So, you’re in Malapascua Island.
Waves crashing onto sparkling white sands. Salty breeze in your hair. Sunlight dancing on the water.
Peace, serenity, well-being.
But you want adventure too.
And no, you’re not a scuba diver.
You don’t even have an open water certificate, so you can’t venture out into the deep to dive with the island’s famous thresher sharks.
What do you do?
Island hopping, of course!
But here’s the thing: you’re not sure where to find an island-hopping tour.
And when you do, guess what?
It’s pricey.
“PHP4,000 for a private tour,” the random guy who met you when you landed at the pier tells you.
You’re confused.
Do you spend on this tour, or live out the rest of your days sitting by the beach doing nothing?
Is Malapascua Island Hopping worth it?
Good question!
In this blog, I’ll help you arrive at your own answer.
No, I won’t tell you to do or not to do it.
Instead, I’ll tell you:
- What’s included in the Malapascua Island hopping tour
- What you’ll see and what it’s like on the tour
- How much the tour costs
- How many guests are included in the tour
- My experience and opinion of the Malapascua Island hopping tour
- And more!
My goal is for you to understand what you’ll get from the tour, so you can make your own decision on whether or not to go.
So, let’s go!
Is Malapascua Island Hopping Worth It? (What You’ll Experience on the Tour +4 Spots Included on the Tour)
Yes, the Malapascua Island Hopping tour is worth it.
To me, at least.
But honestly, it’s not for everyone.
Let’s talk about what you’ll experience on the tour.
Because yes:
Malapascua is a rich, diverse island.
Only an area of 2.5 by 1 kilometers lies above the water – the rest slopes into the deep, covered by lush, vibrant coral gardens.
Fish and marine animals of all kinds roam these depths – from black tip sharks to nudibranchs, mandarin fish to seahorses.
So yes, it is a spectacular experience to swim or dive in this underwater world!
When you book a Malapascua Island Hopping tour, you’ll get to see these beautiful sites.
Malapascua Island Hopping Site #1: Dakit-Dakit Island
Dakit-Dakit Island sits a few minutes by boat from Malapascua Island.
No, it’s not an actual island.
It’s simply a few rocks protruding from the water, standing against the sky.
But the site is lovely.
Immerse your face in the water, and you enter a totally different world.
Bright corals branch together in the shallows.
Fish swim between them, happy and serene in the silence.
There’s even a little tunnel you can dive through for unique, eerie photos.
Malapascua Island Hopping Site #2: Baby Sharks
You’re not a scuba diver, but you want to swim with real sharks.
Cool!
You can find some right next to Malpascua Island.
No, these aren’t the long, elegant, grown-up threshers.
They’re smaller, baby black-tip sharks that spend their growing years close to the island before they reach maturity and make their way to the deep.
Stop #2 of the Malapascua Island Hopping tour is in their “nursery,” a cordoned marine sanctuary close to the shore.
And here’s the thing: you won’t regret your visit to it!
When we were there, we saw 3, 4, even 6 sharks swimming together in the clear waters.
Since they live in the area, there’s an almost 100% chance you’ll see them.
Cool, huh?
Malapascua Island Hopping Site #3: Coral Gardens
Into coral gardens?
Who isn’t?
I mean, they’re gorgeous.
The colors, the shapes, the unusual, messy elegance.
And Malapascua’s aren’t any different.
From brain corals to huge, branching ones that look like mini trees, these gardens have it all.
Plus, Malapascua’s coral gardens aren’t a tiny patch within a sea of grass and sand.
They go on seemingly forever.
When we were there, we swam far out from the boat and never saw the edge of them.
So imagine: an endless, colorful garden of corals you can just drift and swim in.
Truly worth the visit, if you ask me!
Malapasuca Island Hopping Site #4: Japanese Shipwreck
The last stop of the Malapascua Island Hopping tour is in the northern tip of the island.
Submerged in the water around 3-4 meters deep is the hull and remains of an old Japanese shipwreck.
No, the ship itself is no longer intact.
But some of its rails remain – long, eerie, coral-encrusted shapes darkening the sandy bottom of the sea.
It’s the perfect spot to travel back into the past and imagine long-dead seamen looking out into the horizon.
Or if you’re into photos, you’ll love the creepy vibe of the area.
