Perched on the very southern tip of Cebu Island, the port town of Bato is a good jumping off point for boat excursions into the Negros Islands. Other than moving on, there isn’t a whole lot to do in Bato except watch life go by.
Most travelers find themselves in Bato waiting for the 30-minute ferry ride to Sibulan, on the neighboring island of Negros. The town of Bato itself is unremarkable, but certainly has ample options for accommodation, dining and entertainment.
Being on the coast, there are plenty of nice sandy beaches in the vicinity, some of which are great for swimming, snorkeling and lounging about. Nearby towns include Talisay, San Sebastian, Liloan and Santander if you want to see a bit more of southern Cebu.
As a port town, Bato has a certain hum to it as travelers, traders and locals move back and forth between the two islands. Like most port towns, there’s plenty of local activity and interesting people-watching, making Bato a decent enough place to pass the time.
Getting There & Away
If you are flying into Cebu, the main airport is on Mactan Island, about 130 miles north of Bato. Numerous daily flights arrive at Mactan-Cebu International Airport from Manila and many other regional cities. The flight from Manila takes just an hour. To get to Bato, you’ll need to hire a taxi or board a public bus for the slow journey along the eastern coast to Bato. The bus ride from Cebu City can take more than 3 hours.
Things to Do
Bato Attractions
- Bato Port
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Like most asian port towns, bato’s best offering is the colorful scenes of daily life as people and merchants move their goods around the harbor, making for great people-watching.