After a day spent on Phuket’s Karon beach recovering from a substantial hangover due to four days of partying during the Thai New Year celebrations in Bangkok I headed early in the morning for the short boat journey to the Phi Phi (pronounced ‘pee pee’) islands. With just a few days left to spend in Thailand before moving onto Indonesia I definitely had to give a try at one of those mythical Thai tropical island of the Andaman coast so I decided to play it safe and choose the most talked about for it’s unparalleled natural beauty as a destination.

The two main islands of this protected marine reserve are uninhabited Koh Phi Phi Lei, the one that put firmly it on the mass tourism trail overnight when the movie “the Beach” with Leonardo Di Caprio was filmed on location and Koh Phi Phi Don, where the ferry will drop you off and the only one where accommodations and (over)development is authorized.

While the ferry slowly approached Koh Phi Phi Don the first impressions were all but disappointing as the first glimpses revealed long stretches of white sand beaches where vivid turquoise waters gave way to massive Limestone cliffs surrounded by miles of trackless forest on each side of the island. Immediately comparisons with El Nido in the Philippines came to mind as both share similarities. While Koh Phi Phi Don is set on a much more grandiose scale it lacks the variety and virgin state of the surrounding islands in the Bacuit Bay.

If it wasn’t for that thin and long strip of sand that make up the central and busiest portion of the island Phi Phi Don would actually be made up of two islands with the bays Ao Loh Dalum located north and Ao Loh Dalum south. The water itself at Ao Loh Dalum beach is almost impracticable due to the incessant flow of ferries and long tail boats coming and going leaving but Ao Loh Dalum really accessible for a swimming. But since 80 to 90% of the Phi Phi Don’s accommodations are around this central portion of the island in the Tonsai Village the place can get a bit claustrophobic and packed so you might want to escape a bit further down southwest to Had Yao or “Long Beach” which is considered the best with the softest and finest white sand.  Further North on the East coast as location gets more remote things calm down and become much more peaceful.

I definitely had a love-hate relationship with Koh Phi Phi and ultimately whether you like it or not will depends on your idea of what good times on an island in paradise is.  Being one of the prominent destinations on the Southeast Asia backpacker trail, expect to be surrounded by hundreds of other Caucasian foreigners (mostly in their early 20’s) enjoying the bars and all night parties as much as beaches and water-sports. While there still is a chance for you to get a moment alone on Phi Phi,  it’s not easy… This by all means is by Southeast Asian standards, as it’s still but a tiny fraction of what you’d get in the most sought after beach destinations in Europe.

Though on average expensive compared to the rest of Thailand it’s still much much cheaper than similar premier island destinations around the globe. Good luck finding a decent room on the French Riviera in or Hawaii for fifteen dollars a night.

Pictures of Koh Phi Phi

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How to get to Phi Phi islands by boat

From Phuket:  A one way ticket will set you back 300 baht and the ferry leaves Phuket at 08h30, 13h30 & 14h30 taking just about  90 minutes. From Phi Phi back to Phuket the ferry leaves at 09h00 & 14h30.

Krabi: A one way ticket will set you back 300 baht and the ferry leaves Krabi at 10h00 & 15h00 taking just about  90 minutes. The port itself where the ferry leaves is around 5km from the town of Krabi so just arrange pickup with your hotel in Krabi. From Phi Phi back to Phuket the ferry leaves 08h00, 10h00 & 14:30.

Ao Nang: A one way ticket will set you back 350 baht and the ferry leaves Ao Nang at 09h00 taking an hour. From Phi Phi back to Phuket the ferry leaves at 15h30.

Ko Lanta:  A one way ticket will set you back 350 baht and the ferry leaves Phuket at 08h30 & 13h00 (only during high season) taking just about 90 minutes. From Phi Phi back to Phuket the ferry leaves at 11h30, 14h00 & 15h00.

