3 Days in Malapascua Itinerary: Thresher Sharks & Beaches, My Amazing Experience in 2025

Malapascua Island in the Philippines isn’t exactly on every traveler’s radar and I get why. It’s mostly known as a scuba diving hotspot, and unless you’re already part of that world, you might not even know it exists.

I hadn’t heard of Malapascua either. It wasn’t until I was already in the Philippines that another traveler mentioned “this island where you can dive with thresher sharks.” And honestly, as soon as I heard that, I thought well, I guess I have to go too.

So this Malapascua itinerary is coming straight from my own experience as a backpacker (or remote worker, or digital nomad, or whatever label you want to use) traveling around the Philippines. I like scuba diving when I travel, but I’m not the type to build a whole trip around it. That said, I met plenty of people in Malapascua who were doing just that and if that sounds like you, you’ll probably want to stay longer than three days.

But if you’re more like me, someone who wants to dive, chill on beaches, and just explore a little then this 3-day itinerary should be doing well. Thresher sharks, Reef Sharks, turtles, white sand, and cheap rum at sunset? Let’s get into it.

3 Days in Malapascua Itinerary – My Experience

I’m starting this itinerary with a bit of my own experience in Malapascua, what I loved, what surprised me, and what maybe wasn’t ideal. Personally, I always find it more helpful to hear how someone actually experienced a place rather than reading a sterile, step-by-step guide.

Before I even got to the island, I had messaged a bunch of dive shops to check prices and availability. Based on reviews, setup, and prices, Devocean Divers looked like the one for me. I reached out to them on WhatsApp, but they told me they were fully booked. A little weird, but fine, I figured I’d just sort it out once I arrived.

When we finally got to the island, we started exploring and happened to walk by Devocean. I figured I’d just ask in person and yep, no problem at all. They said I could start diving the next day, super casual. So just a heads up: it’s definitely worth asking in person if you’re already on the island. Seems like they keep some space for walk-ins even if they say they’re booked online.

Right then and there, I booked a refresher course for the next morning (which I definitely needed, no shame in that), and the three-dive thresher shark package for the day after. I spent about $170 USD total for all of it, including gear, which I thought was a pretty decent deal.

Also, a quick note: there’s one working ATM on the island, and it’s inside Mabuhay Thresher Dive Resort. That was the only one I saw that worked, so maybe plan ahead for cash.

The refresher course was great, super professional and just what I needed. And the thresher shark dives were 100% the highlight of my time on Malapascua. I saw a bunch of them underwater, and even a couple launching up toward the surface. Unreal.

On my last day, we explored the north of the island, which I really recommend. We joined a snorkeling tour that ended up being way more impressive than I expected, we even saw sharks while snorkeling and a turtle cruising around. We wrapped it all up with sunset drinks at a little sunset bar tucked away on its own quiet beach.

3 Days in Malapascua Itinerary

Day 1: Refresher Course or First Dive in Malapascua

My first day in Malapascua was all about getting back into scuba diving. I hadn’t been underwater in about four years (even though I’m Advanced Open Water certified), and as soon as I heard “BCD check” and “buoyancy control,” I knew I wasn’t exactly feeling confident.

Thankfully, the refresher dive was super chill. We took the boat to a quiet beach up in the north of the island and went through all the basic drills in shallow water. And honestly, it’s just like riding a bike, it all came back pretty quickly, and I felt way better afterward.

Once we wrapped up the skills, we did a short fun dive around a little shipwreck site, which sits just off the beach near Shipwreck Sunset Bar. It was a great way to ease back in without any pressure.

Not everyone will need a refresher like I did, but that’s how I chose to start my time here. If you’re already confident and coming to Malapascua specifically for diving, you could totally jump straight into a full dive day. There are loads of sites beyond just the thresher shark dives, places with stingrays, reef sharks, tiger sharks, and even occasional hammerheads, plus octopus, seahorses, and all kinds of reef life.

No matter what you end up doing underwater, I’d wrap up Day 1 with some cold drinks on the beach and dinner at one of the local spots. The food here is surprisingly good and super budget-friendly too.

Day 2: Diving with Thresher Sharks & Bounty Beach

Day 2 was the big one for me and probably will be for you too. It’s all about the thresher shark dive, which usually starts around 5:00 AM, with a 4:30 AM meetup at the dive shop. Yep, it’s painfully early, but it’s timed that way for a reason. It takes about an hour by boat to get to the dive site, and early morning is when the threshers show up.

I actually wrote a full article about diving in Malapascua, but let me just say, it’s an incredible experience. We did three dives, and during the first two, we saw thresher sharks circling below and around us, slow and ghostlike. It was surreal. If you’re still deciding on a dive shop, I can 100% recommend Devocean Divers, they are super professional, smooth logistics, and have a great overall vibe.

We got back to the island around 1 or 2 PM, and depending on your dive shop, you’ll usually return to Bounty Beach, which is honestly the perfect place to spend the rest of the day.

Bounty Beach is the long stretch on the south side of Malapascua. Closer to the port, it’s more built up, with plenty of places to grab lunch, cold beers, or happy hour cocktails at one of the beachfront dive resorts. My favorite spot was Ocean Vida, they’ve got a pretty cool bean bag setup, good drinks, and a great atmosphere.

