With its sapphire waters and pearl-white sand, Malapascua is considered as the sparkling gem of Cebu, known to be as the Philippines' Queen City of the South. The small isles in the northern tip of the province boast of terrific beaches and superb diving sites that serve as homes to a myriad collection of aquatic flora and fauna. This piece of water-heaven acquired the interest of a few international divers' societies a long time ago, despite the fact that the name of the place sounds relatively new to the ear. Malapascua actually means "Ill-fated Christmas." The island-paradise's grandeur, however, is such that it is now fondly dubbed as the "new" Boracay, vibrant with flocks of tourists, throngs of clamoring hawkers, and the coastlines lined with commercial establishments.
Malapascua has two major beaches, which are both located in the southern part of the island. Poblacion Beach, the smaller one, is near the tranquil town of Logon to the west. Majority of the resorts are located in the lengthier Bounty Beach that hugs the southeastern curve of the island. There, one can truly fulfill that fantasy of spending an afternoon on a hammock, partly shaded by the tall trees, while being slowly lulled to sleep. Thrill-seekers, however, need not look far, as just off the coast of Bounty Beach is Malapascua's prime diving site, the Monad Shoal. It is home to a vast range of exotic species of marine life, notably the benign thresher sharks, popular as one of the few species of sharks that jump out of the water the way dolphins and whales do. Gato Island is another diving considered as a marine sanctuary, which is, for most of the year, the breeding ground for the venomous sea snake.
The rest of Malapascua is remote due to the lack of paved roads; however, the lighthouse on the northwest provides an excellent view of the beautiful mini-archipelago.