A 35-minute boat ride from the northern tip of Cebu, Malapascua Island is one of those destinations that keep popping up on more and more Philippines travel itineraries. This little paradise, barely 3 square kilometers in size, is an ideal place to enjoy a few relaxing days in the country of more than 7,000 islands and one of our favorite retreats in the world. Although it’s one of the best places to dive in the Philippines, contrary to what some people think, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Malapascua beyond diving. After all, we’ve visited more than 8 times, staying for long stretches on several of those trips, and we can say it’s one of our favorite places on the planet.
Here you’ll find the best things to do in Malapascua so you don’t miss a thing on your next visit. Whether you dive or not, we promise you’ll fall head over heels for this island, because it has a certain something that wins over the vast majority of travelers.
Things to Do in Malapascua – 2026 Guide
1. Discover the beaches of northern Malapascua
The vast majority of Malapascua’s hotels and resorts are in the southern part of the island, where boats from Cebu arrive. Although you can swim in beautiful, crystal-clear waters there too, Malapascua’s best stretch of coastline is in the north.
The distance from one end to the other is barely 3 kilometers. So, if you know the way, the walk won’t take much more than half an hour. If you prefer, you can save time by taking a habal habal (a motorcycle taxi), which costs 30 pesos (if there are 2 of you, you can negotiate 50) and will get you there in less than 10 minutes. Once you arrive, you’ll find Langob Beach, a beautiful, long stretch of white sand without the crowds, making a visit a must-do in Malapascua.
There are now a few businesses and the occasional drinks stand on Langob Beach, so you can enjoy a leisurely meal or a drink in this slice of paradise. You’ll find more information on this in Where to Eat in Malapascua.
Your next stop has to be Bantigue Cove, home to the abandoned resort we tell you about below. And, if you’d like a little insider tip, you can follow a path uphill between the abandoned bungalows to reach Gugma Beach, one of our favorites, where there’s usually no one around.
Langob Beach on the left and Bantigue Beach on the right
Gugma Beach
⭐ By the way, if you’re feeling lazy one day and don’t want to head north, one of our favorite stretches of coastline is by the Exotic and Evolution resorts, in the Bounty Beach area. Here you’ll find fine white sand and calm turquoise waters for a dip. It’s rare not to find us there.
You can read about these and several others in our guide to the Best Beaches in Malapascua.
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2. The lighthouse, the abandoned resort, and Lapus Lapus Cliff
The northern part of Malapascua Island has other attractions besides Langob Beach. Add these three spots to round out the perfect outing. If you want to enjoy panoramic views of the area, head to the lighthouse. It’s easy to find and reach, and from there you’ll see the full sweep of the beach, the nearby small villages, and Lapus Lapus Cliff, the next place to visit in Malapascua.
Lapus Lapus Cliff is a cliff that few visitors to the island know about, so they overlook it when putting together their list of things to do in Malapascua. It takes less than 10 minutes to get there from the lighthouse, and you’ll find a spectacular 12-meter drop. If you love an adrenaline rush and you’re brave enough, you can jump off it just like many local kids do. If not, it’s still a spectacular spot to enjoy a beautiful sunset. There’s a 30-peso entrance fee.
2026 update: on our latest visit, the woman who works there told us that jumping off the cliff is prohibited because there have been some fatal accidents. You can only see the garden and go snorkeling, but it’s worth going in for a look around.
A little tip from Travel Around the Philippines: before you head back south, there’s one more spot to check out. We’ve already let you in on it, but we don’t want you to miss it. Right at the opposite end of Langob Beach is a small abandoned resort. Even if you see a fence, you can go right in; entry isn’t prohibited. This former resort has a small private beach that’s a little more sheltered from the wind, along with some very photogenic spots, such as the Instagrammable blue window (though it’s becoming less so) in what used to be a dive center, now left in ruins by Typhoon Yolanda. You’ll find it by Googling “Bantigue Cove”, but you really can’t miss it.
2026 UPDATE: with the wall in such poor condition, the blue window disappeared in July 2026… We’re so sad about it, as we’d been visiting this little spot since 2015. We’re leaving this here in case you read something different on pages that haven’t been updated.
