{"id":3605,"date":"2026-05-01T15:51:56","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T15:51:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fathercodersoldierspy.com\/?page_id=3605"},"modified":"2026-05-01T16:19:39","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T16:19:39","slug":"bantayan-island","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/fathercodersoldierspy.com\/?page_id=3605","title":{"rendered":"Bantayan Island"},"content":{"rendered":"\nApril 2026<\/span><\/em>\n\n\n\n
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Bantayan Island is a wonderful, low-key resort destination with beautiful experiences at affordable prices. Located northwest of Cebu, it\u2019s an hour boat ride from the small Cebu port of Hagnaya, or a 45-minute flight* from Cebu Mactan airport. We drove from Cebu City, across the mountains on the Transcentral Highway, then north along the west coast along the Antonio Y De Pio National Highway.\u00a0 It was a 4-hour drive at a leisurely pace, followed by a 1-hour ferry ride to Santa Fe port in Bantayan. \u00a0The ferry cost was just over 4,000 pesos for a vehicle and 3 passengers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below are some of the places we found enjoyable. I recommend all of them. In fact, I did not find a place on Bantayan island that I would not recommend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lodging<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Anika Resort<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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We stayed at Anika resort in Santa Fe. It is a beautiful, quiet beach-front resort with comfortable accommodations. The rooms are converted shipping containers, but done so well that I didn\u2019t realize it until I had been there over a day. Beautiful d\u00e9cor, comfortable beds, air conditioning, modern bathroom, and a cozy porch where you can eat a meal ordered from the resort restaurant.\u00a0 Room options offer a variety of poolside, garden or beach front.\u00a0 We booked four nights for just under 21,000 pesos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Amika beach front is beautiful and pristine. Facing east, it features some beautiful sun rises and a clear view of nearby Hilantagaan island. The beach dogs love to frolic and play in the surf right as the sun peeks across the horizon. \u00a0Jet skis are available for rental. We took advantage of renting one for an hour. The people renting it to us said rentals are available for island hopping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is quiet and relaxing, both day and night.\u00a0 The resort restaurant is well stocked, but there is a corkage fee for anything you bring in. There are many dining options just a few minutes down the road in the town of Santa Fe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dining<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Bantayan Burrito Company<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Bantayan Burrito Company<\/em> is located in MJ Square<\/em>, an open-air shopping and dining area in the heart of Santa Fe.\u00a0 It was highly rated, so it was my first stop for dining. It did not disappoint. We had excellent, very large, burritos for a very reasonable price. It\u2019s hard to find genuine Mexican burritos overseas, but these come close and are every bit as delicious. Great sauce. Huge portions. The owner (an Australian, I believe) told us that he just acquired some tuna steaks, so we returned the next day for seared tuna tacos. They were also delicious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coco Caf\u00e9<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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This is a great place to grab breakfast or just stop for a while and chill out with a refreshing non-alcoholic drink. It is located one block south of MJ Square<\/em> in Santa Fe. They have a wide range of options, ranging from healthy fruits and nuts, to waffles, to eggs. The vibe is eclectic and relaxing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steaken Sizzle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Located in MJ Square<\/em>, Steaken Sizzle<\/em> is a fun and tasty venue. The steaks are the typical Philippine version. Not quite like the American steaks, but still very flavorful and affordably priced. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. We felt very welcome and lacked nothing. The sides of mashed potatoes, corn and fries were also delicious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stumble Inn Beach Club<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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We literally stumbled in after dinner at MJ Square<\/em>. We weren\u2019t ready to call it a night, so we continued there for drinks. It is situated right on the beach in Santa Fe, on the southeastern tip of the island. It was nighttime and the atmosphere was quiet. We sipped our drinks at a beach side table and played a few games of darts. Nice end to the evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Twisted Ice Cream & Caf\u00e9<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Located just down the road from MJ Square<\/em>. They create this cream while you watch. You select the flavor, they mix it, then pour it onto a frozen \u201cgriddle\u201d and perform their craft with spatulas. The final product is a tasty work of art in a cone. My daughter enjoyed it so much that we returned two more times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HR Music Bar<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Located in Santa Fe, near MJ Square<\/em>. We ate lunch here the day of our departure. It had a nice island vibe, good food, and good drinks. Also more of the chill beach dogs lounging about. If we\u2019d had a few more days on the island, we would have returned during the evening to see what the nightlife offered. It looks like a fun place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Destinations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

MJ Square<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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This is the dining and shopping hub for the Santa Fe area of Bantayan Island. It is an open-air strip mall arrangement of dining establishments, bars, and small shops.\u00a0 It\u2019s the go-to spot for your first visit to grab a meal, do some light shopping, or have a few drinks. The open-air vibe is relaxed, complete with friendly street dogs. There is a small, but well stocked, supermarket just a block away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amihan Beach Cabanas<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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This is resort lodging. We did not stay there but stopped by to have lunch and enjoy the beach. It is located in Santa Fe, at the southeastern corner of the island. Very laid-back ambiance. Separate air-conditioned cabanas. Cozy bar right on the beach with great drinks and burgers. We may stay her if we make a return trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Santa Fe Beach Club<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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This is also resort lodging. It is located a few hundred meters down the beach from Anika<\/em>, where we stayed. It has a beautiful beach front, and the lodging looks quite good. They have a romantic dinner special for which we returned the following evening. Under 5,000 pesos for a three-course meal by candlelight on the beach. Highly recommended.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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The Ruins<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Former property of a German national who passed away, and then a typhoon destroyed the buildings in 2013.\u00a0 Popular local stopping place on the road for pictures or (it appears) to add to the graffiti.\u00a0 It\u2019s nothing special, but still a neat stop for some great pictures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kota Beach Resort<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n

