Are you looking for how to get from Camiguin to Malapascua step by step? You’ve come to the right place! If you’ve been browsing our site for a while, you’ll have noticed that at Travel around the Philippines we try to make things easier for you when it comes to transport. In this article we’re going to tell you what the transfer between two of our favorite islands is like.
Before we get down to work, we have to warn you that it’s not an easy task. Camiguin and Malapascua are not connected by any direct transport, so you will have to go via Cebu no matter what. In addition, you can choose to link them in a faster or longer way, depending on whether you use a plane or not.
Let’s get straight to it—keep reading and find out how to get from Camiguin to Malapascua and vice versa.
Getting from Camiguin to Malapascua via Cebu by plane
The most comfortable way to get from Camiguin to Malapascua is to use a plane for the first leg. However, depending on the flight schedules from Camiguin to Cebu, you may or may not be able to reach Malapascua on the same day.
What you need to keep in mind is that boats to Malapascua finish between 5pm and 6pm, so you should plan to spend the night in Cebu City or in Maya (the port before Malapascua).
Step 1: flight from Camiguin to Cebu
The first step to get from Camiguin to Malapascua is to search for a flight from Camiguin to Cebu. Cebu Pacific Air (and its subsidiary Cebgo) have almost every day a couple of direct flights from Mambajao Airport (IATA code CGM) to Cebu.
As for the price, you can see them from $17 if you book in advance. You’ll be in Cebu in under 50 minutes and with little drama.
Search flights from Camiguin to Cebu
If, for whatever reason, you have to stay overnight, take a look at Where to sleep in Cebu.
Step 2: transport from the airport to the bus station
Flights arrive at the domestic terminal of Cebu Airport; once there, the next step to get from Camiguin to Malapascua is to take transport to the North Bus Station in Cebu. For that, you have several alternatives:
- Taxi from the airport: take a white taxi (avoid the yellow ones, they are more expensive) and tell them to turn the meter on. Taxi drivers here, unlike in Manila, are quite honest. Depending on the traffic it will take more or less time, but it’s unlikely to be under 45 minutes. The fare will be around 250 pesos.
- GRAB car: Southeast Asia’s Uber. Prices are more or less similar to taxis (perhaps a little higher), but you have the security of knowing them in advance in the app and you can pay by card. Budget a little over 300 pesos.
- Combining buses and jeepneys: it’s the cheapest option, but you’ll have to ask around because the public transport network is somewhat chaotic. You could try connecting one of the MyBus buses to SM City. This way it would cost you about 50 pesos per person, but allow an hour or more.
Step 3: transport from Cebu to Maya
Once at the North Bus Station you have 3 alternatives to go to Maya, the place from which the boats to Malapascua depart:
- Bus: there are several companies and several types of buses (basically with or without air conditioning). Prices are around 250 pesos. They take 5 or 6 hours to make the journey, depending on the traffic when leaving the city and the number of stops they make. In our experience, buses with aircon tend to make fewer stops, but that’s just our impression. You have several companies; the service is similar, but the best known is Ceres (yellow buses).
- Van: they are faster (4–5 hours), but also more uncomfortable because you’re packed in like sardines. They’re around 350 pesos and, heads up, sometimes if you carry very large backpacks they make you pay a seat for the backpack… Try not to, but it’s not uncommon.
- Car with driver: for roughly 2,500–3,500 pesos and for 4 passengers. In this case, they can pick you up at the airport. It’s the most comfortable and fastest option. If you want, we have a contact to share. Leave us a comment and we’ll send it to you.
Transport from Cebu to Maya runs 24 hours a day (that is, you can travel at night), but it’s more frequent from 5am to 10pm, when they leave roughly every 30’. Vans depart when full.
Step 4: boat from Maya to Malapascua
The last step to get from Camiguin to Malapascua is to take a bangka. The bus, taxi, or van will drop you almost at the port, so you’ll just need to head to the booth where tickets are sold.
They depart roughly every hour or when they fill up. The trip takes about 45 minutes (depending on sea conditions) and costs 200 pesos per person, although, heads up, it’s common for them to “offer” you to pay more so the boat leaves earlier. If you don’t feel like it or you’re not in a hurry, wait. A full bangka charges 2,000 pesos.
To this price you need to add the 140-peso environmental fee.
Boats run from 6:30 am to 5:30 pm roughly every 30 minutes. Outside these hours, you could try paying for a “special trip” for 2,000 pesos (although current regulations say that beyond 5:40 it wouldn’t be feasible) or, if you want to save money or you’ve arrived too late, sleep in Maya at this hostel or this one.
Getting from Camiguin to Malapascua cheaply by public transport: ferries and buses
The other way to reach Malapascua from Camiguin is by doing it via Cagayan de Oro, one of the most important cities in Mindanao. It’s a slower alternative, but it can save you some pesos if flights from Camiguin to Cebu are very expensive (which will be rare). It may also be an option if the flights don’t suit you in date or time.