3. A trip to Kalanggaman, the epic sandbar
The most famous excursion to take in Malapascua, aside from diving trips, takes you to one of the most spectacular places in the Philippines: the tiny island paradise of Kalanggaman Island. The trip from one to the other takes about 2 hours, and as you approach, you won’t believe your eyes. Kalanggaman Island measures roughly 700 meters, and when the tide goes out, one of the most spectacular sandbars in the Philippines emerges. It can stretch more than 200 meters long!
Although various facilities have been built in recent years, including small huts you can rent to spend the day and have a meal, Kalanggaman Island is still an ideal place to visit and relax on white sand lapped by turquoise waters. In the northern part, there are some very basic bungalows where you can spend the night for around a thousand pesos, while the southeastern part, with fewer currents and a wonderful underwater landscape, is ideal for snorkeling. If you’re lucky, you might come across one of the turtles that often swim around there! You’ll find more information and prices for this excursion in the guide Kalanggaman Island: How to Get There and Practical Information.
Keep in mind that how much of the sandbar you can see depends on the tides. If you want to see Kalanggaman in all its glory, try to stay overnight or check the tide chart. Bear in mind that the boat from Malapascua arrives at the island around 11:00 am and leaves around 2:30 pm.
4. Diving with thresher sharks
Going thresher shark diving in Malapascua is one of the biggest highlights for underwater enthusiasts visiting this part of the Philippines. Every morning before dawn, around 4:30 am, the bangkas (traditional Filipino boats) from the various dive schools set off on a roughly 45-minute journey to Kimud Shoal. This spot is unique in the world, as it’s one of the most accessible thresher shark cleaning stations, with one of the highest sighting success rates. These unusual sharks live at depths of around 300 meters and rise to the cleaning stations at 15-20 meters to have parasites removed by the various fish that live there.
Since these are wild animals, sightings aren’t 100% guaranteed, but the chances are really high (we’d say 95%), and we’ve even seen more than 15 sharks at once. The thresher shark dive is, without a doubt, a must-do in Malapascua.
Of course, bear in mind that you’ll need at least an Open Water Diver certification. In other words, you can’t go without a certification or do an introductory dive.
We’ve been diving in Malapascua countless times and have tried several dive centers. If you need help, leave us a comment and we’ll send you all the information about our trusted dive center on the island. They’re fantastic, they’ve been here for more than 10 years, and they’ll make you feel right at home, with a location right on the beach to top it off.
5. Diving in Malapascua
Beyond the amazing experience of diving with thresher sharks in Malapascua, there are many more dive sites to explore near the island. At Lighthouse Reef, you can enjoy a night dive that draws photographers from all over the world, as you can witness the courtship dance of mandarinfish, see dwarf cuttlefish, tiny seahorses, and various types of tropical shrimp.
Another of the most famous spots is Gato Island, where your Open Water certification is all you need to explore various dive sites with spectacular coral-covered seabeds, whitetip sharks, blue-ringed octopuses, frogfish, and pygmy seahorses. Other dive sites we love are Deep Slope, where we got to see the magnificent flamboyant cuttlefish, and Monad Shoal, once frequented by thresher sharks and now home to tiger sharks.
You’ll find more information in our guide to Diving in Malapascua.
We can also give you the contact details for the best dive center for these dives. Leave us a comment and we’ll send them over so you get the five-star treatment.
6. Enjoy the sunset, a simple thing to do in Malapascua
If you don’t want to go all the way north to watch the sun go down from Lapus Lapus Cliff or the lighthouse, there are two ideal places to enjoy this moment with a drink while soaking up the island’s vibe. The bar and restaurant at “Kokay’s Maldito Dive Resort” has one of the best spots to take in the sunset in all its glory, as the sun sets right in front of its terrace for much of the year. Plus, low tide creates a truly postcard-perfect scene beside the little cliff in front of it.
Another option is the Tepanee hotel, which isn’t private. This little spot is accessible via the path that leads to the cemetery. Now that this area has become a marine sanctuary, you can’t spend time on the beach, but you can always have a drink at the bar.
Watching the sunset is something you can put on your list of things to do in Malapascua every day, so you can alternate between the bar with the best views and the bar with the best atmosphere to enjoy the evening sky. We’re talking about the Ocean Vida resort’s terrace, where the comfortable beanbags, pleasant music, and delicious cocktails will make it a moment to treasure. If all that weren’t enough, the 2-for-1 deal during happy hour will seal the deal.
