Santa Fe – the ferry town of Bantayan Island.

Santa Fe is the town where most visitors first set foot on Bantayan Island: the ferries from Hagnaya land here. It is a small, beach-focused municipality of about 34,800 people, run since the May 2025 election by Mayor Ithamar P. Espinosa.

Santa Fe at a glance

Type

Municipality, Province of Cebu, Central Visayas (Region VII)

Location

Southeast of Bantayan Island, plus the islands Hilantagaan and Kinatarkan (barangays Hagdan, Kinatarkan, Langub)

Mayor (2025–2028)

Hon. Ithamar P. Espinosa

Vice mayor (2025–2028)

Hon. Mary Greleigh P. Cabrera

Barangays

10

Population

34,834 (2024 census) · 34,471 (2020)

Land area

about 28 km²

Income class

3rd class (since 2025; before: 4th)

ZIP code

6047

Phone area code

032 (from abroad +63 32)

Founded as a town

3 October 1872 (formerly Ogtong); merged into Bantayan 1903, separate again 1911

Town fiesta

Mid-January (Sto. Niño), with the Panuhug Festival

Official website

santafecebu.gov.ph

Who runs Santa Fe

Santa Fe elects a mayor, a vice mayor and a municipal council (Sangguniang Bayan) every three years. In the election of 12 May 2025, Ithamar P. Espinosa was re-elected mayor and Mary Greleigh P. Cabrera won the vice mayor race; both ran for the 1CEBU party. On the ballot they appeared as “Tamar Espinosa” and “Lovely Cabrera”. The current term runs from 2025 to 2028.

Santa Fe belongs to the 4th provincial district of Cebu. Since January 2025 the national government classes it as a 3rd-class municipality by income; before, it was 4th class.

Barangays

Santa Fe has ten barangays. Population from the 2020 census:

History of Santa Fe

Santa Fe was first a part of the old town of Bantayan, which once covered the whole island. The settlement was called Ogtong.

1. April 1871

   People of Ogtong, led by their teniente Felipe Batiancila, asked the Spanish governor of Cebu to make Ogtong a town of its own.

2. June 1871

   Leaders of Bantayan wrote to the governor to oppose the split.

3. 3 October 1872

   Governor Francisco Izquierdo signed the decree that made Ogtong a separate town. From then on it was called Santa Fe (“Holy Faith”).

4. 1903

   The American government merged Santa Fe back into Bantayan.

5. 1911

   Santa Fe became a separate town again.

6. 1881

   A bishop’s decree made Santa Fe its own parish, with the Sto. Niño as patron.

7. 2024

   The province approved the charter of the Colegio de Santa Fe, a town-run college in the old municipal building in Poblacion.

The Province of Cebu published a full town history, The history of Santa Fe (2014). For the story of the whole island, see the Bantayan Island history page.

What to see

• Beaches: Santa Fe is known for fine white sand and quiet beaches. Well-known stretches are Sugar Beach, Kota Beach (with a small sandbar at low tide) and Paradise Beach. Some resorts charge non-guests a small entrance fee.
• Ogtong Cave: A cave with a natural pool on resort grounds. It was closed after rockfalls in the September 2025 earthquake and no reopening is confirmed – ask the resort before you go.
• Santa Fe Lagoon: A protected site run by the municipality. Visitors register, get a short briefing and pay the fees set by the town; motor boats are not allowed inside the lagoon.
• Island hopping: The municipal Island Hopping Station registers guests, lists accredited boat operators and gets Coast Guard clearance before boats leave.
• Pooc Marine Adventure: A sea activity in Pooc, also handled by the tourism office, with a safety briefing first.
• Port and market: The ferry terminal and a public market are in town. Ferry times and fares are on the ferry page.

Fiesta and dates

• Town fiesta: The patron is the Holy Child (Sto. Niño). The parish celebrates on 15 and 16 January (to be confirmed locally). Dates for each year are in our events calendar.
• Panuhug Festival: The town festival, held around 15 January. “Panuhug” refers to shell craft, a long-time livelihood here. The name became official in June 2023; earlier names were Puting Baybay Festival and Kinhason Festival.
• Holy Week: The busiest week of the year. Ferries, resorts and beaches fill up fast. Book early and expect queues at the port.

Practical

• Getting around: Tricycles and habal-habal (motorbike taxis) wait at the port and in town. Short rides cost about ₱30–150 depending on distance and whether you share (travel guides, 2026 – unverified). Motorbikes can be rented by the day.
• Terminal fee: a 2023 ordinance set a ₱20 fee per person for using the municipal terminal (whether it is collected at the ferry port today is being checked); residents, seniors, PWDs and children 7 and under are exempt (ordinance signed February 2023).
• Cash: Bring cash; ATMs are few. See money and ATMs.
• Tourist help: The Municipal Tourism Office gives free walk-in, phone and online help to visitors.
• Weather and sea: See weather and tides.

Official contacts

FAQ