Virgin Island Bantayan In Cebu – Visitor’s Guide

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A visit to Virgin Island Bantayan is one of the best day trips you can do from Bantayan Island in North Cebu.

Boasting crystal clear waters, cliff jumping, beach bars, and coastal boardwalks, this is one of the most beautiful places not to be missed on your itinerary.

I have put together this easy-to-follow island hopping guide for Virgin Island including how to get here, how much it costs, and what to expect on the tour!

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WHERE TO BOOK A VIRGIN ISLAND BANTAYAN TOUR?

Virgin Island Bantayan, also known as Sillon Island, is best visited as a day trip from Bantayan Island and can be easily organized through the reception of your accommodation or at one of the tour desks dotted around the main town of Santa Fe.

Virgin Island Cebu is a short 30-minute boat ride from Kota Beach on the east coast of Bantayan Island.

The Bantayan Island Hopping tour includes visiting Virgin Island and Balidbid Lagoon on Bantayan Island before returning to Kota Beach in Santa Fe.

It’s up to you how long you want to spend on the island, you have to communicate with the captain of your boat at the beginning of the tour.

To get an idea, my friends and I spent around 3 hours on the island and 1 hour at Balidbid Lagoon and felt this was a good amount of time to enjoy both locations.

Though if you love beach bumming, you could easily spend a full day on the island.

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On the boat to the island

HOW MUCH IS BANTAYAN ISLAND HOPPING

The total cost for the island hopping tour is around 800 pesos, so if you are a group of 4 and up to 8 people you can split the cost between you. Otherwise, you can take a private boat tour and pay the full price.

Any food, drinks, and snorkeling gear rental is an additional cost. You can rent snorkeling gear on Bantayan Island or on Virgin Island Cebu for around 150-200 pesos.

I recommend going to the supermarket on the Bantayan Island mainland to stock up on supplies for the day as it’s much cheaper than the inflated prices on Sillon Island.

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VIRGIN ISLAND BANTAYAN ENTRANCE FEE

When you arrive at Virgin Island Bantayan, there is an additional entrance fee of 250 pesos per head for the first 2 guests and 200 pesos after that for additional people in your group.

Ultimately, the more people you have in your group the cheaper the entrance fee will average out.

See More → 15 Things To Do In Bantayan

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Island Hopping Bantayan

WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE TOUR

There are many things to do on Virgin Island Bantayan to keep you entertained for an entire day such as cliff jumping, snorkeling the reef, beach bumming in a hammock, swimming in the shallow turquoise waters, and coastal strolls along the wooden boardwalk.

On the northern end of the island, you can find the cliff jumping area which features a bamboo structure built into the side of the small cliffs.

There is a range of diving boards here starting as low as 3 meters, the middle jump is 5 meters and the highest one is 8 meters.

Work your way up from the smallest jump to the biggest jump and make sure you catch it all on camera.

After cliff jumping, my friends and I decided to explore the northern coastline and found paradise with no other tourists around.

A white sand beach fringed with coconut palms was an idyllic scene I didn’t expect to find on the island.

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Cliff jumping on Sillon Island
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Drone shot of the island

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The coastal walk takes you along the edges of the rocky coastline and boasts epic views of the main beach.

You can even go swimming and snorkeling by using the bamboo ladder access in certain spots along the boardwalk.

The main beach on the island is as dreamy as it gets and it looks like something straight out of a postcard.

Sugary white sands, azure waters, and shaded huts under the coconut trees are the definition of an island paradise.

Must Read → 3 Weeks Philippines Itinerary

Island locals have done a fantastic job decorating the area under the palms with hanging shell ornaments that chime in the wind and well-kept gardens that add to the tropical vibes.

Beach bars, small restaurants, and sari-sari stores can also be found on Virgin Island Cebu if you want to grab a cold beer, fresh juice, or something to eat.

A trip to Virgin Island Bantayan will leave you feeling sun-kissed and content after experiencing one of Cebu’s best-kept island paradises!

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Coastal walks on Bantayan Virgin Island
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Aerial shot of Sillon Island
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Palm trees on the beach
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Small beach cove

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BALIDBID LAGOON BANTAYAN

The last stop of the Bantayan Island Hopping is Balidbid Lagoon which is located on the east coast of Bantayan Island’s mainland.

