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| Anika Beach Resort, Santa Fe, Bantayan Island |
Summer 2013. I was then on Day 5 of my tour and I just finished touring at Malapascua Island. My last beach spot after visiting, Oslob, Moalboal, Olango Island, Malapascua Island and Camotes Island was Bantayan Beach. I saved the best for last!
How to get there
From Cebu City, you have to go to the North Bus Terminal.
Once there, you have to board a bus going to Hagnaya.
You can choose from either Ceres or Rough Rider.
I've always chosen Ceres as my bus whenever I travel in Visayas or Mindanao.
From Cebu City, travel time is 3 hours. Fare is P150.00 for aircon buses.
But I came from Malapascua Island, so I went back to Don Pedro (intersection of going to either Maya or Hagnaya). I hired a tricycle for P100.00 and went to Hagnaya Port.
There are only 2 shipping companies operating at Hagnaya Port.
Super Shuttle Ferry
Hagnaya to Santa Fe
4:00 am, 7:00 am; 8:00 am; 10:30 am; 12:30 pm; 2:30 pm; 4:30 pm
Santa Fe to Hagnaya
6:00 am; 8:30 am; 10:30 am; 12:30 pm; 2:30 pm; 4:30 pm; 6:00 pm
Contact Nos.
Santa Fe- 0909-258-2875; 0916
Hagnaya - 0916-905-2348
For Island Shipping Corporation (the interval of 30 minutes as against Super Shuttle Ferry)
Fare is P170 for ordinary and P185.00 for aircon room. The ro-ro trip is 1 hour only.
I had no plans of staying in Bantayan due to my tight schedule last summer.
I have to finish this tour in 2-3 hours only.
There are so many resorts in Santa Fe and Bantayan. But I chose Santa Fe only due to lack of time to visit the next town (Bantayan).
I've visited only 6 resorts/accommodations while in Bantayan Island and I'm going to rank them according to the best resort.
1. Anika Island Resort
Newest and nearest to the port
Room rates
Lowest - P1,750.00
Highest - P3,000.00
Contact nos. - 0917-328-4898; 0922-843-9517
Room rates
Lowest - P1,750.00
Highest - P3,000.00
Contact nos. - 0917-328-4898; 0922-843-9517
2. Coral Blue Oriental
I love the place. Very cozy and accommodating
Room rates
Lowest - P5,500
Highest - 9,950.00
Contact nos. - 0912-498-6746; 032-438-9009
Room rates
Lowest - P5,500
Highest - 9,950.00
Contact nos. - 0912-498-6746; 032-438-9009
3. Santa Fe Beach Resort
Simply amazing!
Room rates
Lowest - 900.00
Highest - P6,000
Contact nos - 032-4389090; 032-438-9107; 0928-778-7770; 0932-541-2954
Room rates
Lowest - 900.00
Highest - P6,000
Contact nos - 032-4389090; 032-438-9107; 0928-778-7770; 0932-541-2954
World-class accommodations
4. Beach Placid
Nearest to the port
Room rates
Lowest - 1,500
Highest - P7,000
Contact nos. - 0917-722-2993; 032-406-5686
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5. Marlin's Beach Resort
Room rates
Lowest - P1,950.00
Highest - P4,900.00
Contact nos. - 0921-760-3857; 438-9093
6. And the last one, Coco Beach
situated in the town proper
It's a bit far from the beach
If there is another thing I love about Bantayan, it's the food! Imagine this squid (which measures 12 inches) was worth P150.00 only. I wanted it grilled but the owner of the restaurant told me that it will take them half an hour to grill it, but only 10 minutes to cook it in Adobo. So I chose the Adobo.
It's Really More Fun in Bantayan Island!!!
LATEST IN BANTAYAN (April 2015)
Ceres Aircon - P200
First trip - 12 am
Last trip 12 noon
boat trip is 3 hours to Hagnaya
boat trips - 3 am - 5 pm
Side trip - WHALE WATCHING IN OSLOB
How to get there
From Cebu City
Option 1 (best option)
Board a flight to Cebu. Then, go to South Bus Terminal. Board a bus (preferably, Ceres) to Oslob. Fare is P155. Travel time is 3 - 3.5 hours or 124 kilometers. Alight at MB Sunrise View Resort. Hire a habal-habal for P140 to Tumalog Falls. Travel time is 10-15 minutes. Trek to the falls is 10 minutes only.
Option 2
Board a flight to Cebu. Then, go to South Bus Terminal. Board a bus (preferably, Ceres) with the signboard Bato via Barili. Fare is P191 (aircon) or P177 (non-aircon). Travel time is 4 - 4.5 hours or 147 kilometers. Alight at Bato Terminal and board another bus going to Oslob. Fare in the bus is P30 (aircon) or P20 (non-aircon). Travel time is 15 minutes or 16 kilometers. Alight at MB Sunrise View Resort. Hire a habal-habal for P140 to Tumalog Falls. Travel time is 10-15 minutes or 6 kilometers. Trek to the falls is 10 minutes only.
From Dumaguete City
The other one is from Dumaguete City. From the city, ride a multicab bound to Sibulan port (fee is P11.00 only). Then, ride a fastcraft to Santander. The boat trip to Santander is 20 minutes only. Fare is P60.00. Reaching Santander port, ride a bus going to Cebu (the bus is just waiting at the port). The trip to Oslob is 20-25 minutes only. Fare is 60.00 aircon. Then alight at Barangay Tan-awan, Oslob, Cebu.
PLACE TO STAY
There are so many resorts/accommodations in Tan-awan. But I stayed at MB's Sunrise View Resort (one that has the yellow gate). Lodging fee is P800 for non-aircon (negotiable up to P500) and P1,500 for aircon (good for 3 pax). The other resorts are charging P1,500 - P2,000 for aircon.
Contact Nos. - 0906-586-9895 / 0923-297-1176
ACTIVITIES IN OSLOB
Whale watching is the number one activity
Local (Filipinos) -
Viewing only at the boat - P300.00
Swimming with the whale shark and snorkerling - P500.00 (life vest and gears included)
Foreigners -
Viewing only at the boat - P500
Swimming with the whale shark and snorkeling - P1,000.00
Island Hopping - depends on the number of persons (minimum P1,500 - 1-5 pax)
During the island hopping, you can do fish feeding, snorkeling and swimming.
Diving
Foreigners - P3,500
Local - P2,600
Tumalog Falls
