How to Get from Bantayan Island to Malapascua Island: Island Hopping in the Philippines
Explore the pristine beauty of the Philippines’ northern Cebu province on a journey that bridges two amazing islands: Bantayan Island and Malapascua Island. Both of these islands are nestled amidst clear blue waters and framed by idyllic beaches making them the perfect destinations for travelers seeking respite and adventure.
While the Philippines offer all kinds of opportunities to go island hopping – one of the perks of island nations, one of my favorite island hopping journeys is from Bantayan Island to Malapascua Island. This journey is best done with a stop at the beautiful Sillon Island, better known as Virgin Island. It’s an easy trip to do and well worth your time and money!
However, being a bit off of the beaten path, traveling between these Philippines Islands can require quite a bit of finagling. In this post, we’ll go over how to get from Bantayan Island to Malapascua – whether you want the most scenic route via Virgin Island or the most direct route via Cebu.
Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase.
How to Island Hop from Bantayan Island to Malapascua Island
The only way to island hop in the Philippines is of course by boat (or I suppose if you were a strong swimmer…). In Bantayan, you’ll find there are no tour companies around to help schedule these kinds of trips, so it is up to you to negotiate rates and trips with the local boat owners.
If you need help finding a local boat owner, simply ask around. Your accommodation on Bantayan (or Malapascua) should be able to help recommend one. From there, its up to you to settle on the cost and island hopping you want to do.
The Cost of Island Hopping
While Virgin Island is often described as a must do online, it can be difficult to make it a cost-effective day trip if you are a solo traveler. That being said, even by yourself, it may be worth the cost. Just be aware that with the surrounding islands having very few tourists, Virgin Island will be no different.
Rule #1: You should always barter for the cost of island hopping from Bantayan Island to Malapascua Island. For me, I paired up with a few new French and Costa Rican friends, and we were able to settle on a 2700PHP rate for the day. This included the boat for the four of us going from Bantayan Island to Virgin Island to Malapascua Island, plus lunch.
Rule #2: To avoid surprises, make sure you understand what is covered in your day trip and whether you are going from Bantayan Island to another island or coming back at the end of the day. Setting clear expectations will help make the day a success!
Island Hopping from Bantayan Island to Virgin Island to Malapascua Island
If you’re taking a day trip from Bantayan to Virgin to Malapascua Island, like me, here’s the type of experience you should expect. For my trip, at 8am, the ten-person outrigger pulled up on the beach of Kota Beach Resort (where I was staying in Bantayan Island), and we were off to Virgin Island!
Getting from Bantayan Island to Virgin Island
Virgin Island is located just off the coast of Bantayan Island in the Philippines. It’s a relatively short distance away, although the exact distance can vary depending on where you depart from on Bantayan Island.
In general, the boat ride to Virgin Island from Bantayan Island takes 15 to 30 minutes. This is mostly dependent on sea conditions and the type of boat you’re using.
About Virgin Island
Virgin Island, also known as Sillon Island, is well-known for its pristine beaches. It is a beautiful island that is purely a day trip destination with no resorts available on the island. When we arrived, there were no other tourists, just a few staff members.
The island has great charm with the staff playing a drum as you pull up to shore. As part of your welcome, you do need to pay an admission fee: 500 for the first two people and 100 for each additional person, so a total of 700PHP for the four of us. (Price subject to change!)
The sand on Virgin Island is true white, the water is glowing turquoise, and the landscape is well-kept with palm trees holding up hammocks and shading tables. We spent the morning swimming, snorkeling (you can rent equipment there for 100PHP or purchase it in Bantayan for 180PHP), and lounging in hammocks. I highly recommend it!
For lunch, our boat captain and crew member fixed us freshly grilled fish and eggplant with rice. Yes, I have learned to dissect a whole fish with my hands as we were given no silverware. We ended up spending the little bit of time we had left hanging out in the shade and with one last swim.
Around mid-afternoon a few other tourists pulled up and went camera happy on the island. Make sure to pack your camera and a GoPro if you have one. It’s beautiful!
Virgin Island to Malapascua Island
Before you head to Malapascua Island, take one last glance at Virgin Island, the picture perfect island that it is. Get prepared for the one and a half hour boat ride to Malapascua Island. The boat ride started out smooth for us but as we got closer the seas got rougher due to the typhoons. For those who suffer from sea sickness, I recommend taking something for this water crossing.
Alternative Route: Bantayan to Malapascua via Cebu
If you’re looking for the most direct route from Bantayan to Malapascua Island without the fun of island hopping in between, you’re going to need to head back to the mainland of Cebu. This route will actually take a bit longer in transportation but will be cheaper as you’re taking all public transit.
To get from Bantayan Island to Malapascua Island, you need to take a combination of ferry and land transportation. Here’s the three steps to follow.
Take the Ferry from Bantayan to Hagnaya Port (Mainland Cebu)
Take a ferry from Bantayan Island to Hagnaya Port on the mainland of Cebu. Ferry schedules can vary, so it’s advisable to check with local operators or your accommodation for the latest information. The ferry ride usually takes around an hour.
Grab Land Transportation to Maya Port
Once you arrive at Hagnaya Port, you’ll need to take a tricycle or other local transportation to Maya Port. It’s a short distance, and the journey takes about 15-20 minutes. Make sure to haggle for the best price.
Grab the Ferry from Maya Port to Malapascua
From Maya Port, you can take a boat or ferry to Malapascua Island. These boats are often smaller and might be a bit more rustic than the larger ferries. The ride can take around 30 minutes to an hour, depending on sea conditions and the type of boat.
Arriving at Malapascua Island
Pulling up to shore at Malapascua Island, you will be in the center of town. On Malapascua, there is one main village and beach, and even if you are staying “far” away, the whole island is only 2.5 x 1 km or 1.5 x 0.6 miles – easily walkable at only about 6km around.
However, the island is incredibly different to navigate if you are leaving the main strip. There are zero roads on the island so you will be greeted by just intersecting dirt paths that are poorly mapped online. So how do you get around? That’s one of the awesome parts about Malapascua Island…
Getting around Malapascua Island
To find your way around Malapascua Island, you can simply stop in any dive shop or hotel and ask them where to go. They will point you in the right direction or tell you to just stop a motorbike and ask for a ride. Believe it or not, that is actually the best way to get around Malapascua Island. Rent a motorbike or ask a local for a ride.
If you’re walking in the general direction of where you’re headed, locals often will stop and as you where you’re going and offer you a ride. Sometimes there is a set price, sometimes it is priced at your discretion.
While this may be a strange way to find your way around the island, it really is the best way. All of the locals seemed happy to help as they get paid for just a few minutes of their time. Prices do go up at night – sometimes twice the price of a daytime ride. Just keep some cash handy and you can get anywhere on Malapascua in just a few minutes!
Plan Your Trip to the Philippines
The journey from Bantayan Island to Malapascua Island is more than just a physical transition between two islands. It’s the option to see more islands in this beautiful island nation! Take that chance and plan a stop on the incredible Virgin Island.
Want more details on visiting Malapascua Island and other islands in the Philippines? Check out my other posts.
- Budgeting for the Philippines – includes my full 2 week Itinerary
- Travel Tips for the Philippines
- Getting from Cebu City to Bantayan Island
- Renting a Motorbike to Explore Bantayan Island
- And more!
Like this post? Pin it for later.
