There’s a rumor going around that “if you don’t dive, it’s not worth going to Malapascua,” but we couldn’t disagree more. The island is one of our favorites on trips around the Philippines and, although we are divers, we’ve spent weeks here without doing a single dive. The beaches of Malapascua are gorgeous and it’s an ideal destination for anyone looking to relax without needing to hop on a motorbike or a boat.
With an area of barely 2 square kilometers, you can reach all these beaches on foot and, best of all, you’ll find them almost empty. Malapascua is a destination that, although on the tourist radar, still doesn’t get crowds and keeps a laid‑back vibe.
As people in love with the island—we’ve been lucky enough to spend months here—we’ve put together the ones we believe are the best beaches in Malapascua. Of course, there are several more, so if you’re an avid adventurer, don’t hesitate to wander its coastline and discover them.
What Malapascua’s beaches are like
Maybe we’ve already talked you out of skipping Malapascua just because you don’t dive, “but why do you like this island’s beaches so much?” Basically because they are beautiful and perfect for swimming.
Most Malapascua beaches have fine, white sand. And while they don’t reach the fineness of Boracay’s White Beach (which is almost impossible), they’re perfect for laying down your towel without getting poked by rocks. On top of that, they’re lapped by crystal‑clear water that will blow your mind and, in the distance, you’ll see several lovely shades of turquoise. Plus, unlike the beaches of Bohol or Siargao, most have good depth so you can be fully in the water without much effort—even at low tide.
To complete the picture, you’ll always find a few coconut palms (careful standing under them—coconuts fall!) or the kind of exotic greenery we love, which gives you natural shade.
Another draw of Malapascua’s beaches is their calm. Unlike other destinations—unless you visit on local holidays or during Holy Week—you’ll likely have your own little stretch of sand to yourself.
Unfortunately, the lack of tourist infrastructure on some of them or certain sections means you might find trash from time to time. While the island does have a waste‑management issue that several organizations are trying to mitigate, we’re all ultimately responsible, since tides (especially big ones during storms) bring in rubbish from kilometers away. We kindly ask you to take 5 minutes of your day to pick up what you see around you—it makes a big difference. You can also join the cleanups run by People and the Sea.
Finally, remember that beaches—obvious as it sounds—are part of nature and will look more or less pretty depending on previous or current conditions. That is, there may be more or fewer seaweeds, the water may be choppier, or there may be more or less sand. So they don’t always look the same.
Map of the best beaches in Malapascua and nearby places to stay
To help you get your bearings, we’ve prepared a map with the beaches of Malapascua and the most recommended places to sleep. Even so, keep in mind that you can walk Malapascua from north to south in barely 1 hour, so you can explore all these beaches on foot with no problem. Our tip is to look for a resort around the southern end of Bounty Beach, where you’ll find more buzz and restaurants. You have all the info you need to decide here: Where to stay in Malapascua.
Best beaches in Malapascua
Langob Beach, the prettiest in Malapascua
If you can only choose one Malapascua beach (which would make us sad), it has to be Langob Beach.
Back in 2014, when we set foot here for the first time, we asked at a small sari sari (little kiosks) what it was called and they told us Mariquita Beach, but its official name is Langob, which means “cave” in Bisaya.
This is a very long beach with fine white sand—perhaps the prettiest on the island—and turquoise waters. Depending on the time of year you visit, the water may be more or less calm, but it’s quite common to find it pool‑like, so you can swim at both high and low tide.
It’s still a fairly untouched beach. Aside from one hotel with a restaurant, what you’ll see here are locals’ houses and, because it’s so big, it won’t be hard to find your own spot and some shade.
This Malapascua beach is very picturesque, but if you want a cool photo, we suggest walking to the left (facing the sea) to find what we nicknamed “the twin palms”. Framing those two slender palms together with the turquoise sea behind is a truly killer shot.
How to get to Langob Beach You can do it two ways: walk from the south (where most hotels are), which will take about 45 minutes. It’s best to do this early in the day, as some sections of the path have very little shade and the sun can be brutal. Even so, you can take a dip at a few beaches along the way, like the one marked on Google Maps as Pilar Pilapil Resort. Another option is to go by habal‑habal, that is, a shared motorbike. Drivers usually wait at the market and charge 40 pesos. If there are 2 of you (yes, three can ride one bike), you can negotiate. A fair price would be 60 pesos.
Hotels near Langob Beach: D’ Avila’s Horizon and Neverland
Bantigue Cove Beach, the abandoned‑resort beach
If you walk to the right (facing the sea) along Langob Beach, you’ll come to one of the prettiest beaches in Malapascua.
Bantigue Cove is a small strip of fine white sand, perfect for relaxing, well sheltered from the wind and shaped like a little cove. There are trees and palms, so you’ll easily find shade, and it also has Malapascua’s most Instagrammable corner: the blue window. You’ll find it on the left side of the beach, where the abandoned resort’s former dive center was.
Although the hotel no longer exists—as you’ll notice as soon as you arrive, since along the way you can even spot the bathroom blocks from rooms swept away by Typhoon Yolanda in 2013—it still has a caretaker. That’s why it’s one of the cleanest beaches in Malapascua.
