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Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Malapascua Island

Malapascua island, Bounty Beach, the Philippines by Unknown Arthur/

Malapascua Island has attracted both local and foreign visitors, especially divers. It is best known for its world-famous diving sites.

One of the diving sites is the Monad Shoal where thresher sharks can be seen and observed regularly before sunrise.

Malapascua Island is less commercially developed, the relaxing and friendly beach vibe makes the island even more inviting.

There are quaint shops and restaurants as well as a large church, and the people are wonderfully friendly and inviting.

It’s a great peek into real Filipino island life, meaning Malapascua is a worthwhile stop even if you aren’t interested in the sharks.

1. The awesome Malapascua Island is located in the northern part of Cebu Philippines

Malapascua Island, located in the northern part of Cebu, is just one of the many islands you can explore in the Philippines.

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.

Diving is not the only activity you can do on this Island, it’s an idyllic destination for a laid-back holiday gateway from the hustle and bustle of Cebu City.

2. The most common route is from Cebu City to the awesome Malapascua 

The most common route is from Cebu City to Malapascua with the use of the public bus and then a short boat ride to Malapascua Island.

The bus from Cebu to Malapascua operates daily and departs every hour from the Cebu North Bus Terminal bound for New Maya Port

Another option for how to go to Malapascua is to ride in a shared minivan or take a private car a pick you up from your hotel in Cebu City to drop you off at New Maya Port.

3. The best time to visit the magnificent Island is between December and June when the weather is hot

Malapascua Island, Tropical sunset on the beach, the Philippines by Unknown Arthur

The best time to visit Malapascua Island Cebu, weather-wise, is between December and June when temperatures are hot and there is barely any rainfall.

This is also high season, so expect to see many tourists during these months, try to avoid the typhoon season which is between August and October.

4. The luxurious Tepanee Beach resort is one of the best places to stay 

Malapascua Island has dozens of accommodation options to choose from, Tepanee Beach Resort is the best luxury accommodation on the oceanfront.

Featuring a private beach area, a hot tub, an in-house restaurant with a bar, beautiful gardens, and free Wi-Fi.

The beachside cottages are cozy with bamboo furnishings and fitted with air conditioning, a minibar, a large bed, a private bathroom, and a balcony.

Tepee Beach Resort can also help you to organize water activities, island hopping tours, and scuba diving.

5. One of the famous interesting activities on the island is diving with the thresher sharks

One of the famous diving spots is Malapascua Island because this is where the famous thresher sharks can be spotted year-round every single day.

In addition to diving, you can rent a boat and sail around the island, making stops for swimming and snorkeling in your favorite places.

The crescent-shaped beach is popular for its lineup of classy beachfront hotels and restaurants the Lagon beach is one of the best beaches in Malapascua for its idyllic atmosphere.

Head to the Lighthouse Reef and tick off this item from your bucket list. Here you’ll find one of the world’s most beautiful and psychedelic fish the Mandarin fish.

The Malapascua lighthouse where you can enjoy amazing panoramic views from the top, the Lighthouse Beach famous is for the Japanese World War II landing craft wreck.

6. The exquisite Malapascua Island has excellent sandy beaches and turquoise water

Malapascua Island, Tropical beach, Turquoise water, the Philippines by Unknown Arthur

The sand on the beaches of this island is excellent fine, almost white and the water is a beautiful turquoise shade and very transparent.

In the sea, there is a lot of seaweed and all sorts of natural debris, and at low tide, all this comes out, and the coast is in mud and grass. All aesthetics disappear from this.

The beaches are very cozy, spacious, and picturesque. A trip to Malapascua is about experiencing a different kind of island life.

7. The awesome Island is small with little infrastructure 

Since the island is small, all the infrastructure on it is quite compactly located mainly in the southern part of the island near the beaches of login and Bounty Beach.

There are no supermarkets in Malapascua, and it is impossible to see buildings above two floors here.

Almost all hotels are of the bungalow type, with separate houses or duplexes for two owners, the internet is weak.

Food in local establishments is delicious and varied, with a lot of seafood. Meat dishes are more expensive than on the larger islands of the Philippines.

There is no official currency exchange or ATM in Malapascua, it is better to come here with local currency. 

You can always agree on payment in dollars or euros, but the payment rate will not be in your favor.

8. The fascinating diving places Monad Shoal in Malapascua known for thresher sharks

Of the many different diving places in the world, few match the wonder that is Monad Shoal in Malapascua, Philippines.

It must be stated that it is not Monad Shoal itself, but the wondrous thresher sharks in the area that make this one of the premiere places for avid scuba divers.

Monad Shoal is roughly a 30-minute boat ride from the island. The shoal itself is rather unremarkable as it is essentially a sea mount or rock stump.

Monad Shoal is well suited for recreational divers. While the current can be strong in the area, there are only minimal dive qualifications needed to enjoy this unique dive site.

9. The interesting Thresher shark noted by their long scythe-like tails

Thresher Shark by Thomas Alexander/

Thresher shark, any of three species of sharks of the family Alopiidae noted for their long, scythe-like tails that may constitute almost one-half their total length.

They feed on squid and schooling fishes, attacking after circling and herding their prey into small groups.

They are not generally considered dangerous to man. This awesome shark also has a very characteristic dorsal fin and pelvic fins.

10. The remarkable Island is known in the early 1990s as a diving destination

Port, Malapascua by Martin Michlmayr/

Malapascua became known in the early 1990s as a dive destination. Before this, the island was known for its wide white sand beach, known as Bounty Beach.

It has also become known for its beautiful coral gardens, coral walls, and excellent local dive spots, as well as further out sites including Gato Island, Monad Shoal, and Kemod Shoal.

Malapascua Island or barangay Logon is believed to be the place where the Virgin de Los Desamparados made a miracle sometime in 1890

The island had only nine households of the Monteclar, Deogrades, Rosales, Gulf, Rubio, Bohol, and Bruces families. It was said to be a piece of wood that had never burnt.