Funtastic Island (Gibitngil) – day trip from Santa Fe.

At a glance

Where

on Gibitngil, an island barangay of Medellin in north Cebu, about 12 km east of Santa Fe port

Who runs it

run by the municipality of Medellin

Open

5 AM–5 PM, daily (town tourism page, undated)

Getting there

Private boat from Santa Fe, or ferry to Kawit plus a short boat ride

Food

own food is allowed, with no corkage fee

iSources & checks · 5 facts

Our local guide says

Ralf, local guide in Santa Fe

“I have been to Fantastic Island about eleven times – it is a real day trip. Great swimming, jumping, you can grill there, and they have slides and a zipline. You can go with a private boat from here, but you have to arrange it. If you take one of the cheap boats, you go to Medellin first and continue from there.”

What you can do

Our local guide, who has been there about eleven times: slides, cliff jumping, a zipline over the water, great swimming, and you can grill there. i

• Cliff jumping: platforms at about 20, 30 and 40 feet (6–12 m). Check the water depth and jump only where the staff allow it.
• Zipline: from rock to rock over the water, about ₱50 per ride, one way.
• Cottages: about ₱200–500 per day, by size (guides 2023–2025) – shade for the day and a base for your group.

iSources & checks · 3 facts

Getting there from Santa Fe

1. Private boat from Santa Fe

   How: possible – private boats in Santa Fe can be hired for the trip; agree on price and times beforehand

   Time: depends on the boat and the sea

   Cost (reported): ask before you go i

2. Ferry + boat

   How: Aznar ferry to Kawit, then a boat to the island

   Time: about 1 to 1¼ hours + about 15–20 minutes

   Cost (reported): ferry ₱315 non-aircon per person and way (two tickets for the return trip), plus boat hire about ₱1,000 return for up to 4 people, ₱1,500 for 10–15 (guides 2023–2025) for the group i

3. Booked tour

   How: booking sites list day tours from Santa Fe that combine it with Kinatarcan (about 8 hours)

   Time: about 8 hours

   Cost (reported): varies i

For the ferry way, check the Kawit schedule first – the return ferry decides how long you can stay. Boats do not go out in rough sea or when the coast guard stops trips. i

Before you go

• Bring cash for the entrance, cottage, zipline and boat.
• Bring food and water if you want to grill or picnic.
• Safety: wear a life vest if you are not a strong swimmer, and check the sea state before jumping.
• After the 2025 earthquake: we found no report that the resort closed, but we have not confirmed that everything is open – ask your boatman or call ahead.

i

More boat trips from Santa Fe: island hopping and Kinatarcan Island. i

FAQ