Photos from the Road: Bantayan Island Beach and Ocean

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Photos from the Road: Bantayan Island Beach and Ocean

After roughing it through long, sweaty bus rides and too many nights in grimy hotels, it was a relief to finally arrive on Bantayan Island. Situated in between Negros and Cebu Island of the Philippines, Bantayan offers travelers quiet, unpretentious resorts along a beautiful stretch of ocean.

On Bantayan Island’s southeast shore, fishing boats rest on the beach, children play in the ocean, and dogs just sit around. When the tide goes out, a new world appears where the water once covered. Star fish emerge, clams dig in to the sand, and a whole host of different-sized shellfish fight for their lives. You’d miss it if you didn’t look closely.

 

There’s a few accommodations spread out along the two kilometers of beach. We stayed at Ogtong Cave Resort (Santa Fe Beach Club), around where most of these photos were taken. Usually I’m set to explore my environs or at least discover little places to eat or drink when I arrive in a new place. When I checked into Ogtong, I was ready to stay put. The view was already perfect. The swimming was fantastic at high tide. And I took all my meals right at the hotel. It was a relaxing way to breakup my at times tumultuous travels through the Philippines.

 

Photos of Bantayan Island:

ocean view on Island Philippines

View of boats off the coast of Bantayan Island in the Philippines.

ocean view and Ogtong Cave beach Philippines

The swimming area of Ogtong Cave Resort’s beach.

Ogtong Cave view Bantayan Philippines

View of the beach from Ogtong Cave Resort.

beach at Ogtong Cave Bantayan Philippines

Ogtong Cave’s Beach.

Fishing boats line the coast.

Bantayan ocean water

The clear ocean water.

DSC_4894

Ogtong Cave Philippines (2)

Ogtong Cave’s beach bar.

Ogtong Cave Resort Bantayan Philippines

Ogtong Cave Resort on Bantayan Island in the Philippines.

the swimming hole cave at Ogtong Cave Bantayan Philippines

Entrance to the cave.

the swimming hole cave at Ogtong Cave Bantayan Philippines (2)

The Cave swimming hole at Ogtong.

Bantayan beach sunset boats (2)

Boats on the beach during sunset.

Bantayan beach sunset (3)

A fishing boat at sunset on the beach.

Another amazing sunset in the Philippines.

Fishing boat on the beach at sunset. Bantayan Island in the Philippines.

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Stephen Bugno
Stephen Bugno
Stephen Bugno has been traveling the world and writing about it for the better part of 20 years. His articles and essays have appeared in The San Francisco Chronicle, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Seattle Times, and Transitions Abroad magazine. He blogs at Bohemian Traveler and edits the independent travel magazine GoMadNomad.com. He most recently set up a tour company offering authentic, small group tours at Unquote Travel. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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