The last portion of my trip took me to the southern part of the state of Goa. Having read a lot and then experienced first hand how grinding traveling in India can be at times the best antidote is to leave yourself some space for a short vacation within your vacation to unwind at the beach. For me this took place around the sleepy town of Palolem that is known for having one of the most beautiful beaches of India. Surrounded by mountains on each sides, the kilometer long crescent shaped beach gives way into the calm and idyllic Arabian sea which you can walk up into about a hundred of meters or more depending on the tide. Due to a ban on permanent development the beach is filled six months a year with an unbroken line made up of hundreds of temporary shacks offering the usual bamboo and palm leaf huts accommodations, restaurants and bars. Those in need of a bit more luxury or visiting out of season can find concrete air-con style guest houses a few streets back in town all year long. The mood is definitely laid back and those looking for a party atmosphere should skip Palolem and head up in North Goa as loud music is banned past 10 o’clock here. Though there is  somewhat of an alternative as on certain nights they open up silent discos parties where wireless headphones allow people that want to party into the wee hours of the night to do so while no one else is bothered. A good thing to mention is that the whole state of Goa has an unusually easy going attitude towards alcohol that you will find freely available everywhere and at cheap prices being that this is the only state in India to have tax-free beer.

Pictures of Palolem and the surrounding beaches of  Patnem, Agonda & Colomb :

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While the beach was not too crowded and still felt largely unspoiled when I visited in November I am sure some might find it to be a different story in the high season of  December and January. Those looking for a more quiet and secluded getaway can walk down south from Palolem and find accomodations in Colomb and Patnem Beach or take a 10km Auto rickshaw ride to peaceful Agonda with it’s three-kilometer-long beach. I am sure that like countless others with a bit of a loose itinerary you’ll find it’s very easy to stay here for far longer than you  initially intended enjoying the lazy beach lifestyle.

A Sadhu priest more commonly knows as a Hindu holy man on the banks of the Ganges river.

After an initial short and uneventful stay in Delhi I was glad to arrive in Varanasi which happened to be the first destination to really triggered my interest in India. A place where you can experience first hand the magic of being in one of the most spiritual and colorful cities of India. Varanasi is among the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and the holiest for Hindus. Pilgrims flock here from all over India and beyond to either wash away a lifetime of sins in the river Ganges, cremate their loved ones at the open air burning ghats or live out their final days. As it is said that anyone who dies in Varanasi attains instant enlightenment or “moksha” and is liberated from the cycle of reincarnation. I got to encounter just how important the city is to Hindus even before I arrived, as right next to me on the plane from Delhi was an elderly couple where the wife was caring for her terminally ill husband which didn’t seem to have much more than a few days to live and wished to go die there.

Varanasi is rather small and all it’s points of interest are within walking distance so all you really need to do is meander through the alleys of the old city and go on a stroll along the Ghats of the Ganges river and let yourself be absorbed by the experience. For those who might wonder ghats are a series of stone steps that lead down to the water which the city consists of an endless series of but before deciding to jump in for purification bath with the other average 60000 daily pilgrims, remember that on this same 7 KM stretch there are 30  sewers discharging heavy polluting into the river. While the World Health Organization suggests bathing water should have no more than 500 bacteria per 100mL; the Ganges has 1.5 million bacteria for the same quantity of water making it septic so think twice!

Pictures of Varanasi:

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]]> http://vincentvanderveken.com/2009/12/08/varanasi/feed/ 1 http://vincentvanderveken.com/2009/11/30/old-delhi/ http://vincentvanderveken.com/2009/11/30/old-delhi/#comments Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:59:48 +0000 Vincent http://vincentvanderveken.com/?p=733

Like the bulk of the travelers coming to India, Delhi will most likely be the obligatory first and last stop of anyone’s journey across the country. The first Impressions of North Delhi you will get of India should be a brutal assault on the senses as you try to make your way through its noisy and frenetically jam-packed streets filled with rickshaws, hand pulled trolleys, scooters, trucks, etc. Add to this being pursued by a few limbless beggars and immediately besieged by touts trying to sell you just about anything from souvenirs, postcards, guide services, etc. The high levels of pollution and garbage, the non stop frenetic honking and you’ll stat to have an idea of just how chaotic it can feel.

