Bantayan Island Tourist Spots: 12 Best Places to Visit in 2026

Bantayan Island has more to offer than its beaches. The island’s named tourist spots span three municipalities, from the Spanish-era church in Bantayan Town to the mangrove eco-park in Barangay Obo-ob, the cliff-jumping ruins in Santa Fe, the sunset boardwalk at Kota Park in Madridejos, and the offshore islets of Virgin Island and Hilantagaan. This guide covers the 12 best named spots on Bantayan Island with 2026 entrance fees, exact locations, and practical visitor information. For the complete overview of the island including getting there, accommodation, budget, and beaches, see the Bantayan Island Cebu Complete Travel Guide.

The spots in this guide are organized by municipality, starting in Santa Fe in the south where most visitors stay, continuing through Bantayan Town in the center, and ending at Madridejos at the northern tip. Knowing which spot is in which municipality helps with planning, as traveling between municipalities adds 20 to 45 minutes by scooter each way.

Santa Fe Tourist Spots

1. Kota Beach

Kota Beach is the main beach of Santa Fe and the most photographed stretch of sand on Bantayan Island. The beach faces east across the Visayan Sea, offering clean morning light and reliable sunrise views. The sand is fine and white, the water is shallow and calm enough for children, and the sandbar that forms offshore during low tide is one of the island’s defining natural features. Entry is free. The beach is lined with resort accommodation and beachfront restaurants on the landward side. For sunrise photography, arrive by 5:30 AM. For the full Bantayan Island beach guide, see the main travel guide.

2. Sugar Beach

Sugar Beach is the continuation of Kota Beach heading north along the Santa Fe shoreline. The two beaches share the same stretch of sand, separated only informally by a slight curve in the coastline. Sugar Beach has a slightly more local character, with fewer resort buildings and more fishing boat activity visible from the shore in the early mornings. Entry is free. The combination of Kota Beach and Sugar Beach gives Santa Fe one of the longest uninterrupted stretches of white sand beach in northern Cebu.

3. Sandira Beach (Paradise Beach)

Sandira Beach, also called Paradise Beach, is a privately managed stretch of beach in Santa Fe, separated from the main Kota Beach strip by a short walk. The entrance fee is P55 to P70 per person. The beach draws visitors who want a quieter experience than the busier resort-fronted sections of Kota Beach. The sand is comparable in quality but the crowd is noticeably thinner. Starfish and sea urchins are present in the shallow water so take care when wading. A small camping ground operates on the clifftop at the northern end with sea views.

4. The Ruins (Santa Fe Cliff Jumping Site)

The Ruins is the name given to the concrete skeleton of a house that was destroyed by Typhoon Yolanda in 2013. The structure stands directly on the waterfront near the Santa Fe resort strip, and rather than being cleared, it has become a landmark. Local artists have painted murals and graffiti across the concrete surfaces, and the elevated platforms at various heights above the sea have turned the site into Bantayan Island’s most popular cliff jumping spot.

Access is free. The platforms range from low enough for cautious first-timers to high enough for experienced jumpers. The water below is deep enough for jumping at high tide. Always check conditions locally before jumping, as the aging concrete structure is unstable in sections. Bring water shoes as the approach over the rocky shoreline is uneven. The Ruins is a 5 to 10 minute walk from the main Kota Beach resort strip.

5. Ogtong Cave

Ogtong Cave is a natural limestone cave located within the grounds of Ogtong Cave Resort in Santa Fe. The cave leads to a clear, cool underground pool fed by natural springs. The water is shallow enough to stand in and stays cool year-round regardless of the outside temperature.

Pre-closure, the day use fee was P150 to P285 per person, which included access to the cave pool as well as the resort’s swimming pool and beach area. The cave is accessible by tricycle from the Santa Fe port area or by scooter. When it reopens, check current fees directly with the resort.

Bantayan Town Tourist Spots

6. St. Peter and Paul Parish Church

The Saints Peter and Paul Parish Church at the center of Bantayan Town plaza is one of the oldest Catholic churches in the Visayas. It was founded on June 11, 1580, under Spanish colonial rule, making it nearly 450 years old as of 2026. The original structure was built from coral stone, the standard construction material for 16th century Philippine colonial churches when quarried stone was not locally available. Coral stone construction gives the building its distinctive rough-hewn texture and warm color.

