Your trip to Bantayan Island will be one of the most enjoyable and
memorable experiences of your lifetime. From the moment that your tired
feet touch the powder soft white sand beaches, till your aching body is
soothed by the 85 degree crystal clear water, you will never forget
this island paradise.
Getting to Bantayan Island is not hard, nor is it dangerous or
frightening. It does however require a certain sense of adventure. Plan
ahead to get your mind around the fact that you are traveling to a new
and distant land filled with tropical wonders, but it will take some
time.
If you are flying from the United States, it takes 15 hours by direct
flight from Los Angeles International Airport to The Internatinal
airport in Manila, the capital of the Philippines. Add the flying time
from your present location to LAX.
There are several Airlines that Service the Philippines from the United
States and Europe.
The Current Air Fare Per Person from Los Angeles, San Franscisco and
Las Vegas through Philippine Airlines is approximately $950-$1,000 per
person Round Trip.
Once you arrive in the Philippines at the Capital city of Manila, you
will take a connecting flight from Manila to Cebu, an Island
approximately 600 miles south of Manila. The flight takes approximately
1 hour and cost approximately $80.00 USD per person, Round Trip.
Brand New 35
Minute Air Service to Bantayan Island From Cebu City
If you would rather not take the taxi from Cebu Mactan Airport, then a
3 hour Bus Ride and 1 1/2 Hour Ferry Ride to Bantayan Island, there is
a brand new Airline service from Cebu to Bantayan Island that takes
just 35 Minutes.
Flights depart Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 11:30 am and arrive at
Bantayan Island shortly after 12:00 noon.
ONCE YOU ARRIVE AT MACTAN AIRPORT ON CEBU, YOU ARE ALREADY AT THE
DEPARTURE AIPORT FOR THIS AIR SERVICE TO BANTAYN ISLAND. MAKE SURE YOU
ARRIVE BEFORE 10:30 AM TO GIVE YOURSELF TIME TO MAKE IT TO THE AIR
TERMINAL FOR MID-SEA AIR'S DEPARTURE TIME OF 11:30
The current fare is just 1,500 Pesos per person, which is about $35.00.
An extremely reasonable fare to save yourself over 4 hours of ground
transportation time.
From the airport on
Mactan Island in Cebu, you will take a METERED taxi to the Ceres Bus
Terminal 2 near the SM Mall in Cebu City.
As a general rule
do not ever get into a taxi that does not have a
meter or that is not using a meter that works. When you do so you will
pay considerably more than is fair. Do not allow a baggage porter to
find you a taxi, nor neggotiate the fare for you. If you allow them to
do so they will inflate the taxi rate and receive a comission for their
assistance. You can easily find your own taxi from the main exit of the
Mactan Airport Terminal.
Tell the taxi driver
to take you to Teminal 2 of the Cebu City Bus service near the SM Mall,
they will understand what you are directing them to do.
Ceres
Air
Conditioned Bus from Cebu City to Hagnaya
When you arrive at
the Bus Terminal, ask the taxi driver to not pull
all the way up to the buses, and to not open the trunk of the taxi to
take out your baggage until you are at the trunk to receive them. Pay
the taxi driver a few blocks before you enter the bus terminal and be
ready to quickly exit the taxi as soon as he stops. All of this is so
that you can get your bags yourself and carry them to the bus nearby.
Otherwise you will be inudated with porters who are looking for a fee
to carry your bags to the bus. If you do not tell them firmly "NO, I
will carry my bags", they will take them very quickly. Do not be afraid
to say firmly NO!
If you would like for one of the porters to carry you bags remember
that many of these men make their only source of income from helping
customers like you. If you give 20-50 Pesos per bag you will recieve a
warm smile and a "Thank You Sir" or "Thank You Maam" for your small
payment.
As a general rule we are always as generous with the people of the
Philippines as possible. They are a very poor people. Many of
these men feed their families on less than $6.00 per day. You cannot
believe how happy you can make someone by just putting a 50 Peso bill
in their hand. That is only a little more than one U.S Dollar but it
means so much to a Filipino.
Make sure that you
look for the CERES Bus that says "Hagnaya" on the front or side of the
bus, and that it says "Air Conditioned" on the front or side of the
bus.
CERES buses with Air Conditioning are bright yellow and white and are
newer in appearance as well as a smaller bus that those without Air
Conditioning. The current fare from Cebu city to Hagnaya is 125 Pesos.
Give your baggage directly to the bus driver or his assistant and watch
them place the bags under the baggage carrier outside the bus. If you
are traveling with a companion, ask your friend to go inside and save
your seat whle you stay outside to watch your bag until the baggage
door closes.
The Air Conditioned
buses from terminal 2 in Cebu City depart early each morning. It is
difficult to publish the exact departure times as they change
frequently.