The streets are lined with makeshift kitchens, myriad of bazaars, shoemakers, sidewalk dentists and all sorts of second-hand merchandise in this mixed but mainly Muslim part of town. Old Delhi served as the capital of Islamic India and was founded by Emperor Shah Jahan and remained the capital of the Mughals until the end of their dynasty in 1707. Most of the interesting sights of the Capital such as the Red Fort and Jama Masjid mosk relate this era though the food alone would make it worth the trip where unpretentious restaurants such as Karim’s have been rated by time magazine of the best of Asia.

Here are some pictures of the main sights of Old Delhi and around:

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]]> http://vincentvanderveken.com/2009/11/30/old-delhi/feed/ 2 http://vincentvanderveken.com/2009/09/02/sitges-festa-major/ http://vincentvanderveken.com/2009/09/02/sitges-festa-major/#comments Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:54:40 +0000 Vincent http://vincentvanderveken.com/?p=695

Besides being known for its beautiful setting by the Mediterranean sea, much frequented beaches and the surrounding Natural Park of del Garraf, the quaint little town of Sitges is also very popular for one annual summertime event… The “Festa Major de Sitges” which means Main Festival in Catalan.

Made to honor the Town’s Patron Saint, Sant Bartomeu the event takes place for a week between the 21st and 27th of August and is one of the two biggest celebrations of the year where fans come in droves from all over the region to look or participate in the Fiesta. A true display of Catalan folklore can be witnessed with it’s mix colorful processions, dancers, parades and a sensational firework display make it a must see unforgettable event.

Pictures of Sitges Festa Major on August 23rd

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Getting there by Train:

There are four Rodalies trains an hour (from 06:13 to 22:13) and the journey on line C takes just over a half an hour from Barcelona ’s Passieg de Gràcia or Sants station.

]]> http://vincentvanderveken.com/2009/09/02/sitges-festa-major/feed/ 3 http://vincentvanderveken.com/2009/03/26/el-nido-and-the-bacuit-bay/ http://vincentvanderveken.com/2009/03/26/el-nido-and-the-bacuit-bay/#comments Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:35:16 +0000 Vincent http://vincentvanderveken.com/?p=516

Island Hopping in El Nido

Located 238 kilometer north of Puerto Princesa at the tip of Palawan’s northwestern coast is where you will find the small village of El Nido and the stunning beauty of it’s surrounding marine reserve park. Due to it’s remote location the Bacuit Bay remained virtually unknown to the world until 1979 when a boat propeller accident at sea forced a group of divers to set anchor in the archipelago. What they discovered was a breathtaking scenery of endless islands and islets made of thick virgin forest surrounded by fine white sand beaches, crystal clear waters and magnificently sculpted limestone cliffs. El Nido’s archipelago played a key role in the decision of National Geographic Traveler magazine to rate Palawan as the best island destination of East and Southeast Asia in 2007. So don’t be put off by the 6-8 hour long journey (half of on bumpy roads) from Puerto Princesa as the price to pay for a bit of discomfort is undeniably well worth the reward.

Map of the Puerto Princesa to El Nido route

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El Nido town

El Nido town is a charming and quiet little Filipino village with very simple living that  thrives mainly from fishing and tourism. Located along the beach and facing the Bacuit bay it is surrounded by the region’s dramatic landscape of towering limestone cliffs covered in a blanket of green that mirror onto its emerald waters. Affairs as you would imagine are very relaxed here and the whole town is made up of a few quaint streets filled with a variety of surprisingly good little restaurants serving both local delicacies and international cuisine, laid back beach bars where you can sip a cold San Miguel after a long day spent island hopping, a karaoke bar (videoke as they call it in the Philippines) where you can join the locals for a tune or two, a few grocery stores and souvenir shops. Those looking for a bit of nightlife should head to the Balay Tubay joint as it features a live band every night playing a mix of Rock, Folk and Filipino music. A bit of dancing is also possible at El Nido’s only discotheque made up of an imaginatively redecorated 50 Sq. Meters house.  There are plenty of budget and mid-range accommodation options in town that will cater to just about everyone’s needs.

