Visiting Virgin Island, Bantayan

GPS waypoint: 11°13'02.0"N 123°47'32.2"E
Location : Bantayan (municipality), Cebu (province), Philippines

Boat Dilemma
One of the main attractions in Bantayan Island is a boat tour to Virgin Island where snorkeling can be enjoyed. For a lone traveler, it was difficult getting there as there is no regular passenger boat that goes there. I had to charter an entire boat or tag along a bigger group as a joiner. Luckily, the group in my hotel allowed me to join them.

Virgin Island
Virgin Island is a well-staffed privately owned island. But you don't go around the entire island. They have a manicured area where sand and grass are groomed with ample picnic huts, lounge chairs and hammocks. The hammocks and lounge chairs are free. The beach area has fine white sand much like the Bantayan beaches. They have a swim section for fish-feeding, and another section for 'snorkeling in the marine sanctuary'. You are allowed to bring food. I am not sure if they sell anything on the island. The entire area is well-maintained.

Entrance Fee
I asked the staff and even the general manager why the odd fee of P250/head for the first 2, then P100/pax for the 3rd and subsequent people in the group. Why not just charge a flat fee for every visitor like the conventional practice? No one knew why. They just said that's how the owner wanted it.

Fish Feeding
I went to the fish feeding area expecting to see a coral reef teeming with tropical marine fishes of every color. All I saw was a sandy bottom with coral rubble and a few fishes. There was really nothing there.

Marine Santuary
Again, I thought maybe this is where I see the coral reef and a vibrant marine biodiversity. Again, I was disappointed. It was just a grassy sandy bottom with sea urchin colonies and a few star fishes. That was it! All the snorkeling hype at the mainland was unfounded.

fine white sand and clear blue waters at Virgin Island

2 Singaporeans
Singaporeans have money and are willing to spend. But they are quick to complain when they feel they are being taken advantaged of. The 2 ladies I met paid P1000 for a boat, P500 entrance fee and P600 for a shaded picnic table. They were not impressed at the pricing system.

Mask and Snorkel
The system at Bantayan isn't that streamlined or professional yet in some areas. The 2 Singaporean ladies I talked to had such a dilapidated set of mask/snorkel that they rented out from a high-end resort! A worn-out interior strap was used on a rusty mask! The one I rented out had prescription lenses and a leaky snorkel! Things seem left to chance. You'd been warned.

Ending Thoughts
Virgin Island is beautiful, BUT! There is nothing there in the way of snorkeling unless you want to see a sandy bottom with 2-ft high grass and a few star fish and sea urchins. Also, the cost for 2 people is unreasonably high - P500 entrance fee for both? P600 for a shed? Additionally, without the snorkeling activity, it doesn't offer anything unique you can't get in your resort at Bantayan.

However, for a big group making a day tour without checking-in to any of the Bantayan resorts, it does make sense - more people to split the boat fee, entrance fee is averaged lower, and even a P600 shed comes out cheap if 12 people chip-in. They are allowed to bring food so the cost is averaged down.

--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
YOGA by Gigit | Learn English | Travel like a Nomad | Donation Bank

Next stop: Bogo City, Cebu

Virgin Island FYI / Tips

• Virgin Island is better suited to big groups. If you are a lone traveler or a pair, you pay a lot of money, it doesn't make sense anymore.
• best to bring your water
• their mask and snorkel rental of P200 is twice as expensive as the mainland rate of P50 (for really badly maintained ones) or P100 (for less than perfect ones). Best to rent from the mainland but inspect the equipment thoroughly. The first two masks they gave me had prescription lenses!
• there is nothing in Virgin Island in the way of snorkeling or a decent coral reef. I would not suggest you even rent a mask.

How to Get to Virgin Island from Santa Fe

• locals will usually approach you offering to take you to Virgin Island. Otherwise, talk to your resort staff

Suggested Next Destination after Virgin Island

1. Hilantagaan Island - this island is usually bundled with Virgin Island - make sure you make this clear with your boatman. No island fee on this less popular island since it is public land with a functioning barangay. We were supposed to head here after Virgin Island but it rained so we headed back to Bantayan.

Virgin Island Cost Index

• PHP 800 boat for 5 people, 45 mins
• PHP 250/head island fee for the first 2 pax
• PHP 100 island fee/head after the first 2 pax in the same group
• PHP 200 rental of mask and snorkel at Virgin Island
• PHP 600 shaded cabana rental (white tarpaulin roof)

Bantayan Island, Cebu, Philippines

tourist attractions

• Virgin Island - island with marine sanctuary, P250/pax entrance fee for first 2 pax, then P100/pax
• St. Peter and Paul Church - built in June 11, 1580, it is claimed to be the first and oldest parish established in Cebu
• Paradise Beach - stretch of white sand beach on the south east of Bantayan Island
• Omagieca Obo-ob Mangrove Garden - mangrove forest, P25 entrance
• Fort of Kota Park - fort built in 1790 with limestone, coral and eggs!

beach resorts

• North Ville Beach Resort - beach front bungalows
  Talisay, Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island, Cebu
  0943.478.7080 | 11°09'40.0"N 123°48'21.8"E

Bantayan FYI / Tips

• the tourist area where most of the hotels, restaurants, ticket offices, tour operators are, is located in Santa Fe. Best to take a jeep or tricycle to Santa Fe arriving in Bantayan Port, P25/pax.
• cheap stays at Randy's Grill - bunk bed in a dorm room for P300 if you're on a budget. But if you're really down and out, there is Chipolito's (you won't see any sign, but ask any trisicad driver) for P150/night - but don't expect much!

To Bantayan from:

• Estancia, Iloilo - via Bantayan Port, a boat (Balt Bep, 0949.883.3551) leaves Estancia for Bantayan, MWF at 9am, P300, 4 hours
• Hagnaya, Cebu mainland - via Sta. Fe, Island Shipping Corp (032.343.7411 | 0995.618.9124) has daily trips (4am, 7am, 8am, 10:30am, 12:30pm, 2:30pm, 4:30pm) P170, 1 hour

From Bantayan to:

• Estancia, Iloilo - via Bantayan Port, a boat (Balt Bep, 0949.883.3551) leaves Bantayan for Estancia, Sun-Tue-Thur at 9am, P300, 4 hours
• Hagnaya, Cebu mainland - via Sta. Fe, Island Shipping Corp (032.343.7411 | 0995.618.9124) has daily trips (4am, 5am, 7:30am, 9:30am, 11:30am, 1:30pm, 3pm, 5pm, 5:30pm) P170, 1 hour
• Cawayan Port, Masbate - via Sta. Fe, Island Shipping Corp has daily trips (1pm) P170

Bantayan Cost Index

• PHP 55 Pale Pilsen beer with live band at Randy's Grill
• PHP 5 pedicab ride, short distance
• PHP 35 about 10 scallop shells, cooked, sold by vendor on foot
• PHP 80 brewed coffee in a resort
• PHP 150-200 resort plated breakfast

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Bantayan, Cebu Blogs by TheLoneRider

1. Visiting Virgin Island, Bantayan Jan 7, 2017
2. Demystifying Bantayan Island Jan 4-9, 2017

»» next Traveling story: Exploring Bogo City, Cebu
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