Long weekends are usually spent going to places to unwind. And Gibitngil Funtastic Island is definitely a great choice for those looking for a place to visit in Northern Cebu, Philippines.
We had initially planned a nice long vacation on one of the Philippine’s top tourist destinations. Unfortunately, the plans were cancelled a day before we were about to travel due to some unexpected or rather unfortunate incident. Hence, we’ve looked for another option to spend our vacation – Medellin!
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How to Get to Medellin, Cebu?
Medellin is a small town at the northern part of Cebu and is about 3-4 hrs ride from Cebu City (weather and traffic permits). Take note, we had a private car with us and traffic was pretty heavy on some parts of Northern Cebu).
For those wanting to go to Medellin via the public transportation, there are several air conditioned and non-aircon buses available at the North Bus Terminal in Mandaue City. You can take either buses going to Medellin’s neighbouring towns: San Remegio, Bogo or Daangbantayan. Once there, you can just take the local tricycle to Medellin. Or better yet, take the bus going to Kawit as this goes directly to the town.
Funnily enough, we thought we were just going to be lounging around the beach or the resort the whole weekend, so we did not bring any of our usual ‘travel stuff’ such as gadgets and swimming gear. We were very unprepared for the fantastic adventure we were about to do!
How to Reach the Gibitngil Funtastic Island?
One of Medellin’s hidden gem is the Gibitngil Funtastic Island. It’s a resort about 10-15 minutes from the mainland.
You will need to take a small banca to reach this amazing place. Cost of banca differs based on the size. We were 6 adults plus a child and we had rented this banca for 1,500 Php (30 USD)
Some smaller ones cost around 1,000 Php or 20 USD. So you better bring on the haggler in you! LOL.
Things to do at the Funtastic Island
The Gibitngil Funtastic Island has been open around 2011-2012 and has seen several changes in the past years including the resort’s color exterior (from flamboyant colors to toned down).
Before, there were several activities that one can enjoy such as ziplining, kayaking and use of banana boat. However, at the time of our visit, these amenities were no longer available. It was not a problem at all, since there are other things one can enjoy on the island alone. Who wouldn’t enjoy that unique set-up?
We arrived at around 8AM as we were eager to spend our day on the beach and get the most of vacation. Entrance fee is just at 15 Php per head and you can already enjoy the water!
The resort offers a variety of cottages that you can choose from. Rates range from 150-500 Php (3 USD to 10 USD). The cottages were built on top of several rock formations, connected by concrete pathways (pretty unique!).
We chose this average size cottage perfect for our group. We also had one of the great locations (more about that later as to why it was perfect for me. LOL.)
Here are 6 things to do in Gibitngil Funtastic Island that you will love!
1. Swim in the Crystal Clear Water
One thing that I absolutely loved about Gibitngil is its crystal clear water! It’s sooo refreshing especially after a couple of hours basking in the sun! We can actually see the bottom of the sea from our cottage.
Despite the heat (it is summer by the way), the water was cool. In fact there were areas where the water is cooler than the rest. Mind you, you should wear your life vests if you are not a good swimmer since there were areas where the water was deeper and the waves can be tough!
2. Snorkeling with the Fishes
Our family loves snorkelling and we surely did just that at Gibitngil! There were several types of fishes that you can see in the water (though admittedly I’m no expert when it comes to names) and the variety was great!
As for corals, there were some though I did not get to explore it all (being pregnant has its cons, I guess). The seabed was interesting enough so I think, snorkelling will be worth your while too!
3. Cliff Diving on a 30-40 Ft Drop
Now this is something that you adrenaline junkies will adore! Funtastic Island has this 30-40 ft drop (depending on the sea level) that you will love!
Obviously, I did not try that but my brother-in-law did. He is young and I was amazed by his guts to do it without hesitation.
If you can’t brave the 30-40 ft drop, the resort offers another alternative for you. It has another diving spot that you can also try, it is about 8-10 ft.
Our cottage was right next to that drop and my in-laws and husband (not to mention my nephew who did not jump by the way, but enjoyed watching everyone else jump) took turns in jumping in and out of the water.
4. Selfie with the Amazing Rock Formations
Aside from the waters, the place has astonishing views. Even just getting there from the mainland, you will love the rock formations and landscapes!
Since this is the time for social media and selfies have become such a trending thing to do, Gibitngil Funtastic Island is the perfect place! We were also near this great spot where you can pose for photos (do jump shots and all) so it was pretty cool!