Pictures of El Nido town

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The El Nido Marine Reserve of the Bacuit Bay

Though the town is quite pleasant in itself the real beauty of El Nido lies amidst it’s Bacuit Archipeleago. The most striking features of the Marine Reserve is the scenic landscape made up of 45 magnificently sculpted limestone islands of varying shapes and sizes. Each one of them with their own unique features of beautiful lagoons, thick green forests, coves, bays, white sand beaches, caves all scattered about the sparking crystal clear seas. Hiring a boat to take you island hopping and snorkeling  for a 6 hour day tour should cost you about 1500-2200 Philippines Pesos (Those on a budget can join a group for around 500-800 PHP). I highly recommend arranging to have your tour guides include (some have it bundled it in the prices while other ask extra) a cooler for cold beverages and lunch made up of fresh fish, beef or pork that they will BBQ and serve with rice and fruits on one of the beaches of your choice. A truly unforgettable experience to dine in the Bacuit bay. Since the bulk of the boat tours start at 8-9AM and follow one of the main four island hopping tours in a linear path a good tip  is to leave an hour late to avoid any crowds.

Pictures of El Nido Island Hopping

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There are three types of transportation that will to get to El Nido as you can:

Travel by Land

1. Air-con Shuttle Van:  Take one of the air-con mini vans from Puerto Princessa’s new market bus station between 6 and 9 AM in the morning and 1 to 2PM in the afternoon.  Costs are 600 pesos (±$12) per person and the trip takes 6-8 hours. Possibility to make reservations (best for afternoon trips) via phone at: +63(0)9209815702 or +63(0)9172762875.
2. Local Bus: Take the local non-aircon daily bus that Leaves Puerto Princessa’s new market bus station everyday at around 8 AM for El Nido and costs P350 pesos (±$7) per person. BEWARE as these buses are packed to the brim with people (or livestock) standing inside or on top. Windows are nonexistent so expect to be covered in a dirt  by the time of your arrival. Trip Takes from 8 to 12 hours depending on weather and how many flat tires to change. Eulen Joy Bus phone: +63(0)9197162210 or Sweety Bus phone: +63(0)919711922.
3. Private Van for Hire: These can be arranged in Puerto Princesa on any given day but the prices are steep around P10,000 (±$200) and can fit around 8 people. Not too bad if you are travelling in a group. Trip Takes 5-8 hours depending on how many stops you want to make.

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Travel by Boat

1. Sabang – Port  Barton – El Nido Banca route: These boats on run regularly during high season for around P1,500.00 to P2000/person (±$30-40) . Trip takes around 7 hours.
2. Manila to El Nido:  San Nicholas Shipping Lines (phone: +63(0)9182161764) and Atienza Shipping Lines (phone: +63(0)9274066036) make  trips 2-3 times a week for around P1,200.00 (±$25). Trip takes ±30 hours
   

Travel by Air

1. Manila- Elnido: daily flighs with ITI. One way is around is P8,000 (±$165)
2. Manila – Puerto Princesa: Daily flights with Cebu Pacific, Seair, Air Philippines or ZestAir.  One way from P1000-4000 (±$15-50)

View from the Cheung Chau harbor of fishermen on their boats

Cheung Chau is the smallest inhabited Island out of the 235 that form the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Though only located only 10 km southwest of Hong Kong Island it feels as it could be light years away. Since the Ming Dynasty fishing has been at the center of the lives it’s residents and to this day there is a feeling that not that much has changed on Cheung Chau making it the ideal day trip getaway to get a stark contrast from the fast paced life on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. Still a relatively rural the sense of an older and more traditional and authentic China is pervasive throughout the Islands villages, beaches, temples, valleys and coastal trails. I was pleased to notice that no vehicles are allowed on the island as everyone travels either by foot or on bicycles.  Bike rentals are available pretty much everywhere for just 25 HK$

Map of Cheung Chau Island:

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Around the Cheung Chau Harbor

The first thing to catch your attention is the never ending rows of sampans and fishing boats along the Cheung Chau harbor. Then the multitude of fishermen that go on their daily business drying up the fresh catch of the day right on the seafront or prepare their Junks for the next day at sea. Inside the village you will find a small labyrinth of alleyways that are fun to roam around and get lost in.

