Review: Malapascua Island Exotic Dive Resort

Malapascua Island Exotic Dive Resort is located in Malapascua Island, Cebu. It is one of the many reosrt s you could choose from when you are going to the island. The resort itself is secluded from the main resorts in the island, giving you a more private time. The resort is proud to be the first and complete dive facility in the area having its own accomodation and restaurant.

The place is owned by a Dutch who married a local resident. They, according to the staff, are friendly and treat their staff members as family. The resort is more than 10 years old and mostly is visited by foreigners.

The rooms rates are reasonable, ranging from Php 1000 (electric fan) to Php 5000 (super deluxe). Click here for complete price list. The rooms are spacious although most of them are located behind the restaurant giving you minimal view of the ocean, but you could always stay on the hammocks that are placed on the shoreline of the place, shaded by the big coconut tress.

The food is great, not really outstanding but tastes good. There are lots of varieties you could choose from (from local delicacies around the country, to international cuisines). You could eat at the bar which is just infront on the ocean so you would be able to see a wonderful view while you eat.

The resort does have complete facilities for diving and if you are not yet certified, you could take their open water course that cost Php 17,000. There are many dive spots around the whole island and the resort takes you to the best dive spots, some spots are only available during certain times. But if you are not into diving, you could tour around the island via boat (for around Php 1350) and go snorkling (snorkling googles rented separately) where you could see sea urchins, starfishes and various types of fishes.

Customer service is outstanding. The staff are very accomodating and friendly. No complaints about their service, they are prompt and takes good care of you from beginning to end.

Accomodation/Room: 8/10
Food Choices: 10/10
Food Taste: 8/10
Customer Service: 10/10
Overall: 9/10

(Exotic Beachfront)

(The Bar/Restaurant)

(Rooms)

Malapascua Exotic Island Dive & Beach Resort
P.O. Box 1200
6000 Cebu City
Philippines

Website: http://www.malapascua.net/
Email: info@malapascua.net
Phone: (+63) 32-4370983
Fax: (+63) 32-4370984
Mobile: (+63) 917-3276689

Malapascua Island, Cebu

Malapascua Island is located on the northern part of Cebu. The island is famous for its dive spots where you could see various kinds of fishes and some sunken vehicles. Some of the fishes only come out on certain times of the day, so if you want to see them, you can wait. Each spot around the island has its own different types of sights to see. The waters are really high during high tides and really low during low tides, and you would be able to spot starfishes and sea urchins. It is more enjoyable to swim during the high tides because the water is deeper and there is not a lot of sea urchins that you can step on, although the water is a bit wavy.

(Malapascua beachfront)

If you're not into diving, or not certified to do so, one of the activities you could do in the island is to tour the island via motorcycles or locally called habal-habals. The residents of the island are honest, friendly and welcoming people. The habal-habals would go through the neighborhood and you get to see how the residents of the island live. One site to go to is the island's solar powered lighthouse that operates automatically, no one mans the place and is rarely guarded by people thus the path to the top is mostly covered by plants but still passable. Other sights include a place the locals call small beach, Pilar Pilapil's beach house, and Bantigue Cove.

(Malapascua Lighthouse)

(Other beachfronts in the island)

(Sunset at Malapascua)

Malapascua is approximately 4 hours from Cebu City, give or take.  From Cebu city, you could hire a van/car (Php 2500-3500) to take you to Maya port in Daang Bantayan, or you could also take the public bus from Cebu city that costs about Php 100. Once you get to Maya Port, you would need to take a boat ride to Malapascua, that would normally cost Php 50 each, or Php 1200 on a special trip. There are many resorts i the island that you could stay in. Below are links of some of the resorts you could choose from.

Malapascua Island Exotic Dive Resort

http://www.malapascua.net/

Blue Water Malapascua Beach Resort

http://www.malapascuabeachresort.com/

Hippocampus Beach Resort 

http://www.hippocampus-online.com/

Cocobana Beach Resort

http://www.cocobana.ch/

Bantigue Cove Malapascua Beach Resort & Dive Shop

http://www.bantiguecove.com/

Foodtrip - Isdaan (Gerona, Tarlac)

One of the restaurants that you would notice when heading north of Luzon is the Isdaan Floating Restaurant Park. It is just along the main road and easy to spot, located in Gerona, Tarlac.

Isdaan features a wide variety of food that you could choose from, be it from the normal lechon kawali to different types of food from different parts of the Philippines that you would not be able to taste easily from any place like their Tacsiyapo. It is my personal favorite because it is spicy and has a sour taste. I have been in the place twice, and I have enjoyed eating there. 