It would be best though, if you have underwater camera on hand so as to ensure that you will not worry if your phone or camera gets wet. It’s the beach, after all! š
5. Chill on Top of Gibitngil Funtastic Island
Now, weekends or vacations (for that matter) are best spent chilling and the beach is just an amazing place to do that! I for one enjoyed a couple of minutes nap before I went back to the water for another round of swimming. The air was cool, the weather was great and the sound of the waves – not to mention the chatter and laughter of the rest of the guest – was just soothing.
The privacy of your cottage (there were about one or two cottages per rock) was just perfect for those wanting time to relax and enjoy each other’s company.
6. Night Swimming
We didn’t get to try this since we were booked at a resort in Medellin but there were several spots where you can go camping and have your night swimming. There were no hotels mind you, only spots where you can pitch your tent (should you wish too).
I personally think it will be a nice experience to try this out especially on summer!
We left the resort at around 3PM – we had about 7-8 hours to enjoy the place and we had a little kid, so this was pretty cool with us. The experience was really amazing!
We were just sorry we did not bring our complete swimming gear or additional gadgets with us. This was really an impromptu getaway and though it was unexpected, we had the time of our lives!
Have you been to Gibitngil Funtastic Island? Share your experiences with us! We’d love to hear them too!
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This is cool!!! Would love to visit this island:) I am planning a trip to Cebu this June or July, Hope i get to go here:) Thanks for sharing…
I hope you can visit Gibitngil. It’s a bit far from the City, but it was worth it š
Ahhh this looks like so much fun. That crystal clear water! WOW Makes me miss the philippines
I also loved the water in this island. T’was amazing just floating around! š
The Philippines looks like such an incredible place to explore. Thanks for the helpful article — hopefully I will make it here one day š
I hope so too! There are so many hidden gems here that you will surely love š
Thanks for sharing! I love being in the water so all these activities really appeal to me. I love swimming with the fish and it looks quiet and peaceful!!
Yes it was peaceful. It was a fun day trip š
Funtastic island sounds, well, Funtastic! I love all the activities you listed. I’d definitely go snorkeling if I was there š
I’m sure you would love it! The water is so clear and soooo cool despite the summer heat! š
Diving from that cliff looks amazing! (and so scary, haha!) š
I agree! You really need to have guts and be a good swimmer to do that! š
I was able to visit this place with my friends when we traveled Philippines just after Siargao. Such a good experience diving on that very top rock. I highly recommend it!
That’s great to hear! š I was watching some who went to dive on that cliff, and it was like they were on slow-motion. LOL
It was an adrenaline rush feeling. Good thing they changed the color on those cottages. Looks neat!
I agree! I checked some pictures before (through some other articles) and was glad they toned down on the colors, it looked great! š
Marvi, you did a good job teleporting me to the Funtastic islands in my thoughts! It feels like I can even smell the sea by looking at these pictures. Such a beauty.
Thank you Lena š I just loved our day here and was pretty excited to write about it š
This looks stunning! I love the Philippines and there are tons of places to explore. Looks like the perfect place for a couple of days when I next go!
It is stunning! I hope you can try it out! š
This looks so beautiful! Will definitely bear it in mind when I (eventually!) make it to the Philippines!!
I do hope you get to visit. The place is lovely! š
I love all the blueness! Looks so relaxing
It WAS relaxing! š It was the perfect weekend š
What an awesome place for a short trip! Snorkelling with my family is one of my favourite activities so I would be super keen to take them to Gibitngil. Thanks for sharing your experience, I almost felt as if I was there myself.
Your most welcome š We also love snorkeling. It’s such a fun family activity! š
I just love the name of this place! It is perfect because it looks like something out of a fairy tale. I would love to spend some time there. No cliff diving for me though!
It’s really a FUNtastic place to go! š
I’ve never been to this island, but now I definitely want to go! I’m not much of an adrenaline junkie, in the sense of dropping of 30-40 foot rocks, so I’ll stick to the snorkeling and swimming. The views look incredible, and I’d love to experience it in person!
The water here is just amazing! I’m sure you will love it! š
Oh wow, this place looks incredible! I never knew this existed. I would so love to spend the night there! Thanks for sharing this neat adventure!
You’re welcome, Sally! Hope you can visit this great place! š
Wow, looks like your last-minute cancellation turned out to be a blessing in disguise.. Medellin is gorgeous!
Yes, it was. Too bad we did not bring any of our gadgets, I’m pretty sure the videos would have been really really great!
Your photos are beautiful! We’re desperate to go to the Philippines but don’t think we’re going to be able to squeeze it in on this trip. When we do, we’ll definitely be using all your tips š
That’s great to hear! Maybe one day you can take the time to visit Funtastic Island š
The island setup looks so unique! And offers so many activities to play. Definitely for the fun-loving traveller, especially with the cliff-diving! I would not dare.. teehee
It is really unique and worth the long travel. LOL.
