Separated by a 35-minute boat ride from the northern tip of Cebu, Malapascua Island is one of those destinations that increasingly appears on Philippines travel itineraries. This tiny paradise of barely 3 square kilometers is an ideal place to enjoy a few days of relaxation in the country of more than 7,000 islands and one of our favorite retreats in the world. Although it is one of the best places to dive in the Philippines, contrary to what some think, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Malapascua beyond diving. No wonder we’ve stopped by more than 8 times, several of them long stays, and we can say it’s one of our favorite places on the planet.
In this article you’ll find the best things to do in Malapascua so you don’t miss anything 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 je ne sais quoi that wins over the vast majority of travelers.
Things to do in Malapascua
1. Discover the beaches in northern Malapascua
Most hotels and resorts in Malapascua are located in the southern part of the island, which is where the boats from Cebu arrive. Although you can also swim in beautiful crystal-clear waters there, the best coastline in Malapascua 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 you much more than half an hour. If you prefer, you can save time by taking a habal habal (a motorbike taxi) which for 30 pesos (if there are two of you, you can get it for 50) will take you there in under 10 minutes. Once you arrive, you’ll come across Langob Beach, a beautiful long white-sand beach where you won’t find massive crowds, which makes the visit a must-do in Malapascua.
There are now a few businesses and the odd drinks stall at Langob Beach, so you can eat or have a drink at leisure in this paradisical spot. You’ll find more information on this in Where to eat in Malapascua.
Your next stop should be Bantigue Cove, where you’ll find the abandoned resort we talk about below. And if you’ll allow us a little secret, you can go up a path between the abandoned bungalows to reach Gugma Beach, one of our favorites and where there’s usually no one around.
Left: Langob Beach; right: Bantigue Beach
Gugma Beach
⭐ By the way, if one day you’re feeling lazy and don’t want to head north, one of our favorite stretches of coast is by the Exotic and Evolution resorts, in the Bounty Beach area. Here you’ll get fine white sand and calm turquoise waters for a dip. It’ll be rare not to find us there.
You can read about these and several more in our article on Best beaches in Malapascua.
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2. The lighthouse, the abandoned resort and Lapu Lapu Cliff
The northern area of Malapascua Island has other attractions besides Langob Beach. To round off the perfect day out you can add these three spots as well. If you want to enjoy panoramic views of this area, head for the lighthouse. It won’t be hard to find it or get there, and from up there you’ll see the vastness of the beach, the small nearby villages and Lapu Lapu Cliff, the next place to visit in Malapascua. By the way, a bar has opened near the lighthouse (Shipwreck Beach Cafe) from which you also get gorgeous sunsets.
Lapu Lapu Cliff is a cliff that not many visitors to the island know about and therefore forget to include on their list of things to do in Malapascua. It’ll take you less than 10 minutes from the lighthouse and you’ll find a spectacular 12-meter drop. If you like adrenaline and you’re brave enough, you can jump from it just like many local kids do. If not, it’s still a spectacular place to enjoy a beautiful sunset. There’s a 30-peso fee to enter.
Update 2025: on our latest visit, the lady in charge told us it’s forbidden to jump off the cliff because there have been some fatal accidents. You can only see the garden and snorkel, but it’s worth going in for a snoop.
Travel Around the Philippines tip: before heading back south you’ve got one more stop pending. We’ve already hinted at it, but we don’t want you to miss it. Right on the opposite side of Langob Beach there’s a small abandoned resort. Even if you see a fence, you can go in just fine — it’s not forbidden. This old resort has a small private beach, a bit more sheltered from the wind, and very photogenic spots, such as the instagrammable blue window (less so every year, mind you) in what used to be a dive center now devastated by Typhoon Yolanda. You’ll find it by googling “Bantigue Cove”, but it’s really hard to miss.
