Kota Heritage Park – the Spanish fort of Madridejos.

At a glance

Municipality

Madridejos (barangay Poblacion per MyCebu; OSM places it near Talangnan)

Getting there

Tricycle, scooter or car from Santa Fe or Bantayan town; travel time to be confirmed

Entrance

Reported free, possibly a sign-in (unverified, as of 2026)

Opening hours

06:00–21:00 (OpenStreetMap) or 09:00–17:00 (Traveloka) – sources conflict – unverified

Best time

Late afternoon for the sunset

Facilities

Benches, souvenir shop; food in Madridejos town

What it is

Kota Park was renamed Kota Heritage Park by a Madridejos ordinance in 2022, according to the town’s website. It protects the ruins of a Spanish-era fort (kota) built of rubble stone (according to a 2003 heritage survey). The fort sheltered local people during raids from the sea; four posts may have carried a wooden lookout. A long footbridge, the Bontay Walk, leads over the water to a two-storey viewing deck.

Dates differ: the Madridejos attractions page says the fort probably dates from the 1790s; the town history and Wikipedia say 1630. MyCebu gives 1790.

Getting there

Madridejos is at the northern tip of Bantayan Island. The park is next to the Bantayan–Madridejos road by the sea. On OpenStreetMap it lies at about 11.300 N, 123.730 E.

Best time

Come in the late afternoon – the park faces the sea to the west and north and is known for its sunsets. If you ride back after dark, make sure your lights work.

Rules and heritage

• The walls are old stone. Do not climb on them or remove stones.
• Take rubbish with you.

Safety and the 2025 earthquake

After the earthquake on 30 September 2025, the Bontay Walk was closed because its footpath was damaged (Department of Tourism, reported 3 October 2025). A town notice lists a rehabilitation project for the boardwalk, Lover’s Lane and watchtower; we do not know if it is finished.

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