Malapascua Island

Malapascua Island - a hidden gem in the heart of the Philippines! Known for its pristine white sand beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and vibrant marine life, Malapascua offers a unique tropical paradise experience. Beyond diving, you can indulge in relaxing beach days, explore picturesque coastal villages, and spoil yourself with a full-body massage.

After arriving in Manila, we transferred to Mactan-Cebu International Airport (CEB) via a 1.5 hour flight. Depending on your arrival time, you may chose to stay overnight in Cebu before travelling to Malapascua Island, a journey that will take another few hours!

Getting to Malapascua Island: Two options are available:

1. Private transport (4 - 4.5 hours) by Malapascua-based hotels or dive operators
   Pros: Convenient and comfortable | Cons: Expensive, 11,500 - 13,000 PHP (return) for two people

2. Public transport (5.5+ hours)
   Pros: Cost effective, 600 PHP per person per way | Cons: Less flexible and comfortable

We stayed overnight at Cebu and travelled to Malapascua the following day via private transfer, leaving at 9:00 am to avoid traffic, reaching Maya Port in 3.5 hours, followed by a 30-minute scenic private ‘ferry’ ride to Malapascua.

Upon our arrival, we were warmly welcomed by the the hotel staff at Ocean Vida Beach and Dive Resort. We had delicious burgers and fries on the beach for lunch, before continuing on to explore the shoreline and enjoying a relaxed evening.

Day 2: Traveling to Malapascua Island and Exploring the Island

Day 1: Traveling to Manila and Transferring to Mactan-Cebu International Airport

5 spectacular dives! We dived at Monad Shoal, Kimud Shoal and Gato Island. The most notable was Monad shoal, an underwater island 1.5 km long and with a 200 meter drop! It's the most popular dive spot in Malapascua, and is the only place in the world where you can get a close encounter with the elusive Thresher sharks. The starfish abundance and diversity here was another highlight! An overview of the other dive sites worth visiting near Malapascua can be found here.

Days 3 and 4: Diving and Evening Activities

Thresher sharks hunt small fish deep in the ocean most of the day, but come to shallower waters (20-27 m) to visit underwater cleaning stations just before or during sunrise (we had to wake up at 5:00 am to see them!). Cleaning stations are locations where fish (in this case Thresher sharks) and other marine organisms congregate daily to get parasites, dead skin, mucus and bacteria cleaned off their skin by cleaning fishes, such as the blue-streak and moon cleaner wrasse in Malapascua.

We took in the peaceful beaches of Malapascua one last time, before making our way back to Cebu, for a flight to our next destination:

In the evenings, we explored the island, experienced a full body massage, and tried Filipino food. The Shrimp Hot Plate at Avrill's Malapascua Island (located near the town's local market) was absolutely delicious. Don't forget to try the refreshing Filipino lemonade, known as Calamansi Juice, made from calamansi (Filipino lime) sugar and cold water, a perfect match for those beach vibes.

Day 5: Last Goodbyes