kentisnowhere: Cebu

How to get to Bantayan Island

Cebu

This humble island is located on the Northern tip of Cebu, Philippines.

Via Public Transport

Public buses and Public vans are available all day to take you to Bantayan Island. Plan your trip accordingly as the ferry trip to Bantayan island is not 24 hours.

Tip: take the earliest trip that you can so you can skip the traffic. First ferry trip to the island is 1 am and the last trip is 5:30 pm. If you arrive in Cebu in the afternoon, it's best to stay in the city and travel to Bantayan the next day.

Go to the terminal beside the MyBus Terminal at SM City Cebu
Take a bus or a premium van going to Hagnaya Wharf. The ride will take 3 hours - 4 hours, depending on traffic. Van fare would be around Php 300 while the bus fare is approximately Php 260 - 280

Tip: Vans (Black Taxi) are generally faster (they could cut the trip to 2 hours!) but has limited space. If you only have a carry - on then taking the van is the best option.

Upon arriving in Hagnaya Wharf, a ferry will take you to the island. The trip would take up to an hour. The fare is Php 325 which includes terminal fee*.
Hail a tricycle that will bring you to your preferred resort or better yet arrange for pickups with the resort. The fare is usually Php 30 per person.

Tip: If the tricycle drivers would ask you to pay for the whole trip which is around Php 150 - 200 per way, you may walk away and wait for another Tricycle outside the port. Also, if you have arranged a land tour, ask the driver if they could pick you up from the port.

Via Private Vehicles

The road going to Hagnaya is paved with concrete so any vehicle can take you there. You can leave your car in several paid parking spaces at Hagnaya wharf. Price is usually Php 150 per day - not 24 hours. Please confirm the timing with the owner to avoid conflict

You can also bring your car/motorcycle/bicycles to Bantayan Island via cargo vessels.

*Last update: March 2024

If you miss the last ferry trip, you may check out the accommodations below

Hagnaya Beach Resort

JJS Hotel and Resort

Mar Azul Travellers Inn and SPA

Accommodations near the Bus Terminal to Hagnaya Port

Radisson Blu Cebu

Bayfront Hotel Cebu - North Reclamation

Sugbutel Family Hotel

9:00 AM
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Just another to-do-list in Cebu

Cebu

Hey there, traveler! If you want to see Cebu from a new perspective then you've come to the right page! Experience the daily hustle and bustle of the city.

1.) Eat at a "pungko-pungko" spot - this infamous hole-in-the-wall dining experience is a must do in your Cebu trip. However, this is not for the picky eater. You won't be eating with silverware but with plastic gloves. You won't have a well-trained wait person but a funny little cashier/server/vendor/entertainer. And lastly, you won't be eating restaurant-quality food but tasty fried dishes. And yes, I'm talking about fried pork intestines, fried pig brain, fried pork fat, fried sausages, fried pork tongue, Fried pig tripe, fried spring rolls (but not the fancy stuff), and everything that can be fried. It may sound fatty but it's a sure hit for the Cebuano palate. And believe me, this sinful delight wouldn't even cause you a fortune!

Popular "pungko-pungko" places:

Across Apple Tree Suites

Across Cebu Doctors' University

Near Redemptorist church

2.) People-watch at Cebu IT Park - This is really a great time-killer and you'll get to observe the hardworking professionals of Cebu's BPO industry. I recommend you find a spot along i2 - i3 building. This is a great spot since this is near the big BPOs. Best time to go is at night. And if you get bored of people-watching then you can just dine at any resto in the area.

3.) Explore Sugbo Mercado - This is part of Cebu IT park but I think it deserves a spot in our list. Sugbo Mercado is the first successful food market in Cebu. It boasts different cuisines that are enjoyed by cebuanos.

4.) Visit Cebu Museums - There are a lot of museums around the city. From Museo Sugbo to Casa Gorordo to Cathedral Museum of Cebu, these sites boast the city's rich heritage.

5.) Run a few laps at Abellana Cebu City Sports Center - Need to shed some pounds? Well, you gotta visit here and work those easy-going muscles. This is where most Cebuanos spend their afternoon/early morning jog. Aside from the oval track, there are also other amenities like gym, lap pool, volleyball court, etc.

6.) Eat Lechon - Need I say more? One does not simply skip this sumptuous Cebu offering.

Popular Lechon spots:
CNT Lechon
Talisay Lechon
Carcar Lechon

7.) Enjoy Cebu's streetfood - We've got barbecue spots almost everywhere! Plus several food carts that offer good ol' fried goodness. You may also visit the Barracks of Carbon Market.

8.) Try a Tuslob - buwa meal - This originally came from Pasil, Cebu. People here are the grandmaster chefs of this treat. Recently, a lot of restaurants have commercialised this treat making it more available to the public. What's remarkable about this meal is you get to cook it on your own. So if Yakiniku is for Japanese, Samgyeopsal is for Korean then Tuslo-buwa is definitely for the Cebuanos. This tabletop treat is best served while it's hot.

Popular Tuslo-buwa spots:
Azul
Papart's

9.) Gobble a few Siomai from Tisa - This piece of heaven is a popular Dimsum treat. But since Cebuanos are very creative, we've decided to create our own version. Luckily, this famous Siomai / Siumai sa Tisa can be availed almost anywhere! Just look for a banner that says, "Siomai sa Tisa available here".

