BALIDBID LAGOON: SUP Tour on Bantayan Island

Balidbid Lagoon is one of the most underrated tourist spots in Bantayan Island – a winding waterway of mangroves, saltwater and white sandy shores. Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Santa Fe town, Balidbid Lagoon is a welcome respite for those looking to get away from the crowds of tourists at the better-known beaches.

For the ultimate Balidbid Lagoon experience, we recommend renting some paddleboards from SUP Bantayan and going on a scenic tour. We’ve put together this guide with all you need to know about going on a standup paddleboard tour at Balidbid Lagoon, Bantayan Island.

Best time to go

Entrance fee

How to get there

What to expect

What to bring

Where to stay

Best time to visit Balidbid Lagoon

The best time to visit Balidbid Lagoon Bantayan is during the dry season, from November through to April, when the weather is best and the water is calm and clear. You should also try to time your visit with low tide so that the beaches are visible.

How to get to Balidbid Lagoon

Bantayan Island is small, so most people get around by scooter which you can find from rentals all over the island. Another popular mode of transport is bicycle if you don’t plan on going too far. You can usually rent a bike from your accommodation provider, or ask them if they know anyone.

Balidbid Lagoon is around 15 minutes from the main town in Santa Fe. Google Maps will tell you that you can only go so far and then you’ll have to park your vehicle and cross the river by foot, but if you continue up a little farther you can cross with your vehicle on the bridge, which will then put you on the same side as the lagoon entrance. However, since we recommend doing a standup paddleboard tour, the guys from SUP Bantayan met us at Kota Beach and we followed them to Balidbid Lagoon.

What to bring to Balidbid Lagoon

Prepare for your trip to Balidbid Lagoon with our must-have travel essentials.

Waterproof backpack & phone case: Earth Pak 35L or 55L Heavy Duty Backpack, IPX8 Waterproof Phone Case Included (click for price)
Snorkel, mask & fins: Cressi Adjustable Mask, Fin & Snorkel Set with Carry Bag (click for price)
Quick-dry microfiber travel towel: Wise Owl Outfitters Camping Travel Towel (click for price)
Insulated water bottle: Hydro Flask Vacuum Insulated Water Bottle (click for price)
Hiking Sandals: Teva Women’s Hurricane Hiking Sandals (click for price), Teva Men’s Hurricane Hiking Sandals (click for price)

If you’re interested in photography and/or videography this is the gear we can’t live without:

Professional camera: Sony a7iv (click for price)
Action camera: GoPro HERO10 Black (click for price)
Drone: DJI Air 2s (click for price)

Related post: What's in our camera bag

Click here to see our complete camera gear

Entrance fee

If you’re just doing a DIY trip to Balidbid Lagoon, there’s a small 20 PHP entrance fee that you’ll need to pay the landowner to park on his property. If you end up doing the full paddleboarding tour it’s 600 PHP per person, which includes board rental for 2 hours and a guide. To book your tour ahead of time, you can contact SUP Bantayan on Facebook.

What to expect at Balidbid Lagoon

The best thing about Balidbid Lagoon is how relatively unknown it is for such a beautiful place. Most tourists will stick to island hopping and beaches like Kota Beach, so we ended up having the lagoon all to ourselves.

Once we arrived, we set off along the lagoon, paddling around the bends and stopping at picturesque beaches along the way. It was surprising how strong the current was in some areas despite the water being so flat. Don’t let looks deceive you, it was quite the workout!
We paddled for around an hour, making our way through the mangroves and sandbars. Once we returned to our starting point, we took a moment to relax by the beach and grab a snack from a local sari-sari store.

Where to stay on Bantayan Island

Amihan Beach Cabanas

A boutique beachfront resort with stellar service and picturesque views.

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Santa Fe Beach Club

Located mere metres from the port, Santa Fe Beach club has comfortable rooms and the best beach on the island.

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Carl's Island Inn

An affordable and charming bed and breakfast for budget travellers.

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Asia | Philippines

April 18, 2022

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