Just a few hours away from the city of Cebu, Malapascua island is every beach lover and diver’s dream destination. It’s stunning beaches and world renown diving sites will make you want to stay here forever. With its unspoiled beauty and friendly locals, you will fall in love with this island over and over again.
From one of Cebu Pacific’s piso fare, I was able to snatch a low fare going to Cebu. After a few searches, I found Malapascua Island, Kalanggaman and Bantayan Island. With these three, I set out to create a 6-day itinerary to the best places to visit and activities to do.
If you’re planning on going to Malapascua, here’s a guide to help you create the perfect trip.
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How To Get There
- Book a flight to Cebu- Mactan Airport. Upon arrival, take a taxi to the northern bus terminal. The fare is around 200+ pesos.
- Ride the bus heading to Maya port. Usually, it’s the Ceres bus that goes there.
- The fare is P180 and travel time is 4 to 5 hours.
- For a faster transportation, you can ride a van going to Maya Port.
- Travel time is around 3 hours while the fare is at P220.
- At Maya port, ride a boat going to Malapascua. Travel time is around 30 mins.
Fare: P100 (during high tide); P120 (during low tide because you have to ride a small boat to bring you to the big boat)
Travel Tip: Check schedules and availability of buses, ferries, taxis or flights for booking online with 12Go Asia.
What To See and Do
Try Cliff Jumping
If you’re into cliff jumping, there’s the Lapus Lapus island which features a 15-meter cliff jump for the brave souls. You will need to rent a boat to bring you here.
Go on a Day Trip to Kalanggaman Island
This was the main reason why we opted to go to Malapascua Island. We wanted to see Kalanggaman Island.
For only P800, you will ride a boat and get free lunch. Travel time is around 1.5 to 2 hours depending on how big the waves are. Some consider this the most beautiful island in the country because of its very long sandbar and white sandy beach. Entrance fee is also collected on the island.
Entrance Fee: P150 (for locals) and P500(for foreigners)
Learn Diving
If you’re like me who has never dived before but want to, you can find lots of diving resorts on the island that offers diving courses for beginners. A lot of divers around the world come to Malapascua to hopefully get a glimpse of the thresher sharks that reside near the island.
Snorkeling
Instead of diving, we opted to snorkel around Malapascua. The boatmen brought us to some sweet spots where there were a lot of colorful fishes!
Go Beach Hopping
Needless to say, Malapascua is just one of those islands that’s blessed with a lot of beaches! If you’re up to it, you can go check these out one by one. There’s Bounty beach, Lighthouse beach, Guimbitayan beach, and Langob beach.
Getting Around
If you love to walk, you’re going to love Malapascua Island. You can walk from one place to everywhere else on the island. If you want, you can also rent a bicycle or ride a motorbike. To explore the island, you can hire the local fishermen and rent their boats.
Rates
- Motorbike Ride: P30-P50
- Motorboat Rental: P800-1000
Where to Stay
There are a lot of resorts to stay in Malapascua. Book some here.
Airbnb Malapascua
Aside from hotels and resorts, you can also opt to stay at an Airbnb.
Get your P2,200 ($44) Airbnb discount here!
Related Post: Malapascua: Romantic Place Guesthouse Review
Where to Eat
You can find a lot of restaurants by the Bounty Beach. Prices are a bit expensive though. The cheapest I could find was around P100.
Tips and Reminders
- Bring enough money before going to Malapascua since there’s no ATM on this island.
- The best time to visit the island is in summer.
- There are only a few stores and shops on the island so makes sure you bring everything you need including your own medication. There is no pharmacy on the island.
If you haven’t gotten enough of Malapascua, you should check out Bantayan Island.
Responsible Travel Tips
When traveling to one place, make sure you practice responsible tourism. Here are some tips to do so.
1. Respect the environment
Don’t litter. Please hold onto your trash until you find a garbage can. Don’t bring home the sand or any seashell. Leave them where they belong. Missing seashells can have potential detrimental environmental impacts.
Related: 16 Eco-Friendly Travel Products for the Earth-Loving You
2. Avoid single-use plastic
Bring your eco bag and refuse single-use plastic.
3. Shop local
Keep the traditional crafts alive and support local artisans. Buy from them. And try not to haggle, P20 may seem small to you but it can mean a lot to them.
4. Always ask permission
Be sure to ask for permission first when taking photos or videos especially when it comes to children
What to Pack for Malapascua
- Eco-friendly Reusable Water Bottle
- Light Rain Jacket (especially from June to November)
- T-shirts, a Nice top, and a Long-sleeved Shirt
- Aqua Shoes
- Day Bag
- Dry Bag
- Power Adapter
- Universal Waterproof Phone Case
- Packing Cubes
- Microfiber Towel
- Travel Insurance
- Money Belt
- Sneakers and Some Flats
- Reusable Straw and Reusable Bag (no to single-use plastic!)
Related Article: The Only Travel Packing List You’ll Ever Need (Trust Me)
Our Camera Gear
- Mirrorless Camera: Fujifilm XT3
- Lenses: Fujifilm Fujinon kit lens (18-55mm) | Fujinon 35mm f2 | Fujinon 50mm f2
- Drone: DJI Mavic Pro 2
- GoPro: GoPro Hero Black 7
- Power Bank: Romoss Powerbank
- Camera Backpack: Case Logic Camera and Laptop Backpack
- Monopod: Ifootage Cobra 2 a180
- Mic: Rode VideoMicro
- Gimbal: Zhiyun Weebill-S
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- Bantayan Island, Cebu: Ultimate Travel Guide
- Moalboal Island Hopping Travel Guide: A Snorkeling Paradise
- Mactan Island Hopping: Travel Guide
- 7 Can’t-miss Cebu Waterfalls to Visit
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BORACAY: A First-Timer’s Guide to Boracay Philippines
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VIGAN: 13 Vigan Tourist Spots That You Shouldn’t Miss
APO ISLAND: Apo Island Travel Guide: Snorkeling in Turtle Paradise
PALAUI: Palaui Island Budget Travel Guide (Sta Ana, Cagayan)
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I’ve always wanted to try snorkeling. This looks like the perfect place to try. The photos are also really great.
It will be our first time in Cebu and I am deciding where to go between Bantayan or Malapascua. Which do you recommend? Thanks
Hi Maine! Hmm. That’s a hard question. I’d say go to both! If you love scuba diving, definitely choose Malapascua. Also, if you want to go to Kalanggaman Island, there are day tours offered at Malapascua. On the other hand, Bantayan offers more choices when it comes to food, and beaches. 🙂