How To Get From Cebu City to Bantayan Island – Philippines

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Author: Reekay V.

Since 2012 I’ve been traveling through various islands of the Philippines as a full-time Expat and spent 1999 living in Vietnam.

Share with me my ongoing adventures of life in the Philippines. Hopefully you find my observations helpful in your own adventures.
— Reekay

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    In this video I discuss, “How To Get From Cebu City to Bantayan Island – Philippines”

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  6. It’s nice to see the two of you out and enjoying life! I’m looking forward to seeing the vlogs from the rest of your stay!

  7. Enjoy Reekay!!! We are under lockdown here in the UK battling an ever mutating virus! I honestly can’t wait to fly to Phil. I miss beautiful Cebu city.

  10. I think no one is allowed an opinion here unless it falls in line but in a cab with an arm around her looks ‘unnecessary’.

  11. ohh going past Bogo hey i am 3klm to the east in Nailon never been to there im not rich to go to many places lucky you can move around lets hope no more people get that virus i know a few in Bogo and Cebu enjoy hey i cant travel until May next year there saying

  14. Thanks for the entertainment since JLB is in the outback mixing up more kool-aid for his 65 followers . He’s a modern day Jim Jones , proving insane people can convince anyone of anything , including the bull crap that covid doesn’t exist . His 65 followers are ready to following him off a cliff . They have no brains just like him , just willing to accept his narrative of Covid doesn’t exist horse crap ! His has resorted to insulting Henry and Gio and others who are actually providing a service as opposed to his conspiracy theory Mumbo jumbo . Keep up the good work Henry and Gio !

  15. Nice you both are out of Cebu. You need some kind of pass to go there? I never used airb&b. Do you book on that like Agoda? Thanks Douglas

    1. Bantayan Island is still part of Cebu. Cebu borders are still close to non-Cebu leisure travelers. The tourism industry in Cebu is temporarily sustained by local Cebu residents since tourism reopened in August, the first to do so in the country.

  17. Thanks for the VDO, very much appreciated! So the total trip from door to door took about 5 hours. How long did the bus trip, the boat trip and the ride to the AirBnB take?
    Just a suggestion: If you are planning to make a VDO on the way back, it would be nice to film as well the place where you pay the ticket. Thanks a lot.

  18. That was a first for me to see, seats in the center isle on the Ceres bus.. I guess it is for passenger separation.. Bantayan is a very nice relaxing place to go.. It has more businesses than when I visited there about four years ago… Hope you enjoy..

    1. The seats in all buses with provincial routes have been configured that way to conform to the health protocol.

  20. We loved Bantayan Island when we were there a couple years ago. Take an island hopping day tour for cliff diving and smaller island beaches… only p700 for the whole day with private boat!! We also paid for the lunch of the two boys running the boat.

    1. Yes, it’s a standard practice among local Cebuano tourists to share lunch for the boat crew when they go island hopping. Most local tourists bring food more than they can consume so they end up sharing it to the boat crew most of the time.

  21. These are my favorite types of videos. It almost makes you feel like you’re traveling. Thanks!

    1. @Reekay’s LifeBeyondTheSea Reekay, this is your sweet spot in my opinion. Less “foil-hat” information and more playing to your strengths. You always make me feel like I’m in the Philippines, and one of the reasons I fell in love with the Philippines. I’ve been there three times since 2018, and waiting to be allowed to come back. Thanks for everything over the years, and please subscribe to my channel and hit the notification bell. I’m thinking of adding some Filipino themed songs… right up your alley.

    2. i’ll update as we go along, i should have the next vid ready very soon. 🙂

  22. Another place to check out on the ” mainland” is Daanbantayan ,the northern tip of Cebu island …..very cool little town .