Step 1: ferry from Benoni to Balingoan
Ferries to Mindanao depart from the port of Benoni (not Balbagon; that’s where they go to Bohol). They sail roughly every hour between 5:30am and 5pm, taking about 90 minutes to reach Balbagon. The ticket costs around 360 pesos and can’t be reserved online.
Step 2: transport to Cagayan de Oro
Once in Balbagon, the next step on our route to get from Camiguin to Malapascua is to take transport to the port of Cagayan de Oro (CDO). There are buses and vans; take the first one that comes. They cost about 150 pesos and take between 2 or 3 hours.
It’s normal to be dropped at CDO’s Agora Market Terminal. Once there, take a tricycle or a jeepney to the port (budget 20 pesos per person).
Step 3: ferry from Cagayan de Oro to Cebu
There are several companies operating ferries from Cagayan de Oro to Cebu. You should allow about 9–10 hours for the journey (some a bit more), so they run the route at night and in a bed. It is therefore a good alternative to save a night of hotel.
Trans Asia, Cockalion Shipping, and Lite Shipping do this route departing roughly at 7:30/8:00pm. 2GO does it at 1pm and arrives at 9pm. They don’t sail every day, but they take turns, so you’ll find options almost every day. Prices depend on the type of seat, but start at around 1,600 pesos. If you want, you can even book a private cabin. You can book and see schedules at this link:
Book the ferry from Cagayan de Oro to Cebu here
FASTER OPTION: if you don’t feel like doing this route by boat, you can also search for flights from Cagayan de Oro to Cebu. You have direct routes with Philippine Airlines almost every day from $15 (if booked in advance).
Step 4: transport from the port to the bus station
Once in Cebu, each shipping company will drop you at a different pier, but they’re not outside the city. Once there, you have 3 options to go to the North Bus Station:
- Taxi: they’ll turn the meter on. It costs about 100 pesos for the trip and will take around 20 minutes, depending on traffic.
- Grab: request it in the app and you’ll be able to see the final price. Slightly more expensive than a taxi.
- Combination of buses and jeepneys: better to ask directly there because it’s very confusing. Budget about 50 pesos per person.
If, for whatever reason, you have to stay overnight, check out recommended hotels in Cebu.
Step 5: transport from Cebu to Maya
At the North Bus Terminal you need to take transport towards the port of Maya. Above we told you about all the alternatives available.
Step 6: boat from Maya to Malapascua
The last step on this journey to get from Camiguin to Malapascua is the bangka. Everything is explained above.
Remember that if you don’t make it in time to catch the last boat (around 17:30), you can pay for a whole one or stay overnight here.
Other alternatives to get from Camiguin to Malapascua
If the two options to get from Camiguin to Malapascua we’ve told you about don’t suit you, here are two more:
- Ferry to Balingoan + flight Cagayan de Oro to Cebu: that is, instead of taking the ferry from Cagayan de Oro to Cebu, take a flight.
- Ferry to Bohol + boat from Bohol to Cebu: if, for whatever reason, you plan to visit Bohol, this is the best alternative. Super Shuttle has ferries from Balbagon port to Jagna in Bohol every day at 9:30. The journey takes about 4–4.5 hours and costs around 800 pesos. You can book here or here. Once in Bohol, you’ll need to take a bus or van to Tagbilaran (approximately 100 pesos/90 minutes) and then a boat to Cebu (about 800 pesos, 90 minutes). Afterwards, follow the steps to get to Malapascua that we gave you before.
How to go from Malapascua to Camiguin?
To do the reverse route, that is from Malapascua to Camiguin, you just have to follow the previous steps backwards.
In short, step by step for the least convoluted option:
- Boat from Malapascua to Maya: they depart roughly from 6h30am–4h30 am. 200 pesos.
- Bus, van, or taxi to Cebu City: between 3.5 and 6 hours, depending on the transport option or traffic. We can give you a taxi contact if you leave us a comment below. Between 250 and 350 pesos for public transport and about 2,500 pesos for the taxi.
- Transfer from the North Bus Terminal to the airport (choose between taxi, Grab, or MyBus). If you go by taxi, they can drop you at the airport. Around 300 pesos.
- Flight from Cebu to Camiguin.
The most interesting thing to consider is to calculate well the departure time of the boats from Malapascua to Maya so that they match well with the flight from Cebu to Camiguin or, if you opt for more complicated alternatives, with the flights from Cebu to Cagayan de Oro or with the ferries from Cebu to Cagayan de Oro.
Since planes from Cebu to Camiguin usually depart until midday, it’s often a much better option to go sleep in Cebu and leave early the next morning. We recommend this hotel and this other one near the airport.
We hope we’ve helped you figure out how to get from Camiguin to Malapascua or vice versa. If you have any questions, we’re here to help as much as possible
Check our Malapascua Guide and our Camiguin Guide to get the most out of these islands.
