What a day! We decided to make the most of our time on Bantayan Island by heading out on a boat trip with some new friends we met at dinner the night before. It’s always great to meet other travelers, and sharing a boat makes the whole experience even better. Liam was especially excited, and Jessa made sure he had his favorite swimming toy ready to go.
We started the day with a bit of a scramble—we realized the tricycle we were taking to the port was low on gasoline. Talk about bad timing! But in the Philippines, you just roll with it. We managed to get fuel and made it to the boat station. The weather was a bit windy, which had me worried that the snorkeling wouldn't be great, but the sun was shining, and the water looked inviting.
We negotiated a fantastic deal for the boat—1,800 pesos for the round trip, which we split with the other couple. That’s only 900 pesos per couple for a private boat with no time limit. You really can’t beat that!
Our first major stop was Virgin Island. As we approached, I could see why they call it a paradise. The water is that perfect, crystal-clear turquoise, and the white sand is blindingly bright. It’s a stunning tropical escape. We spent some time exploring the island, which is very well-maintained with walkways and plenty of spots to relax.
I was particularly interested in checking out the cliff-jumping area. I’d heard a lot about it, but I have to be honest: the jumping tower was a bit of a letdown. It wasn’t quite as high or as dramatic as I’d expected. However, the beach itself made up for it. We rented a table for 300 pesos—prices on the island can go up to 1,000 pesos depending on what you want—and just enjoyed the vibe. Liam was having the time of his life playing in the water, and we grabbed some snacks, including some surprisingly affordable prawn crackers for 100 pesos.
After we’d had our fill of Virgin Island, we headed to our last stop: a small lagoon near a resort hotel. It was a peaceful spot, perfect for a quiet swim, though if I were to do it again, I’d probably just spend more time on Virgin Island. The lagoon was nice, but it didn’t quite have that "wow" factor.
By the time we were heading back, the weather started to turn. We got lucky and had sunshine for most of our trip, but the clouds were definitely moving in. Liam was completely knocked out by the end of it—the island air and the swimming always do that to him.
Back on the mainland, Jessa and I got into a bit of a "seafood debate." She was craving fresh fish, and I was... well, let's just say I have my own preferences! My bet is usually on Jessa winning those arguments, though. We ended the day tired but happy, just in time for the rain to start.
Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you in the next one!
