If you want to enjoy a quiet and peaceful day in a beach paradise or experience an adrenaline-pumping adventure like cliff jumping, Virgin Island in Bantayan Island, Cebu is the perfect place for you!
Strolling around the island brings you to its pristine white sand beach, a bunch of rocky cliffs and groves of lush green trees and coconut palms, which makes the Virgin Island a tropical paradise.
So, what are you waiting for?
Be one of the chosen few who will be able to experience and be charmed by the infamous Virgin Island in Bantayan Island of the North-western part of Cebu.
Table of Contents
FACTS ABOUT VIRGIN ISLAND
Virgin Island is locally known as Silion Island.
It is a small Island located in Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island, Northern Cebu.
It is privately-owned by the Despi-Villacarlos, a politician clan in Bantayan Island, Cebu.
THINGS TO DO AT VIRGIN ISLAND
PICTURE TAKING
Virgin Island has a surreal beauty worthy of “instagrammable” picturesque photos.
Capture every memory you can make on the remote Island of Virgin Island, Bantayan Island, Cebu.
PRISTINE WHITE SAND BEACH
Virgin Island has a pristine white sand beach that you can walk without slippers and feel its refined sand with your bare feet.
SNORKELING
Virgin Island has a place for fish feeding and another area for snorkeling in their marine sanctuary, which is very attractive and tempting to swim and look at.
BEACH VOLLEYBALL
You can enjoy Virgin Island in different ways like playing a sport called Volleyball. When you play it on the beach it is called “Beach Volleyball”. It is more fun to play if you are in a group. There is nothing to worry about the number of players because the only thing that is important is that you enjoyed it.
The Island has a volleyball net, and they also offer ball rental at 100 pesos per hour.
CLIFF JUMPING
Getting into the cliff jump site enables you to walk into a serene forest area where fresh air from lush green trees and the ocean breeze meet in the middle, and you will find yourself one with nature.
You have the freedom to choose one, or two, or all three height options to jump from. The 3 jumps are made in a sturdy bamboo-scaffolding on top of the rock:
- 5 Meters
- 10 Meters – I jumped the 10 meters first to ease my fear in jumping the highest jump.
- 15 Meters – My fear and excitement were tied up that I couldn’t understand my feelings. But then I jumped 15 meters and it was so self-fulfilling! A tip for you guys, do not look below because it will just make you scarier. Just look straight or look up and then jump.
You can be assured of your safety because there is a lifeguard who will look after you during the jump and in any case of an emergency.
HOW TO GO TO VIRGIN ISLAND
From Sante Fe Port in Bantayan Island, Cebu, it takes a ten-minute drive to Kota Beach.
From Kota Beach, we allot an approximate of 30 minutes in going to Virgin Island.
You can either ride a charter boat with other tourists who will go to Virgin Island and divide the boat fees, or you can have the whole boat all for yourself. The boat rates are as follow:
| RATES IN PESO | Number of PAX |
|---|---|
| 1,000 | 1 – 4 |
| 1,200 | 5 – 9 |
| 1,500 | 10 – 15 |
The boat rates do not limit going to Virgin Island and back to the mainland of Bantayan Island, Cebu alone. The boatman will bring you also to Hilantagaan Island where you can do snorkeling and have a chance to encounter the locals in the fishing village.
Entering Hilantagaan Island is FREE but doing snorkeling in Hilantagan Island will cost you 100 pesos each person for the goggle’s rental.
VIRGIN ISLAND ENTRANCE FEES AND COTTAGES
Entrance Fees in Peso:
500 – for the 1st 2 pax
100 pesos each – for the excess pax
Cottages Rates in Peso:
| RATES IN PESO | COTTAGE TYPE |
|---|---|
| 500 | TABLE ONLY |
| 1,000 | TENT WITH TABLE |
| 1,500 | UPPER F2 COTTAGE |
| 2,000 | CENTER COTTAGE |
| 2,500 | CABANA |
| 3,000 | SHELL COTTAGE |
Overnight Cottages Non-Aircon in Peso:
| RATES IN PESO | PAX | COTTAGE TYPE |
|---|---|---|
| 2,500 | 4 | CABANA |
| 2,500 | 4 | BOUGAINVILLEA |
| 2,500 | 4 | OPEN COTTAGES |
Overnight Cottages with Aircon in Peso:
| RATES IN PESO | PAX | COTTAGE TYPE |
|---|---|---|
| 4,000 | 3 | ROSE |
| 4,500 | 4 | CALACHUCHI |
| 4,500 | 4 | KUMINTANG |
| 4,500 | 5 | ORCHIDS |
| 7,000 | 6 | GUMAMELA |
| 10,000 | 10 | SUNFLOWER |
Others:
200 pesos each – per excess persons for the overnight cottages
1,000 pesos (per tent) – own Tents
50 pesos – per container (6 gallons) for freshwater
One Free Container (6 gallons) – (freshwater) per person for an overnight stay a day
TRAVEL TIPS
1st Tip: Everything is expensive in the Virgin Island. If you want to save, you may bring the following:
- Food
- Water
- Goggles (Snorkeling gears)
- Sun Block
- Slippers
- Extra Clothes
2nd Tip: The beach is really majestic that you will be charmed, but don’t expect too much on the island’s facilities and amenities since it is a remote Island.
3rd Tip: If you will sit in the cottage area, you will be asked to pay. If you don’t want to pay, you can look for a hammock or Cleopatra chairs around the island which you can use for free. Or, you can just stroll around the Island (travel light!).
4th Tip: You can bring and use a drone in the Virgin Island, but the drone should not surpass the coconut trees as per the Virgin Island management rule. The management is planning on implementing the “Flying of Drone is not Allowed” anytime soon, so better yet call first the Virgin Island Staff and ask.
5th Tip: For your own convenience and memorable trip, you can book through CSP Travel and Tours with just a click away. This travel and tours company will provide you with a safe, comfortable and convenient tour experience at a reasonable price. To add, CSP is a certified DOT accredited travel agency and will provide your snorkeling masks and fins without charge! Moreover, they can lend their latest Go Pro (Hero 8) cameras for free! A chartered vehicle, exclusive guide, and a hotel round trip is also provided during the whole tour. Truly, with CSP it will definitely be a “tour satisfaction guaranteed” for you.
VIRGIN ISLAND IN BANTAYAN ISLAND, CEBU HAS A SURREAL BEAUTY THAT YOU SHOULD ONLY “TAKE NOTHING BUT MEMORIES, LEAVE NOTHING BUT FOOTPRINTS, AND KILL NOTHING BUT TIME” AS QUOTED BY ALIYYAH ENIATH.
