10 Places in Camotes Island You Shouldn’t Miss

Contributed by The Fickle Feet

I’ve been living in Cebu since I was in college. Almost all those years I was just in the city, trying to survive in the university. I started to know the place even more when I got out of school. Since then, exploring the whole province has been one heck of an adventure. Until now, Cebu never fails to surprise me. In every destination, it offers a different perspective and a different kind of fun. One of the places I was surprised with is this little group of islands called Camotes.

Also read: Can’t Help Falling in Love with Cebu

The name itself is intriguing. It sounds like kamote, which means sweet potato in the Philippines. Do these island have many sweet potatoes? I’m not sure. But this island has much to offer than a root vegetable. I will share those with you.

But before that, I would like to emphasise that this is not just an island, but a group of islands. Camotes is composed of four islands: Pacijan, Poro, Ponson, and Tulang. The first two are connected by a bridge. That being said, you can explore the two main islands easily.

How to get to Camotes:

• From Cebu City – Go to the North Bus Terminal and take a van/ bus going to Danao Port, Danao City. The fare ranges from ₱30 to ₱50. It takes 1.5 hours to get there.
• From Danao Port – Take Jomalia Shipping for ₱250. It takes 2 hours to get to Consuelo Port in Camotes.

*Terminal fee costs ₱5.

Upon arrival, there are many tricycles and multicabs around. You can ask the drivers to rent for transportation for the whole day. It will cost ₱1,500 to ₱2500 depending on the size of the vehicle. Remember, always haggle. Also, I’ve been to the islands two times and I can recommend that it is better to go around with a group. Less expense, more fun!

Places to visit in Camotes Islands

1. Santiago Bay Beach

I’m not sure if I’ve seen enough, but Santiago Beach offers a vast shoreline; not to mention the fine sand! You can take a walk from end to end. On the right side, facing the beach, there’s a beautiful rock formation where you can swim around. Most of the time, it is low tide. The best time to swim is around 10 AM. I must warn you that it will be scorching hot. On the left side, you can get a delicious meal at Pito’s Sotokil for a reasonable price. During our stay, there were a lot of people but believe me, the long wait will be worth it once the food is served. Also, this side of the island offers a beautiful sunset. At night, it is good to stay outside and watch the stars. It sounds cheesy and romantic. Haha. But I would like to share with you that I am very happy I did that. It was my first time to see a shooting star.

Also read: Summer is More Fun in the Philippines: 20 Stunning Photos from Filipino Travellers

2. Buho Rock