The Philippines - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 637

certainly shouldn't be written off, and
visitors are more welcome than ever.
Partial electricity returned to the island in
February 2013, but check W facebook
.com/choosebantayan for the latest. he
Back to Sea Project ( W facebook.com
/backtoseaproject) is a great initiative
offering visitors the chance to help out
financially and physically with the repair
projects including boatbuilding and
fishing implement construction (P3500
per project). Typhoon damage is unlikely
to deter the crowds of Filipino tourists
who descend on the island every Easter,
when rooms are booked out for weeks in
advance. For the rest of the year it's one
of the most blissful spots in the Visayas.
Most of the island's resorts stretch north
and south of the pier in the formerly
attractive little town and main port of
SANTA FE on Bantayan's southeast coast
- the beach remains exquisite, in parts
rivalling Bounty Beach on Malapascua
(see opposite). Prior to the typhoon there
were money exchanges and a couple of
internet places here, and it is presumed
these will reopen. No ATMs on the island
accept foreign cards however. A good way
to explore is to make like the locals and
hop on a bike; almost all the resorts rent
bikes (P200/day) and motorbikes (P300/
day), or try Santa Fe Adventures on the
main street who also offer quad bikes
(P495/day). Scoot off to the Bantayan
Island Nature Park (P75) where you can
take a swim in the two caves (or the pool)
before proceeding to explore the rest of
the island. An excellent resource on all
things Bantayan is W wowbantayan.com.

Negros. You can also hire a bangka to take you directly to
Bantayan from Malapascua (upwards of P3500).

ACCOMMODATION
Following the destruction caused by typhoon Yolanda, all
of the hotels listed below were at least partially open at
the time of writing.
Beach Placid North of the pier, Santa Fe T 032 406 5686,
W beachplacidresort.com. The cheaper accommodation
here is in the five huts with bamboo floors and walls made
of woven coconut, all immaculately clean and with free
breakfast in low season (June-Oct). Use of kitchen, free
wi-fi and an excellent restaurant, too. P1500
Budyong Beach Resort Santa Fe Beach T 0921 314
5275, W budyong.byethehost7.com. Palm trees provide
some welcoming shade at this popular place with great-
value nipa huts just on th e seaf ront. Economy rooms are in
demand, so book ahead. P500
Hard Kock Kafe 'n' Kiwi Kottages Main St (public
market road), Santa Fe T 032 438 9013 or T 0920 668
1268, E [e-mail]. Although you may
not feel too comfortable asking for directions to get here,
this popular café/restaurant is renowned for its chicken
vindaloo (P180) and also offers accommodation in
pleasant huts at the back. Right in th e cent re of town but a
10min walk to the beach. Free wi-fi. P550
★

8

St Bernard Beach Resort North of the pier, Santa Fe
T 0917 963 6162, W bantayan.dk. Norwegian-Filipino-
owned place 5min from the pier, with cosy and quaint
little circular cottages right on the beach. Free wi-fi. P950

EATING AND DRINKING
The following are all on or just off the Public Market road
in Santa Fe. In addition, almost all the resorts have their
own restaurants.
Blue Ice Popular Swedish-owned place with Swedish
music and dancing in the evenings. Quieter types can
settle for a game of chess on the big wooden board. Salads
include “Nick the Greek”, and there's an extensive selection
of mains including steaks, seafood and pizza (P200). Daily
8am-late.
CouCou A few tables are sprinkled around the front
garden area at this popular restaurant serving excellent
seafood and stir-fries (beef P180). For dessert try the
Fiesta Halo Halo. There's a decent drinks menu including
wine by the glass (P110), as well as a pool table and free
wi-fi. Daily 7am-11pm.
D'Jungle If you can't face another bowl of rice or pork,
head here for comfort food; there's good old shepherd's pie
(P95) and fish and chips (P165), as well as delicious chilli
crab. Backpacker rooms available to rent for a bargain
P200-250. Daily 7am-midnight.
Khel's BBQ Stall Without a doubt the cheapest joint in
town, this well-liked stall draws crowds for sticks of

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
By bus Several bus companies including White Stallion
Lines, Auto Bus and Ceres Liner compete for business
from Cebu's north terminal to the northern port town
of Hagnaya (7 daily; 3hr 30min) where you can catch
a ferry to Bantayan Island. Ceres is the most reliable
and comfortable.
By ferry There are seven scheduled daily crossings to
Santa Fe (1hr); the last departures are 4.30pm from
Hagnaya and 6pm from Santa Fe. Palacio Shipping has
twice-weekly overnight ferry services from Cebu at 9pm
arriving in Santa Fe at 6am. Days of departure are seasonal.
From further afield, there are several weekly ferries to
Bantayan town on the west coast from Cadiz and Sagay on