I mean, what better background for your Instagram posts than a decades-old wreck covered in algae and corals?
How Much Is the Malapascua Island Hopping Tour?
The Malapascua Island Hopping Tour can cost you anywhere from PHP2,000 to PHP4,000.
The truth is, there’s no fixed price for the tour.
Crazy, right?
I know, I know.
But here’s the thing.
Malapascua Island Hopping isn’t a monitored tourist activity.
Think of it as a bunch of fishermen with boats who take you out to see the sites for a price they determine themselves.
Plus, there’s the middleman.
The middleman puts his own price on top of the fishermen’s, so there you go!
When you step onto Malapscua Island, be prepared to polish off your bargaining skills.
We didn’t, and we ended up paying PHP4,000 for 3 people.
“Not bad,” we thought. “I mean, it’s a private tour.”
Still uneasy, my brother posted a poll on Threads to see what other people thought about it.
And we got crazily diverse answers!
Some people said we were robbed.
Others said it was a good price and worth it.
Still others said it was cheap for a private tour.
Confusing much!
And then I messaged my friend and asked her about her experience, and she said…
“…you were scammed! When we were there, we paid PHP2,000 for 5 people!”
I know, it sounds insane.
But that’s how it works there: the better at bargaining you are, the better price you’ll get.
How Many Guests Are Included in the Malapascua Island Hopping Tour?
We were 3 people on our island hopping tour and we spent PHP4,000.
But as I said before, it really depends.
My friend spent PHP2,000 for 5 people.
Based on replies from a poll my brother posted on Threads, people had widely diverse experiences.
So my #1 advice to you is: get ready to polish those bargaining moves!
Malapascua Island Hopping Tour: How It Works
The Malapascua Island Hopping Tour is a half-day activity.
Of course, you decide the time (it’s a private tour, so you can go any time you want!).
The tour lasts roughly 4 hours.
We decided to go in the morning, after breakfast.
We got picked up at our hostel at 10 AM.
Since the hostel was right by the seashore, all we had to do was hop on the boat and go!
We visited the 4 sites I mentioned above.
At around 2 PM, we were dropped off back at our hostel.
Pretty straightforward, huh?
Like I said, it’s a private tour, so it’s really flexible.
You can go early in the morning, at noon, late in the afternoon, or any time that suits you!
Simply inform your guide the night before, and they’ll be at your doorstep to pick you up the next day.
Is Malapascua Island Hopping Worth It? (My Personal Opinion)
YES, Malapascua Island Hopping is worth it.
According to me.
That’s because of who I am…obviously!
That said, the tour might not be worth it to everyone.
Maybe you’re the kind of person who prefers chilling by the beach, sipping a mango shake or a cocktail.
Maybe your idea of fun isn’t sitting on a boat in the sweltering heat, or swimming in the middle of the sea amidst (sometimes) big waves.
Or maybe you like to count every penny, and bargaining is not your thing.
Well, well!
That’s you.
And it’s OK.
Malapascua is a beautiful place, and you can definitely enjoy it without exploring its underwater treasures. (Looking for more Malapascua tourist spots? I’ve listed 11 of them in my Malapascua tourist spots article!)
But if you’re the kind of person who can’t sit still.
You want to explore, satisfy your raging curiosity, go home with vibrant memories of the deep.
You aren’t the kind of person who splurges on nothing, but what price would you pay for priceless experiences, adventures, and memories?
Everything you have, right?
If this is you, go for it!
You won’t regret it for a single minute.
I know I didn’t.
Ready to Go Island Hopping in Malapascua? (Conclusion)
So, it’s time for the big decision.
Should you go island hopping in Malapascua?
Or should you just stay in Bounty Beach, sipping a mango shake and looking out to sea?
My answer: It depends.
It really does!
If you’re an ocean lover and want to explore ALL the magical underwater world, then YES.
You should ignore the part about money.
You should just polish your bargaining skills and acting talent, and go ahead and book your tour!
But if you’re not exactly an ocean-lover and you’re in Malapascua for a chill vacation…
…then maybe not.
If you’re particular about the prices of things and don’t want to strike a bargain with some locals…
…maybe you’re better off chilling and sipping a matcha latte by the shore.
Now, it’s time to decide!
Visiting Malapascua soon? Check out my complete Malapascua Travel Guide here!