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Sun, sand, and sharks: A 'Biyahe ni Drew' itinerary to Malapascua, Cebu
"Biyahe ni Drew" airs every Friday, 8:00 PM, on GMA News TV. For more information, follow the show on Facebook and Twitter. For updates on your favorite documentaries, follow also the official Facebook page of GMA Public Affairs.
With hundreds of beaches and dive sites to choose from in the Philippines, why are so many tourists flocking to Malapascua?
Located at Daanbantayan, Cebu, Malapascua Island is home to a sprawling expanse of white sand, clear blue waters, rich marine life, and delicious food. Drew Arellano and the "Biyahe ni Drew" crew went back to Cebu to visit the island that is slowly gaining recognition among foreign and local travelers. Here is the itinerary that we used.
How to get there
You can get to Malapascua Island by plane. From Mactan International Airport, hail a van or a cab and ask the driver to take you to Maya Port. The travel time could last up to three hours. After reaching Maya Port, you have to ride a boat for another thirty minutes before you reach Malapascua.
What to eat and where to eat
Tambayang
A typical breakfast in Malapascua consists of the Pinoy favorite silog meals. However, if you are feeling extra adventurous and you want to maximize the Malapascua experience, try eating one of the locals' favorite food. Tiger lucine, or "tambayang," is a type of sea creature that is often used to cook the tinolang tambayang. Locals usually gather tambayang in the morning to make sure that it is fresh. Afterwards, they boil it with salt and lemongrass. Sounds simple but it tastes so good!
Maldito Grill and Restobar
Prices start at P85
Maldito Grill and Restaurant caters to both local and foreign diners. One of the dishes that Drew tried during his stay is the Visayan version of the kinilaw, which consists of raw fish cooked in vinegar, onions, bell pepper, and coconut milk.
Drew says, "Champion. Pati yung cuts niya, hindi yung maliliit eh. 'Di ba sanay tayo yung maliliit tapos hinahaluan nila ng kaparehas ng itsura ng fish para medyo budgeted di ba? Pero ito hindi."
Not a fan of kinilaw? Try Maldito's beef carpaccio and seafood jambalaya. Drew swears that everything he ate in this resto is fresh and yummy.
Mabuhay Restaurant
Prices start at P95
Restaurants serving all kinds of cuisines abound in Malapascua but if you are craving for some good ol' Pinoy food, Mabuhay Restaurant is the choice for you. Don't miss their crispy pata and sizzling shrimp!
Where to go
Lighthouse Dive Site
Malapascua is known as one of the best places to learn scuba diving in the Philippines. You don't have to worry about the diving equipment because there are numerous shops in the island where you can buy them. Just don't forget to bring your diving license!
Drew and the crew's first diving destination is none other than the Lighthouse Dive Site, which is famous for having the rare mandarin fish. Mandarin fishes are said to be one of the most beautiful and colorful fish in the world. The unique "dance" they do when they mate is also one of the main reasons why divers go to the lighthouse. People who want to see mandarin fishes are advised to dive before sunset.
Another attraction at the lighthouse is the wreck of a Japanese World War II landing craft, which sunk in 1945. The shipwreck now serves as an artificial reef for all kinds of sea creatures.
Kalanggaman Island
Palompon, Leyte
Kalanggaman Island is considered by some as the most beautiful beach in Leyte. Because of this, the island is often included in island hopping packages in Malapascua. Other than its crystal clear water and white sand beach, travelers love Kalanggaman because it is not crowded.
"Sarap lumangoy sa ganyan eh. Hindi masyadong magulo yung tubig and plus factor na sobrang linaw yung tubig," Drew says. "This is not work! I love it!"
Gato Island
According to divers, Gato is one of the memorable places in Malapascua. This mountain-shaped island has no shore since it is actually a giant mass made of limestone. All kinds of marine animals can be found in Gato but the most notable of all are the white tip sharks, the bamboo sharks, and the cat sharks. These sharks can be found in Gato all year round!
Monad Shoal
Malapascua Island was not spared when Typhoon Yolanda hit the Philippines in 2013. While many dive sites and resorts were destroyed by the typhoon, the island's thresher sharks were part of the reason why tourism in the island remained active.
The rare thresher sharks can be seen at Malapascua's Monad Shoal at any given time of the year, attracting a lot of visitors from all parts of the world. You have to go 98 feet or 30 meters deep to catch a glimpse of the thresher sharks so only advanced divers are allowed to see them.
Biyahero tip: Wake up early if you're planning to go to Monad Shoal. They follow the first come first served policy and set a time limit for each diver depending on the number of people in line.
Where to stay
Malapascua Legend
Prices start at P2,500
The super deluxe rooms in Malapascua Legend cost P5,000 and is good for two persons. Add P500 per head and you can fit up to four people in the room. Drew notes that the water pressure in the bathroom is not too forceful but that is because the water supply in the hotel comes from a deep well. Facilities include a swimming pool, a gym, and free wi-fi. They also have smaller budget rooms that cost P2,500.
Blue Corals Beach Resort
Prices start at P1,500
Fancy watching the sunrise and the sunset right from your room? The suites in Blue Corals Beach Resort come with private balconies that offer a view of the beach. They also have bungalow rooms that have small terraces.
Malditos
Prices start at P1,500
The hanging beds available in Malditos are popular especially among couples. The ambience in the resort is romantic and artistic and the rooms are spacious. Perfect for all kinds of travelers!