Take our advice and order the banana or pineapple daiquiri, but watch out for the Tanduay!
7. Explore the big city and its disco party
On an island of just 3 square kilometers, there’s obviously no room for a big city, but the closest thing you’ll find here is the metropolis of Logon (better known to its residents as Barrio). This is one of the few areas of town with paved streets, and as you wander around, you’ll find small businesses, sari sari stores, and, of course, those karaoke spots Filipinos love so much. If you’re looking for something to do in Malapascua on a Saturday night, it comes down to two words: Disco Party.
Almost every Saturday, the church courtyard becomes the island’s dance floor, with big hits from yesterday and today getting everyone dancing as bottles of Tanduay rum are emptied one after another. Spending one of these Saturdays Filipino-style is so much fun. Don’t miss it!
8. Grab your mask and snorkel and go snorkeling
Although it doesn’t compare to other snorkeling spots in the Philippines, Malapascua has places to explore too. When you arrive on the island, you’ll see people offering tours of the various reefs around it (800-1,000 pesos per boat for 3-4 hours), but if you want to save a little, you can do what we do and swim from Tepanee’s beach toward Dakit Dakit. This tiny island is surrounded by corals and has plenty of marine life. Just be careful, because boats pass through this area and you need to stay alert. It’s also quite a swim, so we only recommend it if you’re a strong swimmer.
Over the past year, numerous baby blacktip sharks (up to 30 at once) have been spotted at Tepanee’s beach and around Dakit Dakit. Of course, they’re not aggressive, so you can swim alongside them without any problems. Please move quietly, don’t get too close, and don’t disturb them, so they’ll stick around for a long time. The area has been declared a marine protected area, and you need to follow a few rules (such as not going at low tide or standing up), but you no longer have to pay anything. Bear in mind that you can’t stay in the sanctuary after 5:00 pm.
Another interesting spot to add to your list of things to do in Malapascua is the World War II shipwreck. Although it’s small and only the skeleton remains, you can visit it on your own, and it’s an intriguing sight. You’ll find it more or less in front of the lighthouse. There are signs pointing the way, and it’s also marked on Google Maps.
9. Visit the neighboring islands: Carnaza and Lamanok
There are several interesting islands to explore relatively close to Malapascua. For example, you can negotiate a trip with a boatman to the neighboring islands of Lamanok and Carnaza (it usually costs around 7,000 pesos per boat, so depending on how many of you there are, you might pay around 1,500 per person) or, if the timing works out, join the tour Villa Potenciana organizes from time to time and spend the night in a tent on Carnaza (as we did).
These 2 islands have beautiful beaches to discover and, best of all, see very few tourists, so the feeling is incredible.
10. Relax and enjoy the pace of life on Malapascua Island
Yes, Malapascua gives you the chance to enjoy amazing sunsets, dive with the wonderful thresher shark, swim at dreamy beaches, and head out to discover wonderful places like Kalanggaman Island. But above all, Malapascua is a state of mind that will draw you in and make you rethink your Philippines itinerary. Plenty of people (ourselves included) arrive planning to stay for 2 days and end up extending their visit. Take the opportunity to rest under a palm tree, get to know the people, and settle into the island’s magical rhythm.
One of the best things to do in Malapascua is simply to let yourself fall in love with it.
Map of Malapascua
This map of Malapascua will help you easily find all the sights to see in Malapascua. Open it on your phone once you’re on the island so you can use it in real time and find the paths connecting each spot.
Useful information about Malapascua
You now have plenty of ideas for things to do in Malapascua, but here are a few practical tips we’re sure will help you enjoy the island even more:
How to get to Malapascua
To make enjoying this little paradise as easy as possible, we share all the details on getting from Cebu to Malapascua in our guide on how to get to Malapascua.
For a quick overview, the most common route is from Cebu City, where you can take a bus or van that takes about 4-5 hours to reach Maya port, where boats depart for Malapascua (30-45 minutes).
If you want a comfortable ride, you can also take a private taxi or van from Cebu. This can make the journey more comfortable and shorten it to around 3-3.5 hours. Taxi fares are around 2,500 pesos per trip. If you’d like, leave us a comment and we’ll share our trusted contact.
