How to Get from Bantayan to Malapascua
Travel from Bantayan to Malapascua by private boat from about $408 or by ferry to Hagnaya and a boat from Maya. Compare options and tips.
Last updated: October 30, 2026
Contents
Bantayan has wide white beaches and quiet bicycle lanes in Santa Fe, and Malapascua is a small island known for diving. Both lie off northern Cebu, but no scheduled ferry links them. You either hire a boat for the open-water crossing, or you go back to the Cebu mainland, cross its northern tip and take a boat from Maya.
Bantayan to Malapascua by Private Boat
A chartered boat crosses straight from Bantayan to Malapascua and saves the trip around the mainland. On booking platforms, the charter is priced at about $408 (October 2026) for a boat that carries up to 7 passengers, and the crossing takes from about 3 hours, depending on the sea.[1] The fare is for the whole boat, so it makes sense for a group or a family.
Bantayan to Malapascua via the Cebu Mainland
The overland route has three stages. First, a ferry from Santa Fe on Bantayan to Hagnaya Port in San Remigio, Cebu. Island Shipping crosses in about 1 to 1.5 hours and charges ₱300 for a regular adult fare.[2] Second, a road transfer north to Maya Port in Daanbantayan, the jump-off point for Malapascua. Third, a boat from Maya Port to Malapascua.[3]
For the road stage, booking platforms list private vans and standard cars across the northern part of Cebu from about $61 to $71 (October 2026) with a driving time of about 3 hours.[1] The whole trip through the mainland is a long day, so start early.
Comparing Your Options
| Mode | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Private boat (up to 7 passengers) | About $408 for the boat[1] | From about 3h |
| Santa Fe to Hagnaya ferry | ₱300 regular adult fare[2] | 1h to 1h 30min |
| Private road transfer in northern Cebu | About $61 to $71 | From about 3h |
Tips for Traveling from Bantayan to Malapascua
- Check the weather: The Visayan Sea can be rough, especially in the monsoon seasons. If you charter a boat, confirm with the operator on the morning of the trip that the sea is safe.
- Share the boat: Ask at your resort for other travelers who want to cross, because the price is for the whole boat.
- Protect yourself from the sun: Wear a hat, use reef-safe sunscreen and bring plenty of water.
- Keep your bags dry: On a small boat, luggage sits in the open, so waterproof covers are worth it.
Timetable
| Taxi Cebu - Cebu $ 60.92–70.29 3h | |
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| Taxi Bantayan - Cebu $ 113.97–151.96 10h | |
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| Van Bantayan - Malapascua $ 406.10 3h | |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Use the booking tool on this page to compare the transport options currently available from Bantayan to Malapascua, including current prices and schedules.
Going back through the mainland is usually cheaper than a private boat. The ferry from Santa Fe to Hagnaya costs ₱300, and you then continue by road to Maya Port and by boat to Malapascua.
The private boat charter, which takes from about 3 hours, goes straight across and avoids the long detour through the Cebu mainland.
A direct boat takes from about 3 hours. Via the mainland, the ferry takes 1 to 1.5 hours and the road to Maya Port from about 3 hours, plus the boat to Malapascua and waiting time, so it is a long day.
The crossing is generally fine in clear weather. Travel in the morning or early afternoon, when the sea is calmer, and confirm with the boat operator on the day.
Yes. Booking platforms list private vans and cars across the northern part of Cebu from about $61, with a driving time of about 3 hours.
Yes, book ahead, because it is a private charter that is not available on demand, especially in the peak season.
Sources and background
Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.
- [1] 12Go: Bantayan to Malapascua timetable. Retrieved October 30, 2026.
- [2] Island Shipping Corporation: Routes and Fare Guide: Hagnaya to Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island. Retrieved October 30, 2026.
- [3] Cebu Provincial Government (Explore Cebu tourism): Explore Cebu: Daanbantayan. Retrieved October 20, 2026.
Guide prices and journey times are indicative, not live quotes. A booked package may include transfers and waiting time as well as the main journey. Check the selected offer, pickup point and current conditions before booking.