Even if it is still not as popular as the other beaches in the Philippines, Malapascua sure offers everything that a Biyahero could ask for: a beautiful experience with nature, a private moment at the beach, and numerous restaurants and resorts. Drew guarantees that you will love the island. "Kahit hindi ka diver, I’m sure mae-enjoy mo rin ang ganda ng Malapascua. I love it!"—Lara Gonzales/BMS
With hundreds of beaches and dive sites to choose from in the Philippines, why are so many tourists flocking to Malapascua?
Located at Daanbantayan, Cebu, Malapascua Island is home to a sprawling expanse of white sand, clear blue waters, rich marine life, and delicious food. Drew Arellano and the "Biyahe ni Drew" crew went back to Cebu to visit the island that is slowly gaining recognition among foreign and local travelers. Here is the itinerary that we used.
How to get there
You can get to Malapascua Island by plane. From Mactan International Airport, hail a van or a cab and ask the driver to take you to Maya Port. The travel time could last up to three hours. After reaching Maya Port, you have to ride a boat for another thirty minutes before you reach Malapascua.
What to eat and where to eat
Tambayang
A typical breakfast in Malapascua consists of the Pinoy favorite silog meals. However, if you are feeling extra adventurous and you want to maximize the Malapascua experience, try eating one of the locals' favorite food. Tiger lucine, or "tambayang," is a type of sea creature that is often used to cook the tinolang tambayang. Locals usually gather tambayang in the morning to make sure that it is fresh. Afterwards, they boil it with salt and lemongrass. Sounds simple but it tastes so good!
Maldito Grill and Restobar
Prices start at P85
Maldito Grill and Restaurant caters to both local and foreign diners. One of the dishes that Drew tried during his stay is the Visayan version of the kinilaw, which consists of raw fish cooked in vinegar, onions, bell pepper, and coconut milk.
Drew says, "Champion. Pati yung cuts niya, hindi yung maliliit eh. 'Di ba sanay tayo yung maliliit tapos hinahaluan nila ng kaparehas ng itsura ng fish para medyo budgeted di ba? Pero ito hindi."
Not a fan of kinilaw? Try Maldito's beef carpaccio and seafood jambalaya. Drew swears that everything he ate in this resto is fresh and yummy.
Mabuhay Restaurant
Prices start at P95
Restaurants serving all kinds of cuisines abound in Malapascua but if you are craving for some good ol' Pinoy food, Mabuhay Restaurant is the choice for you. Don't miss their crispy pata and sizzling shrimp!
Where to go
Lighthouse Dive Site
Malapascua is known as one of the best places to learn scuba diving in the Philippines. You don't have to worry about the diving equipment because there are numerous shops in the island where you can buy them. Just don't forget to bring your diving license!
Drew and the crew's first diving destination is none other than the Lighthouse Dive Site, which is famous for having the rare mandarin fish. Mandarin fishes are said to be one of the most beautiful and colorful fish in the world. The unique "dance" they do when they mate is also one of the main reasons why divers go to the lighthouse. People who want to see mandarin fishes are advised to dive before sunset.
Another attraction at the lighthouse is the wreck of a Japanese World War II landing craft, which sunk in 1945. The shipwreck now serves as an artificial reef for all kinds of sea creatures.
Kalanggaman Island
Palompon, Leyte
Kalanggaman Island is considered by some as the most beautiful beach in Leyte. Because of this, the island is often included in island hopping packages in Malapascua. Other than its crystal clear water and white sand beach, travelers love Kalanggaman because it is not crowded.
"Sarap lumangoy sa ganyan eh. Hindi masyadong magulo yung tubig and plus factor na sobrang linaw yung tubig," Drew says. "This is not work! I love it!"
Gato Island
According to divers, Gato is one of the memorable places in Malapascua. This mountain-shaped island has no shore since it is actually a giant mass made of limestone. All kinds of marine animals can be found in Gato but the most notable of all are the white tip sharks, the bamboo sharks, and the cat sharks. These sharks can be found in Gato all year round!
Monad Shoal
Malapascua Island was not spared when Typhoon Yolanda hit the Philippines in 2013. While many dive sites and resorts were destroyed by the typhoon, the island's thresher sharks were part of the reason why tourism in the island remained active.
The rare thresher sharks can be seen at Malapascua's Monad Shoal at any given time of the year, attracting a lot of visitors from all parts of the world. You have to go 98 feet or 30 meters deep to catch a glimpse of the thresher sharks so only advanced divers are allowed to see them.
Biyahero tip: Wake up early if you're planning to go to Monad Shoal. They follow the first come first served policy and set a time limit for each diver depending on the number of people in line.
Where to stay
Malapascua Legend
Prices start at P2,500
The super deluxe rooms in Malapascua Legend cost P5,000 and is good for two persons. Add P500 per head and you can fit up to four people in the room. Drew notes that the water pressure in the bathroom is not too forceful but that is because the water supply in the hotel comes from a deep well. Facilities include a swimming pool, a gym, and free wi-fi. They also have smaller budget rooms that cost P2,500.
Blue Corals Beach Resort
Prices start at P1,500
Fancy watching the sunrise and the sunset right from your room? The suites in Blue Corals Beach Resort come with private balconies that offer a view of the beach. They also have bungalow rooms that have small terraces.
Malditos
Prices start at P1,500
The hanging beds available in Malditos are popular especially among couples. The ambience in the resort is romantic and artistic and the rooms are spacious. Perfect for all kinds of travelers!
Even if it is still not as popular as the other beaches in the Philippines, Malapascua sure offers everything that a Biyahero could ask for: a beautiful experience with nature, a private moment at the beach, and numerous restaurants and resorts. Drew guarantees that you will love the island. "Kahit hindi ka diver, I’m sure mae-enjoy mo rin ang ganda ng Malapascua. I love it!"—Lara Gonzales/BMS