3. Day trip to Kalaggaman, the epic sandbar
The most famous excursion to do in Malapascua, not counting diving ones, is the one that will take you to one of the most spectacular places in the Philippines: the small, paradisiacal Kalanggaman Island. The journey from one point to the other is roughly 2 hours and as you get closer your eyes won’t believe what they’re seeing. Kalanggaman Island is approximately 700 meters long and when the tide goes out one of the most spectacular sandbars in the Philippines appears. It can exceed 200 meters in length!
Although in recent years different facilities have been built in the form of small huts that you can rent to spend the day and eat, Kalanggaman Island is still an ideal place to visit and relax, lying on white sand bathed by turquoise waters. In the northern area there are some very basic bungalows where you can spend the night for around a thousand pesos, while the southeast area, with fewer currents and a rich seabed, is ideal for snorkeling. If you’re lucky you might bump into one of the turtles that usually wander around there! You’ll find more information and prices on this excursion in the article Kalanggaman Island: how to get there and practical info.
Heads up: how visible the sandbar is depends on the state of the tides. If you want to see Kalanggaman in all its glory, try to stay overnight or check the tide table. Keep in mind that the boat reaches the island from Malapascua at around 11:00 and leaves around 14:30.
4. Diving with the thresher shark
Diving with the thresher shark in Malapascua is one of the highlights for lovers of the underwater world who make it to this corner of the Philippines. Every dawn, around 4:30 am, the bangkas (traditional Filipino boats) from the various dive schools set off on a journey of about 45 minutes to Kimud Shoal. This is a unique spot in the world, as it’s one of the most accessible thresher shark cleaning stations with the highest success rates for sightings. These peculiar sharks live at around 300 meters deep and come up to the 15–20 meters where the cleaning stations are to be de‑parasitized by the different fish that live there.
As they are wild animals, a sighting isn’t 100% guaranteed, but the odds are really high (we’d say around 95%) and we’ve seen more than 15 sharks at the same time. Doing the Thresher Shark dive is, without a doubt, a must in Malapascua.
Of course, consider that you’ll need at least your Open Water Diver certification. In other words, uncertified dives or try-dives aren’t allowed.
We’ve dived countless times in Malapascua and have tried several dive centers. If you need help, leave us a comment and we’ll send you all the info about our trusted dive center on the island. They’re total pros, have been here for more than 10 years and will make you feel at home, plus they’re right on the waterfront.
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 attracts photographers from all over the world, as it’s possible to witness the courtship dance of the mandarinfish, pygmy cuttlefish, tiny seahorses or different types of tropical shrimp.
Another of the most famous spots is Gato Island, where your Open Water certification will be enough to dive different sites featuring spectacular coral, whitetip reef sharks, blue-ringed octopuses, frogfish or pygmy seahorses. Other dive sites we love are Deep Slope, where we once saw the magnificent flamboyant cuttlefish, and Monad Shoal, formerly frequented by thresher sharks and now home to tiger sharks.
You can find more information in the article Diving in Malapascua.
We can also give you the contact for the best center to do these dives. Leave us a comment and we’ll send it to you so they treat you like royalty.
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 set from Lapu Lapu Cliff or the lighthouse, there are two ideal places to enjoy this moment with a drink while soaking up the island’s mood. The restaurant-bar “Kokay’s Maldito Dive Resort” has one of the most privileged spots to witness sunset in full, as the sun sets right in front of its terrace for much of the year. In addition, low tide creates a true postcard scene beside the small cliff in front.
Another alternative is Tepanee Hotel, which isn’t private. This little corner is accessible via the path that leads to the cemetery. Now that this area has become a marine sanctuary, you can’t stay on the beach, but you can always have a drink at the bar.
Sunset is something you can add to your list of things to do in Malapascua every day, so you can alternate the bar with the best views and the bar with the best vibe to enjoy dusk. We’re talking about the terrace at Ocean Vida resort, where its comfy beanbags, pleasant music and delicious cocktails will make this a moment to frame. If all that weren’t enough, the 2-for-1 happy hour will seal the deal.