The church is in active use and entry is free. The interior was extensively restored after Typhoon Yolanda in 2013, including a painted ceiling that was completed in stages by artists working on bamboo scaffolding. The church houses a small museum with historical artifacts from the parish. Bantayan Island has a strong Lenten tradition and the church draws pilgrims from across Cebu during Holy Week, when the island is known as the Lenten Capital of the Visayas.

The town plaza surrounding the church has benches, shade trees, and food stalls serving cheap local coffee and snacks. The combination of the church, the plaza, and the MJ Square food area nearby makes Bantayan Town the best cultural stop on the island. The church is 10 kilometers north of Santa Fe by the main road, 20 minutes by scooter.

7. Obo-ob Mangrove Eco-Park (OMAGIECA)

The Obo-ob Mangrove Eco-Park, managed by the Obo-ob Mangrove Garden Integrated Eco-Tourism and Conservation Association (OMAGIECA), is one of the most significant environmental tourism sites in northern Cebu. The park protects a dense stand of mature mangrove forest in Barangay Obo-ob, Bantayan Town, and provides a livelihood to the local community through tourism fees and the associated restaurant and kayak rental operations.

The entrance fee is P50 to P55 per person. The main attraction is the elevated bamboo boardwalk that winds through the heart of the mangrove forest for approximately one kilometer, ending at a multi-story bamboo watchtower with panoramic views over the canopy and the sea beyond. The boardwalk takes 30 to 45 minutes to walk at a relaxed pace. Film location signs for the Filipino movie Camp Sawi are mounted along the route, as several scenes were filmed here.

During high tide, kayaks are available for rent to paddle through the channels between the mangrove roots, a fundamentally different way to experience the ecosystem from the boardwalk. The park’s in-house restaurant serves local food and is a reasonable lunch stop for visitors doing the northern land tour circuit.

To reach the park from Santa Fe, take the main road north toward Bantayan Town and turn left into Barangay Obo-ob before reaching the town proper. By scooter, the park is 20 to 25 minutes from the Santa Fe resort strip. By tricycle, the fare is negotiable and typically P150 to P250 for the round trip with waiting time.

8. Bantayan Island Nature Park

The Bantayan Island Nature Park is a local government managed green space located between Santa Fe and Bantayan Town on the main road connecting the two municipalities. The entrance fee is P100 per person. The park contains walking trails through secondary forest, a small lake, picnic shelters, and native tree plantings.

The park is a quiet nature stop rather than a dramatic destination. It earns its place on the tourist spot list as the only inland green space on the island with developed visitor infrastructure. Early morning visits are best for bird life, as the secondary forest attracts several native species that are harder to see at the beach. By midday the park is hot and the trails are less pleasant. The park works best as a 30 to 45 minute stop on a scooter circuit of the island rather than a standalone destination.

9. MJ Square, Bantayan Town

MJ Square is not a tourist spot in the conventional sense, but it is the most important social and food hub on Bantayan Island and the place where the most authentic local experience of the island can be had. Located near the Bantayan Town plaza a short walk from the church, MJ Square is a cluster of open-air eateries and market stalls arranged around a central public space.

The specialty here is sutukil, the Cebuano seafood dining tradition where fresh fish and shellfish are selected from a display and cooked to order: sugba (grilled), tula (soup), or kilaw (raw in vinegar). Crabs, squid, shrimp, and whole fish are available, all locally caught. Prices are genuinely local at P150 to P300 per head for a full seafood meal. The market also sells fresh produce, dried fish and danggit at island prices, and local snacks.

MJ Square is most active at lunch from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM when the catch is freshest. Visit as part of a Bantayan Town circuit combined with the church and the Obo-ob Mangrove Garden.

Offshore Spots: Virgin Island, Hilantagaan, and Baigad Lagoon

Three offshore islets are accessible by boat from Santa Fe port and are typically visited together on an island hopping tour. Each has a distinct character and entrance fee. See the activities guide for island hopping prices and booking details.

