How to combine Malapascua and Bantayan into one efficient 5-day North Cebu loop, including the tricky inter-island connection, a day-by-day plan, and real ferry costs.
TL;DR: Malapascua and Bantayan sit close together on the map but aren’t directly connected by a reliable public ferry, so the smart move is a loop: Cebu City → Maya → Malapascua (2 nights) → backtrack to Maya → taxi to Hagnaya → Bantayan (2 nights) → Hagnaya bus straight back to Cebu City. Budget 5 days, roughly ₱7,000-12,000 (US$120-207) per person for transport and basic lodging before diving or tours. The Cebu-Maya-Malapascua leg costs about ₱440-595 (US$7.60-10.25) each way in bus + boat fares; the Hagnaya-Santa Fe ferry adds another ₱325-355 (US$5.60-6.10). Verified July 2026.
Malapascua and Bantayan are the two headline islands of North Cebu, and on a map they look like a natural pair — a short hop apart across the Visayan Sea. In practice, there’s no simple ferry linking them, which is why most people visit only one and never realize the other is close enough to combine. This guide is for travelers with about 5 days who want both: Malapascua’s thresher shark diving and postcard sandbars, and Bantayan’s laid-back, wide white beaches around Santa Fe. It covers how the connection actually works, a day-by-day plan, where to base yourself on each island, and what it really costs — including the one leg of this trip that trips people up.
The Loop at a Glance
| Leg | Mode | Duration | Fare (one-way, per person) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cebu City → Maya Port | Ceres Liner bus | 4-6 hrs | ₱200-255 (US$3.50-4.40) |
| Maya Port → Malapascua | Public boat | 30-35 min | ₱200-340 (US$3.50-5.90) |
| Malapascua → Maya Port | Public boat | 30-35 min | ₱200-340 (US$3.50-5.90) |
| Maya Port → Hagnaya Port | Taxi/habal-habal | ~1 hr | ~₱1,500 taxi (shareable) |
| Hagnaya Port → Santa Fe, Bantayan | Super Shuttle / Island Shipping ferry | ~1.5 hrs | ₱305-330 + ₱20-25 terminal fee (US$5.60-6.10) |
| Santa Fe/Bantayan → Cebu City | Ceres Liner bus (via Hagnaya) | 3-4 hrs | ₱225-299 (US$3.90-5.15) |
Fuel surcharges can push fares above these figures; confirm at the ticketing counter on the day. Verified July 2026.
How Does the Route Actually Work?
Route the loop as Cebu City → Malapascua → (backtrack through Maya to Hagnaya) → Bantayan → Cebu City, because there’s no dependable direct ferry between the two islands. The two islands both sit off the northern tip of Cebu, but Malapascua is reached via Maya Port on the northeast coast, while Bantayan is reached via Hagnaya Port on the northwest coast — different roads, different ports, about an hour apart by land. Most itineraries treat them as separate trips for exactly this reason. Looping them together just means accepting one inland transfer day between Maya and Hagnaya.
How Do You Get from Cebu City to Maya Port?
Take a Ceres Liner bus from Cebu North Bus Terminal, outside SM City Cebu, direct to Maya. Buses run through the day; non-aircon buses that make fewer stops take around 4 hours, while aircon buses with more stops can take 5-6 hours. Fares run about ₱200-255 (US$3.50-4.40). Vans-for-hire from the SM City Cebu van terminal are a faster, slightly pricier alternative. Whichever you choose, leave Cebu City by 8-9 AM at the latest — the last public boat from Maya to Malapascua typically runs until late afternoon, but you want buffer time in case the bus is slow. If you miss the last boat, you’ll need to stay a night in Maya or Daanbantayan town.
From Maya Port, the public boat to Malapascua takes just 30-35 minutes and costs roughly ₱200-340 (US$3.50-5.90) depending on the operator; boats run at intervals from early morning to late afternoon. If you’d rather skip the bus entirely, a private van-and-boat transfer from Cebu City or Mactan runs considerably more but door-to-door, and a private boat across the Maya-Malapascua strait costs about ₱6,500 for 1-2 people or ₱3,500 per person for larger groups.
How Do You Get from Malapascua to Bantayan?
Backtrack to Maya, then transfer overland to Hagnaya Port for the Bantayan ferry — it’s usually more reliable than the direct option. A company called Juan Juana Tours does run a boat directly between Malapascua and Santa Fe a few times a week, roughly a 3-hour crossing, but published fares run well over ₱3,000 per person and the schedule is thin (commonly just a morning and a late-morning departure, with no guaranteed daily service). It’s worth asking around at Malapascua’s dive shops or your resort desk to confirm whether it’s running during your dates — schedules on this route change often.