10.) Swim, swim, and swim - Whether it's from the lush Mactan resorts or from the backpackers inn in Moalboal, this is a must thing to do when you're on this beautiful island.

And yes, those are some things that you can try while you're in Cebu. A little bit of new experience won't hurt ay?

9:58 AM
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Tips and tricks for a smooth Jeep / Jeepney /PUJ ride in Cebu

Cebu

3:48 PM
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Quick Get - Away From The Daily Grind

Cebu

10:01 PM
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BEWARE: a hidden beach with a hidden attitude

Cebu

Imagine you're by the beach, relaxing on a powdery white sand, listening to the soothing sound of the waves, feeling the warm sun on your cheek, & you're holding your favorite beer. Just how perfect can it get!

But what if a few greedy beings will break the tranquility just for a couple of bills? Are you willing to risk? I'd say a hard NO.

A few days ago, we went to Hidden Beach at Aloguinsan, Cebu. We've heard several comments about this place. Mostly ranging from a not-so-happy comment to a satisfied one. Nevertheless, we went there.

We brought our own food for grilling. Arrived at the place early in the afternoon. Upon arrival, we informed them that we are staying overnight and we have our own tents. They asked us to pay an entrance fee (Php 20.00 / head) and another overnight fee of Php 100.00 for each tent. It was perfectly fine.

We were alone at the beach, except for three Spanish fellas. By late afternoon, We already had a few drinks. We noticed that the three tourists started to pack their things and left. Before they ascended the stairs, we asked, "why are you leaving?" They responded, "We've been here, stayed overnight but not anymore". Those words linger on me like a cryptic symbol that awaits Robert Langdon's knowledge. "Oh well", I replied and shrugged everything off.

Night came and everyone was in a party atmosphere. We already consumed a considerable amount of alcohol, but not yet drunk. We had great music and everyone was really having a good time. In the dark, someone is descending from the stairs. It was the caretaker. He then approached us like a tiger lurking on a deer. He asked for another Php 100.00 each tent since we were staying for the night. His words came as a complete shock! We questioned him and informed him that we already paid the amount before we entered. He argued and said that it was only for a day stay. We had a debate. We insisted and talked to another caretaker. We got the same order. It was ridiculous! We told them that we are paying it tomorrow (hoping that we can sort things out with the absence of alcohol).

We woke up 6am had our breakfast and started packing. We approached the caretakers and talked about the overnight fees. They really insisted that it's Php 200 per tent. To stop the heating argument, we paid the remaining Php 200 and left.

It's not about the money, but it's the honesty that I'm concerned about. Who wants to stay in a place full of dishonest opportunists? I then remembered the words of the Spanish tourists. And I realized why they would prefer to go home than stay for the night.

Edit:

After a week, a friend of mine also went there and suffered the same fate. They were charged Php 300.00 each tent. At least for us, we only paid Php 200.00 per tent.

10:59 AM
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Going to Camotes... Beware!!

Cebu

It was a rainy morning when we reached Danao port. We were reluctant of pursuing our unplanned Camotes trip. When we in the port, we settled down first and decided whether we should go or skip Camotes and instead, just go to San Remigio. After several minutes of discussing, checking weather reports, and observing the sea, we've finally reached a decision-- GO!

We then walked towards the mouth of the port in search for the right ticketing booth. We saw two booths. First, posted a ticket price: Php 100. I was in doubt if that is really the price. I asked a bystander, "Asa ang ticketing booth anang barko noy?" ("Where is the ticketing booth of that boat, sir?") The bystander replied, "diri ai, ali sunod nako" (It's here. Come follow me") So then I realized that the booth that has Php 100 sign was for the outrigger boat.

He directed me to another window. I then thanked him for the gesture. While we were lining up, I noticed that the bystander was still there. He was holding a piece of paper that looks like a ticket! He then whispered that he has a spare ticket and would like to sell it to us. I was confused and uncertain. I gave him a doubtful look. I guess he understood and with an assuring tone, he said, "ayaw kabalaka, ako-a mani. ganiha ko ni gipalit. di naman ko muadto, ako lang ibaligya nimo" (don't worry, this is mine. I bought this earlier. Since I'm no longer going, I'll just sell it to you") Still in doubt, he forcefully gave the ticket to my girlfriend. When it was our turn, we showed the ticket to the kind lady who was in charge of selling tickets. She said that it was a valid ticket but it was a ticket previously purchased by another person. She confiscated the ticket and recommended that we'll buy two new tickets (each for Php 180). She then asked another person inside their office to track down the person who was selling purchased tickets. I guess they are already aware of the present situation since they were not astonished and in fact, they know the person's name.

Jomalia Shipping lines ticket price (as of May 28,2013)

Php 180

11:11 AM
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kentisnowhere

How to get to Bantayan Island

Just another to-do-list in Cebu

Tips and tricks for a smooth Jeep / Jeepney /PUJ ride in Cebu

Quick Get - Away From The Daily Grind

BEWARE: a hidden beach with a hidden attitude

Going to Camotes... Beware!!

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