From Virgin Island, it’s a short 20-minute boat ride across the seaway to reach Balidbid Lagoon, arriving on a small beach lined with coconut palms.

Once you step off the boat onto the shoreline you will have to pay a small entrance fee of 20 pesos and then take a short walk over the sandbank to this beautiful Bantayan lagoon.

This insane location blew me away when I sent my drone up to capture some aerial shots of Balidbid Lagoon and it reminded me of the Whitsundays in Australia!

Balidbid features a saltwater lagoon with an ocean inlet that is surrounded by lush greenery and boasts glistening white sandbanks along the edges.

There was a slight current in the lagoon when we visited, so we walked upstream, jumped in the water, and floated down toward the end of the inlet.

We did this several times as it was lots of fun and also very relaxing!

We spent around 1 hour at Balidbid Lagoon enjoying the cool waters and it was a perfect way to end the Bantayan Island Hopping tour.

The final leg of the trip takes around 15 minutes by boat from Balidbid Lagoon back to Kota Beach in Sante Fe which concludes the island-hopping tour!

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Arriving at Balidbid Lagoon
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Aerial shot of Balidbid Lagoon
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Saltwater lagoon at Balidbid Bantayan
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Floating in the current

BEST TOURS IN CEBU

 

MAP OF SILLON ISLAND

sillon island map

WHERE TO STAY ON BANTAYAN ISLAND

Bantayan Island has dozens of accommodation options to choose from, so I have narrowed it down to a few of the best places to stay near to fit the needs of budget backpackers and luxury travelers.

See the list of accommodations below that I personally recommend:

LUXURY: AMIHAN BEACH CABANAS

Amihan Beach Cabanas is the most luxurious resort on Bantayan Island, featuring a restaurant, bar, outdoor terrace, and a private beach area, and breakfast is included for all guests.

Choose from either a sea view room, a villa, or a family room. Each room has air conditioning, views from the balcony, a private bathroom, flat-screen TV, and free Wi-Fi.

It’s the perfect place to stay for couples, a group of friends, or families on a luxury budget.

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MID RANGE: SF CANTINA

Sf Cantina is a small and cozy guesthouse located right on the beach in Sante Fe, featuring a beach bar and restaurant, free Wi-Fi, lounge chairs, and oceanfront rooms.

The rooms have air conditioning and are fitted with a flat-screen TV, large comfortable beds, a wardrobe, and a private bathroom.

Sf Cantina is an affordable place to stay for couples, friends, or families.

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BUDGET: EDSAN APARTMENT

Edsan Apartment is the best budget accommodation on the island. Centrally located in Santa Fe and features a garden, BBQ facilities, a shared kitchen area, a terrace, and free Wi-Fi.

Enjoy your privacy in these budget apartments which can sleep 2 people and up to 6 people and are fitted with air-conditioning/fan-cooled, large beds, a private bathroom, and a patio.

It’s the perfect place to stay for solo travelers, couples, friends, or families on a budget.

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For All Other Places To Stay, Search On Booking.com

WHAT TO PACK FOR THE PHILIPPINES

When visiting the Philippines, here is a list of items I highly recommend bringing with you:

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FINAL THOUGHTS – VIRGIN ISLAND CEBU

I hope you enjoyed reading this article and if you have any questions at all about Virgin Island Bantayan, please leave me a comment below and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

For a quicker response, be sure to join Jonny Melon’s Travel Tribe on Facebook and post your questions or recommendations to our awesome community.

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TRAVEL RESOURCES FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or it’s your first trip overseas, here are some useful travel resources to help you kick-start your next adventure!

bookingcom

Search and book accommodation worldwide.


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Find tickets, tours, and experiences around the world.


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Book buses, trains, and transfers online in advance.


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THANKS FOR READING

Hey friend, thanks for reading this guide!

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Many thanks!

2 thoughts on “Virgin Island Bantayan In Cebu – Visitor’s Guide”

    • Hi Vince, apologies in advance but I don’t have any contact numbers for this tour. Your best bet is to ask the receptionist at your hotel as they usually can point you in the right direction to an operator running this tour. Good luck and enjoy!

      Reply

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