Visiting Malapascua Island in Cebu soon? Our Malapascua Travel Guide 2023 has all the details you need to get to and around the island.
Our Malapascua Island Travel Guide 2023 includes:
- Travel requirements upon entering the island
- How to go to Malapascua from Cebu City
- How much it costs to go to Malapascua Island
- Where to stay in Malapascua Island
- Internet coverage in Malapascua Island
- Best things to do in Malapascua Island
- Sample itinerary
At the end of this guide, we have a conservative sample itinerary for a trip to Malapascua Island. Feel free to adjust the timeline according to your preference.
Exploring the entire Cebu Island? Check out the 35 Things to Do in Cebu in 2023!
Malapascua Island Travel Requirements
Before boarding the boat to Malapascua Island, you need to present a few travel requirements at the Tourism Office at Maya Port. Here are the travel requirements to enter Malapascua Island in 2023:
- Confirmed booking from accredited hotels, hostels, Airbnb, or any accommodation type
- COVID-19 vaccination card or negative RT-PCR or antigen test result for non-vaccinated
- Valid ID
If you have these, you’re good to go!
The Cebu City to Malapascua Island route is the most common of all. You have at least 3 options for this route — by bus, van, or chartered taxi/van.
Option #1: By Bus
- Go to the NEW Cebu North Bus Terminal at the SM City Cebu parking area right beside MyBus Terminal.
- Take a Ceres bus to Maya Port, Daanbantayan. Fare is 220 PHP (~4 USD) for non-aircon and 250 PHP (~5 USD) for aircon. Travel time is about 4 hours.
- Proceed to the Tourism Office just a few meters away from where the bus drops you off to pay the 75 PHP (~1.5 USD) environmental fee.
- Proceed to the boat ticket stand. Fare is 200 PHP (~4 USD). Travel time is 30 minutes.
NOTE: Buses in Cebu City leave as early as 2:00 am. Leave as early as possible. The first boat trip from Maya Port to Malapascua Port is 5:30 am and the last is 5:30 pm. The first boat trip from Malapascua Port to Maya Port is 5:30 am and the last trip is 5:30 pm.
Option #2: By Van
- Go to the van terminal at SM City Cebu.
- Take a van to Maya Port. Fare is 250 PHP (~5 USD). Travel time is 3 hours and 30 minutes.
- Proceed to the Tourism Office just a few meters away from where the van drops you off to pay the 75 PHP (~1.5 USD) environmental fee.
- Proceed to the boat ticket stand. Fare is 200 PHP (~4 USD). Travel time is 30 minutes.
NOTE: Vans in Cebu City leave as early as 3:00 am. Leave as early as possible. Vans don’t leave until they get full. Each van carries around 12 passengers, so it could get too tight inside. If you have a big bag or luggage, the space inside is limited.
The first boat trip from Maya Port to Malapascua Port is 5:30 am and the last is 5:30 pm. The first boat trip from Malapascua Port to Maya Port is 5:30 am and the last trip is 5:30 pm.
Option #3: By Chartered Taxi or V-Hire
Whether you come from Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) or anywhere in Metro Cebu, you can ask any taxi if they can drive you to Maya Port. Regular sedan taxis can carry up to 4 passengers. Premium black SUV taxis can accommodate up to 7 passengers.
Chartered taxis to Maya Port cost around 3,000-4,500 PHP (~55-82 USD) one way, depending on your negotiation skills.
If you are a bigger group, a van for hire (V-Hire) can carry around 12 people. The best way to find vans for hire is at the van terminal at SM City Cebu.
You can ask van conductors or drivers directly. Vans for hire to Maya Port cost around 4,500-5,000 PHP (~80-91 USD) one way.
Proceed to the Tourism Office just a few meters away from where the taxi/van drops you off to pay the 75 PHP (~1.5 USD) environmental fee.
Then take a ferry to Malapascua Port. Fare is 200 PHP (~4 USD). Travel time is 30 minutes.
If you’re coming from Cebu Airport or Bantayan Island, read our full How to Go to Malapascua Island guide.
Malapascua Island Fare From Cebu 2023
- Cebu City to Maya Port fare – 250 PHP (~5 USD)
- Maya Port to Malapascua Port fare – 200 PHP (~4 USD)
- Environmental fee at Maya Port – 75 PHP (~1.5 USD)
- Habal-habal (motorcycle taxi) in Malapascua Island fare – 30 PHP (~0.5 USD)
Scooter for Rent in Malapascua Island
Malapascua Island is a small island, measuring 6.8 kilometers (4.2 miles). The main pathways are paved for scooters only. Locals just walk to get around the island.
If you plan to explore the island, you can rent a scooter for 500 PHP (~10 USD) per day. Upon arriving at Malapascua Port, locals will offer you a ride or a scooter for rent.
Internet in Malapascua Island
Some parts of Malapascua Island have Wi-Fi. However, it’s unreliable. All business lines in Malapascua Island are on the same internet provider with up to 30 Mbps speed.
But they all have a daily allocation of 30 GB per day, which is quite low. Once this is all consumed, the Wi-Fi connection slows down and virtually never works until it resets the following day.
If you intend to do work in Malapascua Island, I highly recommend using a Globe SIM card or portable Globe prepaid Wi-Fi. Globe has 4G coverage in the island, which should be enough to do voice and even video calls.
Every time I go to Malapascua Island, Globe always saves the day. However, the signal is not available in the entire island.
