Carnaza Island draws tourists seeking quieter Cebu escape
CEBU CITY—Tourists looking for a new, less crowded island destination in Cebu are turning to Carnaza Island in the north, a largely untouched escape known for its rugged landscapes and quiet shores, far from the busier beaches of Bantayan and Malapascua.
Located in Daanbantayan in the Visayan Sea, the 174-hectare island—often described as turtle-shaped—features coastal plains, white-sand beaches, jagged rock formations, cliffs and rolling hills rising up to 55 meters above sea level.
Life on Carnaza is defined by simplicity, according to residents.
Electricity is limited, with many households relying on solar power, while residents depend mainly on fishing and small-scale farming, including coconut and corn cultivation. Instead of urban noise, the island is marked by quiet tides, breezy afternoons and star-filled nights.
For visitors, Carnaza offers a rare sense of isolation: empty coves, cliffside views shaped by wind and salt, clear waters for snorkeling and swimming and nights illuminated by an unbroken sky of stars.
“Some places impress you with attractions, but Carnaza Island unsettles you with simplicity so honest it becomes unforgettable, especially for those who are fond of drawing reflections from memory,” Jonas Escol told the Inquirer.
Escol visited the island before returning home to Butuan City after graduating from a Cebu-based academic institution.
How to get there
For him, the island is not defined by luxury or grand attractions, but by “the quietness of its shores, the slow rhythm of island life and the rare feeling of being disconnected from the noise of the modern world.”
Getting there, however, requires time and effort. From Cebu City, travelers take a four- to five-hour bus or van ride to Tapilon Port in Daanbantayan, followed by a two- to three-hour boat trip to the island, depending on sea conditions. Bus fares average about P305, while van trips cost around P350, with boat fares at roughly P300.
Only two regular boat trips operate daily—one morning trip to the mainland and one afternoon return to the island. Transport is typically via medium-sized pump boats used for passenger and island-hopping routes.
Despite the long journey, Carnaza continues to attract travelers seeking space, silence and an unspoiled island experience.
