Malapascua Island

Malapascua – an island way up north the island of Cebu, is notably popular to scuba divers and deep free divers mainly because of the fearful yet beautiful thresher sharks! They lie deep within the waters around 90ft down via scuba. These wonderful creatures are actually a sign that marine life is still prosperous around the area!

But today, it’s now also a major hotspot for beach lovers, cliff jumpers, chill buddies, and basically everyone who craves white sand beaches. The island is surrounded with eye-blinding white sand beaches and clear waters perfect for your underwater photo shoots as well! Moreover, they even offer trips to Kalanggaman Island Leyte (it deserves a separate blog page.haha)! So if you’re doubting to ever go at Malapascua since you’re not a diver; well, just don’t! Hop on and rediscover more of Malapascua!

HOW TO GET THERE

From Cebu City

Take a cab/taxi form the airport going to Cebu North Bus Terminal
Find a bus/van that departs for Daanbantayan; more specifically at Maya Port
Drop off at Maya Port (this is usually the last drop off point so you will have no trouble getting lost)
From Maya Port, there are scheduled ferries or small boats going to Malapascua (every 30min; but need at least a minimum of 10 passengers)
Once at Malapascua island, you could either walk to your resort (if it’s on the south end – Bountry beach) or hire a habal-habal to get you there (specially if it’s way up north the island).

From Bantayan Island

Take the ferry from Sta. Fe Port back to Hagnaya Port
From Hagnaya Port, take a trike ride to Don Pedro
Get off at Don Pedro and look for the road split going North
Wait for a bus going to Daanbantayan; more specifically at Maya Port
Find a bus/van that departs for Daanbantayan specifically at Maya Port
Drop off at Maya Port (this is usually the last drop off point so you will have no trouble getting lost)
From Maya Port, there are scheduled ferries or small boats going to Malapascua (every 30min; but need at least a minimum of 10 passengers)
Once at Malapascua island, you could either walk to your resort (if it’s on the south end – Bountry beach) or hire a habal-habal to get you there (specially if it’s way up north the island).

WHERE TO STAY

Malapascua is a well known tourist spot, and it would be impossible for you not to see accommodations. Beach front (Bountry beach) resorts like Cocobana and Ocean Vida Resorts are pretty much the mainstay in this category. There are also beach front resorts west of Bounty beach namely Tepanee and Blue Coral. If you’re planning to travel on a peak season, better reserve as early as possible.

For those in a tight budget, there are homestay accommodations and/or inns as well. Just walk around inside the island and follow the path until you see one. Trust me, you’ll never get lost; it’s simply a circumferencial road encircling the whole island.

THE BUDGET

The budget below would only include transports/fees/ and accommodation taken as of November 2016. Other miscellaneous expenses; ie. pasalubong (dried fishes/ daing etc) aren’t included. haha! Starting point would be Bantayan Island since we visited it first. If you’re from Cebu City, then just ride a bus straight to Maya Port and skip to line 4 below.

Sta. Fe Port to Hagnaya Port: 170php ea (via Ferry)
Hagnaya Port to Don Pedro: 20php ea (via non-special trike)
Don Pedro to Maya Port: 90php ea (via Ceres Bus)
Maya Port to Malapascua Island: 150php ea (via boat; minimum 10 passengers before departing)
Hagnaya Port > Sta. Fe Port: 170php ea (via Ferry)
Malapascua Tour: 1200php (private boat good for 6pax)
Kalanggaman Tour: 800php ea (joiner)

TOURING MALAPASCUA

Aside from the scuba experience at Malapascua – in which you need an open water license to see the sharks, you still have more to explore on the island itself. You could actually hire a boat and take you around the island, do cliff jumping from cliffs, and free dive on ship wrecks! All in a day! What else? Well… they offer trips to Kalanggaman Island Leyte as well. Will write a separate blog about it since it’s definitely one of the best islands in the Philippines in my opinion.