Getafe: Gateway to the Danajon Double Barrier Reef

Getafe is a fifth-class municipality on Bohol’s northern coast, at latitude 10.05°N — the northernmost zone of the main island, facing the Camotes Sea. The town sits about 75 kilometres from Tagbilaran City by road via the Trans-Central Highway or the northern coastal route, and operates a small municipal port handling fishing vessels and occasional inter-island boats connecting to the Camotes Islands of Cebu Province across the strait. The economy is fishing-dominated, supplemented by copra production; the port gives the town a minor strategic role in northern Bohol’s inter-island commerce, though it is not a significant passenger ferry hub — most travellers reaching northern Bohol head instead to Talibon or Trinidad, which have more services.

Geography

Getafe occupies coastal lowland on Bohol’s northern edge, with a short coastline of roughly 10–12 kilometres facing the Camotes Sea and terrain rising moderately inland. Several small islands and islets lie offshore, part of the broader Danajon Double Barrier Reef system — one of only two double barrier reefs in the Indo-Pacific — and Getafe’s offshore zone falls within or near the Danajon Reef marine protected area network.

History

Getafe was established as a municipality in 1903 under the American colonial reorganisation of Bohol Province, its name following the pattern of Spanish colonial municipalities named for towns in Spain — Getafe sits near Madrid. The area was a fishing settlement predating Spanish administration, and American survey vessels documented the Danajon Reef in the early 1900s as a navigational hazard, later charting it for fishery resources.

Culture and religion

The patron is San Isidro Labrador, celebrated May 15 — an agricultural dedication that persists despite the town’s coastal location. Cebuano is the spoken language. Fishing practices include traditional handline methods and fish corrals (baklid) built in shallow reef areas.

Local taste

Boats operating on the Danajon Reef bring in squid, reef fish, and sea urchin (swaki). Sea urchin roe, known locally as tuyom, is eaten raw with rice or mixed into scrambled eggs — a delicacy in northern Bohol coastal communities not commonly found on Tagbilaran menus. Squid adobo cooked in its own ink (adobong pusit sa tinta) is a standard household dish at carinderias near the port.

Getting there

From Tagbilaran, jeepneys and vans serve the Tagbilaran–Talibon route; alight at the Getafe junction and take a tricycle to the poblacion, or take a direct jeepney on the Tagbilaran–Getafe service where available. Travel time is roughly 2 to 2.5 hours via the Trans-Central Highway, passing through Carmen before branching northeast toward Talibon and the northern coast.

What to see and do

• Municipal port and fish market — morning arrivals (05:30–08:00) of reef catch including sea urchin.
• Danajon Reef access — boats can be hired from the port for reef snorkelling; confirm current access rules with the municipal fisheries office.
• Northern coastal road — the route toward Talibon passes isolated coconut farming settlements and occasional sea views.

Travel tips

Getafe has no tourist-grade accommodation. Talibon, about 15 kilometres west along the coast, is the closest town with guesthouses and an ATM. The Danajon Reef is a legitimate draw for experienced snorkellers and researchers interested in double barrier reef ecosystems — contact the Bohol Environment Management Office (BEMO) in Tagbilaran before planning a reef visit to confirm access procedures.

Other places to consider

• Talibon — the nearest town with services and accommodation.
• Trinidad — another northern Bohol service town.
• Carmen — on the route in from Tagbilaran.
• Tagbilaran City — the provincial capital, 75 kilometres south.

---

Reef access, route, and heritage detail reflect publicly available information as of 2026-07-16. Confirm reef access procedures before travel. bohol-philippines.com earns a commission on bookings made through partner links at no cost to you.