sts. Peter and Paul Parish
Founded in 1580 under Spanish rule, Sts. Peter and Paul Parish is one of the oldest parishes in the Philippines. As part of the early tradition of Spanish priests, Sts. Peter and Parul Parish was used as a first stop for Spanish priests entering the country where they would learn the local language and culture.
The current coral-stone church is the renovated version that was started in 1839 and completed in 1863, which became a church dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul. The original structure was destroyed by rebels in 1600 and a series of raids by rebels on different occasions as well as natural disasters throughout the years.
- Hours: 6:00 am – 8:00 pm
- Location: Pres. M. L. Quezon St., Bantayan, Bantayan Island
16. Watch sunset at Kota Park, Madredijos
If you have more time on your hand, driving to Madridejos town could be a great way to fill your Bantayan Island itinerary. Kota Park is a colonial-era fortress surrounded by coconut trees.
Nearby is a pier and an old port from the 70s. When the sun sets, you get a great view of the boardwalk in the foreground. Do note that the beach at the park is not clean for swimming.
- Admission: Free
- Hours: 6:00 am – 9:00 pm
- Location: Barangay Lawis, Madridejos, Bantayan Island
17. Explore Kinatarkan Island
If you can’t get enough of the islands near Bantayan Island, charter a boat to Kinatarkan Island, which is home to three barangays that are still part of Santa Fe.
Some tourist attractions in Kinatarkan Island are Laaw Lagoon, Bitoon, Langub, and Pasil beaches, Byaring cliff, and the Kinatarkan Lighthouse. The island has several coves, caves, and cliffs you explore for yourself.
From Poblacion Santa Fe, Bantayan Island, you may arrange a boat transfer to Kinatarkan Island at Santa Fe Tourism Office, or ask your hotel’s front desk about it.
18. Make a side trip to Malapascua Island
Malapascua Island is one of the best islands in Cebu located 43 kilometers northeast of Bantayan Island and 24 kilometers east of Kinatarkan Island. It’s much smaller than Bantayan Island but has the same white sand beaches. Malapascua Island is known for thresher shark diving.
Take the bus from Santa Fe or Hagnaya Port and tell the driver to drop you off at Don Pedro junction/bus top. Cross the highway on the other side and wait for buses going to Maya Port. From Maya Port, take the boat to Malapascua Island.
Read our full guide on How to Go to Malapascua Island from Bantayan Island!
More Things to Do in Bantayan Island
If you’re looking for a personalized Bantayan Island itinerary, let me know in the comments so I can help you customize your itinerary to best suit your time and budget. For now, that’s all for this post.