Besides food, you could also check out some of the amenities of the place. There is the Tacsiyapo Wall where you could trow sand break some things on the wall, Tacsiyapo is a kapampangan curse word. Kids could also ride a goat drawn carriage or ride bikes. There is also a narrow bridge that you could cross and win a kilo of fish when you don't fall in the 6-feet deep water. There is also the Spitting Urinating Monkeys in Unggoy Ungguyan.

There are also many entertaining presentations like the music men roaming around, and sometimes, there are also musical plays that you could watch.

Contact Isdaan via there phone number 045-9312196.

(Pinaputukang Manok)

(Tacsiyapong Hipon, a sour-spicy taste, a little like pakbet, consists of some vegetables like tomatoes, beans and turnips plus a choice of your own meat that varies from beef to seafood)

(Lechong kawali with fried eggplant)

(Tacsiyapo Wall)

Bolinao, Pangasinan

Bolinao consists of 30 baranggays, the best beach is located in Patar. Patar is located in the further part of Bolinao and the travel time from Manila is about 5 to 6 hours. There are two routes that you could take, you could either take the Tarlac way wherein you pass by the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and the Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) or via Zambales. You could also take a bus from Manila to Bolinao via 5 Star Bus Line.

Patar has one of the nicest beaches in the place and at the end part of the Baranggay is the white sand beach which is the finer beach front in the area. The water is wavey and mostly is shallow especially during the low tides. Most of the resorts are lcoated in the threshold of the place. Some of the known hotels and resorts their are Puerto del Sol and Treasures of Bolinao, however there are less costly options you could choose, mostly the ones not posted in the internet.


There is a small rock formation in the middle of the ocean that you could go to (picture is seen below). Bolinao is also known for sea urchins and if you are careful, you would be able to see them in the beach.

Bolinao, Pangasinan - What to see!

There are many things to see in Bolinao aside from the beaches and caves. You could also stop by the Cape Bolinao Lighthouse. Built by the Americans in 1903 on a 300 feet (91 m) high promontory at the western part of Cape Bolinao, the lighthouse still sends signals to vessels passing by the area. Within the area of the lighthouse is a view deck wherein you would be able to see the blue ocean. The lighthouse is open for th epublic to visit but visitors are not allowed to enter inside the lighthouse. There is also an abandoned beside the foot of the lighthouse.

(Cape Bolinao Lighthouse)

You could also visit the falls in Bolinao, there are namely two falls, Tara Falls and Bolinao Falls. The two falls are near each other. Bolinao Falls are actually two falls, the people in the area calls them Bolinao Falls 1 and 2, the second being a more shallower water wherein kids could swim on. Bolinao Falls 2 is also better than Bolinao 1. The road to the area is rough and you would see mostly trees and mountains. Tara Falls is also a nice place to go to.

(Bolinao Falls 1)

The Saint James the Great Foitress Church in Bolinao is located in the main town of Bolinao, it celebrates it's 400th year on July 25, 2009.

(St. James Church)

One of the local delicacies in the place in Dinungoy which is rice cake cooked in bamboo mixed with coconut milk and salt. It tastes like suman, only is a bit sweeter and tastes good when eaten freshly cooked and still hot.

(Dinungoy)

Bolinao, Pangasinan - Caves in Bolinao

Bolinao, aside from the beautiful beach front, also has many caves. Patar actually has three caves that people could visit namely Enchanted Cave, Wonderful Cave and Cindy's Cave. Enchanted cave is the most famous among the three and the most commercialized. The cave has been modified. It is the deepest and the biggest of the three. Wonderful cave is newly discovered and has a more natural effect to it compared to the three caves. It is also the cleanest and the water is really nice although the steps down to the water is a bit steep. Last is Cindy's Cave, it is the shallowest of the three, there is a grotto placed in the area and a shower was also placed in the middle of the water and the water is not as clear as Wonderful Cave.

(Wonderful Cave)

(Way to Wonderful Cave, many trees are planted)

(Cindy's Cave)

(Entrance to Cindy's Cave)

Bolinao, Pangasinan - White Sand Beach

One of the more famous beaches in Pangasinan is the White Sand Beach in Patar, Bolinao. This is open to public and all you have to pay for is parking and a cottage. The Baranggay of Patar does have a long beach front, and you would be able to find the finer sand in the end part. The road to the area is still rough road, but some parts are already cemented. The only resort in the area is Treasures of Bolinao, which is a bit costly.

The area is packed with people from the area and tourists. Since the travel time is long, it is best to stay atleast one night, there are many resorts and houses that you could rent but they are minutes away from the finer beach.

(Road to Patar)

(Patar White Sand Beach)

EVV is now online!

This blog features the places that I have been to in the Philippines and also features pictures taken from these places as photographed by me. I am an amateur photographer in learning. One of the main purpose of this blog is to feature anything Philippines, from views, beaches, food and so on. Hope you enjoy your stay!