It's been a decade plus of not being able to visit this place as Bantayan Island used to bring not so good memories relating to Holy Week, hassle-full processing of accommodations back then and actually going back to Cebu City a day earlier than expected because the event we paid for flaked on us..but that's on a totally irrelevant story.

I live in a place quite far from Bantayan Island and traveling for a total of 6 hours (car+boat) with a hyper toddler in tow might take a toll on us so we decided not to go just yet. Bantayan Island is so beautiful-so much so that a 3D2N stay is not enough. When you can, stay for a week to make the most out what this island has to offer.

 

..so when the invitation from Cebu Provincial Government and GMR Group came in 2 days before the scheduled departure (this after only staying in Cebu for 4 days since I was at Manila for a week prior) came as a lovely and welcome surprise. Like most laagans out there, we weren't really expecting to fly out-or be given travel opportunities anytime this year til the second half. I confirmed within 15 minutes of receiving the invitation and my giddiness doubled when I read the first paragraph of the itinerary saying that we will be flown out of a chartered plane from Mactan Cebu International Airport to the island and the travel time will only take 30 minutes. It couldn't get any better but then I knew Janine (@offdutymama) and Dee (@deeexplores) are also coming so we haven't been really talking about anything since.

 

 

I am an early morning fly out person. Aside from the fact that it's the safest, flying gives me an adrenaline rush that makes me energetic for the most of the day. When I'm traveling, I only get 4 hours of sleep max because my thoughts race of the places I have to go to, people I have to meet, food I want to eat and the experiences a place has to offer..so in turn, my skin usually suffers because they get patchy and I always have a breakout after 5 days of this body abuse 😅

Going back, I met the two at the MCIA Malasakit Desk (grabe baya tag hugot aning malasakit desk) at 5AM and I think it was already a sin to be perky and alive this early. Everyone at the airport was still groggy but I guess you can't contain us 😂 For me, it's time to make new and beautiful memories in this beautiful island.

 

Should you plan to fly (and SAVE LOTS OF TIME) from Cebu to Bantayan Island, send an email to reservations@airjuan.com for plane rates with dates as I have checked their official website upon landing there and they are still updating it.

Apparently, ours was the inaugural flight. What a historic moment! After booking your flights, don't forget to download the TRAZE app so that our local government can do their standard contact tracing in the most hassle-free possible; All you have to do after installing and signing up is to scan the qr code in places where you are and then you are automatically tagged as having been there. Checking in only takes seconds I swear Cebu City and other provinces should re-align and use this too.

As of November 29, 2020, here are the requirements upon entering the island

Bantayan Island Requirements

Here are some of the shots my friends and I took:

Virgin Island first timer 

 

 

low-key obsessed with this lifeguard area 😆

 

also, dragged them along 😅

@offdutymama

@deeexplores

           my photographer can't really see the shots she's taking but i love this! 

Thanks bae! 

Kota Beach during mid-afternoon

Beach trip is uncomplete til I can lounge and get my much-needed tan

weekend crew

Evening soiree with Bb. Pilipinas contestants

This Bantayan Island Escapade is conceptualized as a scaled and controlled model of how the new tourism normal will be. With this island's pristine white beaches, picturesque setting, warm community spirit and conveniently-located airport, Bantayan Island is the ideal place to showcase a safe, curated and integrated, worry-free experience. 

 

Here are the many things that I like in this trip

1. I came up with this idea

2. It's everyone's first time

3. Everyone was punctual

4. We arrived 30 minutes earlier than expected.

Here are the things that you have to take note of when you are on your way there

1. You will get dizzy. I've lost track of how many blind curves we passed by (I am getting dizzy as I type this one but it must be the humid temperature or the lack of air con from where I'm at) 

2. There is a significant absence of convenience stores who sell essential needs en route to Aloguinsan. Whatever you need to buy, be it food, toiletries or the like, buy it here in the city or buy it at Gaisano Carcar

I don't want to spoil the experience for you so I won't post highlights on our way there. However, I'm going to do a narrative entry about the facts that we gathered.

Being punctual and arriving earlier than expected also helped maximize the whole river cruise experience for the group. Again, I don't want to ruin the experience most especially for readers who have yet to try this one but you will be getting what you paid for if you get there before your agreed schedule. 

We were given complimentary drinks and before the actual river cruise, we were given a brief orientation of what to expect, "house rules", and a brief outline of our itinerary. The Bojo River River Cruise is operated by the government of Aloguinsan. The people who welcomed us are organizers of the local Brgy. cooperative and we are glad to book ahead since they don't accept walk-ins. 

It's mandatory for every one to wear life vests for safety purposes but this was at 10AM with a 32 deg cel. temperature and I know how to swim so with the guide's consent, I took off mine. The whole river cruise with discussion took almost three hours. Though the path from the river port towards this picturesque sight is less than 4 kilometers, we wanted to make the most out of experience by asking the boatman to row slower than usual. 

If you haven't tried this river cruise but you've seen some pictures, let me tell you ahead that this is not overrated at all. This cruise is worth the money, the travel time and the heat.

This view is seriously one for the books. 

Before we dipped in the river connecting to the sea, they gave us a tour of the whole expanse of the river-sea facing Negros.

..and of course, swimming time! It was fairly deep (over 6ft) during this time so only a few were actually crossing the rocky side.

As of 03/16, the package rate was Php600/person which includes complimentary drinks, banka with a tour guide, lunch and free tour in the Aloguinsan Botanical Garden.

Here are some BTS photos

Here are the links of a virtual tour, though nothing beats the real thing (can only be seen if we are friends on Facebook though)

En Route 1

The wooden walk way that we would've wanted to try but the tour guide told us that it's not for beings of our world. Kuyaw no?

Still holds me speechless