I would love to try cliff jumping! And that looks like such a picture perfect beachside getaway with the nautical colors, noted for a future Philippines trip!
Now, that would be something to watch out for! I’m sure you would love it š
This is so cool!! I love the name hahaha. I would have definitely chickened out of cliff diving but I would be all over the snorkeling! It also seems like it’d be really cheap as an American traveling there! Adding this place to my bucket list š
It is pretty cheap but the experience is really great! š I hope you can come and enjoy it too! š
How unique and absolutely beautiful! That cliff diving looks AMAZINGGGG, my husband would love that!
I’m sure he would! š
Wow, this place definitely looks Funtastic! I never knew it existed…so happy to have found your site!
That’s great! Hope you will learn more about the Philippine from us! š
This looks beautiful! I spent some time on Malapascua last november (which I loved) but never heard of Medellin! The waters look great, if I head back to Cebu I’ll definitely look this place up!
That’s too bad! Medellin is near Malapascua š Some even included this on their island hopping itinerary from Malapascua and spent an hour or two enjoying the island.
Love your photos and crystal-clear water!! Never heard of that island. I like how private it is compared to other resorts I hear of (never used one). It looks like a place I don’t mind checking out. I could only go once I become a better swimmer so I can take advantage of snorkeling & cliff diving. Right now, I’m still struggling with the basics.
I agree. It’s too far from Cebu’s main cities that it takes effort and time to visit this place which is a good thing too, I guess. š The island will be enjoyed much better if you know how to swim š
So cool, you successfully made me want to go there š Seems like such a unique place, especially compared with places I’ve been. Pinning for future reference, just in case š
Yay! Thank you Kay!
Never heard of this place but it looks amazing! That water color is just insane!!! I’ll definitely have to check it out once I’m traveling near that area!
Please do! It will be definitely worth your while! š
It certainly looks like a fun place to visit! I would like to go snorkelling there. I’m too scared to go cliff jumping though haha. I’ve never been a good diver.
The cottages look so photogenic!
Me too! I’m still trying to work out my diving skills (haha). The cottages were really great! š
Ohh this island looks so wonderful! I’d love to go there and go snorkeling. Thanks for sharing, it was a nice read!
You’re welcome! It was a great experience indeed! š
The water here is stunning! I don’t know if I could brave the cliff jumping but count me in for everything else.
The water was really what excited me as well! It was just great!
What a cool spot. Looks like a nice place to relax. Does it get very crowded?
Well I think it depends on the season. It’s summer here when went there and the cottages were all taken but it was not too crowded (this was also on a long weekend too). š
Holy shit! Why didn’t I know about this amazing place? I was just in Philippines! Ugh. The name says it all. Pics are gorgeous! Hopefully next time!
I know right? It’s not the usual mainstream destination in the Philippines. Hope through this it can get noticed! š
Wow, that water just looks so insanely incredible. The Philippines are super high on my wish list and they keep going higher with every photo I see!
I hope you really get to visit! We have amazing places to see here š
This sure looks amazing. Looks like you had a wonderful time. And great pictures! š
Yes we did Raksha! š Thank you!
What a great selection of photos! The weather and location looks absolutely fabulous for spending a day on the beach, but I’m glad to hear there were other things to do as I tend to get a bit restless just sunbathing! One day I hope to get to the Philippines.
Indeed! There are still plenty of activities that you can enjoy š
Wow, Funtastic islands sounds funtastic! š What a unique set-up indeed! Will be remembering this for when we ever make it to the Philippines. It’s pretty high on our list, since the scuba diving is supposed to be great there. š
It was! I’m sure you would love it here. There are great diving spots near the northern part of Cebu, so you can definitely include this on your list! š
Looks so lovely !! I love the blue rooftops. I’d definitely be one of those people cliff jumping š
Wow! That would be great to see you try that cliff jumping! š
Loved your photos! Your trip looked absolutely amazing. I would definitely want to take a trip there at some point in my life.
Thank you Ashlee! I hope you can visit it too!
Oh my god, this is just crazy beautiful, thanks for your travel tips and dreamy photographs <3
It is really beautiful! š You’re welcome!
Wow such a cute little spot, no way would I do cliff diving I am too scared ha ha!! Looks like a beautiful place to spend some time though š
I guess we’re the same on that matter.. I just can’t jump of that cliff! haha.
Looks amazing! I love this kind of post..it is covered everything!
It was really amazing! Thank you Suzana!
This place is so cool and unique! I love the white against the blue water, so pretty.
It was pretty and relaxing too! š