Santa Fe is a 4th class municipality in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 27,270 people. The municipality's territory includes the eastern portion of Bantayan Island (bordering on the town of Bantayan), as well as Guintacan (or Kinatarcan) and Hilantagaan Islands.
Bantayan Airport, serving Bantayan Island, is located in Santa Fe. The town can also be reached by ferry from Hagnaya Wharf in San Remigio, Cebu.
Santa Fe is one of the most crowded municipalities during Holy Week; it caters to a number of tourist and locals that spends their holiday in the island of bantayan.
Early History of Bantayan Island
The first full time residents of Bantayan Island, arrived on the island during the period of time from 1635-1645. The king of Spain used the island as an advanced warning system for the larger islands of Cebu, the Visayas and Luzon. Muslim marauders called “Moros” frequently made their way up from Mindanao invading the Christian settlements in the Visayas, murdering and robbing the people inhabiting these areas.
Because Bantayan Island is a natural barrier for entrance into the Visayas, small watchtowers were constructed all over Bantayan Island to serve as lookout post for invading Moros.The name “Bantayan” comes from the Cebuano term that means “A Place to Watch”. The places of lookout were called in Cebuano: “Bantayan sa Hari”, meaning “A place to watch for the king”. The people who lived on the island adopted the term that described the purpose of their being there and shortened the name to “Bantayan Island”
Super Shuttle ferry going to Bantayan Island.
Rid
ing in this shuttle going to Bantayan takes you an hour of travel with a 170 pesos fare rate. When you get to the port of Bantayan Island Sta. Fe, transportation is not a problem. There are many jeepneys, tricycle and motorcycles waiting for the visitors.
Resorts are not a problem also, too many beach resorts are available and you can ask the locals for the best though expensive or the cheapest resorts yet far from the port.
The water was warm and crystal clear. You could actually see your feet on the water and there are no stones or corals when you swim.
But before going in Bantayan Island make sure to have reservations on the resort you wanted to stay because the place is one of the tourist spots in Cebu City. One of the crowded island especially in peak season.
