Camotes Islands
The Cebu you remember — before the resorts, before the crowds · Cebu Province, Philippines
Photo: The Wandering Angel / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Two hours by fast ferry from the noise and traffic of Cebu City, four small islands sit quietly in the Camotes Sea between Cebu and Leyte — and almost nobody outside the Visayas knows about them. San Francisco, Poro, Tudela, and Pilar form an island group connected by roads and the occasional bridge, with the combined feel of what Cebu looked like three decades ago: jeepneys running on time, a freshwater lake fringed with mangroves where you can kayak for the price of a coffee, a bat cave with a subterranean swimming pool lit by shafts of light from the cave mouth, and a beach town where families rent seaside cottages by the day and nobody is selling you a parasail. The Camotes are not undiscovered — Cebuanos have been spending Holy Week and summer here for years — but they remain entirely un-marketed to international visitors, which makes them a rare thing: a genuinely good beach destination at genuinely local prices.
Things to do in Camotes Islands
Lake Danao Kayaking and Lakeside Picnic
Lake Danao is a freshwater lake in the interior of San Francisco municipality, fringed with mangroves, nipa palms, and a community-run picnic grove. Kayak rental is available at the lakeside from PHP 150 per hour for a single kayak, PHP 200–250 for a double. The lake is calm, shallow around the edges, and surrounded by birdsong and the occasional monitor lizard on the bank. There is a small entrance fee of PHP 30 per person to the picnic area. Pedal boats and bamboo rafts are also available for rent. The lake is best in the morning before the midday heat.
Timubo Cave Spring Swim
This is one of the genuinely unusual experiences in the Visayas: a bat cave with a natural freshwater pool inside, fed by a subterranean spring at a constant 25 degrees Celsius, where you swim in total darkness broken only by the light filtering through the cave entrance and whatever torch you bring. Entrance is PHP 40. Inside, the cave opens into a chamber perhaps 20 metres high with a pool roughly 15 by 10 metres; the water is crystal clear, cold, and a notable relief in the middle of a hot afternoon. Bring a waterproof headlamp — there is no lighting infrastructure inside.
Santiago Bay Beach and Water Sports
San Francisco's main beach town wraps around a long, gently curved bay with soft sand and gradual-entry water, and a strip of family cottages, small resorts, and seafood restaurants along the beachfront. Cottage rental for the day runs PHP 800–1,500 depending on size. The water is calm enough for children and for easy snorkeling on the reef patches 50–100 metres offshore. Banana boat and jetski rentals operate from the beach in peak season at PHP 150–300 per ride. Seafood at the beachfront eateries (grilled fish, kinilaw, fresh shrimp) runs PHP 200–400 for a full meal.
Buho Rock Resort Saltwater Pool
A 15-minute tricycle ride from San Francisco town, Buho Rock is a cliff-top complex where the primary attraction is a natural saltwater pool carved into the volcanic rock at sea level, filled and refreshed by tidal action. Entrance is PHP 100 per person (day-use facility only; no accommodation). The pool is roughly 20 by 30 metres, the water is clear and saltwater, and the surrounding rock formation is dramatic enough that most visitors spend at least an hour photographing it before they get in.
Mangodlong Rock Beach Snorkeling
On the northern coast of Pacijan Island, Mangodlong Rock Beach is a quiet reef-fringed beach with a distinctive split rock formation rising from the water just offshore. The reef directly in front of the beach offers good snorkeling in 1–4 metres of water — common sightings include surgeonfish, parrotfish, and sea turtles (occasional). Cottage rental is PHP 300–500 for the day. Snorkeling gear rental is available from the cottage operators for PHP 100–150 (quality varies; bringing your own is recommended).
Island-Hopping by Banca Between the Four Islands
The Camotes group consists of four islands — Pacijan (the largest, with San Francisco town), Poro, Tudela, and tiny Pilar — connected by a combination of bridges and short banca crossings. Chartering a banca from Poro port for a half-day island circuit costs PHP 1,500–2,500 depending on fuel prices and the route. The boat will stop at sandbars, snorkeling spots, and the outer reefs of Tudela, which see even fewer visitors than the main islands.
Ready to book?
Book your Camotes Islands trip now
Flights, hotels and tours — compare live prices and book securely through trusted partners. Prices update daily.
Affiliate links — we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Prices shown are live from our partners.
