MALALISON ISLAND: DIY Travel Guide, Budget + Itinerary For When You Need a Time On The Road Less Taken

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Malalison Island is a small island village 20 minutes off the coast of Culasi in Antique. It is the quickest respite one could have while in Panay if you’re tired of the touristy track. This island offers pristine water of different shades of blue, sugary white sands and homey vibes. The hills surrounding the island offer scenic views of sprawling grasslands, the vast ocean and the formidable Mt. Madia-as. This is a freediver’s heaven too. So if you have the skills to dive deep into the treasure under its waters then a visit to Malalison Island is totally worth it. Allow me to share one of the best memories I have of 2020 only on this island.

MY MALALISON ISLAND STORY

It was in January, just the start of the year 2020 which I think most people now consider as the worst year of their existence when I visited Malalison Island. The wind still blows cold, one that would make you shiver to the core. You could say that it was too soon for summer but an island so inviting as this offered me no room to resist. I was in the area for the Dinagyang Festival but since I arrived four days before the festivity, I figured I owe it to myself to do some exploring. Thought the gems of Antique are perfect to do just that.

I arrived in Iloilo City early in the morning. I just came from a spontaneous trip to Davao Oriental, discovering some of its hidden jewels and I was hoping for Antique to give me an even better experience. The trip to Culasi began at 8AM and I arrived there past 12NN. I was famished that I went to eat at the first eatery I saw upon alighting the van. I instantly regretted my decision after a spoonful of steamed rice and a slice of pork chop that tasted like dust. Lol

Finally done with my ordeal of a lunch, I rode a tricycle to the Tourism Office. There, I met Edj who was also there to spend the night in Malalison Island. We waited for a few more minutes for other passengers with whom we can share the boat fee but none came. At 2PM, off we sailed to the island under the scorching sun. The wind was blowing hard that the boatmen opted not to put up the tarp shade as it might cause the boat to overturn.

The voyage lasted for 20 minutes. Upon arriving on the island, we were ushered to the registration area to pay the dues and fill out our details on a form. We were then taken to our homestay. It was a simple house with three bedrooms. We had it all to ourselves for P300/night/person. I thought the afternoon sun was just too hot so I opted to rest and take a nap until it was about 5PM. Just before sundown, I went out and sat on the beach. I just stared at the endless blue in front of me and watched random kids play as the sky turned orange and crimson.

Night came and we had a simple home-cooked dinner which consisted of fried fish, stir-fried kangkong and steamed rice. We also indulged in a hearty conversation with our host. Too bad I couldn’t really remember her name now (I’m bad with names, either that or I have a bad memory) but she was a really great host. We went to bed early as we were to hike to the top of the island early the following morning. I must have been really tired as I didn’t have a tiny bit of difficulty dozing off as it usually takes time for me to get comfy in a new place.

4AM and I woke up to the sound of my alarm. I also sensed Edj waking up in the other room. We prepped for a bit then went to meet with our guide outside of our homestay. As soon as our guide showed up, we started the hike along a concrete path. We then continued to walk along the shore until we finally stumbled at the foot of the hill. From there the uphill walk along a rugged path began which stretched to about a kilometer. Easy slopes then followed until we reached the final ascent to the first peak.

The final stretch was pretty easy but the trail was eroded so I had to rely on a rope to make sure I didn’t trip. It took us 15 minutes to cover it. It was about 5:30AM when we reached the first peak. The sun should have shown up by then but it was concealed by the clouds. We savored the cold breeze as we waited for the sun to battle its way through the clouds. A blinding ray of sunshine began to manifest at around 6:15AM. It was a bit late for sunrise but seeing how the light engulfed everything in sight was simply mind-blowing and magnificent.

We stayed at the peak for an hour and decided to head back for breakfast after. Our guide was gracious to offer to take us to the other beautiful spots on the island. We figured we’d rather satiate our hunger and spend the rest of our time at the beach. At noon, we left Malalison Island with a heavy heart but with smiles on our faces for it had given us one heck of a wonderful time and good memories.

GOOD TO KNOW INFO ABOUT MALALISON ISLAND

• The island is also known as Mararison Island. I guess it has something to do with the predominant trait of the locals using “R” to replace their “L”. The name actually means argumentative in the local tongue.
• The island is surprisingly inhabited. It houses about 100 households. Quite big of a population for such a tiny island but I guess that’s what makes it more special, the local touch.
• Malalison Island is a local favorite so if you hate seeing a crowd, better go hear in the off-peak months from October to February.
• Reservation is not necessary. You can go to the island and spend a day or two. Boat trips are available as late as 4PM depending on the weather condition.
• If you are a solo traveler, you can share the boat fee with other passengers. Just make sure that you have agreed on the same pickup time to return to the mainland to avoid the extra costs.
• There are eateries and stores on the island so bringing food is not necessary unless you want to save up on the cost. There’s a wet market in Culasi where you can buy your supplies and most of the homestays there allow guests to cook in the kitchen without an additional fee.
• Malalison Island is more accessible via Caticlan. The trip from Caticlan to Culasi would only take 2 hours the most as opposed to the one coming from Iloilo which could take up to 5 hours.
• Seco Island is another gem you want to visit while in the area. The jumpoff point is in Tibiao but you can also charter a boat from Malalison.
• A visit to this island is greatly complemented by a visit to its neighboring town, Tibiao. The original Kawa Hot Bath is surely a must-try. See my ANTIQUE: 3D2N Budget Travel Guide + Itinerary & Useful Tips for more info.
• For any travel plans to this island during the “New Normal”,  it will be better to coordinate with the local Tourism Office of Culasi to verify whether travel is already allowed for anyone from outside of the province.

HOW TO GO TO MALALISON ISLAND

From Manila – The best airport to access Antique is Caticlan which all local airlines fly to daily. From Caticlan, there will be buses available to every destination nearby. Hop on the one going to Iloilo as it will pass by Culasi. Alight the bus in Culasi and ride a tricycle to the Tourism Office. Charter a boat to Malalison Island.

From Iloilo – From the airport, ride a van to the bus or van terminal going to Antique (20 Min | P70) then ride a van or a bus to either Culasi (5 Hrs | P220). The earliest trip is at 5 AM daily. Alight the bus/van in Culasi and ride a tricycle to the Tourism Office. Charter a boat to Malalison Island.

Driving to get here is also possible for both locals and foreigners alike. Check out this comprehensive guide shared by International Drivers Association.

BUDGET & OTHER ESSENTIALS

There you have it lovelies! I hope you enjoyed this post. Share this with your friends and plan that trip soon. See you next time. Ciao!