Gibitngil Island, Medellin (2026): North Cebu Island Guide

TL;DR: Gibitngil Island (locally called Funtastic Island) sits just off Medellin at the northern tip of Cebu — a small island known for cliff jumping (20–40 ft), a zipline over the water, and turquoise shallows. Budget ₱15–50 entrance plus a boat fare of ₱100–150/person (or charter ₱1,000–1,500 for a group), on top of the 3–4 hour bus ride from Cebu City (₱120–180). It’s a genuine adventure day trip, not a polished resort — past visitors report patchy facilities, so go for the cliffs and the view, bring your own food, and treat it as a half-day stop rather than a base. Verified July 2026.

Tucked off the coast of Medellin, at the far northern tip of Cebu, Gibitngil Island is one of those spots that shows up in Cebu island-hopping posts with dramatic cliff-jump photos and not much else. It’s small, rugged, and genuinely scenic — jagged limestone walls dropping into clear turquoise water, a narrow strip of beach, and a simple set-up of cottages and a zipline run by a local resort called Funtastic Island. This guide is for travelers heading north toward Bantayan or Malapascua who want to know if a Gibitngil stopover is worth the detour, plus everyone the exact bus, boat, and entrance costs, what you’ll actually find on the island, and an honest read on the facilities before you commit a half-day to getting there.

Gibitngil Island at a Glance

Item	Cost (₱)	Cost (US$)	Notes
Island entrance fee	₱15–50/person	~US$0.25–0.85	Includes environmental fee; confirm at the gate
Bus, Cebu City → Medellin/Kawit	₱120–180/person	~US$2–3	Ceres bus, North Bus Terminal, 3–4 hrs
Tricycle, terminal → boat launch	₱100–150 total	~US$2–2.60	Short 10–15 min ride if you’re dropped away from Kawit
Shared boat, round trip	₱100–150/person	~US$2–2.60	Kawit port to island, 15–20 min crossing
Chartered boat (4 pax)	₱1,000 round trip	~US$17	Whole small boat
Chartered boat (10–15 pax)	₱1,500 round trip	~US$26	Whole larger boat
Zipline ride	₱50	~US$0.85	Over the water, near the cliffs
Kayak rental	₱200/hour	~US$3.45	Life vest ₱50 extra if not included
Day cottage	₱200–500/day	~US$3.45–8.60	Depends on size/location
Overnight fan room (up to 4 pax)	~₱1,500	~US$26	Basic; confirm availability ahead

Verified July 2026. Rates come from recent traveler reports and the resort’s public listings — boat and cottage prices in particular shift with season and fuel costs, so confirm with the boatmen at Kawit port or the Funtastic Island Facebook page before you go.

How do you get to Gibitngil Island from Cebu City?

Take a Ceres bus from Cebu North Bus Terminal heading toward Medellin or Bogo, get off at Kawit, then cross by boat. The bus ride is 3–4 hours depending on traffic and how many stops the bus makes along the way — it’s a long haul, closer to the trip you’d make for Bantayan or Malapascua than a quick city day trip. Fares run ₱120–180 depending on whether it’s an air-conditioned or ordinary bus.

Once you’re in Kawit, Medellin, the boat launch is close by; if your bus drops you further out, a short tricycle ride (₱100–150) covers the gap. From the launch, it’s a 15–20 minute boat crossing to Gibitngil. Boatmen at the port arrange rides directly — there’s no need to book ahead unless you’re joining an organized tour. If you’re self-driving, several small resorts and inns near Kawit offer parking for ₱50–150 a day while you’re on the island.

Given the travel time, most people don’t treat Gibitngil as a standalone day trip from Cebu City — it works better as a side stop if you’re already heading north toward Malapascua Island via Maya port, or looping through Capitancillo Island near Bogo City. See our north Cebu travel guide for how to sequence a multi-stop trip up the coast.

How much does the boat and entrance fee actually cost?

Expect ₱15–50 for the island entrance fee and ₱100–150 per person for a shared boat, or a flat charter of ₱1,000–1,500 for your whole group. The entrance fee (sometimes called an environmental fee) is collected either at the boat launch or on the island and covers basic upkeep. It’s small enough that it isn’t the deciding cost — the boat is.

If you’re traveling solo or as a pair, joining a shared boat at ₱100–150 per person is the cheaper option, though you’ll be on the operator’s schedule for departure and return. Groups of four or more usually come out ahead chartering a small boat outright for around ₱1,000 round trip; larger groups of up to 15 can split a ₱1,500 charter, which works out to roughly ₱100–150 each anyway. Either way, agree on the return time with the boatman before you leave the launch — there’s no fixed ferry schedule, and you don’t want to be stranded past dusk.

