Adventures in the Enchanting Bantayan Island

Bantayan Island is one of the beautiful and popular islands of the Philippines, located westward from Cebu's northern tip. Just recently, I traveled and explored it for the first time with my mom along with her colleague's family and some close neighbors. The travel time going there took about approximately 5 hours from Cebu City. Our bus trip was very inconvenient and stressful because of their management's disorganization, but the good thing was the ferry trip was smooth, and stepping on the island and experiencing the refreshing and serene atmosphere made the long wait worth it.

DAY 1☀️

We arrived there around 6 am and took a short nap at our rented house in Brgy. Maricaban, Santa Fe. It was a good thing that we were with our "tour guide", who are just our neighbors from the city so they showed us where to go. We chartered a tricycle for our day trip. And I noticed that they don't have a traditional jeepney in the island, but rather tricycles and mini jeeps made from motorcycles.

The first spot we visited was located in Brgy. Obo-ob. There were different entrance fee rates depending on whether you're an adult, a child, or a senior citizen, but all are below 100 pesos.

Omagieca Obo-ob Mangrove Garden/ EcoPark📌

It was really hot out there but the walk was undeniably enjoyable especially when surrounded by mangroves — the colors are just pleasing to the eyes — and given the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of nature.

Bantayan Island is where they filmed the movie "Camp Sawi" and the Camp Sawi sign can be found in this EcoPark.

As we walked further, we saw a sea urchin diver, and other tourists even bought some of his finds. It was my first experience seeing sea urchins up close.

Along the edge of this path is where the famous Camp Wagi sign can be found.

_{My tourist mom}

---

The next thing we discovered was truly enchanting — the Mangrove Tunnel. And this tunnel just leads back to where we started our walk.

We didn't expect the walk to be so long, but fortunately, there were seats where we could take a break. It was a relief, especially since the sun was scorching hot that day.

---

Our next stop was beach! Just look at that beach — white sand, clean shore and clear water — totally different from the beaches in the city. No wonder it's called Paradise Beach.

Another thing I loved about the island is their seafood — so fresh and good!

Paradise Beach (Sandira Beach)📌

We stayed at Paradise beach until sunset, enjoying our time swimming and eating together. I remember I had seen many posts about the island from different social media platforms before our travel. Seeing it for myself justified all the hype and promotion.

Surprisingly, although it was a long day exploring the island, I didn't feel tired during our exploration. It was like I was enjoying our trip so much that I forgot how exhausting the travel was.

This island is one of a kind, and my first day there already made me feel like I wanted to stay longer. The tourist spots and other public places were well-guarded, and even our tricycle driver mentioned that you wouldn't encounter snatchers because of the strict government measures. The warmth and hospitality of the people also made us feel safe and welcomed.

The name "Bantayan" fits the island perfectly, as it means "keep watch". The beaches and other attractions of the island are well-taken care of, as they keep watch and maintain the beauty, cleanliness, and security of the island.

Anyway, as we headed back to our rented house, I felt satisfied during our first day there and the rest of my companions felt the same way. We took our time planning our exploration for the next day.

So, stay tuned for part two Adventures in the Enchanting Bantayan Island. See you soon, sweeties! 😊