How Much Does Malapascua Cost?

Malapascua costs ₱1,500–8,000+ per day depending on your style. Budget travelers can get by on ₱1,500/day. Mid-range is ₱3,000–5,000/day. Luxury runs ₱8,000+/day.

Budget
₱1,500/day
Mid-range
₱3,000–5,000/day
Luxury
₱8,000+/day
Daily budgets

What You'll Spend Per Day

Typical daily costs including accommodation, food, and one activity. Transport to the island is separate.

Backpacker
₱1,500–2,500
per day
Dorm bed or fan room
Local eateries & street food
One dive or snorkel trip
Shared transport
Mid-range
₱3,000–5,000
per day
AC room, private bath
Restaurant meals & beers
Diving or island hop
Comfortable & flexible
Luxury
₱8,000+
per day
Beachfront resort suite
Fine dining & cocktails
Private boat & diving
Spa & premium experiences
Detailed prices

Cost Breakdown by Category

Real prices as of 2026. Tap each category to see the full price table.

Type Budget Mid Luxury
Budget hostel / dormper night ₱400 ₱800 ₱1,500
Mid-range resortper night ₱1,200 ₱2,500 ₱5,000
Beachfront resortper night ₱2,000 ₱4,000 ₱8,000
Luxury resortper night ₱3,500 ₱6,000 ₱15,000
Item Budget Mid Luxury
Street food / local eateryper meal ₱50 ₱100 ₱200
Restaurant mealper meal ₱150 ₱300 ₱600
Beachfront diningper meal ₱250 ₱500 ₱1,000
Beer (local)per bottle ₱50 ₱80 ₱150
Cocktailper drink ₱150 ₱250 ₱400
Water (1.5L)per bottle ₱25 ₱40 ₱60
Route Budget Mid Luxury
Ceres Bus (Cebu → Maya)per person ₱350 ₱350 ₱350
Van hire (Cebu → Maya)per vehicle — ₱6,000 ₱6,000
Public boat (Maya ↔ Malapascua)per person ₱100 ₱150 ₱200
Private boat charterper trip — ₱3,000 ₱5,000
Activity Budget Mid Luxury
Thresher shark diveper dive ₱1,500 ₱2,000 ₱2,500
Fun dive (certified)per dive ₱1,200 ₱1,800 ₱2,500
Open Water coursefull course ₱15,000 ₱18,000 ₱22,000
Island hopping (Kalanggaman)per person ₱1,500 ₱2,000 ₱3,000
Snorkeling tripper person ₱500 ₱800 ₱1,500
Massage (1 hour)per session ₱300 ₱500 ₱800
Item Budget Mid Luxury
Environmental feeone-time ₱100 ₱100 ₱100
Scooter rentalper day ₱300 ₱500 —
Laundryper kg ₱50 ₱80 ₱120
Mobile data (SIM)prepaid load ₱100 ₱300 ₱500
Example budgets

3-Day Trip: What It Actually Costs

Realistic budget breakdowns for three days on Malapascua, including transport from Cebu.

The Backpacker

₱6,000–8,000 total
Transport (bus + public boat, return) ₱560–800
Hostel / fan room (3 nights) ₱1,200–2,400
Food & drinks (3 days, local eateries) ₱900–1,800
1 fun dive + 1 snorkel trip ₱1,700–2,600
Environmental fee + essentials ₱250–400

The Mid-Range Traveler

₱15,000–20,000 total
Transport (van hire + public boat, return) ₱3,800–4,200
Mid-range resort (3 nights) ₱7,500–9,000
Food & drinks (3 days, restaurants) ₱2,400–3,600
Thresher shark dive + island hop ₱4,000–5,000
Massage + environmental fee ₱600–800

The Comfort / Luxury Traveler

₱30,000–45,000 total
Transport (private transfer both ways) ₱11,000–16,000
Beachfront / luxury resort (3 nights) ₱12,000–24,000
Fine dining & cocktails (3 days) ₱4,500–7,200
Multiple dives + private island hop ₱7,000–10,000
Spa, scooter, extras ₱1,500–3,000
Watch out

Hidden Costs & Need-to-Know

Expenses that catch travelers off guard. Read these before you budget.

ATMs on Malapascua

Yes, there are ATMs on the island. Generally they work well, but power outages or internet cuts can take them offline. In busy periods they can run out of cash. Some larger resorts accept card payments. Bring backup cash from Cebu — and note there are no ATMs in Maya Port.

GCash is not reliable everywhere

Some restaurants and dive shops accept GCash, but coverage is spotty. Do not rely on digital payments as your only option. Cash is king on Malapascua.

Environmental / conservation fee

A ₱100 environmental fee is sometimes collected at the port when you arrive. This is a one-time charge. Some resorts include it in their rate, others don't — ask ahead.

Boat fees are often separate

Some resorts advertise transfers included, but the public boat fee (₱100-200) may still be charged separately. Confirm with your resort what "transfer" covers before arriving.

Dive equipment rental adds up

Dive prices usually include tank and weights, but a full equipment rental (BCD, regulator, wetsuit, computer) adds ₱500–800 per dive. Bringing your own gear saves money over multiple days.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Resort prices range from ₱800 per night for a basic hostel dorm to ₱15,000+ for a luxury beachfront resort. A good mid-range resort with air conditioning, hot water, and beachfront access typically costs ₱2,500–5,000 per night. Budget fan rooms without AC start around ₱400–800.
Diving costs are similar across all three destinations (around ₱1,500–2,500 per dive). Accommodation on Malapascua tends to be 10–20% higher because everything must be brought in by boat. Food prices are comparable. The main extra cost for Malapascua is getting there — it is further from Cebu City than Moalboal.
YES. There are ATMs on the island and they can be unreliable if the internet is down. Some larger resorts and dive shops accept credit cards, but most restaurants, shops, and local services are cash-only. GCash is accepted at 90% of places. Always bring enough Philippine Pesos from Cebu City before you travel.
No. There are ATMs on Malapascua. They are unreliable if the internet is down. If you need cash, always bring enough Philippine Pesos from Cebu City before you travel.
Prices last updated: March 2026