Last month I visited Bantayan Island and feel in love with the place! I haven’t been able to write all the articles about my first visit and I have already setup plans for a second visit. This time I’m going wind surfing!
Thought I would write about what it cost to get there . I’m living in Bogo City, so I’m very close. In my next post, I will write about where I stayed and what it cost to stay there.
I’ll start my trip as if I was in Cebu City. To get here you can get a van or taxi to take you all the way. That’s the more comfortable way to get here but will cause your cost to rise significantly. The cheapest way to get there is from the North Bus Terminal in Cebu. The van’s and taxi’s will usually cost around P2500 to P4000 though I have had one offer to take me back to Bogo City for P1800 after his initial offer of P3000.
The bus will cost you less than P150 or $3.25. Anyone that comes to the Philippines should experience a bus trip at least once. If it is raining, it will be hot as they raise the windows. There was one or two air conditioned bus but as of last month, it was no longer making the trip.
You catch the bus at the North Bus Terminal in Cebu. City Any taxi driver can take you there.
Cebu City North Bus Terminal
You should take the bus to Hagnaya from Cebu City. When you get there people will ask you were you are going. They place a sign in the window of the bus showing where it is going. Its really pretty country on this trip. Often poor country but I find beauty in the simple life of the average Filipino.
Hagnaya is very rural, lots of dirt roads but again, I found it an awesome place to take pictures. Hagnaya is where you will get a ferry to carry you over to Bantayan Island. The bus terminal is at the port. Tell the conductor where you are going and he will help you get off at the proper place. Its the end of the line. Basically, you’re out of Cebu Island when you get there.
There are three shipping companies. Ask someone where to get your ferry ticket. You can also get some BBQ if you like. There is a lot of help there, of course, the language barrier is a bit of a problem but you’ll get where your going. People speak enough English that you can get where you’re suppose to. Filipino have a lot of trouble with my southern accent.
Road at the Hagnaya Port
Filipina at BBQ in Hagnaya Town
We took a boat provided by this company. We had to wait about an hour for it to arrive. It took about an hour to get there. The ship provides first class, second class and third class seating. It is only P10 more for first class over second class. Third class is down with the engine room. First class has air conditioning but second class is open to the air so it would be fine there, especially when the ship is moving. First class also has cushioned seats. For P10 difference, I would go first class. You can move around where ever you like if you do.
Ferry We Took In Route To Bantayan Island
This ship is pretty slow and it took about an hour to get to the island. We could have taken a fast craft that cuts the time in half but we would have to wait to get it. No point in that.
First Class Seating in Airconditioned Area
There is some beautiful scenery leaving Hagnaya but it is short lived. Soon there is nothing but beautiful blue water. You get a better view if you go to the second class area and the breeze should keep you from over heating. Maybe not if your fresh from the West a bit spoiled by always having an aircon like I did when I first got here.
Second Class Seating Area
The lady in the picture below brought a chicken on board. I think it looks like a turkey myself but Jessie is the expert on Filipino chickens and she says it is a chicken.
Lady with a Chicken on The Ferry to Bantayan Island
Below you’ll see a few shots I took as we were leaving the main island of Cebu Province. I was taking these pictures through glass. They still came out decently.
Coastal View from The Ferry
Beautiful Place to live! Hagnaya Bay, Philippines
And finally, our first picture of Bantayan Island. I don’t have the right camera for a picture like this so I have to settle with what I can do. This is the beach at Marlin Hotel and Resort. The picture was taken as we were pulling into port at Santa Fe in Bantayan Island. We stayed at Tristan’s on this trip. It is between us and the tip of the island there.
Santa Fe Beach on Bantayan Island
From Bogo City, the cost for this trip was P10 by bus. From Cebu City it would be about P110 but certainly under P150. Take the Filipino way to get there (via bus) and your trip to the Island including the ferry will be about $7.00
You can click on the pictures above to enlarge them if you like. My next post will be all about my stay on Bantayan Island. Hopefully I will get that done tomorrow. I hope you enjoyed the first installment of my Bantayan Island Tour.