  23. BANTAYAN AIRPORT OPEN NOW FOR A 20 MIN FLIGHT FROM MACTAN. THERE ARE SEVERAL YOU TUBES SHOWING THE FLIGHT.

    1. Not yet officially opened. The flight was just a promotional flight conducted by GMCAC (the operator of Mactan-Cebu International Airport) on the opening of the new runway of Bantayan Airport where they invited local prominent vloggers or local social media influencers as well as beauty queens (14 candidates for Miss Philippines Universe 2020), local government officials, local businessmen, among others. GMCAC officials clarified that commercial flights have not commenced yet. They, however, said that they will have a press release/conference as soon as they finally start commercial operations of the airport.

  24. Hi Reekay, You said they checked your ID, just curious why, because I am 66 maybe it will hinder me from getting in?

    1. @lionhearted1969 ‘what about 62 yo traveling with Filipina girlfriend from the same household?

    2. As long as you are in company with another family member of valid age (based on IATF guidelines), you’re fine. Seniors and minors traveling alone are still not allowed.

  26. Great to see you can get away for a while Reekay, I’m so envious I really like Bantayan it’s so relaxed and laid back. I’ve been three times but would still like to go back. Enjoy your trip you two, hope to see some more from there, your room looks great.

  30. Hello Henry and hope you and Vi enjoy your stay at Bantayan Island! Have a blessed Merry Christmas!

  31. Very nice video! Bantayan has been on the top of my bucket list. Any cooking facilities available in those Air B & B’s?

  32. I’m not sure if I called the name of the place that you will be staying If you could give that information out please

    1. near the beach is good. ha! 😀

      we’ll be checking out the beaches and share what we find. we’re at the south-east corner of the island, saw lots of sandy places on the google-maps satellite images.

  34. Don’t drink beer or coffee before riding those busses. The buses there don’t have restroom. Other than that a pleasant experience.

    1. The travel only takes about 3-4 hours. So you have to be wise when taking long trips. But all buses either to south or north Cebu, they always have designated stops between terminals to allow passengers to eat snack, toilet break, smoke break, etc. Besides, you can always tell your driver or conductor to stop by any gas station during an emergency waste disposal.

    2. they make a CR break about 90-minutes after leaving SM Cebu mall.., and another at the bus terminal just before getting to the ferry (on the mainland side). no restroom on the bus.

      there’s also a restroom on the ferry. not exactly ‘clean’.. but it’s something.

  36. lmfao….sorry Reekay, but just to look at you guys all masked up and the plastic divider from the taxi driver made me just laugh and laugh. How stupid they have the world acting right now over a fake virus. Have fun or at least try to. I love Bantayan Island at least how it used to be.

    1. Many people who derided the virus have long gone including the famous Ukrainian fitness trainer and social media influencer who told his followers covid is fake. Here in Cebu City, a famous local bodybuilder succumbed to Covid in June that shocked the local bodybuilding community because he was seen as a very fit man who went to his gym (he’s a gym chain owner) almost everyday for his daily routine. He was only 56. A teenage American also called covid is just a hoax until he contacted it and got bedridden in the hospital. In his deathbed, he apologized and urged his friends that covid is real. He died days later.

  37. I love seeing somebody living a little more upscale lifestyle. There’s to many low budget videos and I realize that’s a thing but please show us more of these types of get aways. It easier to imagine myself there when your out and about living well. Thanks Henry.

    1. it’s nice to get out and about again. (despite the mask/goggles gear.) loving it. 🙂

  38. i have been to Bantayan island for a week stayed on the beach. i loved it there had lots of fun drove around the island a little bet i may go back there when i come back to cebu love your video

  39. Note in the restaurant court area there’s a decent Mexican place run by a British guy it’s not perfect but his food is tasty

    3. we’ll check it out. thanks! my buddy, ‘asia unscripted’, also told us about it.. ‘Burrito Company’.

  40. Hey Rekay I’ve been to bantian island 3 times first was in 2013 we stayed at Anika resort before they installed a pool. the island back then was a very sleepy town that was back then it became very busy do to the closure of borocai I wish it was still that sleepy little town

  41. Great, thanks for sharing your getaway adventure. Nice to see a new location in the Philippines and look forward to more video to come as you explore the area. Did you have to covid test or quarantine for this trip?

