Travel guide: Malapascua Island ( d' perfect place to relax ) how to get there, where to stay/ eat, what to do, expenses:

Malapascua Island

3 nights and 4 days getaway

a holy week special

malapascua island is one of the tourist spot in cebu wherein white sand, nice beach, and diving area are the best within your reach.

how to get there:

> from cebu go to north bus terminal

>from north bus terminal ride a bus going to maya wharf ( 4 hours travel )

> from maya wharf ride a bump boat going to malapascua island ( 30 mins. )

note:

i suggest to travel early morning to avoid traffic and do not cutting trip coz it's more hazel on your part. and last to catch-up the travel period going  to malapascua island.

> maya wharf 1st trip - 6:30am

last trip - 3:00pm

in malapascua alot of staff from the resort will offer there services island hopping, snorkeling, diving, etc. and they will take you to your resort accommodation so no worry.

tips:

> if it is peak season i suggest to book early for your accommodation.

> proper negotiation for tour package is highly needed.

at malapascua island you will surely enjoy..........

> food trip

alot of restaurant to choose ( they are expensive but delicious ) for your tight budget there are also barbeque station, lechon manok, or just simply wait for some fisherman for there fresh catch fish, squid, etc. for sale at very reasonable price.

> light house

add on your list to drop off at light house to witness the view of the place. the resident near the light house are willing  to guide you going to the area. just give them some tip after.

> explore the area

highly recommented to visit......................

bantigue cove = for clear white sand.......

gimbitayan = for perfect view

> island hopping

> snorkeling

> feeding fish

> beach / beach / beach

> swim / swim / swim

highly recommended person for your malapascua trip

1.> lester - habal-habal driver - he is your tour guide at land willing to pick-up you up until you drop. just tell him were you want to go. Php15 per head / one way. just txt him 09056060135.

2.> bb's guest house = 09167566018 for budget conscious / backpacker
> they offer cheapest accommodation in town start at 400-800.
you can set up tent rate at 150 / tent .

> bb's guest house is safe they have a security guard for your safety.
> you can also cook if you wanted to.
> water no worries
> staff are accommodating.

3.>kuya mayol 09398505062 for your island hopping / snorkeling rental
he offer the cheapest island hopping rate. he is the man.

4.> vinz 09169196653 for your seafood order just txt him rate start at 300-600.



:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::total expenses:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

> home - northbus -------------------------------------110 ( taxes 15-20 mins. travel )

> northbus- maya wharf--------------------------------163 ( ceres bus ordinary 4 hours travel )

> maya wharf - malapascua island-----------------------80 ( pumpboat 30 mins. travel )

> island hopping----------------------------------------175/pax ( 700 package 3 destination /  4 hours tour )

note: i suggest morning for island hopping to enjoy the beach less sun light heat

>--------------------------------------------------------0---50/pax for sanctuary fee, but since we are so lucky enough and we are also early no staff yet..heheh.

> land tour ( bantigue cove / gimbitayan )----------------60 - 15/pax / one way

> tent fee------------------------------------------------450 - 150/day for 3 days

> souvenir ( t.shirt / magnet souviner )--------------------185

> malapascua - maya-------------------------------------80

> additional fare ( malapascua - small bumpboat ---------20----bec. its low tide ( less than 5 mins.travel )

> again additional fare ( bumpboat - maya wharf ) -------20 low tide ( less than 5mins. travel)

note: i suggest to travel late morning to avoid the low tide additional fare....

for food soorry nakalimot nako kung pila to na bill per meeal. to make it budget friendly for food you can bring some food to cook or eat at barbecue station sa kilid-kilid coz expensive sa restaurant...hhehehe

> north bus - home sweet home-------------------------117 ( taxes )

total exp.------------------------------------------------1,460 ( excluding food )

enjoy the trip...................... 

how to get to cebu:

By boat

Cebu City's domestic port is the country's busiest. Cebu City is home to almost 80 percent of the country's passenger vessels. The country's largest shipping lines, namely WG&A, Sulpicio Lines, Trans-Asia, George & Peter Lines and Lorenzo Shipping Lines, are headquartered in Cebu.

Large passenger ferries with a capacity of 2,000 to 4,000 passengers ply the more distant routes such as Manila, Davao, Butuan City, Zamboanga and Cagayan de Oro. Medium-sized vessels such as the roll-on/roll-off (roro) types ply nearer destinations while fast ferries transport passengers to and from neighboring islands in two hours or less depending on the destination.

By plane

Departure taxes International flights: 550 Philippine pesos (₱). Filipino nationals and permanent residents must also pay the Philippine Travel Tax of ₱1,620 before they can be issued a boarding pass. Domestic flights: ₱200 (included in airfare).

Mactan-Cebu International Airport (link to Wikipedia article) (IATA: CEB) (ICAO: RPVM), [1]. This international and domestic airport is a modern alternative to the congested Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila and passport control and baggage handling is fairly fast and efficient. There are numerous direct daily flights to and from Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and scheduled flights to Japan, Qatar, Malaysia, Taiwan, and China. Aside from this, the airport serves several seasonal charter flights to Russia, China, the United States, and other nations.

Mactan Cebu International is also the main domestic hub outside Manila with a variety of flights around the Philippine archipelago such as to Manila, Kalibo, Puerto Princesa, Boracay, Clark (just near Angeles City), Siargao (Surigao), Zamboanga, Davao, Bacolod, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato, Camiguin, General Santos, andTacloban, among others.

Visitors from North America, Europe, Middle East, and the rest of the world may fly first to Singapore or Hong Kong or Seoul or Kuala Lumpur or Doha to catch a flight to Cebu. If you don't mind braving the horrendous traffic and the cacophonic noise of Manila, you will get a faster connection to Cebu, for there are more than 20 flights daily between the two cities or almost two flights every hour. There are also flights to Cebu from Clark International airport, from which there are further flights on discount airlines to Macau, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Singapore and other points. An extension is under construction.

Lapu-Lapu who is considered the Philippine's first national hero.

Getting in/out - The airport is on Mactan Island in Lapu-Lapu city. It takes about 20-30 min to get to the actual city of Cebu. From the Airport you will need to hire a taxi. If you are staying at one of the nicer hotels they usually can send a free van to pick you up at airport. If you forgot to ask for this you may find that the van of your hotel is there to pick someone else up and you can hitch a ride if there is room. Facilities and amenities at the airport include a shopping center, duty-free shop, souvenir shops, cafés, business centers, food shops, communication facilities, banking facilities, car rentals, hotel and resort reservations, and beauty and health services. Taxis to town are about ₱150-200, but are the only options at night.

[edit]To Cebu City Center by Jeepney

This trip requires three steps:

1. Take the yellow multi-cab (similar to Jeepney) in front of the Departure Hall to the "Save More" supermarket at the highway. It is a very short ride of about 5 to 10 minutes. ₱8.
2. Take a Jeepney on the highway to the "Park Mall" shopping mall (e.g. line 23 - to be confirmed). To reach the highway, you continue walking for ca. 30 meters in the direction the multicab from 1. was driving, then, you cross the highway. About ₱10.
3. Take any Jeepney that brings you to the city center (e.g. line 01K, which goes via the North Bus Terminal to Colon Street). ₱8.

Note: The whole journey takes quite a lot of time. It is not known, whether you can do this trip with (a lot of) luggage as space in the Jeepneys is very limited and it can get very crowded. A smaller backpack was fine, though.