Right when we boarded the plane from Palawan we took a bus to the main bus station, where we wanted to get onto another bus to Port Hagnaya. There a van driver talked to us and wanted us to board his van for just a fraction more than the big bus would cost, but is was, already crammed with locals. Then a cap driver talked to us, that if we find at least one more person, he will drive us for the same. That person was found super quick und thus we had a quick and easy ride to the port with no stops in between and thus even got an earlier ferry than expected. Sometimes you need to be lucky.

The ferry ride took us to Santa Fe on Bantayan Island. We got recommended this island by a Canadian lady traveling the world, who we met on our boats tour in El Nido. She said it is super nice and not very touristic yet and she was nice. All restaurants and also bars closed at 10pm and while some tourist complained that there is no where to party on the island, we enjoyed the quiet time.

Bobel Beach

We stayed at the Bobel Beach right on the beach front. For our last few days on the Philippines, we chose a nice sea view room for the last two nights. The first two nights were “only” second row and still nice. We extended those two more nights as we liked it so much. The beach in front of the hotel was super low in the morning due to low tide, where you could find lots of starfish and other animals on the beach and in the afternoon, we could enjoy a warm and nice swim.

Kota Beach

On our second day we rented a scooter first for two days and then we extended till the end. It made it so much easier for us to reach everything.

Kota Beach is the most touristic beach, as a few bigger hotels are right at this beach and most restaurants are around here. A sandbank devides the beach, so in the interior it is safe and warm for children.

Paradise Beach

Our first longer ride was straight to the Paradise Beach. Already the ride there was great. We passed by some nice waterfront and also a strange ruin. The beach itself was also great. Cristal clear water, nice places to snorkel and everything not very deep, so you can just relax in the shallow water and enjoy the time at the beach. We went there in the morning at low tide, where there is actually a beach. On high tide the water comes up to the stairs leading down to the beach. As there weren’t many shadow places on the beach. We enjoyed some time, until we needed a little protection from the strong sun and then left.

Strange ruin right beside the road als covered in graffiti.

The way down to the beach. The water can get as high as where the wooden stairs start and covers some of the stones on the beach.

Baigad Lagoon

Another for us underrated trip we did was to the Lagoon. We expected nothing, but it was so much fun. You get life jackets and can actually with the tide coming in drift into the lagoon from its entrance to the beach. That way it feels safer than if it would drift you out into the open water. It was so much fun. We would drift, then walk back, then drift back. All that surrounded by beautiful sand beaches and mangroves leading right into the lagoon. We stayed so much longer than we expected. Only hunger made us continue our journey 😆

Only the way back was a little challenging, as you needed to swim past the current to get back to the beach where you could leave. But for adults thats managable. With kids they might need help.

Walking back down to then drift back up.

St. Peter the Apostle Parish

As we continued our drive from the Lagoon, we forgot to take a turn, as the internet wasn’t working properly in the rainforest. So instead of driving north, we drove west. I had seen Bantayan City online before and its church, but we decided to not take the drive all the way there just for the church. But destiny chose otherwise. I was surprised when suddenly there was a bigger city and when we looked at the phone, google drive found us again and we figured that connection was lost in between. So, as we were already there, we decided to get a lunch break and look at the church.

From the outside I would have not gotten in, but I’m really glad we did. This church was burned down some years ago and an artist decided to remodel it fully with great oil paintings all over the walls and roof. It looked so stunning! We stayed what felt like ages, as there was so much to see and also the church was nice and cool on a really hot day.

Bantay Baywalk

Afterwards we found the right way leading us all the way from the south west up to the northern most point. It was supposed to be a great sunset spot, but at the end we just sayed a little and then decided to drive back to our hotel instead and enjoy the sunset there. There was just not much to do apart from a sea bridge and waiting there for a couple of hours without drink or restaurant didn’t sound great. We expected it to have some restaurants, but as mentioned, it is a not very touristic place, so they are mostly locaded near the ferry or in Bantayan City. There actually used to be some shops, but they where closed. But it was fine for us that way as well.

Driving across the island was actually a lot of fun and we where happy, that most streets where surrounded by palmtrees or other fauna and would thus give you some shadow to not grill below the helmet.

Our time on Bantayan ended after 4 nights and 5 days. We actually took one of the last ferries on the last day and realxed at our hotel, where we could even have a shower by the pool.

This time we took the normal bus to get back to Cebu City and from there ordered a cab to our hotel. We spend the night by their pool and even went in the sauna. Next very early morning another cab took us to the airport, from where we departed to Hong Kong and from there back to Europe.

As airline strikes where happening, we actually had to reroute to Shanghai, from there to London and then back to Hamburg. What a journey home! But the time in the Philippines was 100% worth it an we will sure come again!

Bantayan - Philippines