I only knew Bantayan Island as the home of the beautiful and pristine beaches of the North of Cebu, but little did I know that in one of the towns of the island, a historic fort stood remarkably bearing the history of the early Bantayan which nowadays comes with a lively park and a beautiful white shoreline, the Kota Park of Madridejos.
Riding on the motorbike that we rented, we arrived at Madridejos approximately 45 minutes from Sta Fe. Madridejos is the third town on the island and is isolated among the three municipalities as it is located at the back part of the island. Though it's the farthest town, never did it comes last when it comes to tourist attractions. In fact, we considered Madridejos as one of the highlights of our Bantayan Island Escapade.
So today, I'm taking you to the beautiful and Historic Kota Park of Madridejos! Let's go. Taraaa!
The Kota Park
As soon as we entered the park, the four tall Pillars of the fort's entrance were what caught our attention. By their look and what they are built of one could tell that the giant pieces are old and have a lot of rich history on them.
History
The Historical Kota fort of Madridejos, Bantayan is built in the 1790s. It was made to serve as a lookout for Moro Invaders. For a long time, the fort served as a watchtower and refuge for the Madridejonans from the pirates who attacked the island. Some locals said the fort was once turned into a cemetery during the Japanese Era.
Its thick walls are made of corals, stones, sand egg whites, sugar, and limestone. (Source: The fort's signage) Nowadays, the place has become a destination to unwind, relax and have a good walk and even a place to have some quality family time.
Let's see what's inside!
I was hesitant at first to enter the fort because there was no one guarding it, neither it had a sign that says "Visitors are welcome".The gates are closed but it's not locked so I waited for another guest to get in first so I could follow them. Better Safe. Hehe (To trespass on a historic sight, would be the last thing I'd do.)
Surrounded by the walls, the inside was spacious and had plenty of plants. The walls are not that high compared to Cebu's Fort San Pedro but I noticed the open rooms in each corner that look like a giant fireplace.
The first corner I checked was empty and dirty while the second one had plenty of interesting jars placed on the floor. The jars looked antique but I wonder why they were displayed just like that. Mhmmm.
I had a clear view of the giant 4 pillars and the entrance part of the fort. Trees and other plants are growing on the walls which I think added life, beauty, and attraction to the fort.
The Boardwalk
Another beautiful spot in the Park is its concrete, long boardwalk which will bring you to the floating cottage for fish and sea viewing. It has flaglets on the sides of the boardwalk which added vibrance to the white-colored bridge. Walking there you will definitely feel the summer vibes!
Walking on the board was very refreshing and fun. This is a great place for people who loves to stroll, unwind and feel the sea breeze. My daughter enjoyed walking and running!
A shore of fine white sand.
Surprisingly, Kota Park is also a beach resort. Kota's beachfront has plenty of cottages tourists can use. Aside from that, what's marvelous about this park is the fine white sand all over the place.
The bright red pergolas or the trellis-like structure on the beachfront also added attraction. The structure is covered with white thin cloth as its roof and also has several concrete benches underneath. I guess it's very relaxing to sit here at night or watch the sunset.
At that time there were also guests using the beachfront. They were having their class reunion.
The cottages. Cottages are for rent and are good for families and group of friends.
The park!
Worry no more about your thirst as Kota Park also has its corner for food and drinks called Merkota. You can find various drinks and snacks such as fruit shakes, milk teas, french fries and so many more!
Even though the park is on the beach but there's no need to worry about the scorching heat of the sun, everyone could take shade from the lush trees that surround it.
Families and kids will enjoy the park as well. Under the trees are colorful decorations like mushrooms and flowers. And when you look up, you could also see rattan baskets hanging on the tree with lamps in it. I think the place appears lovely at night too!
We spent our time exploring the whole park and taking pictures for memories to keep. If given a chance to come back, I'll come back for sure. Madridejos Kota Park is an all-in-one park one will extremely enjoy, be it the beach, the historic Fort, the refreshing park, a walk on the boardwalk or white sand, and even the food stalls!
We had a blast!
How to get there!
đź“ŤFrom Cebu City, ride a bus going to Hagnaya Port (About 3-4 hours depending on the traffic). From Hagnaya port ride a Shuttle Ferry going to Bantayan Island (about 45 minutes to 1 hour).
When you arrived at Sta. Fe, you can ride a bus going to Madridejos. I suggest renting a motorbike. When you are the town center ask the locals for directions. Or simply navigate Waze.
Address: Kota Park, Madridejos, Bantayan Island.
Reminder: No entrance Fee. Enjoy and Leave No trace.
That's it for our visit to Kota Park Madridejos. Hope you enjoyed it too! Thank you so much for reading. I wish you all safe and well always.
Smile often! and here's mine!
🤗
Warm smiles from @callmesmile.