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Pak Tai Temple

The oldest temple of the Island it is dedicated to Pak Tai (Supreme Emperor of the Dark Heaven in English) God of the sea who is venerated for having saved the island from the plague and marauding pirates in the 18th century. Entrance is free but a small donation is traditionally given for the visit.

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Cheung Chau Restaurants

The island is famous for it’s inexpensive Cantonese seafood restaurants that are found all along the waterfront on She Praya road. You can’t really miss them as they are the first thing you will see left and right when disembarking from the ferry. Pick from the restaurants live tanks what you want to eat from the wide variety of crabs, lobsters, prawns, shellfish, squid, tropical fish, prawns, etc.

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Around the Island

On a hot summer day one of the most popular places to head to would be the 150 meters of Tung Wan’s sandy beach. Located just a few minutes walk from the ferry terminal on the opposite side of the island it is sure to be the idea place to get a tan, swim, windsurf or rent a sea kayak. There are also a very pleasant coastal trails that take you across the whole island where you can enjoy the scenery of small rural valleys, caves, secluded beaches, small villages and their temples.

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Cheung Chau Bun Festival

Celebrated every year at the 8th day of the 4th moon (generally falling in Mai) the Cheung Chau Bun Festival was originally held to commemorate Pak Tai’s divine intervention ending the outbreak of bubonic plague which saved the inhabitants of the Island. Others also state that the Festival was held to bring peace to wandering souls of residents killed by pirates who regularly raided the island during the Qing dynasty. These buns are offerings to the resident ghosts of Cheung Chau.

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Getting There

Cheung Chau is most easily accessed from Hong Kong Island Central Ferry Terminal at Pier 5 . There are two departures every hour that will take either ± 30 minutes with the high speed ferry or ± 45 minutes with the regular one. Fares are very cheap in between $15 to 30 HK.

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]]> http://vincentvanderveken.com/2009/01/20/cheung-chau-island/feed/ 4 http://vincentvanderveken.com/2008/11/08/port-barton-and-the-pagdanan-bay/ http://vincentvanderveken.com/2008/11/08/port-barton-and-the-pagdanan-bay/#comments Sat, 08 Nov 2008 13:46:10 +0000 Vincent http://vincentvanderveken.com/?p=205

View from on one of the islands of Pagdanan Bay

Port Barton is located midway between Puerto Princesa and El Nido on Palawan’s Northwest coast. This lovely little coastal beach town’s activities are mostly geared towards island hopping, swimming, diving and snorkeling around Pagdanan Bay while the mainland offers some walking or hiking trips to discover several of the nearby waterfalls. The atmosphere is very laidback in Port Barton so don’t expect any nightlife outside of your resorts bar. We did heard of a small local bar that turns into a disco and stays opened late once a week on Saturdays when there are enough people. Attempting to go there at around 11PM we found it closed.

Map of the Puerto Princesa to Port Barton route

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Pictures of the Port Barton

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Resorts of Port Barton

The bulk of the resorts of Port Barton are located along the town’s long white sand beach. Prices go cheap in this part of Palawan where beach front accommodations prices vary from 400 to 700 Pesos($8-12). Another positive note good to mention is that you definitely won’t feel like you’ve ended up in a tourist ghetto here as we didn’t encounter as much as 10 other tourists the time we were there. Alternatively there is also the option to stay at the Coconut Island Garden Resort which is located in 45 minutes by boat in the Bay itself for a more secluded island getaway experience (from 600 to 1200 pesos).