What is there to do on Gibitngil (Funtastic Island)?

Cliff jumping and a zipline are the headline activities, with kayaking and a quiet beach as the calmer options. The resort area — commonly called Funtastic Island — has jump platforms at three heights, roughly 20, 30, and 40 feet, into a clear cove; jumping itself is typically free, you’re only paying for the boat and entrance to get there. The zipline runs over the water near the cliffs for ₱50 a ride, a short but scenic zip with a splash-landing option at the end.

For a slower pace, kayak rental is ₱200 an hour (add ₱50 for a life vest if it’s not bundled in), and the beach itself is narrow but genuinely clear for a swim or light snorkeling — bring your own gear, since rental options on the island are limited. Cottages for the day run ₱200–500 depending on size, useful if you’re staying more than a couple of hours and want shade for your group’s bags and food.

Day trip or overnight — which should you choose?

Go for the day. Basic fan rooms exist for around ₱1,500 (up to 4 people), and it’s technically possible to stay overnight, but facilities on Gibitngil are simple and past visitors have flagged inconsistent upkeep — don’t expect resort-standard toilets, hot water, or a wide food selection. Bring your own drinking water and snacks either way, since on-island food options are limited and prices run higher than the mainland.

A day trip also sidesteps the logistics of arranging a return boat after dark and gives you enough time to hit the cliffs, try the zipline, and swim before heading back to Kawit for the bus. If you want an overnight island stop in this part of Cebu, Malapascua or Bantayan have far more developed accommodation — see our best islands to visit near Cebu roundup for alternatives.

How to choose your route and timing

• Go on a weekday if you can. Gibitngil is small, and weekends bring enough day-trippers that the cliff platforms and cottages get crowded fast.
• Check the weather before you commit to the bus ride. Boat crossings can be called off in rough seas, especially outside the March–May dry season, and you don’t want to spend four hours on a bus only to find the crossing suspended.
• Bring cash in small bills. Boatmen, tricycle drivers, and the entrance fee collectors are unlikely to have change for large notes.
• Pack reef-safe sunscreen, water shoes, and your own snorkel gear — the cliffs and rocky entry points aren’t barefoot-friendly.
• If logistics aren’t your thing, a bundled tour that covers transport and the boat crossing removes the guesswork — search north Cebu island tours on Klook or browse the Gibitngil day tour on GetYourGuide.

The Honest Take

Gibitngil gets pitched online as a hidden ‘Little Boracay,’ and that’s overselling it. It’s a small, rugged island with genuinely good cliffs to jump from and clear water for a swim, but it isn’t a manicured beach resort — several recent traveler reports flag basic, sometimes poorly maintained toilets and general upkeep issues, and the beach itself is narrow rather than the long white-sand sweep the Boracay comparison implies. Go in expecting an adventure stop, not a comfort stay, and you won’t be disappointed.

The other honest trade-off is time: a 3–4 hour bus ride each way is a serious commitment for a half-day of cliff jumping. It makes far more sense bolted onto a longer north Cebu trip — pair it with Malapascua for thresher shark diving (see our Malapascua thresher shark diving guide) or a Bogo-area stop at Capitancillo Island — than as a standalone day trip from Cebu City. Skip it if you’re short on time or traveling with anyone who isn’t comfortable around rocky, unsupervised cliff edges.

Rounding Out Your North Cebu Trip

Gibitngil works best as one stop on a bigger north Cebu loop rather than the whole trip. From Medellin, it’s a short hop further north to Maya port for the Malapascua boat, or back toward Bogo for Capitancillo. If you’re building a multi-day north Cebu itinerary, our north Cebu travel guide covers how to sequence Medellin, Bogo, Malapascua, and Bantayan without doubling back, and best hidden gems in Cebu has more off-the-main-track spots in the same spirit. Once you’ve picked your base for the north-Cebu leg, compare hotels near Bantayan on Agoda for somewhere to sleep before or after the Gibitngil crossing.

Sources

• Sugbo.ph — Funtastic Island (Gibitngil) cost breakdown
• RichestPH — Gibitngil Island guide
• TripAdvisor — Gibitngil Island reviews
• GetYourGuide — Bukana Beach, Gibitngil Island and Bamboo Forest Tour listing
• Bus fares and route details cross-checked against North Bus Terminal (Ceres) rider reports. Verified July 2026.