She Meets World: Cebu -- Bantayan Island

I have been hearing about Bantayan Island for years now. About how it is like Boracay but still not that populated. Bantayan Island is located at the northmost part of Cebu province. It can be reached by bus, on a 3-hour travel from Cebu City to Hagnaya port and an additional 30-minute boat ride. For those who are not on a tight budget, there is a plane from Mactan Airport too.

I went to celebrate my birthday there and enjoy the white beach. I booked a two night stay at Sta. Fe Beach Club, which includes breakfast, port transfers and a free visit to its sister resort, the Ogtong Cave.

It is very convenient to travel in the island if you know how to ride a scooter. Scooters are available for rent for Php 300 a day. You can always negotiate as locals there are very accommodating and kind. You can also hire a trycicle to tour you around the place.

There is a street in the place whrere restaurants thrive. Different cuisines are served, just take your pick. Ususally, the owners of these food houses are foreigners who married locals. They are very hospitable and they will make your stay enjoyable. They offer fresh seafoods that you can choose how to be cooked. What amazed me is that, the foreigners there are already fluent in speaking the local dialect.

If you want to enjoy a beach with white sand and fresh sea foods, without the noise of the city or the crowd of night life, Bantayan Island is a must-visit place.