Globe mostly has good coverage on Bounty Beach and nearby areas. If you go to North Beach and the surrounding areas, it’s a different story.
Hotels in Malapascua Island with Good Internet
1. Hippocampus Beach Resort
- Overall rating: 8.4 / 10 (951+ reviews)
- Accommodation type: Private room in a home with access to public beach
- Facilities: Aircon, private bath/toilet, ref, patio, restaurant, bar, dive shop
- Location: Bounty Beach
- Internet speed: 30 Mbps
- Price: From 1,300 PHP (~24 USD) per night
2. Malapascua Starlight Resort
- Overall rating: 8.6 / 10 (311+ reviews)
- Accommodation type: Private room with walking access to public beach
- Facilities: Aircon, private bath/toilet, ref, porch
- Location: Bounty Beach
- Internet speed: 30 Mbps
- Price: From 1,325 PHP (~24 USD) per night
3. 1BR Airbnb
- Overall rating: 4.83 / 5.0 (42+ reviews)
- Accommodation type: Private room in an apartment with walking access to public beach
- Facilities: Aircon, private bath/toilet, hot/cold shower, ref, mini kettle, king bed, balcony
- Location: Logon
- Internet speed: 30 Mbps
- Price: From 2,100 PHP (~38 USD) per night
4. Chief’s Villa
- Overall rating: 9 / 10 (9+ reviews)
- Accommodation type: Villa with garden with 1 king bed and 3 single beds
- Facilities: Aircon, private bath/toilet, hot/cold shower, work desk, king bed, garden, full kitchen
- Location: Logon
- Internet speed: 30 Mbps
- Price: From 2,350 PHP (~43 USD) per night
5 Malapascua Island Activities You Should Consider
Malapascua Island is much smaller compared to Bantayan Island and Camotes Island. Nevertheless, there are a few activities you can do. Here are some of the top things to do in Malapascua Island:
1. Diving with Sharks
Malapascua Island is one of the best diving sites in Cebu and the Philippines. See pelagic thresher sharks in Monad Shoal, one of the few places in the world with consistent sightings of this shark. Therefore, you can visit any time of the year and still see thresher sharks.
- Cost: From 2,500 PHP (~40 USD) for fun dives
- Location: Monad Shoal, Malapascua Island
- Contact: +63 917 625 4195 (Thresher Shark Divers Malapascua)
- Best time to visit: January to December
- Nearby attractions: Bounty Beach, North Beach, Lapus Lapus Cliff
2. Sunbathe at Bounty Beach
Bounty Beach is the main beach in the island where bars, resorts, restaurants, and dive shops line the shores. The clear white sand beach is definitely something you’ll enjoy, especially during sunsets.
- Admission: Free
- Best time to visit: January to May
- Nearby attractions: Bounty Beach, North Beach, Lapus Lapus Cliff
3. Chill at North Beach
Locally known as Langub Beach, North Beach is a bit far from Bounty Beach but it’s worth a visit. There are coconut-hang swings here, and you can snorkel too. Bring chips and your favorite cold beer to chill by the sea. There are many stalls and a few resorts nearby selling coconuts, chips, drinks, and more.
- Admission: Free
- Best time to visit: January to May
- Nearby attractions: Lapus Lapus Cliff, Bounty Beach
4. Go island hopping in Malapascua
Island hopping is one of the major activities in Malapascua Island. Most island hopping tours include Dakit-Dakit Island where you can snorkel and dive, Coral Garden where you can snorkel, Japanese shipwreck (a sunken Japanese battleship from WWII), a lighthouse, and Lapus Lapus Cliff.
5. Party at Hippocampus
At night, Bounty Beach lights up and is popular among drinkers and party-goers. Hippocampus, in particular, is a great spot where tourists and locals come together to enjoy music and dance the night away.
Malapascua Island Travel Guide FAQs
Got any questions about your trip to Malapascua Island? Of course, you do! Here are some frequently asked questions about traveling to Malapascua Island:
1. What is Malapascua Island known for?
Malapascua Island is popular for thresher shark sightings all year round. Divers come here any time of the year to get close to this rare shark.
Aside from that, Malapascua Island also has crystal clear water and white sand beaches where tourists can relax for free.
2. How to get from Cebu airport to Malapascua
The best way to get directly from Cebu airport to Malapascua Island is through a chartered taxi. Note that there’s no bus or van that directly transfers you to Malapascua Island from Cebu’s airport. You need to take the bus or van from Cebu North Bus Terminal.
Read our full guide on How to Go to Malapascua Island from Cebu Airport!
3. How many hours from Cebu to Malapascua
It takes about 5-6 hours to get to Malapascua Island from Cebu City, and that includes bus/van and boat transfers. The earlier you leave Cebu City, the looser traffic. We recommend leaving Cebu City before 5:00 am to cut your travel time short.
4. How much does Malapascua cost?
A trip to Malapascua Island for 3 days and 2 nights can cost around 5,200 PHP (~95 USD), given you follow some of our recommendations. You can definitely spend more or less, depending on your budget flexibility.
5. How many days do you need in Malapascua?
Three days and two nights are enough to experience Malapascua Island. If you want to go diving, you want to add extra 1-2 days. If you just want a quick relaxation away from the city or a side trip, 2 days and 1 night is definitely okay.
Wrapping Up Our Malapascua Travel Guide 2023
And that ends our Malapascua guide. I hope I’ve covered enough to help you create your Malapascua Island itinerary.
If you still have questions or clarifications, I’d love to answer them in the comments. For now, that’s all for this post.
