Malalison Island or Mararison Island is an island in Antique that is 20 minutes away from the town proper of Culasi. Culasi is a town proper in Antique is five hours away from Iloilo City. Little did people know there is a majestic island that lies in the Western Visayas region.
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About Malalison Island, Antique
Malalison is a small island that has a long white-sand bar and mountainous landscapes. According to our local guide, Malalison Island used to be 58 hectares. But due to soil erosion, it has become 48 hectares.
In addition, the animals living on the island are quite limited. They are mainly cows and chickens. However, pigs are not allowed. It is because they want to maintain the cleanliness of the island.
I headed straight to Culasi right after I landed on Iloilo City. It was true that I had to sit for 5 hours in the van before reaching my destination. It was such a long drive. But, I couldn’t explain how excited I was. I felt so excited to see the little-known paradise named Malalison Island.
Antique Travel Guide: Malalison Island Day Tour
I left Iloilo around 7 AM and arrived at Culasi, Antique around 12 PM. Then, I had to go to the Tourism Office to register and pay for the environmental fee.
The good thing was, the driver took me directly to the office so I didn’t have to look for it anymore. However, I was the only tourist because the others had already left. The officer told me that I still had to wait for the other passengers.
At first, I was kind of worried. It had been half a day since I traveled to Culasi. The fact that I only had three days to spend in Panay Island, I couldn’t reschedule my visit here. I had no choice but to wait for almost 30 minutes. Fortunately, there was another solo traveler who finally arrived at the office! His name was Francis. Since it was almost 1 PM we decided not to wait for another passenger anymore.
After the registration and dealing with the local guides, we headed straight to the port, took the
Our guides toured us first around the island by our boat. I was able to witness the different rock formations along the edge part of the island. It was simply beautiful.
After that, we finally reached the shore of the island. Its white-sand bar is extremely magnificent. The backdrop of the mountains from other the other islands, the blue skies, and the turquoise clear waters of the ocean make the island more magnificent.
Things to do on Malalison Island
Go Hiking
This is something that you shouldn’t miss out on doing while on the island. To get to see the true beauty of Malalison Island, you must reach the summit! There is a stunning view that awaits you on the top!
Go Swimming
You can go swimming anytime you want on the island. You will definitely enjoy the mountainous backdrop, clear waters of the ocean, and the white sand beach.
Eat Fresh Seafood
It is best to eat seafood when it is caught fresh from the sea! Experiencing the taste of the best kinds of seafood on the island is a must! You may ask the locals to cook them for you.
Communicate with the locals
The locals of Malalison Island are surely accommodating. It feels like home when you get to talk with them because they are so nice that you can even make yourself feel comfortable in a short period of time.
When we set on foot on the island, we registered our names first, then started to trek. Our tour told us that our trek will only last for 30 minutes only if we are already used to going hiking, but since I get used to it, we lasted for more than an hour.
The good thing was, we were able to stay longer at the summit! The view from above is stunning. Even the grassland on the mountain will surely take your breath away. The field looks chocolate brown that mixes with the lush grassland.
If you get to reach the summit, it has an amazing view that showcases the ocean. The mountain is truly worth to climb. The view from atop will definitely revitalize your mind as well as your physical body. The air is fresh and you wouldn’t mind getting your clothes messy after laying on the field.
How to get to Malalison Island?
From Ilo-ilo City
From Iloilo City, take a van or bus going to Culasi from the Molo Terminal.
Drop off at Culasi Tourism Office.
From the port, take a banca (small boat). This will take you to Malalison Island.
From Kalibo
From Kalibo, take a van going to Culasi and then drop off at Tourism Office. Then, take a banca (small boat) which will directly take you to the island.
Things to Remember
You must register at the Tourism Office before you can ride a banca. Registration Fee is Php 30.
Banca fee is around Php 750 which is already good for sharing. Good for 5 PAX. If you are traveling solo, it is possible to join other groups.
The moment you arrive at the island, you must register your information on their logbook.
The tour guide fee is around Php 200.
Most of the locals are offering an overnight stay, the accommodation rate is around Php 250. You may check out this accommodation here.
Malalison Island is not as touristic as other islands yet, but this is one of the best off-the-beaten destinations to visit when touring around Panay Island. It is advisable to stay overnight to experience more of the beauty of the island!
Is Malalison Island part of your bucket list? I hope this Antique travel guide helps.
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A travel blogger in the Philippines and a K-pop enthusiast, Ara Patria (The Adventuress) pursues her passion and love for traveling. She’s been blogging for years, where she writes about her own travel experiences and promotes the wonders of the Philippines. Not only does she promote the beauty of her country, but she also focuses on promoting sustainable tourism. She dreams of traveling the world and inspiring other people through her own written works and captured moments with her camera.
The Adventuress is a travel blogger with a purpose. She aims to inspire other people through her personal experiences, stories, and lenses. Outside her blogging world, she is an education, an SEO specialist, and TEFL/TESOL certified.
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This little island looks amazing and I always think it’s so neat to learn about little treasures like this one!
thank you so much for reading my this blog.
I never heard of this island and I’m originally from the Philippines. I will be adding this little island on my “things to visit while in Philippines” list!
You sound like you had fun!
Malalison island is a must-visit!
Really enjoy reading your sharing here, wish will have chance to experience this place one day : ) cheers, siennylovesdrawing
Hope you can visit here one day 🙂
Woww! Amazing. I have never been to the island 🙁
Please do visit here!!!
Thank you for the detailed blog about malalison island. It was worth reading.
It looks very tranquil and welcoming. Nice
I have never been to Antique though I traveled in many places in the Philippines as a coach of various school competitions. Looks like an awesome place! The photos are beautiful!
I hope you can visit this place sooooon!
This place is perfect for vacation and unwind. Perfect nature I would love to visit this place someday. Awesome photos.