Santa Fe, Bantayan Island: Beaches, Festivals and How to Get There
Travel and Community
Santa Fe is the main gateway to Bantayan Island and one of Cebu's best-known beach towns. Here is a practical guide to the sights, the Panuhug Festival and the ferry ride.
If you have ever taken the ferry from Hagnaya to Bantayan Island, you landed in Santa Fe. Beyond being the island's gateway, it is a beach destination in its own right, with flat white sand and clear, shallow water.
About Santa Fe
Santa Fe is on the southeastern part of Bantayan Island and is reached by ferry from Hagnaya Port in San Remigio. It borders the island's other towns, Bantayan and Madridejos, and faces the Visayan Sea.
The Cebu Provincial Government describes its coast as flat, powdery white sand with crystal-clear shallow water, and a laid-back mix of locals, expats and visitors.
Culture: Bantayanon, Holy Week and Panuhug
Santa Fe residents speak Bantayanon, a distinct dialect that blends Cebuano, Hiligaynon and Waray.
Holy Week is a major draw, with solemn processions of carrozas (carriages) carrying antique, life-sized religious images.
Every May 15, the town celebrates the Panuhug Festival in honor of its patron saint, San Isidro Labrador. Panuhug is the traditional craft of stringing colorful seashells into curtains, jewelry and souvenirs.
Places to visit
- Kota Sand Bar
- Skydiving experience
- Pangpang "German Ruins"
- La-aw Lagoon
- Kinatarcan Island
- Virgin Island
- Ogtong Cave
Some of these are reached by boat, so ask at your resort or the municipal tourism office about arrangements and rates.
How to get there
- Take a bus from the Cebu North Bus Terminal to Hagnaya Port in San Remigio.
- Board a ferry (the tourism office names Island Shipping and Super Shuttle) directly to Santa Fe Port.
- If driving, book a slot on the RoRo ferry and drive off the vessel in Santa Fe.
Schedules and fares change, so check with the operators in advance.
When to go and what to eat
March and April are best for classic summer beach weather, but the tourism office suggests avoiding Holy Week if you dislike crowds. Book accommodation early if you plan to visit then.
The local specialty highlighted is ginamos, a fermented fish paste used as a condiment.
The municipal tourism office can be reached at +63 930-299-5883.