10. Virgin Island

Virgin Island, also known as Sillon Island, is the most celebrated offshore destination near Bantayan Island. Located approximately 20 minutes by bangka from Santa Fe port, it is a privately managed island with a long sandbar, hammocks, cliff jumping platforms, beach volleyball courts, and a small restaurant. The entrance fee is P200 per person. Snorkeling just off the main beach reveals shallow coral formations and reef fish. The combination of fine white sand, clear water, and leisure facilities makes Virgin Island the highlight of any Bantayan island hopping trip and one of the most photogenic spots in northern Cebu.

11. Hilantagaan Island

Hilantagaan Island is an inhabited island approximately 30 minutes from Santa Fe by boat. The entrance fee is P100 per person. Unlike Virgin Island, Hilantagaan is primarily a snorkeling destination. The shallow coral reef on the island’s southern side hosts diverse marine life including sea cucumbers, clownfish, and sea urchins. The beach is narrow but the snorkeling visibility is consistently good in calm conditions. Hilantagaan is the second standard stop on most Bantayan island hopping tours.

12. Baigad Lagoon (Balidbid Lagoon)

Baigad Lagoon, also spelled Balidbid Lagoon, is the newest addition to the standard Bantayan island hopping circuit. The lagoon is a sheltered body of shallow water ringed by mangrove trees on one side and open sea on the other. The entrance fee is P100 per person. The calm, protected water and the visual contrast of the mangroves meeting the open sea makes it one of the most distinctive photography spots in the area. Swimming in the lagoon is best at mid-morning when the sun is high enough to illuminate the water from above.

Madridejos Tourist Spots

13. Kota Park and the Spanish Fortress

Kota Park in the municipality of Madridejos at the northern tip of Bantayan Island is built on the site of a Spanish colonial military fortification constructed in 1790. The original structure was a watchtower and defensive fortification built to protect the island from Moro raiders, part of the network of fortifications the Spanish colonial government established across the Visayas in the 18th century.

The park is free to enter. The main attraction is a wooden boardwalk extending out over the shallow western sea, providing an unobstructed west-facing view that makes Kota Park the best sunset viewpoint on the island. The ruins of the original fort walls are visible within the park grounds, along with a small in-house museum of historical and cultural relics. The lighthouse at the northern tip of the island, visible from the park, is a working navigation beacon.

To reach Kota Park from Santa Fe, drive north through Bantayan Town on the main coastal road and continue to Madridejos. The drive takes 30 to 45 minutes by scooter. Sunset Beach, a west-facing stretch of sand just south of the park, is the beach alternative for watching the sunset from sea level. For the sunset, arrive by 5:15 PM and plan to return after dark with working headlights.

Frequently Asked Questions: Bantayan Island Tourist Spots

More Bantayan Island Guides

• Bantayan Island Cebu: Complete Travel Guide (2026). Full island overview with beaches, getting there, accommodation, budget breakdown and best time to visit
• Things to Do in Bantayan Island: 12 Best Activities (2026). Detailed guide to island hopping, cliff jumping, kayaking, scooter circuit, and all activities with 2026 prices
• How to Get to Bantayan Island from Cebu. For Any Information about Bus, Ferry, Fares and Schedule Going to Bantayan (2026)

Conclusion: Finding Your Perfect Bantayan Island Tourist Spot

Deciding which Bantayan Island tourist spot to visit first is merely the beginning of your adventure. As we’ve explored in this 2026 guide, this island is a magnificent tapestry of experiences. From the powdery, sun-drenched sandbars of Santa Fe and the vibrant, echoing chambers of Sto. Niño Cave, to the silent, historical corridors of the Sts. Peter and Paul Parish Church—Bantayan offers a rare balance of thrilling exploration and profound relaxation.

Unlike heavily commercialized hubs, every Bantayan Island tourist spot retains a piece of authentic Visayan soul. But remember, the beauty of this island relies heavily on the respect of its visitors. As you hop from the mangrove boardwalks of Obo-ob to the sunset pier of Madridejos, practice responsible tourism. Dispose of your trash properly, support the local vendors at the public market, and leave the pristine coral reefs exactly as you found them.

Bantayan Island isn’t just a place you visit; it’s a destination you feel. So pack your bags, book that ferry ticket, and get ready to discover your own personal paradise in the north.