Malapascua Island is situated two and a half hours away by car and four hours away by bus from the city of Cebu. A barangay of the town of Daanbantayan, Malapascua Island takes pride in its world class diving spots and pristine white sand beaches. It is widely referred by locals as the "Boracay of Cebu." As a diving destination, Malapascua Island has become known for its beautiful coral gardens and excellent local dive spots, as well as further out sites like Gato Island, Monad Shoal, and Kemod Shoal. Monad Shoal is an underwater plateau where thresher sharks and manta rays can be seen on a regular basis. The town's name is derived from two Spanish words, "mal" and "pascua", which translated in English means, "bad" and "Easter" or bad Christmas. According to locals, the Spaniards named the island that way after they arrived there on a stormy Christmas. Malapascua Island is a promise of a great dive and a relaxing beach experience, making it a popular travel destination for local and foreign tourists alike.
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Had a wonderful stay at Malapascua legend staff are very attentive to our needs , place is nice and big so as their pool..The rooms are ok and the bathroom needs improvement, Its also Have a good location facing the beach .It is also the only resort only having a live band and fire dancers during week ends
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Date of stay: May 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:Bring your own water , for they don’t offer free drinking water or service water
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We went to Malapascua for diving holiday. I like the location of the hotel, next to the beach and a PADI dive center is next door. The room is spacious, enough space to put our diving gear and it has a balcony and terras. The staff were friendly and helpful. The only downside is their food. The breakfast is fine - they served the Phillipines' breakfast ( with corned beef), and western breakfast. None of them are good. The hotel is also closed by to restaurants and bars.
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Date of stay: May 2012
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We moved here for some luxury during our stay on Malapascua and were impressed with the rooms at Legend. Two huge double beds and a big wardrobe and tv, plus a large bathroom with a walk in shower. This hotel offers something not yet available elsewhere on the island - luxury. Breakfast was included and was nice. We also received a welcome drink upon arrival!
The luxury comes at a price and rooms are far more expensive than elsewhere on the island. We negotiated a good rate with the manager as we were walk in customers but I doubt such a good discount would be available when booking in advance.
The hotel offers a boat shuttle back and forth from Cebu and you can share with other guests making it good value and far less hastle than walking to take the ferry.
The pool is perhaps not required on such a pretty island but it was a nice way to relax after a days diving.
Diving with Evolution Diving was superb. We saw the thresher sharks and dived Gato Island which was incredible!! Highly ecommended!
All in all Malapascua was an incredible island and if you want luxury there the Legend is a good choice!
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Date of stay: May 2011
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Expectation versus reality resort. Don’t expect much, hot water is on and off. Room was alright and loud aircon. Breakfast spread was so so. Service associates aren’t really welcoming.
I think there are other resorts you can try that’s worth your money.
Thank you.
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Date of stay: November 2023Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I stayed at Malapascua legends on a recent dive trip. I'm not much into writing reviews but the service I received here was excellent. The staff along with Mr M. The general manager was extremely helpful with any and all questions I had. They were very prompt in resolving any problems that I had as well. I am extremely happy I chose legends for my recent trip to the island and look forward to my next stay.
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Date of stay: June 2015Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It probably has the largest swimming pool in malapascua. Overall, the room is alright and comfy with tv. Breakfast is also good with unlimited coffee and porridge.