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Hi Rus, definitely going to take my kids to Bantayan Island. You mentioned about having to wait for fastcraft – how long will it take using fastcraft? Also, if we advise the company we need the fastcraft on a Saturday, 8am, will they oblige? Bantayan is gorgeous!
No they wont make their schedule around you.
Its not as fast as a Super Cat but its faster than the slow boat. It takes about an hour by fast boat and hour and a half by the slow one. It isn’t a major issue. I will be posting this kind of information on Bantayan Island Tours but I will also be posting their phone numbers as published times are often incorrect.
You said y oyur daughter didn’t like being on a ship. The slower boat wa much smoother and has aircon. The fast ferry might be a better way to describe it caused all three in my party to feel queezy and Jean threw up a bit. The cost is only P10 right now though compared to P130 or so for the slower boat.
I usually just take whichever is the next one leaving. Though last time I ran out of cash and had to wait for the P10 boat. LOL
we didn’t get sick on the way back. I think they ahd over loaded the boat with heavy trucks on our way over which made it take on water and caused it to rock more than normal.
I don’t expect them to make their schedule around me. Won’t they accept (or even operate) a booking system? That is, I will book on a say Friday and catch the supercraft on a Saturday, I’ll even pay a deposit if needed. and how do I know they’re not going to ran away with my deposit? mmmm, it gets complicated, unless they’ve got a booking agent in Bogo.
Now my cousin says Virgin resort is heaps better.
I think you can buy a ticket in advance but I wouldn’t. You’re thinking to western Christine.
It a huge nationwide firm, they run their boats on a set schedule. I don’t know if they could meet your desires and stay on their schedule but I doubt they’d do it for six people for a ship that transports a couple of hundred people at a time.
If you want, I can set you up something. I can even arrange three Island trip that would include Malapascua. Boat for up to 40 people. Let me know if you want it setup.
I have bought tickets in advance, I paid extra to do so. Some places you can do it online. The thing to do is call the day before and find out what the schedule is. I wouldn’t by the ticket though, no telling what kind of delays you might run into getting to San Remigio. Its your money.
The slower boat is an extra 30 minutes and more comfortable.
yeah, you’re right, I’m thinking too Western! It would be convenient though if they could be flexible. I’m a bit put off about the prospect of sea sickness, not for me but for my daughter. I would dread her getting sea sick because then she’d give me that dirty look which only those with Filipino eyes can effectively deliver!
Thanks for offering, I will think about it. There’s only going to be about 10-12 people in my party – all to be paid for by yours truly (I can just visualize my wallet suddenly getting anorexic!)
Don’t take the faster boat. You’re talking about a difference of 30 minutes and the slower boat is much bigger and much more stable and you’ll have aircon on the ride over.
I can get you a smaller boat to the Island but the chartered boat with 40 people for all three Island would be less than $200. I don’t know what i t would cost to take it straight to the island. I don’t know what the smaller boat would cost. The large 40 person would probably be safer.
Another issue is weather, that’s why I wouldn’t book it in advance and there’s just need too. Find out what times the boats run and get there at that time, leave yourself some extra time of course.
Take the extra 30 minutes and no problem with getting sea sick and I thinkt hat was caused by it being overloaded.
Can I invite you to the Flickr group Philippine Ship Spotters Society and post your photos there?
Mike, I’m honored by the request. Finding time to post pictures on another sites is a problem for me. Not only that, I need people to visit my site to view the pictures.
Christine, here is that picture of the lady with two chickens that you were looking for.
Thanks Rus. I think that is a great pic.
The chicken that the fat lady is holding is called “naked neck” chicken. I’ve only ever seen them in Cebu and only last year. I took some pics myself although that was difficult as the chickens were free to roam around. I was amused because I initially thought that the chickens escaped from the chopping block! – until my brother informed me that they were bred that way. Hmm, makes the cook’s job easier I supposed?
Looks like a baby turkey to me.