Malapascua Island

5 months pregnant.

But according to this book I got, it's the perfect time to travel! So travel we did -- to Malapascua Island in Cebu. The sand was white. The waters blue. The pace idyllic. A perfect place to slow down and relax.




Getting There

Malapascua is around 4 hours away from Cebu City. Take the bus bound for the town of Maya in Cebu's Northern Bus Terminal. Buses leave hourly, from 5AM til before lunch. Fare is around P60 for the non-aircon bus. Sit on the driver's side of the bus if you want to avoid the morning sun. Sit on the other side if you want to catch views of the ocean.

Once in Maya, walk past the gas station to the boat docking area. Boat fare is P40 for the almost-1 hour ride. Expect to get your feet wet. The boat will land directly on the beach front of Cocobana Beach Resort.


Accommodations

There are available accommodations, from aircon to fan rooms. Cocobana Beach Resort is owned by this friendly Swiss guy named Freddy. Non-aircon beachfront rooms (with 2 double beds) can cost PHP 1700 a night. On the far left side of the beach lies the Blue Coral resort, where non-aircon rooms cost PHP 500 a night. There are plenty of other accommodations around the island.




Things To Do

Eat. Sleep. Laze around. Island hop. Snorkel. Dive. There are dive shops that organize dive trips and rent out dive gear. Just chill out. Almost all of the resorts have their own restos/bars. Of course, it's not as lively as Boracay, but if you want beer, you can find beer. Take note though that the island runs on electricity only from 6pm-12 midnight. Beyond those hours, generators provide electric comforts. Restos usually close at 10pm.



Try Ging Ging's Eatery and Flower Garden if you're hungry. Prices here are relatively cheaper as compared to food from the other resorts. Ging Ging's can be found somewhere in the back alleys near Cocobana. Also, don't miss dining at La Dolce Vita, an Italian restaurant with a spectacular view of the sunset. There are signs leading to La Doce Vita -- just go near to the end of the beach. There's a shortcut from Blue Water resort. La Dolce Vita is located near the Maldito resort. If you're confused, try this Malapascua map.

You can also visit the barrio/town proper, which is just a short walk away from the beach front. Or if you're really energetic, you can visit the lighthouse near the northern tip of the island. Obviously, Bok was not energetic. Hehe. I had to practically drag him around, and beg him to let me snorkel. (But to be fair, he was only concerned about my health.) Hiring a boat for snorkeling/going around the island can cost P600 a boat. Add around P100 for snorkel gear rental. You can also have a massage/hilot -- a massage can cost P300, and they have "official" masseuses (dressed in yellow shirts) roaming around.


I therefore conclude...



After 3 days and 2 nights in Malapascua, and despite Bok always scowling, we both actually enjoyed our vacation. And what are some things we learned here?

• Buy a tripod. It's really very very hard to take night shots without a tripod or without a table that will act like a tripod.
• Pregnant women float funny.
• Don't take your room key home with you!
• It's great to relax and enjoy the quietness of just being there.

** More pictures at my Multiply site.