    1. Tourism in Cebu has long been reopened since August though only to local Cebu residents. The main island of Cebu is big stretching about 300 kilometers from north to south plus it has more than a hundred smaller islands. So you have plenty of islands to explore. So Cebuanos are bit luckier than those in Manila or elsewhere because until now, they are still in strict quarantine. Local Cebu residents basically sustain the tourism industry in Cebu though not that much compared pre-covid time but at least the whole supply chain of tourism businesses in Cebu is still alive. Residents in both mainland Cebu and Mactan island can now travel freely without the encumbrance from checkpoints. Just came back from a 2-night/3-day trip to southern Cebu and it felt like it was back to normal already except of course for the minium health protocols of wearing face mask. Face shield is no longer required in rural towns in Cebu even inside restaurants and hotels and malls.

    2. no testing required. 🙂 we just got on the bus and arrived. from what i gather, bantayan is part of cebu.. similar to mactan. we did need a QR-code though, which the hotel sent us before we left cebu city.

  45. It’s about time you guys get out of Cebu City and do a little traveling. I hope both of you have an enjoyable sabbatical. What I’m really trying to say is go exploring and have fun. Take care both of you.

  46. Hi.Reekay I’ve been to Bantanyan Island loved it there water so beautiful beach side huts great even had AIrcon Ferry ride was great. Food was good on the Island at restaurants also.

  47. Nice to finally get out of the city. Wish I could get out of London right now and be there. All plans on the back burner but watching this I even miss the sounds of the vehicles there and the music on the long bus journeys. Enjoy your trip

    1. @Reekay’s LifeBeyondTheSea that playlist sounds about right. I remember the last bus trip I did from Cebu city I think it was to oslob, I had boxes of chicks above my head in the luggage compartment. However, I would gladly welcome the sounds of the Philippines right now

    2. as soon as we arrived we heard a rooster next door. ha! on the bus trip in, we heard about 3-hours of ‘air supply’, brian adams, rod stewart and bon jovi tunes.

  48. Did you spend a day at Sandira Beach formally called Paradise Beach.? It’s secluded and one must rent a tricycle for the day but the beach is a must to be at for the day. Did you buy brazo de mercedes for Vee and yourself. Kermit pastry shop is well know for brazo de Mercedes on Bantayan island.

    1. @Reekay’s LifeBeyondTheSea I’ve stayed at this hotel many times. You can get a moped there for $php200/day. Gas station is just around the corner. Spend a day scootering the island and another 1/2 day at Sandira Beach…. It’s absolutely gorgeous… 50p fee I think…enjoy guys!

  49. Travel is always worth it for staying in a nice place. like the room and all th einfo you talk ablout oon how to travel there. Looking forward to your next vedio on your stay there. Have fun enjoy nd remain safe. let me know the name of the air B& B you are staying at.

  50. You have TV, you have aircon and you forgot to mention toilet paper…..LOL All the conveniences that you need….

    1. @Reekay’s LifeBeyondTheSea Just curious. How does one dry their butt after using the bum gun. Lol

    2. ha! yah. although the room does have the infamous bidet (bum gun). also, shower has hot water which is a plus as well. they even provided shampoo packs, but we’d already brought out own.

  51. Looks like a nice little getaway. Do they have a safe to store your valuables in that Airbnb room?

    2. @Reekay’s LifeBeyondTheSea cool, but won’t they just steal the whole bag if it’s not secured to something?

    1. @Anil Goel yes, i kept breaking up large bills the day before at the mall. 20’s and 50’s are good for tips.

    2. @Reekay’s LifeBeyondTheSea
      You really need to keep a lot of small bills in your pocket.
      I always had to be asking places to break 100 / 500 peso bills.

    3. it’s up to you, 20 or 40p is average. we tipped the baggage guy at the bus terminal on arrival, and the trike driver who picked us up. we also bought lechon and a roasted chicken for the lobby staff to share.

  55. Merry Christmas for you two. Enjoy the change of scene its a Xmas present by it self. Stay all save. Cheers Reekay

    1. thanks! yes, this is our little getaway to end the year with. loving it. 😀

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