Gibitngil Island
A quiet island village a short boat ride off Medellin in North Cebu, with clear water, limestone cliffs, sandbars and colourful cottages on the rocks. Simple, local and far from the crowds.
Gibitngil is a small island just off the west coast of Medellin, the sugarcane town near the northern tip of Cebu. It is not a resort island. It is a barangay of Medellin, home to about 2,200 people, most of them fishing families. That is exactly its charm: clear water, limestone cliffs, sandbars and a slow, friendly island day far from the tourist trail.
Why go to Gibitngil
- Clear, blue water for swimming and snorkelling.
- Funtastic Island, a rock formation with colourful cottages, footbridges and a spot for jumping into the sea.
- Limestone cliffs, white sand and sandbars around the island.
- A real fishing village, with no big resorts and few tourists.
- An easy add-on to a trip to Bogo, Daanbantayan or Malapascua.
Funtastic Island
The main stop for most visitors is Funtastic Island (some signs and locals say "Fantastic Island"), a rocky outcrop close to Gibitngil. The municipality built brightly painted cottages on top of the rocks, joined by footbridges, and it has become the island's best-known picture. There is a high platform for jumping into the sea, reported at around 9 metres. Only jump if the staff say it is safe and the water is clearly deep, and never after drinking.
There is usually a small entrance fee, and cottages can be rented for the day. Fees and opening times change, so ask in Medellin before you cross.
Swimming, snorkelling and sandbars
The water around Gibitngil is famously clear. In 2022 the Department of Tourism looked at the reefs here as possible dive sites and reported plenty of coral and fish. There is no dive shop on the island, so bring your own mask and snorkel. Locals have long kept the water around the rock cottages free of fishing to protect the fish, so leave everything as you found it, and do not stand on or touch the coral.
At low tide, sandbars and white-sand patches appear around the island. Boatmen can often take you to one on the way back if you ask and agree on the price first.
After the 2025 earthquake
The strong earthquake of 30 September 2025, centred off Bogo, hit Medellin hard. Tourism has been reopening step by step, and TV travel shows filmed cliff jumping and other activities in Medellin again in early 2026. Facilities may still be limited or under repair, so message the Medellin Tourism Office before you go to check what is open.
Respecting the village
Gibitngil is people's home. Dress modestly away from the water, say hello, and ask before you take photos of people or their houses. Take all your trash back to the mainland, as waste is hard to manage on a small island.
Where is Gibitngil Island?
Medellin, North Cebu
Directions open in Google Maps, starting from where you are. Its travel times are estimates, and ferries and island boats may not be included.
How to get to Gibitngil from Cebu City
- Go to the Cebu North Bus Terminal and take a bus to Medellin. Buses heading to Daanbantayan and Maya often pass through, but check with the conductor. The ride takes about 3-4 hours.
- In Medellin, take a tricycle or habal-habal to the coast at Barangay Kawit, where boats leave for the island.
- Take a pump boat across. The crossing usually takes about 15-30 minutes, depending on the sea.
Small boats carry residents back and forth, but times are not fixed. Many visitors hire a boat for the round trip: ask at the shore, or message the tourism office ahead. Agree on the price and on the time you will be picked up before you leave, and don't miss the last boat.
Getting around
Gibitngil is small enough to explore on foot, and locals are usually happy to point the way. To see the cliffs, Funtastic Island and a sandbar in one go, ask your boatman for a short tour around the island before dropping you off.
Where to stay and eat
There are few or no formal places to stay on the island, so most visitors come for the day. Medellin has a handful of simple inns and beach resorts, and Bogo City, about 30 minutes south, has more hotels. Food on the island is limited to small sari-sari stores, so bring a packed lunch and plenty of water from the mainland.
When to go
The calmest months are usually March to May, when the sea is flat and the water at its clearest. The wider dry season from about December is also fine on calm days. From around June to November there is more rain, and rough seas can stop the boats. Weekdays are quietest.
Tips for a good trip
- Bring cash in small bills. There are no ATMs on the island.
- Pack food, water, sunscreen and snorkel gear from the mainland.
- Wear a life vest if you are not a strong swimmer, and only jump where locals say it is safe.
- Wear water shoes: the shore is rocky in many places.
- Check the weather and agree on your return boat before you cross.
Make it part of a bigger North Cebu trip: see our guides to Capitancillo Island off Bogo and Malapascua.
Watch before you go
Photo: "Daanbantayan, Gibitngil island from air (Cebu; 09-04-2022)" by Patrickroque01, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Last updated November 1, 2026
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