Bantayan itinerary: 2, 3 and 5 days.

Bantayan is small and flat. From Kota Beach in Santa Fe to Kota Park at the northern tip is about 21 km by road (our own measurement), so no plan here needs long drives. What really shapes your days are the ferry, the tide and the wind. Every plan below starts and ends in Santa Fe, where the ferry from Hagnaya arrives.

Before you plan

Ferry Hagnaya ⇄ Santa Fe

about one hour, plus waiting – times

Arrival day

Leave Cebu airport by about 10 AM – see Getting here

Getting around

Scooter about ₱250–500 a day, most often ₱300–400, fuel extra or tricycle tour about ₱500–1,000 per tricycle (2026 guides, unverified)

Island hopping

about 4–5 hours by hired boat

Buffer

One spare day from November to February

• Ferry first: your first and last day depend on the boat. Delays of one to two hours have been reported, so never plan a flight from Cebu on the same afternoon as an afternoon ferry.
• Weather: when a tropical cyclone wind signal is raised for the route, ferries stop, and small boats can be stopped in strong wind. Follow the Coast Guard’s advisories. Keep island hopping flexible and read Best time to visit and Weather & tides.
• Tides: Kota Beach and Sugar Beach get very shallow at low tide; kayaks at the mangroves and the lagoon need high tide.
• Cash: boats, tricycles, entrance fees and small eateries are paid in cash. See Money & ATMs.
• After the 2025 earthquake: the cave at Ogtong Cave and the footbridge at Kota Park were closed; check before you go.

How far things are

Road distances measured on OpenStreetMap data (OSRM, November 2026). By scooter or tricycle, Santa Fe to Bantayan town takes about 15–30 minutes by scooter or tricycle, and Kota Beach to Kota Park about 30–50 minutes by scooter or tricycle. The short hops around Santa Fe take only a few minutes.

Reported tricycle fares: Santa Fe to Bantayan town about ₱100–150 per tricycle (one source); Santa Fe to Kota Park about ₱200–300 per tricycle (one source). Agree on the price before you ride.

2 days: beaches and one highlight

Day 1 – arrive and walk the beach

• Midday: ferry from Hagnaya, tricycle to your place in Santa Fe.
• Afternoon: Kota Beach and the quieter Sugar Beach next to it. Swim around high tide.
• Evening: dinner in Santa Fe – fresh seafood is the classic (see Food).

Day 2 – pick one, then leave

• Option A, by boat: a half-day island hopping trip to Virgin Island and Hilantagaan in the morning. Only on a calm day.
• Option B, on land: Paradise Beach in the morning (about ₱50–75 per adult, unverified), then lunch.
• Afternoon: ferry back to Hagnaya. If you fly out of Cebu, take the earliest ferry you can and keep the rest of the day free.

3 days: the classics

Day 1 – Santa Fe beaches

• Arrive, check in, then Kota Beach and Sugar Beach.
• Late afternoon at Paradise Beach if you still have energy.

Day 2 – island hopping

• About 9 AM: boat from the Santa Fe beach area for about 4–5 hours: Santa Fe Lagoon (motor boats wait outside), Virgin Island and snorkeling at Hilantagaan. Boat about ₱1,000–2,500 per boat (₱1,000 for up to five people, more for a bigger private charter), plus island fees (unverified).
• Afternoon: rest on the beach. If the sea is rough, swap this day with Day 3.

Day 3 – north loop by scooter or tricycle

• Morning: Obo-ob Mangrove Garden – bamboo boardwalk, about ₱50–75 per adult; kayak extra (unverified).
• Late morning: Bantayan town – the plaza and Sts. Peter and Paul Church, the market, lunch. More in Bantayan town.
• Afternoon: Kota Park in Madridejos and the lighthouse at Kota Point nearby. Back to Santa Fe in about 30–50 minutes by scooter or tricycle.
• Leave the island on the morning of Day 4, or take an afternoon ferry on Day 3 if you skip Kota Park.

5 days: slow Bantayan

Spare day: from November to February, or when a storm is near, use Day 2 or Day 5 as the buffer. If boats cannot go out, do the land days first and move island hopping later. Big dates such as Holy Week and the town fiestas are in the events calendar – the island is much fuller then.

Rain or rough sea plan

• Stay on land: Bantayan town and its market are easy to visit in light rain; check on site whether the church is open after the 2025 earthquake.
• Skip the boat: no island hopping when the Coast Guard stops small boats or the boatman says no – do not push.
• Watch the ferry: check the ferry page and the latest news the evening before you leave.

FAQ