Trust us and order the banana daiquiri or the pineapple one—but be careful with the Tanduay!
7. Get to know the main town and its disco party
On an island of just 3 square kilometers it’s obvious there’s no room for a big city, but the closest thing you’ll find here is the town of Logon (better known among locals as Barrio). This is one of the few paved areas on the island and, strolling around, you’ll come across small businesses, sari sari’s, and, of course, those karaoke joints Filipinos love. If you’re looking for a Saturday night thing to do in Malapascua, it has two words: Disco Party.
The church courtyard turns into the island’s dance floor almost every Saturday and the big hits of yesterday and today play to get everyone dancing while the bottles of Tanduay rum are emptied one after another. It’s great fun to experience one of these Filipino-style Saturdays. Don’t miss it!
8. Grab your mask and snorkel and go snorkeling
Although it can’t compare to other snorkeling spots in the Philippines, Malapascua also has places to explore. When you arrive on the island you’ll see people offering tours around the different reefs that surround it (800–1,000 pesos per boat for 3–4 hours), but if you want to save a bit, you can do as we do and swim from Tepanee beach towards Dakit Dakit. This little islet is surrounded by coral and has lots of marine life. That said, be careful because boats pass through this area and you need to keep an eye out. Plus, it’s quite a swim, so we only recommend it if you’re strong in the water.
Over the last year numerous (up to 30 at once) baby blacktip sharks have been seen at Tepanee beach and around Dakit Dakit. They’re not aggressive, so you can swim alongside them without any problems. Please be stealthy, don’t get too close or bother them, and they’ll stick around for a long time. It’s been declared a protected marine area and it’s necessary to follow a few rules (such as not going at low tide or standing up), but there’s no longer any fee to pay. Keep in mind you can’t stay in the sanctuary beyond 17:00.
Another interesting place 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 do it on your own and it’s a curious sight. You’ll find it roughly opposite the lighthouse. There are signs pointing the way and it’s also marked on Google Maps.
9. Visit the neighboring islands: Carnaza and Lamanok
Relatively close to Malapascua you have several interesting islands to explore. For example, you can negotiate with a boatman for an excursion to the neighboring islands of Lamanok and Carnaza (it usually comes to 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, join the tour that Villa Potenciana organizes from time to time, staying overnight in Carnaza in a tent (as we did).
These two islands have beautiful beaches to discover and, most importantly, they’re extremely untouristed, so the feeling is incredible.
10. Relax, enjoy the rhythm of Malapascua Island
Because yes, Malapascua gives you the chance to enjoy great sunsets, dive with the wonderful thresher shark, bathe on dreamlike beaches or head out to discover wonderful places like Kalanggaman Island. But above all, Malapascua is a state of mind that will captivate you and make you rethink your route through the Philippines. Many (ourselves included) arrive for two days and end up extending their stay. Take the chance to rest under a palm tree, meet the people and fall into the island’s magical rhythm.
One of the best things to do in Malapascua is simply to let it sweep you off your feet.
Map of Malapascua
With this Malapascua map you’ll easily find all the points of interest to see in Malapascua. Open it on your phone once you’re on the island to use it in real time and find the paths that connect each spot.
Useful information about Malapascua
You now have plenty of info on things to do in Malapascua, but here are a few practical tidbits we’re sure will help you enjoy the island even more:
How to get to Malapascua
To make it super easy for you to enjoy this little paradise, we tell you all the details on how to get from Cebu to Malapascua in this article about how to get to Malapascua.
To summarize briefly, the most common way is from Cebu City, where you can take a bus or a van, which takes about 4–5 hours to reach Maya port, from where boats leave for Malapascua (30–45 minutes).
If you want to travel comfortably, you can also hire a private taxi or van in Cebu. This can make the journey more comfortable and reduce it to about 3–3.5 hours. Prices are around 2,500 pesos per trip for a taxi. If you like, leave us a comment and we’ll share our trusted contact.