The only con is the towel which look worn. Also, the aircon is quite noisy at night/
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Date of stay: December 2014Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I wanted to book Malapascua Legend for 8 days but they only had 5 days available so we went first to Ocean Vida for the first 3 days- You can check my Ocean Vida review- The 1st moment we stepped at the Malapascua was very good- we were greeting by the manager and the room was ready at 9h30- we were there at 8h30 and we were able to use the pool- this pool was gorgeous, very large and so warm- the best thing in this hotel- We were shown our room and it was a nice big room with 2 big beds, 4 adults can definitively sleep in this room- bathroom was amazing, shower rain and fridge- It seems to be perfect right but then because this is owned by a very rich man in Cebu and run by his family then something was missing- Hospitality- At the reception, there were most of the time, noone. When there were someone there were no greeting or smile- it seems you bother them- we had no bath towels when we arrive and we were told it is still drying so we had it the next day- the worst part was the breakfast. No buffet and you always eat the same thing, eggs and 2 tiny slice of bacon- bread was homemade but it has this taste of yeast, it was not pleasant- sometimes you have hot water and sometimes the coffee looked like tea. We tried the A La Carte breakfast, the pancake was plain flour with water, also tried the corn flakes and it was terrible- we had some people who was here for 2 weeks and they did their own breakfast since it was so bad- we talked to the manager about having fresh fruits but he said it was too expensive!!!!!!!!! a banana costs 2 pesos!!!! The positive point will be their front beach, so nice, no boats after 10am and you have the whole front beach for yrself. there are some sundecks but no parasols- Use the trees as a shade- I had a manicure and a massage with Elina who is waiting for clients in front of the resort- Very nice lady and she did a great job with my manicure- She even invited us at her husband Birthday party- we had such a great time and great dinner- we met amazing local people- If you wander inside the village you could see how life is. You think how lucky you are- The local people are very poor, they live in tiny rooms, sometimes 5 people in one room- there is no furniture, no wallpaper, the wall is ciment...they seem to gather around a tiny TV- What would strike you is how many children are on the streets and with clothes that have been worn for years and years- I will never forget my experience in Malapascua and it is not the color of the water and the sand but its people-
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Date of stay: April 2012
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I generally do not spend this much on a resort during a dive trip, but this was packaged with my dive by Seaquest Dive Centre. But I'll say it was worth the money.
Nice big, comfy rooms, with 2 big beds enough for 4 people. Big bathroom, no tub but a big shower area. Both room and bathroom allows a lot of natural light to enter, with blackout curtains for the room (so you can sleep in). It's not a big resort, so the hotel's restaurant is only a short walk away. But, the minibar's prices aren't any higher than the restaurant anyway.
Tap at your doorstep allows you to wash sand off your feet before entering your room, or for washing dive equipment.
Resort is only 6 months old, opened in Oct 2010. But the staff were adequately competent and efficient. Only had one miscommunication with them, they prepared an extra set of breakfast for our 4 am dive. O ya! They were more than willing to pack a sandwich for us to bring onto our dive boat in place of the breakfast served in the restaurant.
Do note the tap water is salt water. But they provide a jug of fresh water for brushing your teeth.
Extra tip: A memorable portion of the trip for me was when our dive master brought us around the village for a "tour". Almost seems a different world just behind the resorts. There are cock fights and open air discos once a week each. And provision shops for cheap beer. (Buy the 1 litre San Miguel) Or just watch the village children play. Shows you the simple days before Play Stations or even Gameboys.
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Date of stay: April 2011
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Cheapest SMB we found. (Excl village)
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This hotel isn't worth the money. No one says "hello" or anything. It feels shoddy. And if someone put a bit if love and personal touch to it it'd be fantastic. But sadly, its not.
The shampoo, soap and toothpaste had all been used and the packs not cleaned from last person. The towel had some weird rust stain on it. The shower drain was full of hair. When I complained the woman refused to say sorry and hardly even looked at me. We had new towels and nothing else. Then we discovered the fridge was broken. The next day we complained again after being woken up by contruction at 7:20am and she said it was hardly their fault because she asked the cleaner and they didn't do it. Again, refused to say sorry. Later we came in and they had changed our rooms. We left our bags at reception. They didn't move them for us they left them out there which I wasn't massively happy with. The shower head doesn't go on wall so we have to hold it to shower.
The pool is great and kitchen looks clean. But that's it. Staff are rude and lazy. Facilities are dated and shoddy. Manager never made themselves known to us. No one apologised. No one cares. They just want to make cash without investing anything. No wonder their reviews are going downhill.
Doesn't look like its pics when you book. Beware.
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Date of stay: February 2017Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
So this is the 2nd resort we stayed during our Malapascua trip. We love the resort. we only stayed 1 night and wanted to stay more if our schedule could have been permitted.. :) Value for money. They have the largest pool in the island if i'm not mistaken. the room is clean, cozy and complete with all necessary amenities. They have direct access to the beach as well. Good restaurant and friendly staff. I will definitely stay at this resort again... bravo...:)
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Date of stay: May 2015
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Malapascua Island area.
PRICE RANGE
₱2,401 - ₱4,274 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
malapascua legend hotel malapascua island
LOCATION
PhilippinesVisayasCebu IslandMalapascua Island
NUMBER OF ROOMS
34
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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