How to get to Bantigue Cove Just walk to the right (facing the sea) when you reach Langob Beach. You’ll see the start of some steps. Don’t worry about the fence—it isn’t private.
Bantigue beach, Malapascua
Gugma Beach, a Malapascua secret
One of our favorite things to do in Malapascua is wander the little villages on the east coast. We walk from the hotel area, pass Thresher Cove, and then get lost along the paths. On one of those walks we found Gugma, which for us is one of the best beaches in Malapascua.
Completely empty, with no houses and just a couple of boats moored, it’s a white‑sand stretch lapped by clear water. The beach is also sheltered by two small cliffs, making it very comfortable when it’s windy. To top it off, there are beautiful palm trees for shade that make it very photogenic. Sadly, depending on the time of year, it’s normal to find quite a bit of plastic on the sand.
As there are no restaurants nearby and you’ll probably want to spend several hours here, don’t forget to bring food and water.
How to get to Gugma Beach You can do it as we mentioned above, or walk to Langob Beach and from there continue to Bantigue, then look for a small path behind the abandoned resort rooms. The next beach is Gugma Beach.
Bounty Beach, Malapascua’s most famous beach
If there’s one Malapascua beach you’ll definitely pass through, it’s Bounty Beach. You could call it the island’s main beach, since this is where most resorts, beach bars, and dive shops in Malapascua are located. Don’t worry, Bounty is nothing like Benidorm, and it’s long enough for everyone to have space.
Sadly, with sea‑level rise it’s getting smaller, but there are gorgeous sections to relax. Our favorite is the one between the Exotic hotel and AABANA, as the water is usually calm, there’s lots of white sand, and a bit of shade. We also love the stretch in front of Daño, which is usually almost empty. And, of course, sunset happy hours with our friends at Ocean Vida.
Hotels on Bounty Beach: Evolution Dive and Beach Resort, AABANA Beach&Watersport Resort, Hippocampus Beach Resort and Ocean Vida Resort
Cemetery Beach—it sounds eerie, but it’s great
It may sound a bit eerie, but this beach is truly lovely and we recommend it if you urgently need a dip.
Located right where the Malapascua cemetery is (you’ll actually have to walk through it to reach the beach), the highlight here is the rocky shoreline, which creates an amazing natural‑pool effect for swimming. And although getting in can be a little awkward, you can be well submerged here even at low tide.
Also, right off this Malapascua beach is the dive site known as Blue Corner. This is where dive students are taken to practice their very first skills, since visibility is good, there’s a shallow sandy area, and currents are usually mild. If you bring your snorkel, have a swim—you can see clownfish, starfish, and, if you look closely, a pipefish or two.
The downside is there isn’t much shade.
Hotels on Cemetery Beach: Blanco Beach Resort and Tepanee Beach Resort
Tepanee Beach, epic sunsets
Because the entire coastal strip in front of the Tepanee hotel up to Dakit Dakit islet has become a protected marine area, it’s no longer possible to sit on the sand here. It’s a measure to protect the coral that can be found in shallow water and the growing family of blacktip reef sharks that live here. Snorkeling is only allowed if you pay the environmental fees (50 pesos per person).
Even so, we still recommend it because it’s the best place to watch the sunset with no obstructions. If you like, you can grab a drink at Chiringuito, the hotel bar.
How to get to Tepanee Beach You’ll have to go through the cemetery and, at the end of this beach, climb a small set of steps. Don’t worry—although you’ll pass through the resort, it’s completely public.
Hotels on Tepanee Beach: Blanco Beach Resort and Tepanee Beach Resort
Logon Beach, the beach in Malapascua’s capital
Although it isn’t Malapascua’s most beautiful beach, Logon—or “Barrio”—had to make the list. It’s usually full of boats and a pier has been built that— in our opinion—makes it look worse, but it’s perfect for sunsets and taking lovely photos with the sea’s reflection.
You’ll also find a couple of decent restaurants here, including Angelina, which we recommend in Where to eat in Malapascua. There’s also the bar at Kokay’s Maldito, which usually has a bit of a scene and Tanduay with Coke at a friendly range of prices. You’ll see what we mean!
Hotels near Logon Beach: Kokay’s Maldito Dive Resort, Malapascua Garden Resort and Slam’s Garden Resort
Kalanggaman
Although it’s a bit of a cheat, we couldn’t leave this article on the best beaches in Malapascua without including Kalanggaman. It’s an island almost 2 hours by boat from Malapascua, but it’s the classic day trip and most travelers visit.
With a sandbar that can reach up to 750 meters long, Kalanggaman has stunning white‑sand beaches washed by clear water. Besides lazing around, don’t forget your mask and snorkel because there are good snorkeling spots too. Also, walk to the back side where, at low tide, you can see another beautiful sandbar and a quirky treehouse.
If you can, the best thing is to spend the night on Kalanggaman. The accommodation isn’t amazing (tents and very basic huts), but this gives you the chance to have it to yourself once everyone leaves.
⛵ You’ll find everything you need to enjoy it here: How to get to Kalanggaman.
Remember this is just one part of our Malapascua Guide, where you’ll find tons of information about our beloved island. Enjoy!