If you’re up for a walk, keep heading down the beach for about 15 minutes, and it starts to get quieter. There are actually some great snorkeling spots along this part of the shore. I saw turtles, seahorses, and all kinds of colorful fish. Bring your own mask and you’re good to go.

Day 3: Snorkeling with Sharks & Exploring North Malapascua

Alright, day three takes us from diving with thresher sharks to snorkeling with more sharks, and honestly, I think this part of Malapascua is a bit underrated. Even if you’re coming here mainly for the scuba diving, I’d definitely recommend setting aside a day for a snorkel trip, it’s way better than I expected.

We booked our snorkel tour through our guesthouse for ₱500 per person (less than $10), and it included all the gear plus a 2.5-hour boat trip to several snorkel sites around the island.

There were colorful corals, rock formations, and even a shipwreck, but the absolute highlight was the site with the baby sharks. Just off the coast of Malapascua, there’s a marine life sanctuary where, from what I understood, blacktip reef sharks come to give birth. We saw about 15–20 baby blacktips swimming around in shallow waters, completely wild. Don’t worry, the parents aren’t usually around, so it’s safe to swim and observe.

After snorkeling, we spent the afternoon exploring the north of the island, which is quieter and more local than the southern beach areas. We had lunch at My Tablea Café (really good spot), and then walked over to White Sand Beach, a calm, peaceful stretch of coastline that’s definitely worth checking out.

We ended the day back near the Shipwreck Beach Sunset Bar with some sunset drinks and a dip in the sea. The perfect close to a laid-back third day on Malapascua.

Where to Stay in Malapascua Island

Obviously, it depends on your travel style, but if you’re coming to Malapascua to dive (which most people are), I’d definitely recommend staying at one of the dive resorts on the island. These places are basically hotels with an attached dive shop and school, and they tend to be the nicest and most convenient accommodations around.

I also suggest staying in the south of Malapascua, ideally somewhere right on Bounty Beach. That’s where most of the dive shops are based, so it just makes your life easier, especially when your dive days start before 5am. We stayed up north, which was super peaceful and felt way more local, but getting to the dive school each morning was a bit of a mission.

Some of the best dive resorts in Malapascua are:

• Tepanee Beach Resort
  
• Hippocampus Beach Resort
  
• Buena Vida Dive Resort
  
• Ocean Vida Beach & Dive Resort
  
• Malapascua Garden Resort

How to Get to Malapascua Island

Getting to Malapascua is pretty straightforward, but fair warning, it usually takes most of the day. You’ll need to take a bus from Cebu City, specifically from the Cebu North Bus Terminal, to Maya Port ( New Maya Port). The bus costs around ₱220 and the ride takes roughly 4–5 hours, depending on traffic.

From Maya, you’ll hop on a ferry to Malapascua Island, which runs frequently during the day and takes about 30 minutes. Just be ready to pay a small boat fee and maybe a port fee too. (I’ve written a full guide on how to get to Malapascua if you want all the step-by-step info.)

If you don’t feel like figuring it all out yourself, many dive resorts offer private transfers from Cebu. Some even include a full Cebu-to-Malapascua package where they organize everything from van pickup to the boat ride, which is a nice option if you’re short on time or just want to keep things stress-free.

FAQs About My Malapascua Itinerary Travel Guide

How many days do I need in Malapascua?

I’d say 3 days is a great start, especially if you’re here for the thresher shark dives. That gives you enough time for a refresher or fun dive, the early morning shark dives, and a day to snorkel or explore the island. If you’re a hardcore diver, you might want 4–5 days to check out more of the dive sites.

Is Malapascua worth visiting?

Definitely, if you’re into diving or want a more laid-back island vibe, Malapascua is 100% worth it. It’s not as flashy or developed as some other places in the Philippines, but that’s also part of the charm.

What is there to do in Malapascua?

More than I expected, honestly. It’s known for scuba diving, especially thresher sharks, but even if you’re not diving there’s still a lot to do. You can snorkel with baby sharks, check out a shipwreck, or hang out on beautiful beaches.

Where to eat in Malapascua?

Malapascua doesn’t have the most exciting food scene in the Philippines, but there are still a few solid spots worth checking out. For super cheap local food, I recommend Bakhaw Kiwi. Ocean Vida Beach Resort is great for a chill lunch by the beach.

Final Thoughts on My Malapascua Island Itinerary

For me personally, 3–4 days in Malapascua was just right but it really depends on what you’re looking for. The island itself doesn’t have a ton to do, at least not compared to bigger or more developed places in the Philippines. But honestly, that’s part of what makes Malapascua so great. It’s laid-back, simple, and still feels very local. No big resorts or chaotic crowds, just quiet beaches, dive shops, and local life.

The main focus here is definitely scuba diving, and rightly so. That’s the highlight. I did a refresher and the thresher shark dives, and for me, 3 days was perfect. But I also met people who stayed for a week, doing multiple dive days, repeating the thresher shark dive to get the perfect photo, or chasing tiger sharks every day (never saw one, bless them). So yeah, if you’re here on a dedicated diving trip, you might want longer. But if you’re a backpacker like me who dives now and then, 3 days will do you just fine.

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