The best advice is to be at the Terminal by 5:15 am. If the Bus leaves
at 6:00 or 6:30 at least you will be early and have your choice of
seats.
There are only three Air Conditioned Buses that depart from Terminal 2
each day, these times are approximate as the change frequently 5:30,
11:30, 4:40. Non Air Conditioned Buses depart Terminal 2 in Cebu City
every 45 minutes to and Hour.
DO NOT take a bus
from Cebu City any later than 2:00 pm as you will not make it in time
for the LAST FERRY OF THE DAY TO BANTAYAN ISLAND which departs Hagnaya
by 5:30 pm.
Be prepared for an adventure when you ride the bus in Cebu or any other
place in the Philippines. The bus drivers dart in and out of traffic,
move at a fast pace, and honk the bus horn frequently as a courtesy to
other drivers that they are passing or are near them.
If you choose to sit at the front of the bus be prepared for the loud
noise of the horn honking all the way to the port of Hagnaya.
Settle back into
your air conditioned seat and enjoy the scenery.
The Bus will stop at
least once time, perhaps twice during the 3 hour trip to the port at
Hagnaya. You can take a restroom break as they usually allow you about
5-10 minites at the first stop. The second stop may only be less than 5
minutes. Be prepared to have 2 Pesos ready pay to use the public
restroom.
When the
bus arrives at Hagnaya, exit the bus
quickly to get to your
baggage as fast as possible or the porters at the Hagnaya port will try
to assist you. If you need to have your bags carried, then tip the
porter about 20 pesos per bag.
The
Following are
the current fares for taking the Ferry from Hagnaya to the Port at
Santa Fe:
Ferry Scheduled
Departures
from Hagnaya To
Bantayan Island and From Bantayan Island back to Hagnaya
From
Hagnaya to Santa Fe
Island Shipping Corporation
Super Shuttle Ferry Passenger Transport Departing at
7:00 am, 10:30 am and 2:30 pm Travel time:
About 1 Hour
Roro 1, Roro 2, Island Express 5-Vehicle Transport Departing at
6:30 am, 9:30 am, 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm, and 5:30 pm Travel Time:
About 1.5 Hours
The Roro 2 is a Large Vehicle Transport Ferry that can accommodate
people, cars, trucks and motorcycles.
From
Santa Fe to Hagnaya
Island Shipping Corporation
Super Shuttle Ferry Passenger Transport Departing at
10:15 am, 1:30 pm, and 4:30 pm Travel Time
about- 45 Minutes
Roro 1, Roro 2, Island Express 5-Vehicle Transport Deaprting at:
5:00am, 7:30am, 9:30am, 11:30am, 3:00pm Travel time:
About 1.5 Hours
It is important to
remember that you are in the Philippines and everything runs on
“Filipino Time”.
This means that a departure time that is listed here is usually a
“Suggested time” rather than a precise departure
time.
Ferry’s can either leave early, late or be cancelled all
together. For this reason you must arrive at least 30 minutes early to
insure that you are available and waiting when the announcement is made
to board the Ferry.
For Ticket
information, please call one of the number below:
Hagnaya: 032-435-2078
Santa Fe: 032-438-0080
Cebu City: 032-422-6330 and 032-422-6331
Storm
Advisories:
During rough seas or in the rare occurrence of a Typhoon, all
transportation to and from Bantayan Island is cancelled by the
Philippine Coast Guard.
Severe storms and even a Typhoon are a very rare occurrence on Bantayan
Island, but in the event that you happen to be on the island when one
strikes, the following are some of the precautions you should take.
If you are on
Bantayan Island when a severe storm or Typhoon is approaching, be
prepared ahead of time.
Purchase:
Several liters of drinking water
A lantern, or candles
Non-perishable foods
Fill your Vehicle with Gas
Pre paid phone cards
A flashlight and extra batteries
Safety:
Stay indoors at a location away from the direct strike of the Typhoon.
If at all possible find a safe area that is a “room within a
room”, constructed with solid concrete walls with a heavy
door.
Store all of your food, water, and other storm supplies in your safe
room before the storm actually arrives. There may not be time to gather
everything before the storm strikes, so take steps ahead of time to be
ready.
Whenever possible, if news of an approaching Typhoon comes, leave
Bantayan island as quickly as possible and take shelter on the main
island of Cebu.
Arrival
at the Port of
Santa Fe on Bantayan Island:
When you arrive at
the Port of Santa Fe on Bantayan Island, make sure that you have
already informed your resort of your approximate arrival time so that
they can schedule a pickup for you at the dock. Click
Here to see a list
of Phone Numbers for some of the resorts on the Island
The drivers will not usually come all the way down to the Ferry to meet
you. They will wait for you about 100 yards from the point of departure
from the Ferry and will usually hold up a cardboard placard with your
name on it.
The
following are some
of the phone numbers for resorts on Bantayan Island.
