6 To Do’s in Malapascua, Cebu

written on June 7th, 2016 by Kristiana Rule

Malapascua is one of northern Cebu’s crown jewels. Located just off the northern tip of Cebu island, about 4.5 kilometers long and 500 meters wide, you can walk around the whole island in 1-2 hours. What to do there? I’m glad you asked!

Here are the things you can do in this island paradise:

1. Swim with the thresher sharks

It’s been said that Malapascua is one of the only places in the world where one can regularly see the otherwise nomadic thresher sharks, making the island quite the destination for divers. Thresher sharks are a species of shark known for their long, magnificent tails. They are usually found on Monad Shoal, Malapascua just before sunrise up until early morning.

 

2. Get a sampler from the world’s cuisines

Malapascua offers a variety of dishes influenced by the tourists that frequent the island. One favorite is Ging-Ging’s— a seemingly humble eatery at first glance that offers a whole lot more. Their menu has everything from fish and chips and pancakes to bangus-silog. They have generous servings and budget-friendly prices, too, so it’s quite popular among tourists and locals alike.

3. Explore a whole new world underwater

Aside from thresher sharks, the rest of Malapascua’s marine bio-diversity is also amazing. There are healthy populations of manta and devil rays that you can see while diving. Snorkelling around the island is also a treat: one can find colourful corals and schools of fish. Ask the boatmen to take you island hopping— they can show you the best sites and marine sanctuaries around the island.

4. Catch a glimpse of sunken Japanese warships

Have a thing for Titanic? Malapascua has something similar: there are at least four known shipwrecks around the island that you can explore. One of them is called the Lighthouse Wreck, a Japanese WW2 ship that was bombed just before landing. It’s pretty shallow at 5 meters, one can easily explore by snorkelling. It’s kind of creepy, too, with the hull broken into two parts and sea life growing out of the hull. Around the island, other sunken ships can also be explored through diving.

5. Meet new friends

The island is a melting pot of cultures. Walking around the place, it’s not uncommon to hear different languages. Come to think of it now, I’ve seen more foreign tourists here than in any other place I’ve visited in the Philippines. If you’re looking for some culture or to exchange some cool backpacker stories, Malapascua might be the place for you.

6. Give back

Malapascua was one of the hard-hit areas of typhoon Haiyan back in 2013. The typhoon destroyed a lot in its wake, crippling the tourism industry and costing a lot of jobs. A couple of years later there are still parts of the island that need rehabilitation and rebuilding. If you wish to come to this wonderful island, don’t forget to give back to the locals in any way you can. A small thing can go a long way.