Hidden Gem in the North Part of Cebu Philippines: Malapascua Island

Explore Cebu's Malapascua Island, known for being a diving destination where you can swim with thresher sharks, making it one of the top Visayas tourist spots. Find out about the best time to visit, how to go, where to stay, top attractions to visit in Malapascua tours, and local food you shouldn't miss in this guide. Malapascua Island, located in the northern part of Cebu, is just one of the many islands you can explore in the Philippines. But what makes this small island a must-visit is that it's the only place in the whole world where you can dive with thresher sharks on a nearly daily basis. Compared to other more popular island destinations in the Philippines. Malapascua Island is less commercially developed. And that relaxing and friendly beach vibe actually makes the island even more inviting. With a length of 2.5 kilometers and a width of 1 kilometer, you can explore the whole island in less than 2 hours, depending on how long it takes for you to marvel at its many tourist spots and activities. Even though most people visit Malapascua Island to dive and see the thresher sharks and other marine life, its small island culture, smaller crowds, and the long stretch of white-sand beaches are what makes travelers come back for more. The best time to visit is between the months of December to April. It’s always best to schedule your trip to Malapascua Island during this dry season, where there are fewer chances of rainfall and typhoon. If you want to avoid large crowds, avoid March and April. This is the Holy Week and summer season in the Philippines where more local travelers will be exploring the island destinations. The easiest and fastest way to get to Malapascua Island is to fly to Cebu directly through the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, which is located in Lapu-Lapu City just outside Cebu City. From there, you can ride a private vehicle or board a public bus to New Maya Port. Travel time from Cebu City to New Maya Port is around 4 hours. From there, you can hop on a boat going to Malapascua Island. The boat ride is between 30 minutes and 1 hour long. The earliest boat leaves at 6:30 AM while the last boat leaves at 4:30 PM. If you miss the last boat heading to Malapascua Island, you can stay at the small lodge near New Maya Port. There’s a boat every 30 minutes so don’t worry if you miss one. Each boat leaves when there are enough passengers on board. But if you want some privacy, you can also rent the entire boat. If you’re prone to getting seasick, it’s advisable to take medicine for motion sickness before boarding the boat to the island. The boat ride from New Maya Port to Malapascua Island can be a bit rough so it’s best to be prepared. #islands #seascapes #beachcheck #philippines #travelwithmai #getlostwithmai