Where to stay in Malapascua
In Malapascua, you’ll find budget-friendly hotels as well as fantastic resorts. These are our top recommendations from all the places we’ve tried over the years:
- Malapascua Budget Inn: if you’re looking for shared backpacker accommodations, there aren’t many options, but this is the best on the island. Beds from $13.
- Malapascua Garden Resort: well located and clean, with spacious rooms. From $35.
- Tepanee Beach Resort: the best hotel in Malapascua. Most rooms have sea views.
We’ve also put together a selection of the best hotels in Malapascua, where you’ll find the most appealing options. Don’t miss it!
How to get around Malapascua
Since the island is so small, you’ll probably walk everywhere. That said, you’ll also find motorcycle (habal-habal) drivers who can take you wherever you ask. You’ll see them all over the island, though they tend to be more common around the market. The longest ride, from Logon to Langob Beach, costs just 40 pesos per person.
There are also hostels that rent out bicycles for getting around Malapascua. In our view, with the island being so tiny, it’s not worth renting a motorcycle for the whole day.
More information about Malapascua
Here are a few more practical details about the island:
- There are now ATMs in Malapascua, but bear in mind that they’re Euronet machines. This company has grown like crazy and makes a killing by applying its own exchange rates. It also charges you a 250-peso withdrawal fee. We don’t use them and recommend using Remitly and withdrawing money at one of the island’s two pawnshops. You’ll find them HERE and HERE. In Money in the Philippines, you’ll find all the information you need to manage your money.
- Bear in mind that Malapascua has no hospitals or clinics. Remember to travel with a travel insurance policy for the Philippines that covers transportation in an emergency.
- Make the most of Filipino food in Malapascua. Our favorite restaurants are the carenderias at the market, Mr. Kwiiz, Evolution, and Angelina (the best pizzas in Malapascua). You’ll find all the information you need in Where to Eat in Malapascua.
- The best time to visit Malapascua is from December to May. In Best Time to Visit the Philippines and When to Visit the Philippines, you’ll find more detailed information about the Philippine climate, but you can visit the island all year round.
- The 4G networks from Smart and Globe (especially the latter) work quite well if you have a SIM card (more info in Internet in the Philippines). If you need reliable internet for calls or work, you’ll find it at DevoZen Cafe. Although they serve specialty coffee from a good coffee shop in Cebu, we weren’t all that impressed with it, but we have to admit the internet works well.
- Since 2023, you’ve had to pay an entrance fee of 120 pesos to visit the island. You’ll be asked to pay it at Maya pier.
- Bring everything you think you’ll need to the island, because you won’t find any large stores. It’s best to bring sunscreen and, please, make sure it’s safe for corals and marine life. Otherwise, the Blue Corals hotel has a good selection of sunscreens and insect repellents.
Frequently asked questions about Malapascua
Where is Malapascua, and how long does it take to get there from Cebu?
Malapascua is north of Cebu Island. From Cebu City, it takes around 4-5 hours by bus or van to Maya port, followed by 30-45 minutes in a bangka to the island. Private transportation shortens the journey to around 3 hours.
What is the best time to visit Malapascua?
The best time is from December to May (the dry season). That said, you can visit the island all year round.
Is Malapascua only for divers?
No. Although thresher shark diving is a major draw, there are also beautiful beaches, excursions such as the trip to Kalanggaman Island, snorkeling, a fantastic atmosphere like no other, and postcard-perfect sunsets.
Where can you dive with thresher sharks?
Malapascua is the ideal place. Before dawn at Kimud Shoal, 45 minutes away by bangka. The chances of a sighting are very high, but you need to be a certified diver.
Can I go snorkeling with sharks on my own?
Yes. From Tepanee’s beach, you can swim to Dakit-Dakit, a protected area where you can see corals and baby blacktip sharks.
How much does the trip to Kalanggaman Island cost?
The group tour from Malapascua costs around 2,200-2,500 PHP per person (fees included). Whether you can see the entire sandbar depends on the tides that particular day.
Are there ATMs on the island?
There are Euronet ATMs, but they charge high fees and use their own exchange rate. Bring cash or use Remitly to withdraw money at local pawnshops with lower extra charges.
Do you have any questions or recommendations about this list of things to do in Malapascua? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!