For most travelers, the more dependable path is: boat back to Maya Port (₱200-340, 30-35 minutes), then a taxi or habal-habal to Hagnaya Port (roughly ₱1,500 for a taxi, shareable if you’re in a group; about an hour), then the Hagnaya-Santa Fe ferry. Two operators, Super Shuttle Ferry and Island Shipping, run this crossing several times a day, taking about 1.5 hours; fares run ₱305-330 plus a ₱20-25 terminal fee (roughly US$5.60-6.10 all-in). It sounds like a longer day than it is — with an early start from Malapascua, you can be in Santa Fe by mid-afternoon.
A third option some groups use: charter a private boat straight from Malapascua to Bantayan for roughly ₱2,000-3,500 total (not per person), which can work out close to the ferry-plus-bus combo if split across 4-6 people, and skips the backtracking entirely. Ask at your resort or the boatmen on Bounty Beach; there’s no fixed schedule, so you’re negotiating a charter, not booking a ticket.
The 5-Day Itinerary
| Day | Where | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cebu City → Maya → Malapascua | Travel day. Arrive by early-to-mid afternoon, settle in, sunset at Bounty Beach |
| 2 | Malapascua | Early-morning thresher shark dive at Monad Shoal (if diving), or a walk out to the Malapascua Lighthouse; afternoon free on the beach |
| 3 | Malapascua → Kalanggaman Island (day tour) | Full-day boat trip to the sandbar and back; sunset again on Bounty Beach |
| 4 | Malapascua → Maya → Hagnaya → Bantayan | Travel day. Backtrack through Maya, transfer to Hagnaya, ferry to Santa Fe; afternoon at Kota Beach |
| 5 | Bantayan → Cebu City | Morning at Santa Fe Beach or a sandbar trip to Virgin Island; afternoon ferry + bus back to Cebu City |
This is a 5-day, 4-night plan: two nights on Malapascua, two on Bantayan. If you can stretch to 6-7 days, add an overnight on Kalanggaman or a second dive day at Malapascua, or a slower final day in Bantayan visiting The Ruins before heading back.
Where to Base Yourself on Each Island
On Malapascua, stay near Bounty Beach — it’s the main strip, walkable to dive shops, restaurants, and the boat pickup points, and budget guesthouses here start around ₱1,200-1,800 a night (roughly US$21-31), with dive resorts and beachfront rooms running well above that. On Bantayan, base yourself in Santa Fe, near Kota Beach and Sugar Beach, rather than Bantayan town — it’s closer to the ferry pier and the best stretches of sand. Budget rooms in Santa Fe start from around ₱750-1,400 a night (US$13-24), while beachfront resorts average closer to ₱3,000-3,500 (US$52-60). Compare Malapascua stays on Agoda and Bantayan Island stays on Agoda before you go — both islands book up fast in peak dry season (March-June).
Is the Thresher Shark Dive Worth Building a Day Around?
Yes, if diving interests you at all — Malapascua is one of the only places on Earth with reliable thresher shark sightings. The dive at Monad Shoal starts before sunrise, usually a single dive priced around ₱1,500-2,500 (US$26-43); a fuller trip combining Kimud Shoal and Monad Shoal runs about ₱6,000 (US$103) for three dives. Add a marine park fee of roughly ₱150-450 per day (US$2.60-7.75). Multi-night dive packages bundling accommodation, meals, and 6 dives start around ₱25,000 (US$431) per person. You don’t need to dive to enjoy Malapascua — the beach and the Kalanggaman trip stand on their own — but the shark dive is the reason the island has an international dive-tourism scene at all. Browse Malapascua diving and island tours on Klook for current joiner-trip availability.
Should You Add Kalanggaman Island?
Add it if your schedule allows a full extra day — it’s the best sandbar accessible from either island. Kalanggaman sits roughly between Malapascua and Leyte, and joiner day tours from Malapascua run about ₱1,500-2,500 per person (US$26-43), including the boat, packed lunch, and entrance fee. The entrance fee alone runs ₱1,000 for foreign day-trippers (₱1,500 if staying overnight), against ₱150-225 for Filipino visitors. Groups can also charter a private boat from Malapascua for around ₱7,000 total, which covers up to roughly 30 people for the day. Search Kalanggaman Island day tours on Klook to compare joiner-tour operators and prices before you arrive.
The Honest Take
This loop rewards travelers who don’t mind a bit of transit — the Malapascua-to-Bantayan link genuinely is the least convenient inter-island hop in this part of Cebu, and no amount of research changes that; you’re either paying a premium for a thin-schedule direct ferry or spending most of a day backtracking through Maya and Hagnaya. If your time is really tight, honestly ask whether you’d rather do one island properly than rush both — Malapascua alone deserves 3 days for diving, and Bantayan alone is worth 2-3 days of doing nothing on the beach. But if you have 5+ days and want the contrast between Malapascua’s dive-town energy and Bantayan’s quiet, wide beaches, the loop is worth the extra transfer day, and doing Malapascua first sets you up for an easier bus ride home from Hagnaya. Skip this trip during Habagat season (roughly July-October) unless you’re flexible — rough seas cancel both the Maya-Malapascua and Hagnaya-Santa Fe boats often enough to blow up a tight schedule.
