How to Get from Malapascua to Bantayan
Travel from Malapascua to Bantayan by private boat or via Hagnaya and the Santa Fe ferry. See what each route costs and how long it takes.
Last updated: October 31, 2026
Contents
Malapascua is a small dive island known for its thresher sharks, and Bantayan is a larger island of wide white beaches, sunsets and bicycles. They look close on the map, but the Visayan Sea lies between them, and there is no public ferry linking the two.
Malapascua to Bantayan by Private Boat
A chartered outrigger boat (bangka) is the direct link. On booking platforms, a 7-passenger boat from Malapascua to Bantayan costs about $419 per boat (October 2026) and takes from about 3 hours, longer in rough seas.[1] You pay for the whole boat, so the price works best when divers share it. Mornings are usually calmer, so aim for an early start.
Malapascua to Bantayan via the Cebu Mainland
The cheaper route takes a boat from Malapascua back to northern Cebu, continues by road to Hagnaya in San Remigio and crosses to Bantayan by ferry. Island Shipping Corporation sails from Hagnaya to Santa Fe on Bantayan in about 1 to 1.5 hours. A regular passenger fare is PHP 300, and a motorcycle up to 200cc is PHP 650.[2]
Tips for Traveling from Malapascua to Bantayan
- Watch the weather: when a gale warning or storm is near, the Coast Guard stops small craft, so keep a buffer day.
- Protect your gear: spray reaches everyone on a bangka, so bring dry bags for cameras and phones.
- Cover up: hours on an open boat burn quickly, so wear a hat with a chin strap and use reef-safe sunscreen.
- Book a charter ahead in high season: boats are in demand from December to April.
- Carry small bills: landing sites often ask for a small fee or a porter tip in cash.
Timetable
| Taxi Cebu - Cebu $ 60.65–71.25 3h | |
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| Van Malapascua - Bantayan $ 416.69 3h | |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Use the booking tool on this page to compare the transport options currently available from Malapascua to Bantayan, including current prices and schedules.
Going back to the Cebu mainland and taking the Hagnaya to Santa Fe ferry is cheaper than a charter. The ferry fare is PHP 300 for a regular passenger.
A private boat charter, which crosses directly in about 3 hours or more depending on the sea.
A direct private boat takes from about 3 hours. The route via Hagnaya takes longer because of the road leg and the ferry, which sails for about 1 to 1.5 hours.
Boats sail in suitable conditions only. When the Coast Guard suspends small craft because of storms, the crossing is off.
Go back to the mainland by boat and continue by road to Hagnaya for the larger ferry to Bantayan.
Sources and background
Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.
- [1] 12Go: Malapascua - Bantayan timetable. Retrieved October 31, 2026.
- [2] Island Shipping Corporation: Island Shipping Corporation: routes and fares. Retrieved October 30, 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.