Other things of note.

It should be noted that mineral water is available in vendo machines around the city.

Mactan Island is near the airport. You can eat at the famous SU-TU-KIL (SUbga/Cebu - TUla/Tinola or anything boiled - KILaw NOT SHOOT TO KILL! :D)

Magellan's Cross is just outside the Sto. Nino Church.

Cebu Religions

Catholic Churches predominate the city. 

From SM Cebu, you can ride the I12 (not sure) jeep or any jeep that will take you to Cathedral.

From there, Sto. Nino Church can be reached by foot. 

Don't forget to visit Magellan's Cross just outside the church.

Chinese Temples can be accessed via Taxi cabs and Jeepney then on foot.

Bantayan Island: Things To Do

1. SWIM and SUNBATHE. This is free and fun. :)

2. Kayak (~100php per hour). 

3. Island Hop to VIRGIN ISLAND

This costs around 600-1200php, depending on the season and your bargaining skills (more here). Entrance fee to the island is 300php (group of 5). The tour guide may also offer to cook for you, for about 150php each plus the cooking fee at the island (50php), the price so, so worth it. 

The caretaker of the Island also sells ingredients for your food, softdrinks, and other things you might see in a sari-sari store.

Snorkelling equipment may also be rented from your tour guide for 50 pesos (mask and goggles). Starfish can be seen at the left side of the island.

4. Go to OGTONG CAVE. As a bonus, Sta. Fe beach resort offers free entrance to Ogtong Resort facilities. Otherwise, its 100php per person.

They have a mini zoo that includes that little cutie. :)

5. Eat! 

The Bantayan Market offers great for at an even greater price. For 25 pesos, you can eat yummy Chicken Barbeque and for another 2 pesos, you can have puso (:pu-SO = rice) to go with it.

Seafood is readily available, thus always FRESH, CHEAP, and DELICIOUS.

6. Shop! We were pre-informed that the famous danggit is cheaper in Bantayan Island because most come from there so we opt to buy our pasalubongs there. 

Here's the price list:

Unsalted danggit — 340/kg

*unsalted danggit is more expensive because it was sundried right after it was caught, unlike salted danggit that are unsold fish sundried to be of use.

Bilog fish — 340/kg or 85 for the 1/4 kg I bought.

* I still do not know what this I called. My dad bought this for me when I was a kid everytime he goes to Cebu (which was, i think, once a month or every other month). It was my happy food. Anyway, its circular in shape and sweet.

Squid — 400+. I forgot.

7. Pray. You can go to Saints Peter and Paul Church/Bantayan Church via tricycle.

How to get to Bantayan

How to get there:

From Cebu City, go to the NORTH BUS TERMINAL and scout for a bus to HAGNAYA PORT. Take the bus and tell the conductor to let you off at HAGNAYA PORT. This takes about 3 hours. You will alight to ride a TRICYCLE to the port for about 20 minutes. Ride the FERRY to BANTAYAN ISLAND, about 1-2 hours. Once you are there, either you ride the complementary shuttle your resort offers or ride tricycles to your resort of choice.

30 mins    - CAB ride from Airport to North Bus Terminal = 120php

3 hours     - BUS RIDE = 80php pax

20 mins    - TRICYCLE RIDE = 10 - 20php pax

1-2 hours - FERRY = 10php - 120php pax + terminal fee of 10php

total:5-6 hours travel time, 240-350php

* there are 2 ferry lines to Bantayan Island from Hagnaya port, namely, Island and Shuttle. If you want to save 110 pesos, you have to be there when both ferries are there at the same time. The result is an unhealthy competition between the two ferries as one ferry will drop their fare to 10 pesos (We've been told that sometimes you can ride it for free). Why they do that, I really do not know.

Going back to Cebu proper:

Ask the locals what time the two ferries will have another "promo" and time your departure so you only need to pay 10 pesos for the ride. Once you arrive at HAGNAYA PORT, chaos will ensue. Taxi cabs will offer to take you to anywhere in Cebu city for the negotiable price of 1500php (I brought the price down to 500php for 5 people). Bus drivers of different bus companies will also compete for passengers. Note that the bus from there will not enter the NORTH BUS TERMINAL, so inform the conductor where you wish to alight.

TRANSPORTATION IN BANTAYAN ISLAND

To VIRGIN ISLAND

• Locals will offer their services for as low as 600php-1200php for a round trip, whole day stay at Virgin Island.
  

around BANTAYAN

Locals will also offer tricycles to go to the market and other side trips on the way for around 150php, or for us, 30php pax. The tricycle can seat 6 people



Pedicabs and even motorcycles are also available. The price depends on your destination and bargaining skills.

Resorts offer MOUNTAIN BIKE (~150php per day) and MOTORCYCLE (250-350php per day) rentals. 

visit Wow Bantayan for more info. :)

TIPS:

1. One great source of information about a place is your CAB DRIVER. You can ask them basic words in the language/dialect of the town you are in, the must-see places, where to eat, where to shop, etc. They are sometimes friendly and most speak well in English (and Filipino) because there are used to tourists.

2. Bargain and you shall save a lot.

3. Avail of promos of Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines are lowering the fare of passengers without check-in baggage.