5 Tourist Spots to Explore in Bantayan Island for a Quick Land Tour

Just like Siargao and Boracay, Bantayan Island in Cebu is a tourist-ready destination where you can meet friendly Cebuanos and enjoy gastronomic adventures. Seated along the west of the northern end of Cebu, Bantayan Island is perfect for those living in the southern part of the country who are looking for slow-paced island life.

From mainstream attractions to secluded beaches, here are some of the best charms you can visit in Bantayan Island via land tour.

The Ruins

If you’re an adrenaline junkie and find sheer joy in jumping off a cliff, then you must include The Ruins in your Bantayan Island land tour.

Located in the town of Santa Fe, The Ruins will welcome you with its abandoned yet Instagrammable structure filled with mural arts and graffiti letters. It became a perfect tourist spot because of its nearby cliff with an overlooking view from the deep blue waters of the Visayan Sea.

Omagieca Obo-ob Mangrove Garden

Are you “camp wagi” or “camp sawi?”

In case you didn’t know , a portion of the Filipino film “Camp Sawi” was shot at Omagieca Obo-ob Mangrove Garden,so, don’t miss adding the Mangrove Garden to your Bantayan Island land tour list. Featuring an eco-park made with a bamboo walkway and surrounded by mangroves, the garden makes a perfectly Instagrammable backdrop.

Using a small boat, tourists can take a tour around the mangrove garden or go kayaking for only P150-P350. The entrance fee for adults costs P50 and the students/children’s fee is P20.

Sandira Beach

You can include Sandira Beach in your land tour around Bantayan Island as it is only a 30-minute walk away from Santa Fe Town.

Also called Paradise Beach, Sandira Beach is brimming with more beauty to explore featuring its crescent-shaped beach, powdery white sand, towering coconut trees, and calm waters.

You can also find a number of beach umbrellas along the shore where you can rest as the beach is mostly exposed to the sun in the daytime. The entrance fee for adults is P50 and P25 only for children.

Kota Beach

Situated in the heart of Sante Fe, Kota Beach is home to various swimming and beach activities. The resort prides itself with a majestic lagoon, amazing sand bar, and picturesque blue sea.

Some of the activities and services you can enjoy at Kota Beach are boating, kayaking, body massage sessions, reflexology, bicycle rental, billiards, and more.

MJ Square

Looking for the best food destination on Bantayan Island? We recommend checking out MJ Square — a food haven for seafood lovers. There are plenty of food options you can choose from the food complex, including the Chef Panyang restaurant.

Chef Panyang is considered the biggest resto in MJ Square with the widest food options too. Some of the must-try Cebuano fares from the restaurant are ginataang annikad, lechon, clam soup, steamed scallops, kinilaw na gulod, bunsod, and more. All-you-can-eat seafood costs P295 per head.

Other restaurants you can find in MJ Square are Cupcake Island Cakery, Bantayan Burrito Company, Shake Me, Channa’s Café & Wine, and Tapa Master, to name a few.

Apart from dining places, there are also pasalubong centers in MJ Square that sell Bantayan-themed souvenirs such as ref magnets, keychains, wallets, T-shirts, and more.