🗓️ Best time to visit Camotes Islands
November through May covers the dry season and is the best period for beach days, cave swimming, and the lake. December through February is cooler and less crowded outside the holiday weeks. March through May is the peak domestic season — Holy Week in particular brings large numbers of Cebuano families to Santiago Bay, and accommodation books out weeks in advance. June through October is the rainy season with occasional rough crossings from Cebu.
✈️ How to get to Camotes Islands
FastCat and Lite Ferries operate daily departures from Cebu North Terminal (Pier 1 area) to Poro, Camotes Islands — the crossing takes approximately 2 hours and costs PHP 250–350 per person one way. Ferries typically depart at 7 AM and 2 PM from Cebu; check current schedules at the terminal. From Poro port, rent a habal-habal (motorcycle taxi) to reach San Francisco town, Lake Danao, or Santiago Bay — a full-day motorcycle charter costs PHP 500–800 and is the most efficient way to cover all four main attractions.
Plan your Camotes Islands trip
Compare hotels and tours — booked through trusted partners. Use the planner on /plan to turn this guide into a full day-by-day itinerary.
🗓️ Use this guide in your plan
Build a Camotes Islands trip directly. The planner combines it with real flights, stays and tours into one day-by-day itinerary.
✨ Open Trip PlannerOne of 215+ destinations covered. Explore more at /guides and /blog.
Frequently asked questions — Camotes Islands
How do I get around the Camotes Islands?
Habal-habal (motorcycle taxi) is the most practical option for a day visit — charter one driver for the day for PHP 500–800 and they will take you to every major attraction in sequence. Tricycles cover shorter routes within San Francisco town for PHP 20–50 per trip. There are no taxis, no Grab, and no car rentals. Most attractions are within 30 minutes of each other by road.
Is Camotes worth a separate trip from Cebu or is it just a day trip?
A day trip is feasible if you take the early ferry, move efficiently, and catch the afternoon return — you can do Lake Danao, Timubo Cave, Santiago Bay, and Buho Rock in about 8 hours. But staying one or two nights is noticeably better: you avoid the ferry schedule pressure, you can catch the lake and beach at the quietest hours, and you get to experience the islands in the evening. Accommodation is inexpensive (PHP 800–2,000 per night).
Are there ATMs on the Camotes Islands?
Yes — there are ATM machines in San Francisco and Poro towns, but supply can be limited on long weekends and peak domestic holidays. Bring sufficient PHP cash from Cebu as a backup. GCash is accepted at many restaurants and resorts. Most day-trip expenses on the islands require exact-change cash.
What is the best single activity in the Camotes if I only have time for one?
Timubo Cave Spring swim is the most unique experience you cannot easily replicate elsewhere — a subterranean cave pool fed by a freshwater spring is not something most travellers have on their list and it delivers reliably. If you want a classic beach experience, Santiago Bay is the most comfortable and best-serviced.
💬 Ask Locals about Camotes Islands
No questions about Camotes Islands yet — be the first to ask.
Ask the community →💡 Traveller tips for Camotes Islands
Local-knowledge from other travellers. Got a tip? Share it.
Loading tips…
📝 Your notes & photos for Camotes Islands
Loading…
First time in Camotes Islands?
Quick essentials so you can hit the ground running.
Standard Philippines visa-free entry for most nationalities (30 days). No special permit needed for Camotes.
ATMs in San Francisco and Poro. Bring PHP cash from Cebu as a precaution. Most transactions are in the PHP 50–500 range; bring small bills. GCash works at larger establishments. Credit cards not widely accepted outside the few mid-range resorts.
No malaria risk. Dengue present — use repellent at dawn and dusk. Timubo Cave is guano-rich; wash hands after visiting and avoid touching your face inside. Motion sickness is minimal on the FastCat crossing in normal conditions but can be uncomfortable on rough days (June–October) — bring tablets as a precaution.
Budget PHP 1,200–2,000 per day all-in for a comfortable trip (ferry PHP 350, accommodation PHP 1,000, food PHP 600, activities PHP 300–500, transport PHP 300). Day-trip budget from Cebu is PHP 1,500–2,500 including ferry both ways and all activities.
The Camotes Islands are safe for independent travel. Crime against tourists is virtually unheard of. Cave swimming at Timubo carries a low but real risk of slipping on wet rock; wear rubber sandals or aqua shoes. Ferry crossings are safe in normal dry-season conditions; check weather in June–October before booking.