A quick getaway to Malapascua Island paradise

Hello, people! Long time, no post. Haha, I've been crazy busy with work, leaving me with very little time to put pen to paper—or fingers to keyboard, in this digital age.

We're just 10 days away from December, and I can't contain my excitement for the upcoming Christmas vacation. But you know what? Despite the holiday vibes, I'm still yearning for some beach adventure. Haha! So, let me share with you the story of my recent escapade to Malapascua Island in Daanbantayan, Cebu.

If there's an island I wouldn't tire of visiting, I don't have to look far—it's right in my hometown of Daanbantayan. This island is famous among foreigners for its Thresher Shark, but it's not just about the sharks; it's also renowned for its pristine beaches.

Growing up on the main island, I always heard tales from relatives who'd set foot on the island, describing the sand as milky-fine (though, at the time, I couldn't compare it to Boracay). When I finally got the chance to go there as a clueless kid, I couldn't help but be amazed at the fine sand. I even collected some in a small bottle to bring home. LOL!

Fast forward to recently, my cousin from Mindanao and his father visited Daanbantayan for a quick vacation. My cousin, who rarely visits his father's hometown, asked if I could accompany him to Malapascua Island since he's never been there.

Without further ado, we sped ourselves to Maya Port, along with my two siblings. Maya Port is just a breezy 10 to 15 minutes away from our place via a motorcycle.

We got our tickets at a discounted rate as locals, flashing our IDs with addresses in Daanbantayan.

Upon arriving at Malapascua port, we indulged in a quick photo session with the "I 💜 MALAPASCUA" sign off the port.

Since this was a spontaneous trip, we didn't bother with itineraries. I just wanted to show my cousin around and perhaps introduce him to our relatives—although I had no clue where they lived on the island. LOL!

The sun was scorching when we arrived, so we headed to the market to cool down. Since Malapascua Island is small, we decided to walk to our next destination, planning to stroll from the market to the north side of the island, just 2.2 kilometers away.

For me, it was a leisurely and short walk. We reached the entrance of the beach beside the only resort there, and thankfully, it wasn't too crowded. Only a couple of tourists were swimming, given it wasn't peak season.

We found a shaded spot to sit, and lucky us, there was a swing under a Talisay tree. We chilled there for a few minutes, enjoying the cool shade. While my siblings were busy taking pictures, my cousin and I decided to take a dip in the cold water under the blazing sun.

Continuing our stroll along the beach to the other end, I remembered there were ruins of houses at the top of the cliff, so we decided to explore.

We walked around 500 meters along the beach, making stops because the heat was unbearable. At the other end, there was a house with a store, the caretaker of the place leading to the ruins on the other side of the cliff. A small entrance fee of 10 pesos per head would grant us passage.

We were also tasked with finding a place to stay for our future family trip to the island, as our sister requested us to inquire about the big house at the top. The view from there was breathtaking; you could see the sea, although the beach view was partially obscured by trees below.

We decided to explore Bantigue Beach nearby and the ruins. The beach, secluded inside a small cove with 2 to 3 abandoned houses, was nice and super chill. With no tourists in sight, it was perfect for camping, boasting a wide ground with bermuda grass along the shore.

Along the way, we get to see this vantage point overlooking the beauty of Langub Beach.

After exploring, we returned to Langub Beach and decided to stay there until 4 PM.

We head back to the port around 4 PM. We decided not to walk since we're running out of time although the last trip of the boat is 6 PM but the weather is unpredictable and might get canceled and worse is we might get stuck on the island. Haha That's just me overthinking things. LOL

There are still other beaches in Malapascua that I haven't shown my cousin, located near the port. Bounty Beach is one of my favorites, situated near most of the island's restaurants, dive shops, and other high-end accommodations.

It is perfect for swimming; unlike Langub Beach, which has lots of rocks and corals underwater, Bounty Beach has sandy areas and lots of green sea grass at the bottom. But watch out for sea urchins, as there are many hiding in the sea grasses at Bounty Beach.

Overall, this trip, though quick, was a memorable one. I got to showcase the beauty of our hometown to my cousin and strengthen our bond. We hadn't had a proper bonding session since the last time he visited when I was a kid and had no memories of it at all.