Pictures of the Summer Homes Resort

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Island Hopping in Port Barton

Located in Pagdanan Bay, Port Barton it is the ideal place for those who love to do Island hopping. All the boats for hire are available from the Fair Trade Mariners Association of Port Barton where prices vary depending of the number of passengers, length of the trip or chosen tour destinations. Among the many islands of the bay at least 15 contain fine white sand beaches. Most are virgin and inhabited and since Port Barton is a low key tourist destination so you’ll most likely have those islands all to yourself. The water is often of a splendid turquoise color and always crystal clear so you will be able to see through several meters below. Bring snorkel or scuba gear as the marine life is abundant and the corals seem to be untouched.

Pictures Island Hopping in Pagdanan Bay

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Getting to Port Barton from Puerto Princesa and back:

To travel the 150 KM that separate Port Barton from Puerto Princesa you can:

1. Take the local Jeepney that Leaves Puerto Princessa’s new market bus station everyday at around 10 AM for Port Barton and costs 250 pesos (±$5) per person.
2. If you arrive later in the day and don’t want to stay overnight in Puerto Princesa another option is to take a one of the many Jeepneys that are leave for Sabang from 7 AM to 3 PM (150 pesos) at the new Public Bus Terminal. You can then get on one of the boats to do the trip from from Sabang to Port Barton (800 pesos). Boats only leave in the morning so this means you will have to spend the night in one of the beach resorts in Sabang.
3. Take one of the many vans for hire that do the trip up to Roxas once they get full (200-300 pesos)  from where you can take afternoon Jeepney that goes to Port Barton (250 pesos). Depending how late in the day you arrive you could get stuck in Roxas. If so I would recommend to stay in the Coco Loco Island Resort overnight.
   
4. Private shuttles taxis can also be arranged for around 3-4,000($90) and can accommodate up to 6 persons with their luggage.

Pictures of the Roxas to Port Barton Jeepney ride

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The view from the beach on a moody afternoon at Coco Loco island

The Coco Loco island and resort was certainly one of the highlights of my last trip to the Philippines. The seven hectares spec of land that make up this microscopic sized island consists but of two things. Flat land abundant with Coconut trees which is completely surrounded by beautiful white sandy beaches that lead into the inviting crystal blue to turquoise green seas. All this with clear view of the lofty mountains of mainland Palawan in the background. Whats makes Coco Loco particularly special is that there’s only 34 cottages which are spread out through the island so its in no way overcrowded and you still kind of have a sense as if you were on your own. The entire island can be walked around at a relaxed pace in about 30 to 40 minutes so you get that castaway “away from it all” feel to it, a true Heaven on earth experience. The pictures don’t give justice to the place mainly due to covered skies where the absence of sunlight doesn’t let the colors look as vibrant as they really were.

Coco Loco Island

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We hadn’t really planned to do anything on such a short stay so we played it very relaxed and carefree by the beach. Our only activity was swimming and snorkeling and it’s definitively an excellent place for that. You could snorkel right off the beach into what would seem like an aquarium full of tropical fish. Never seen quite something like this so for sure no need to rent a boat to do some quality snorkeling here. If you plan to stay there a while activities can be arranged such as island hopping, fishing, windsurfing, beach volleyball, kayaking, scuba diving or beginners diving courses (PADI).

Getting There

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After a 2½ hours Van hire journey from Puerto Princesa on a paved road through the amazing and very unique Palawan scenery we arrived in the small Municipality of Roxas. Once at the Roxas’ wharf we proceed onto a banca for the last portion of the trip, a 40 minutes boat ride East onto the sea set to reach the paradisaic island of Coco Loco.

Map of Roxas to Coco Loco island and resort

Coco Loco Accommodation

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The accommodations of Coco Loco resort are all made of traditional Filipino native style bamboo cottages. This means they are very basic but clean. Each one comes inside with the standard: The bed and its mosquito net, an electric fan, table and chairs, a bathroom with a non heated salty water shower and a flush toilet. The electricity is provided by the resorts generator which runs 12 hours a day from 6PM to 6AM. There is also a dive shop that also sells some souvenir items and a bar restaurant where guests can play billiard, ping pong, darts or watch cable TV.

