Author: Neyzielle Ronnicque

I was having a second thought of pushing through my solo trip to Cebu (not my first time in the City but traveling alone is always daunting eventhough I’ve done it a couple of times). One because I was thinking of just saving the money (but I already paid for my hotel and resort accommodations), and two, there was a tropical depression a day before my flight.

You should know by now that I work with DOST- Project NOAH and it is our duty to monitor the typhoon track once it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility. Fortunately, the people in NOAH are very considerate of other’s planned trip, and my supervisor (and even all of my colleagues) told me to just push through.

And I did.

I [impulsively] booked the flight last August 2015 when AirAsia had a seat sale. I only paid 800+ pesos for a round trip fare.

I arrived in Cebu at four in the afternoon but I suggest you take an earlier flight so that you have more time to rest and prepare for a City tour.

Here’s a detailed itinerary for my Day 1:

I went straight to Lapu-lapu Shrine (hired an airport taxi, white ones are cheaper). Fare is between 100-150 Php.

It was already getting dark when I arrived in Lapu-lapu City so after taking photos, I went to Manna Sutukil (just beside the park.  Jusk ask the locals) for dinner.

The food are a little bit pricey but I had to satisfy my taste buds. I paid Php 350- 400 for two seafood meals and a fresh buko juice.

This was my view while eating:

I was too tired from the flight so I decided to go to my hotel. I rode another taxi but I recommend that  you ride a jeepney with the “Pacific Mall” signage if you’re going to Mandaue. Because from Mactan Shrine to Mandaue is 250- 300 Php by cab. From Pacific Mall, you can hire a cab to your hotel.

I wouldn’t recommend the hotel I stayed in, though. The room is cute and the free brekky is good but the hotel’s ambiance is somewhat creepy because it has an old Rome/Europian style. But I got the cheap deal (more so if you have a companion) in Metrodeal.

Link: http://www.metrodeal.com/deals/Metro_Manila/Europa-Mansionette-Inn/841771100.

I called a week before my trip. The hotel was full that time but the place is hard to find. It’s not along the highway and people around the area do not know the place. It’s best you have your Google map or a printed copy of the hotel map. It’s located in a residential area and the road going to the hotel is so narrow that a cab won’t even fit.

Day 2:

6:30 AM- left the hotel and went to North Bus Terminal (just hire a cab if your hotel is in Mandaue).

7:30 AM – rode a bus to Hagnaya Port (Ceres bus). It took approximately 4 hrs to get to the port. You just have to buy a ticket in the Port.

The ship sails at 11:30 and the ride is one hour to Bantayan Islands.

At the Bantayan Port, there’s a pool of people offering a ride to your destination. But if you booked your stay beforehand on resorts with free service, you just have to walk straight to the exit and make sure to pay extra attention to people holding placards because one might be from the resort you’ll be staying.

I stayed in Kota Beach Resort but the resort was so dirty from the seaweeds washed ashore. The areas was affected by the Southwest Monsoon. If you’re going to Bantayan on a rainy season,  I recommend Mayet Beach Resort or Ogtong Cave Resort. Mayet offers cheap rooms. [Website: http://mayetsbeachresort.yolasite.com/].

Mayet’s only a walking distance to Ogtong Beach Resort. Entrance fee is Php 100 and you’re good to explore the Ogtong Cave. You can also use their pool until 6PM.

You can rent a bike for Php 150 or just talk with people around the area. There are so many kuyas outside any of the Bantayan resorts who offer land tours around the island. Ask them to tour you around (including Sta. Fe, Bantayan, and Madrijeros). I paid Php 500 which was not worth it.

The kuya tried to ask me for Php 700 and I told him that I did not enjoy the trip and we only went to limited spots. I was not also informed that I can go to another resort, Ogtong Cave for example, to swim. I had to pay for entrance fees on several “tourist spots” we’ve been to.

I decided to go back to Kota Beach to kill time (and boredom). Little did I know that the Camp Sawi (movie) was shoot in the resort.

Vanity kills boredom and disappointment, people.

GoPro is everything when alone. Need I say more?

I ate dinner at the resort. The food are so good though it’s a bit expensive. But if you’re traveling in group, you would care less about the expenses.

Day 3:

I wasn’t able to catch the 7:30 roro because it took forever for the resort staff to serve my breakfast. I catched the 8:30 ship but it sailed at 9:30 so I was already running late. But you can also wait for Ceres Bus (aircon) so you won’t have to worry about finding a bus in Hagnaya Port.

I enjoyed watching the sun rise while waiting for my breakfast, though.

I arrived in Mandaue at 3PM (so late) so I decided to go to Temple of Leah and Magellan’s cross instead but I had an unfortunate misadventure: the taxi driver brought me to three Taoist temples through I repeatedly told him to drive me to Temple of Leah.

Frrom Taoist temple, I had to walk almost five minutes to get outside the village because there was no taxi in the vicinity. The heavens seemed to be conspiring with the bad luck it earlier brought me because there were a group of men outside the gate of the village. They were offering a motorcycle ride to Temple of Leah for only Php 100. You can hire them for Php 300 and ask them to bring you to Magellan’s Cross and other tourist destinations.

I recommend you take the motorcycles because there is a traffic jam everywhere in Mandaue.

For 2 days and 2 nights, I most likely spend Php 5, 500 all in. Please bring someone whom you could share the expenses (and disappointment), though.