Sources
- Malapascua Ferry Schedule — Maya to Malapascua boat times
- Juan Juana Tours — Malapascua to Santa Fe, Bantayan schedule and fares (Pamasahe.com)
- Hagnaya to Santa Fe ferry schedule and fares — Super Shuttle, Island Shipping (Pamasahe.com)
- Bantayan Island — official ferry and transportation information
- Thresher Shark Divers Malapascua — 2026 dive prices
- Route fares and schedules cross-checked against 2025-2026 traveler reports and operator pages; confirm exact departure times and current fares locally before you travel. Verified July 2026.
Pair this loop with the rest of the region using our North Cebu travel guide for a wider overview, or the North Cebu 3-day itinerary if you only have time for one island. For the dive details on Monad Shoal and Kimud Shoal, see our full Malapascua thresher shark diving guide, and for everything else on the other island, our Bantayan Island guide covers it. Ready to lock in dates? Check Bantayan Island accommodation on Agoda before the dry-season rush books out the beachfront rooms.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can you travel directly between Malapascua and Bantayan?
There's no reliable public ferry doing it in one hop. Juan Juana Tours runs a boat between Malapascua and Santa Fe a few times a week, taking about 3 hours, but fares run well over ₱3,000 and the schedule is thin. Most travelers backtrack overland instead: boat to Maya, taxi or habal-habal to Hagnaya, then the Hagnaya-Santa Fe ferry. It sounds like a detour but it is usually cheaper and more predictable than waiting on the direct boat.
How many days do you need for Malapascua and Bantayan?
Five days is the practical minimum for both islands without feeling rushed — two nights on each island plus a travel day in between. Four days works if you're comfortable moving fast and skipping a rest day. Seven days lets you add Kalanggaman as an overnight or squeeze in a second dive day.
Which order should you do the loop — Malapascua first or Bantayan first?
Do Malapascua first. The Cebu City to Maya bus-and-boat route is faster and better served than the Hagnaya route on a first-timer's schedule, and you end the trip on the Hagnaya side, which has more frequent buses back to Cebu City for a stress-free return, especially if you need to catch a flight.
How do you get from Cebu City to Maya Port?
Take a Ceres Liner bus from Cebu North Bus Terminal (outside SM City Cebu) to Maya, then transfer to a boat. Non-aircon buses run close to nonstop and take about 4 hours; aircon buses that stop more often take 5-6 hours. Fares run roughly ₱200-255 (about US$3.50-4.40). Leave Cebu City by 8-9 AM at the latest to have a comfortable buffer before the last Malapascua boat.
Is Kalanggaman Island worth adding to the loop?
Yes, if the weather cooperates. It's the sandbar most divers and beach-hoppers rave about in this part of Cebu, and joiner day tours from Malapascua run roughly ₱1,500-2,500 per person (about US$26-43) including the boat, lunch, and entrance fee. It's a full extra day, so it only fits comfortably if you stretch the loop to 6-7 days or trade out a rest day.
How much does the whole 5-day loop cost, not counting flights?
Budget roughly ₱7,000-12,000 (about US$120-207) per person for transport, ferries, and mid-range guesthouses across the 5 days, before diving, tours, or food. Add ₱6,000-9,000 (about US$103-155) if you're doing a thresher shark dive package, and ₱1,500-2,500 (about US$26-43) for a Kalanggaman day tour.
Do you need to dive to enjoy Malapascua?
No. Malapascua's Bounty Beach, the lighthouse walk, and boat trips to Kalanggaman are all worthwhile without ever putting on a tank. That said, the island's whole identity is built around thresher shark diving at Monad Shoal, so if you're even a little curious about diving, this is one of the more famous places in the world to try it.
What's the best time of year for this loop?
March to June (dry season) gives the calmest inter-island crossings and the best visibility for diving, but it's also the busiest and priciest stretch. November to February is a good shoulder season with manageable seas. Avoid July to October if you can — the Habagat season brings rougher water on the Maya-Malapascua and Hagnaya-Santa Fe crossings, and boats do get cancelled.
More Places to Explore
Islands Malapascua Island
Daanbantayan
A world-famous diving paradise known for thresher shark encounters, featuring beautiful white sand beaches and laid-back island vibes.
Beaches Kota Beach
Santa Fe
Bantayan Island's most iconic beach with pristine white sand, crystal-clear waters, and a stunning shifting sandbar during low tide.
Historical Sites Maya Port
Daanbantayan
The bustling fishing port that serves as the gateway to Malapascua Island and showcases traditional northern Cebu fishing culture.
Beaches Bounty Beach
Daanbantayan
Malapascua's main beach featuring powdery white sand, crystal-clear waters, and a relaxed atmosphere lined with beachfront restaurants and dive shops.