It's been 4 days since I last posted and that made me miss Steemit so much and all the blogs that was created. That was because I had to go away for a couple of days to visit such an amazing place. So I'm going to take this time and share with you what I have experienced for that time away.
As we all know, Philippines is an archipelago that's composed of thousands of islands. Therefore, wherever you go, Island Hopping is on top of the bucketlist of outdoor activities all year long, regardless if it is summer season or not. If you're a beach baby, there's definitely more than one sandbar for you here and there's still so much more to explore and discover. Especially in my hometown Cebu alone, there are so many little islands surrounding the place already that is very timely and perfect to visit this summer season.
And so, I did not hesitate when my friend invited me to come with her to Bantayan Island. Bantayan is one of the many islands surrounding Cebu and is definitely one of the most beautiful islands in the Philippines. It is a gem in the Northern area of Cebu. This island is surrounded by white sand beaches and is one of the most-visited place every summer season. It is a home and a paradise for travelers and beach enthusiasts like me. I've been wanting to go here ever since I started to love traveling but due to certain circumstances I was not able to come. Not until now. So I did not hesitate this time and would not want to miss the opportunity again to finally be able to set foot in this amazing island.
Bantayan is quite a few hours away from the city of Cebu. And so we had to wake up early and meet at exactly 4am in the North Bus Terminal. We then, arrived at the Hagnaya Port after 3 hours to catch the 7am ferry boat trip to get to Bantayan Port which lasted for about an hour and 30 minutes. By 9am we're already in the island at last! It was a good decision to go there on weekdays since there are not much of tourists and we get to enjoy the place with less crowd.
After we grabbed a quick breakfast and settled our accommodation, we made arrangements to rent 2 motorcycles for 250 pesos for an entire 24 hours to help us get to the tourists spots in the island. And so we began our journey! I'm excited for the motorcycles since I know how to drive and the fact that there are not much vehicles there.
When we arrived, we found Bantayan so peaceful and quiet. The people are also very helpful since they helped us find an affordable place to stay and guided us on the way to finding the tourists spots by giving clear directions. The locals are very approachable and hospitable, which is also a trademark Filipino quality. They definitely know how to keep the tourists coming.
So, let the adventure begin! These are some of the places we're able to visit in Bantayan Island.
Omagieca Obo-ob Mangrove Garden
This place is located in the municipality of Sta. Fe and is a home to mangroves. It aims to raise environmental awareness about how mangroves play a significant role in the ecosystem. Tourists have the option to tour around via Kayaking or boating but we chose to stroll around via the bamboo boardwalk instead. Entrance fee is 50 pesos. It was indeed a relaxing walk with nature.
The Ruins and Cliff Diving Site
A few kilometers away from the Mangrove Garden, you can find "The Ruins". It is an abandoned and unfinished structure which overtime, also became one of the tourists spots in Bantayan. It is built and located along the small cliffs on the shore that would invite everyone to take a jump.
Kota Park
This time we managed to drive farther to the next municipality which is Madridejos. The main attraction here is the Kota Park which is like an old Spanish Fort that was transformed into a park. According to history, the fort was originally built in 1790 by the Spaniards to serve as a camp and a watchtower but unfortunately it was still closed by the time we went there. So instead we just strolled down yet again another boardwalk and soaked ourselves under the sun. The scenery here is just great!
Ogtong Cave
Ogtong cave is one of the most-visited places in Bantayan since it offers natural and very clear waters that is just refreshing!
Beaches!
Lastly, we made sure not to miss Bantayan Island's pride which are their beaches! We visited Paradise beach and one of the public beaches there. The water is crystal clear, the sand is so white and super fine and the sound of the waves crashing is just so inviting plus the cool air would want to make you stay longer. It's not my first time seeing a beautiful beach but indeed Bantayan has its own quality of fine beaches too. It never really disappoint.
That was it! I'm so glad and happy I went on that trip. My soul is satisfied having set foot on the Island I've dreamt of for the past years. Not only have we explored the place together but I and my friends also was able to create another set of memories which we will remember for a long time.
Thank you for dropping by, Steemians. I hope you had a great beach and island escapade too. Until the next time.