Price and Food

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The price is around P2,000 (roughly $40/€30) per person, per day and includes three meals“a la carte’” and boat transfers. Definitely a good run for your money for what you actually get at this resort, especially compared to other private island resorts of El Nido. This place stands out and is definitely recommended.

A view of Malapascua’s northern part of the island near Langob

Malapascua with its small proportions of 2½ KM long by 1KM wide is a tiny but beautiful tropical island lost 8KM into the Visayan sea just off Cebu’s port of Maya. Often compared to what Boracay looked like 20 years ago the major advantage of Malapascua over Boracay is while it’s every bit as beautiful it hasn’t been overrun by development and tourists yet. More laid back and calm It’s a nice place to relax and get away from the hustle and bustle of life where you won’t find here any of those western style big hotels, trendy restaurants or nightclubs. What Malapascua island offers are a few beach-style bars with a crowd mostly made out of divers on Bounty beach.

The people come here for diving, enjoying the beach and nature glad to take life without the frills, away from clubs and all night partying. Don’t expect to see any jeepneys, much paved roads at all, tricycles or televisions. Just friendly locals living at their pace. Sitting and talking with each other as the children play on the beach. Most are fishermen or live from tourism by renting bancas for island hopping, snorkeling or diving. A fairly new diving destination since the nineties Malapascua gained popularity for being one of the few spots in the world where divers can be just about certain to sight Thresher Sharks, Manta Rays and White Tip Reef Sharks.

My stay on Malapascua island only lasted two days but were memorable. On the last day I’ve taken about five hours to roam around and do the complete tour of the island on foot at my own pace which was well worth the long walk. It is where you will find the prettiest beaches (around the village of Langob and Guimbitayan) and get a taste of the real local Filipino native lifestyle. Due to the lack of ressources online showing pictures of the island in its entirety I shared pictures of my little tour where some commentaries can be read when images are viewed in full screen.

Map of the Island of Malapascua, Province of Cebu, Philippines

The banca ride from Maya to Malapascua

The crossing from the port of Maya on the tip of Cebu to Malapascua (under 50 pesos) takes 30 to 40 minutes by banca. Be sure to plan in advance and arrive not too late because it gets hard to find a boat past 5PM. Keep in mind that the ride from Cebu City to Maya will take ± 3½ to 4 hours by bus (under 100 pesos),  ± 2-3 hours by Van-Hire (under 150 pesos) or ± 2½ to 3 hours or by taking taxi depending on your bargaining skills and demand can range anywhere from 1000 to 2500 pesos.

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Various Photos from Bounty Beach

The bulk of the accommodations and tourism takes place on and around Bounty beach. If you continue walking on the beach to the north a while you’ll go cross the two villages of Pansil and Indonacion. If you want to get away from the dive talk and tourists there are many resorts all around the island that will give you much more privacy in a more secluded area.

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Photos going into Kabantangan

Leaving the end of Bounty beach to go inland following what would become a narrow path with ample vegetation leading me north of the island to the more remote village of Kabatangan.

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Next stop Bakhaw

After Kabantangan just a few hundred meters later after a small hill you reach the village of Bakhaw

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In and around the village of Bool

Just at the next beach cove a stone’s throw from Bakhaw is the next village of Bool

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Bantigue Cove Beach Resort and Dive Shop

Just after Bool is probably the best resort to be located beach-wise if you are staying in Malapascua. A maximum of 10 couples can stay at the location assuring plenty of privacy with the best view.

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Langob

Calm and and blue sea in perfect harmony with the blindingly white sands of this long stretch of sand. The opposite end of the island is definitely my favorite spot where no tourists are in sight.

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Guimbitayan

At the other side of the strip of sand is where Guimbitayan lies where the beach is as pleasant

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Guimbitayan

The walk up to the lighthouse tower which is Malapascua’s highest point on the Island

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Walk back

Road from the lighthouse tower back to Malapascua’s biggest city Logon in the South

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Walk back

Finally arriving in Logon, biggest city of Malapascua which is a few minutes from Bounty Beach

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