Where to stay in Malapascua
In Malapascua you’ll find budget hotels as well as great resorts. These are our top recommendations among all those we’ve tried over the years:
- Malapascua Budget Inn: if you’re after shared backpacker accommodation, there isn’t much, but this is the best on the island. From $8 per bed.
- Malapascua Garden Resort: good location, clean, spacious rooms. From $22.
- Tepanee Beach Resort: the best hotel in Malapascua. Most rooms have sea views.
We’ve also made a selection of the best hotels in Malapascua where you’ll find the most interesting ones. Don’t miss it!
How to get around Malapascua
Being such a small island, you’ll probably walk everywhere. Even so, you’ll also find motorbike (habal-habal) drivers who can take you wherever you say — you’ll see them all over, although you tend to see more in the market area. The longest ride, from Logon to Lagob Beach, costs just 40 pesos per person.
In addition, there are hostels that rent out bicycles to get around Malapascua. From our point of view, given how tiny it is, it isn’t worth renting a motorbike for the whole day.
More information about Malapascua
Here are more practical facts about the island:
- There are now ATMs in Malapascua, but note that they’re Euronet. This is a company that has grown like crazy and makes a killing applying its own exchange rates. Plus, it adds a 250‑peso fee for withdrawals. We don’t use them and recommend using Remitly and withdrawing cash at one of the two pawnshops on the island. You’ll find them HERE and HERE. In Money in the Philippines you’ll find all the information on how to handle this.
- Keep in mind that there are no hospitals or clinics in Malapascua. Remember to travel with a travel insurance for the Philippines that covers evacuation in case of emergency.
- Enjoy Filipino cuisine in Malapascua. Our favorite restaurants are the market carenderias, Mr. Kwiiz, Evolution and Angelina (the best pizzas in Malapascua). You’ll find all the info you need in Best restaurants in Malapascua.
- The best time to go to Malapascua is from December to May. In Best time to travel to the Philippines and When to travel to the Philippines? you’ll find more detailed information about the Filipino climate, but you can visit the island all year round.
- Smart and Globe’s 4G networks (especially the latter) work quite well, in case you have a SIM card (more info in Internet in the Philippines). If you need rock‑solid internet for calls or work, you’ll find it at DevoZen Cafe. Although they serve specialty coffee from a good café in Cebu, we didn’t love it, but we have to admit the internet is solid.
- Since 2023 you need to pay a 120‑peso fee to enter the island. You’ll be asked to pay it at Maya pier.
- Bring to the island everything you think you’ll need because you won’t find big stores. It’s better to bring sunscreen and, please, make sure it’s reef‑safe and respectful of marine life. Otherwise, Blue Corals hotel has a good selection of creams and 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 about 4–5 hours by bus or van to Maya port and then 30–45 minutes by bangka to the island. By private transport the journey is reduced to about 3 h.
What’s the best time to visit Malapascua?
The best time is from December to May (dry season). Even so, the island can be visited year‑round.
Is Malapascua only for divers?
No. Although diving with thresher sharks is a major draw, there are also gorgeous beaches, excursions like Kalanggaman Island, snorkeling, a unique vibe and picture‑perfect sunsets.
Where can you dive with the thresher shark?
Malapascua is the ideal place. At dawn at Kimud Shoal, 45 minutes away by bangka. The chances of sightings are very high, but you need to be a certified diver.
Can I snorkel with sharks on my own?
Yes. From Tepanee beach you can swim to Dakit‑Dakit, a protected area where you can see coral and baby blacktip sharks.
How much does the Kalanggaman Island excursion cost?
The group tour from Malapascua is around 2,200–2,500 PHP per person (fees included). Seeing the full sandbar depends on the tides that specific day.
Are there ATMs on the island?
There are Euronet ATMs, but they charge high fees and apply their own exchange rate. Bring cash or use Remitly to withdraw at local pawnshops with less extra cost.
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!