Located in Santa Fe, at the southeastern tip of the island, close to a lot of the other venues. Beautiful resort with an amazing beach. Nice bar and restaurant. We just stopped by for drinks and some pictures. Possible destination for our next visit to Bantayan.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Kota Park<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n

Not to be confused with Kota Beach Resort.<\/em> The park is located on the other side of the island, on the northern tip. It was a 45-minute drive from Santa Fe, which gave us a chance to see more of the island. Entrance fee is whatever you care to donate. It is a beautiful and quiet place, offering a nice view north across the Visayan Sea to Masbate and Leyte Islands.\u00a0 If you are a bit brave, you can walk the precarious board walk out to the observation platform. It has fallen into disrepair and many of the planks have collapsed into the ocean. Not life threatening, but a bit adventurous.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Camp Sawi Mangrove Garden<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Camp Sawi<\/em> is a must see. A beautiful, winding mangrove forest growing out of the ocean. Elevated walkways guide you through this amazing nature reserve. Entrance fee is about 100 pesos. There is a restaurant among the mangroves, but we did not have time to partake. Highly recommended visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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* Flights from Cebu Mactan airport cost between 1,500 and 3,500 pesos as of this writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

April 2026 Bantayan Island is a wonderful, low-key resort destination with beautiful experiences at affordable prices. Located northwest of Cebu, it\u2019s an hour boat ride from the small Cebu port of Hagnaya, or a 45-minute flight* from Cebu Mactan airport. We drove from Cebu City, across the mountains on the Transcentral Highway, then north along the west coast along the Antonio Y De Pio National Highway.\u00a0 It was a 4-hour drive at a leisurely pace, followed by a 1-hour ferry ride to Santa Fe port in Bantayan. \u00a0The ferry cost was just over 4,000 pesos for a vehicle and 3 passengers. Below are some of the places we found enjoyable. I recommend all of them. In fact, I did not find a place on Bantayan island that I would not recommend. Lodging Anika Resort We stayed at Anika resort in Santa Fe. It is a beautiful, quiet beach-front resort with comfortable accommodations. The rooms are converted shipping containers, but done so well that I didn\u2019t realize it until I had been there over a day. Beautiful d\u00e9cor, comfortable beds, air conditioning, modern bathroom, and a cozy porch where you can eat a meal ordered from the resort restaurant.\u00a0 Room options […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3605","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\r\nBantayan Island - Father, Coder, Soldier, Spy<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"http:\/\/fathercodersoldierspy.com\/?page_id=3605\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Bantayan Island - Father, Coder, Soldier, Spy\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"April 2026 Bantayan Island is a wonderful, low-key resort destination with beautiful experiences at affordable prices. Located northwest of Cebu, it\u2019s an hour boat ride from the small Cebu port of Hagnaya, or a 45-minute flight* from Cebu Mactan airport. We drove from Cebu City, across the mountains on the Transcentral Highway, then north along the west coast along the Antonio Y De Pio National Highway.\u00a0 It was a 4-hour drive at a leisurely pace, followed by a 1-hour ferry ride to Santa Fe port in Bantayan. \u00a0The ferry cost was just over 4,000 pesos for a vehicle and 3 passengers. Below are some of the places we found enjoyable. I recommend all of them. In fact, I did not find a place on Bantayan island that I would not recommend. Lodging Anika Resort We stayed at Anika resort in Santa Fe. It is a beautiful, quiet beach-front resort with comfortable accommodations. The rooms are converted shipping containers, but done so well that I didn\u2019t realize it until I had been there over a day. Beautiful d\u00e9cor, comfortable beds, air conditioning, modern bathroom, and a cozy porch where you can eat a meal ordered from the resort restaurant.\u00a0 Room options […]\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"http:\/\/fathercodersoldierspy.com\/?page_id=3605\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Father, Coder, Soldier, Spy\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-05-01T16:19:39+00:00\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/fathercodersoldierspy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/BantayanIslandHeader.png\" \/>\r\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"800\" \/>\r\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"533\" \/>\r\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\r\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\/\/fathercodersoldierspy.com\/?page_id=3605\",\"url\":\"http:\/\/fathercodersoldierspy.com\/?page_id=3605\",\"name\":\"Bantayan Island - Father, Coder, Soldier, Spy\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"http:\/\/fathercodersoldierspy.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"http:\/\/fathercodersoldierspy.com\/?page_id=3605#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"http:\/\/fathercodersoldierspy.com\/?page_id=3605#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"http:\/\/fathercodersoldierspy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/BantayanIslandHeader.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-01T15:51:56+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-01T16:19:39+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"http:\/\/fathercodersoldierspy.com\/?page_id=3605#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"http:\/\/fathercodersoldierspy.com\/?page_id=3605\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"http:\/\/fathercodersoldierspy.com\/?page_id=3605#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"http:\/\/fathercodersoldierspy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/BantayanIslandHeader.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"http:\/\/fathercodersoldierspy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/BantayanIslandHeader.png\",\"width\":800,\"height\":533},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"http:\/\/fathercodersoldierspy.com\/?page_id=3605#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"http:\/\/fathercodersoldierspy.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Bantayan Island\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"http:\/\/fathercodersoldierspy.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"http:\/\/fathercodersoldierspy.com\/\",\"name\":\"Father, Coder, Soldier, Spy\",\"description\":\"Random Thoughts\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"http:\/\/fathercodersoldierspy.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\r\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Bantayan Island - Father, Coder, Soldier, Spy","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"http:\/\/fathercodersoldierspy.com\/?page_id=3605","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Bantayan Island - Father, Coder, Soldier, Spy","og_description":"April 2026 Bantayan Island is a wonderful, low-key resort destination with beautiful experiences at affordable prices. 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