How To Visit Malapascua Island From Cebu City

Malapascua is one of the most popular destinations in the Philippines for divers. It is also a nice little island to visit for a relaxing beach vacation without the tourists and expense of Boracay or Siargao. Malapascua is located off the northernmost tip of Cebu island so many people want to know how to visit Malapascua from the main city.

Note: If you are not a certified diver, Malapascua does not have much to offer. You can get certified on the island of course, but I recommend getting certified (PADI or other) in a less specific place. I got certified in Sharm el Sheikh for example.

The Best Way To Get To Malapascua From Cebu City

Cebu is not just the name of the island, but the name of the main city as well. So when going from Cebu to Malapascua, we mean departing Cebu city and heading north. 

There are two ways to get to Malapascua from Cebu city; You can take public transport or hire a private driver. However, as Malapascua is an island the final leg of the route does involve a boat. 

Public transport:

Taking public transport to Malapascua is the cheapest way to travel, although you do sacrifice some comfort in doing so. However the bus system is quite efficient so you do not need to worry about scheduling. 

The main buses to Malapascua depart from Cebu North Bus Terminal. The bus company Ceres operates two buses an hour and has air conditioned and non air conditioned options. The cost of the bus from Cebu North terminal to Maya port is 320 pesos (as of 2024).

The bus can take anywhere from 3-6 hours depending on traffic and how many stops are needed for the passengers, so plan accordingly. 

Note: The bus may say Daanbantayan in the window, which is the name of the region Maya Port is in. So just ask the driver if they are going to Maya Port to make sure. 

Once you reach Maya port you need to grab the ferry to Malapascua island. The ferries leave every hour and cost 200 pesos. Be aware that the last ferry departs at 5pm so if you miss it you will have to spend a night in Maya, or look for a private boat to take you.

Private Transportation:

If you care more for comfort than cost savings, then private is the way to go. While taking private transport is the most comfortable option, you might have to do some haggling. 

A private driver will cost anywhere from 2000-4000 pesos (we were offered without negotiation 2000 on a Sunday, but weekday prices will be higher). The main benefits of hiring a private driver is the comfort of the vehicle as well as picking you up at your accommodations. 

Once you get to Maya you can take the public ferry, or hire a private speedboat for 1000-1500 pesos.  

Taking The Ferry 

You will have to walk for a few minutes from where the bus drops you off to get to the ferry ticket office. Follow the readily available signs, and ignore all of the locals trying to sell you tickets or tell you the boats do not run today so you’ll have to pay for them to take you. 

There are two ports in Maya. The main Maya port is for cargo but does do some passenger trips as well, although not to Malapascua. For Malapascua you have to go to the port labeled Maya New Roro Port. The bus or your private driver should know this but I’ve added the correct GPS location down below. 

You will need to buy your boat ticket as well as the island entrance fee. The boat ticket is 200 but the island entrance fee is 120 pesos (75 for locals). 

Walk down the pier until you get to the correct boat. There will be people letting you know which one to get on, as they boats do not leave for Malapascua until full.

Arriving in Malapascua

Malapascua is a very small island; It is about one kilometer wide by two kilometers long, and almost everything is in the lower 1/3 of the island. 

Upon landing in Malapascua at the Logon Beach Pier you can simply walk to your accommodation, or hire a trike if you have a lot of luggage. We stayed at Tepanee Beach Resort and the walk took less than 4 minutes. 

Once you arrive there will be tons of people offering various services. Most people come to Malapascua to dive with thresher sharks, but you should arrange this by going to different dive shops personally and discussing what exactly you are looking for.

See More

What To Do In Malapascua

Where To Eat In Malapascua

Malapascua Dive Shop Guide