BANTAYAN ISLAND: St. Peter & Paul Church

 

 

The colonial-era St. Peter & Paul Church is truly a sight to behold. According to some, this is one of the highlights of April’s Holy Week town square parades & celebrations. 

With its large centuries old stone walls laden with attractive painted glass windows & fine carved edifices, it stands out like a 405-year old holy trophy in a humble but seemingly modern town.

BANTAYAN ISLAND: Transportation

1. If you want to go all hands-on, you can always rent a…
1. bicycle - which was free to borrow where we stayed
2. motorbike - which is technically the island’s main mode of transportation.
3. ATV - that’s if you’re a big shot willing to spend about P250 an hour for that thing, minus the gas.
2. Bring a car to the island.
3. Laughable options just for kicks.
1. Trisikad – prepare a huge tip for your driver so he can take his rock hard bagtak to a hospital after
2. Hitching a ride – all too familiar for those who have been there on peak-season. Remember the golden rule: Gas, Cash or a kidney. We kid.
3. Walk there! – to quote Katy Perry, “You need SPF 45 just to stay alive”.

BANTAYAN ISLAND: Food & Dining

1.      There are the restaurants strewn about town.

a.      CouCou Bar & Restaurant - has an extensive menu… the selection is so wide, our tired brains thought it too much to handle.

b.      Swedish Blue Ice Bar & Restaurant - famous for their steaks.

c.      Moby Dick’s

d.      Hard Kock Kafe (I know, right.)

e.      D’ Jungle

f.       Marisquiera O’ Portuguese Bar & Restaurant – our pick with it’s hodge podge barbecue theme. They serve food straight from Europe such as Portuguese meat & Italian Coffee. They also have excellent pizzas, Thai & Filipino cuisine. Service is quite slow though.

Itching for the latter, we took our share of superb Bicol express, including big servings of what was referred to as value meals. We ate too much that I had a short case of vertigo afterwards. The tab was surprisingly friendly on our wallets too. You should definitely check that place out if you plan to visit.

2.      If you are on a tighter budget, there are also a good number of small carenderia types around.

a.      Melody’s Eatery - has good cheap grilled pork & seafood. Bonus: 2 domesticated fruit bats fluttering just above your head. Not kidding.

b.      Khel’s Chicken Barbecue Atbp.

c.      Balikbayan Restaurant – big affordable servings

3.      Cook your own food. This is what we have done in Day 2.

BANTAYAN ISLAND: Accomodations

Some notable resorts on the West coast include:

1.        Pricier ones by the shoreline

a.      Hoyohoy Villas

b.      Whitesands Villa

c.      The Bamboo Oriental Villas & Suites – A beautiful, newly opened Thai-Style resort of 3 huge cottages on stilts right by the sea. The manager, Butch, was very accommodating while he toured us around and answered our queries. The 2 Suites house a couple with a maximum of 4 people each while the lone Villa has 2 rooms for 2 couples with a maximum capacity of 6. They are constructing a 4^th one, however… way bigger and more luxurious (there will be a Jacuzzi inside).

d.      Marlin Beach Resort – big arse rooms. Perfect for playing basketball in.

e.      Kota Beach Resort – individual cottages in a garden setting. Don’t even bother asking for the fan rooms unless you want those tropical horror movie vibes.

f.       Ogtong Cave Resort – affiliated with Sta. Fe Beach Resort. We haven’t trekked that far but it has 2 swimming pools? Sweet.

2.        Cheaper ones by the shoreline

a.      Tristan’s Resort – claiming to have the best pizza in town. This was our landmark from where we finally decided to stay.

b.      Budyong Beach Resort

c.      Yooneek Beach Resort

d.      Sugar Beach

3.        Lodging a few meters from the shoreline

a.      HK KAFE (that’s Hard Kock Kafe, mind you) & Kiwi Cottages

b.      Coucou Bar/Restaurant + Lodge

c.      Yooneek Inn

d.      Wacaba House

4.        Backpacker’s Lodging (how about a tent instead?)

a.      Bantayan Cottages

b.      The Islander Cottages

c.      Onde Guest House

d.      D’ Jungle

e.      Lodging House

f.       Moby Dick’s/Blue Ice Extension

g.      Nordic Inn

5.        Nevermind

a.      Maia’s Beach Resort – coral-laden shoreline. No beach.