MALAPASCUA
Change is coming quite soon. There are plans for island electric,
the water is still from wells and so is brackish, but there
are plans for a desalination facility, also for a proper
pier at both ends, and for some basic roads, but cars will
not be allowed.
A lot of the resorts have been adding facilities in the
last 3 years but it has not been a major change - the island
is moving more away from backpacker style rooms, to a better
class of room. There are more AC rooms now, more of which
have (almost) 24 hour electric for the AC, but still only
a handful have hot water.
Kuan Ba is pretty basic. They are off the beach, but they
do have the only pool on the island, they have 2 AC and 10
fan rooms.
Blue Water have fan and AC rooms and bungalows of varying
sizes, cold water.
Sunsplash, cold water, tv and minibar. Super are larger.
Their rooms are nice.
Mangrove is about 20 minutes walk away, quite isolated and
a bit more upmarket. Their rooms range from around $60-$100
a night.
Number of rooms
for the beach resorts will be changing over the next few
months - the government is implementing a ‘30
metre’ rule to clear the first 30 M of beachfront,
so various resorts are knocking down their front buildings
and building in the back.
Cocobana Beach Resort
Cocobana was the first resort in Malapscua and still leads
the way. Its cottages are right in the middle of the main
beach with easy access to everything. All AC rooms have hot
water. Its newly built luxury AC rooms are very spacious
and come with TV and refrigerator.
Kuan Ba Resort
The Kuan Ba Resort is about 2 minutes from the beach and
the dive shop. Its rooms are more basic, they are a good
budget option.
They have three main types of rooms:
Backpacker rooms are
perfect for those on a very limited budget. A small wooden
hut with fan and shared bathroom, either double bed or bunk
beds.
Standard
rooms with private bathrooms and fan and breakfast
for two.
Air
conditioned including breakfast for two
About Kuan Ba Resort
The Kuan Ba is an all-inclusive resort with the only swimming
pool on the island. It has a restaurant and bar with a pool
table and darts board. If there is a sporting event or movie
that you want to see, they will try and bring out the TV
for you. The football and the Grand Prix are special favorites
at Kuan Ba. They are also famous for their English-style
roast dinner every Sunday complete with Yorkshire pudding.
Kuan Ba also has as standard 16 hour electricity through
the night, from 5pm to 9am. If you wish for all day electric
(especially for AC), they may be able to arrange it. Many
other resorts only run electric from 6pm-midnight.
Kuan Ba is about 2 minutes walk from the beach and the dive
shop. You will have to walk through the village to get here
and at night there is no lighting, so make sure you bring
a torch/flashlight. Please be aware that there can sometimes
be loud music from karaoke nearby, although the noise of
the fans tends to disguise it. Also, there are many cockerels
around. Please pack earplugs if you think this may bother
you, but we find for most people, after a days diving, sleep
is not a problem!
Hippocampus Beach Resort
Hippocampus is conveniently located right next to the dive
shop. Its cozy beach bar is perfect for sunsets. Electric
is usually available for most of the day. It has several
beach bungalows and new rooms have only recently been finished
with fan, deluxe fan and AC rooms available.
Blue Water Beach Resort
Various styles of rooms from large AC family rooms with two
large beds, right on the beach, to smaller two person fan
rooms at the back. Some new AC rooms have recently been added
with facilities including satellite TV and refrigerators.
24 hour electric.
Palm Place (Budget)
A great choice for budget rooms, Palm Place is a two story
building, gated and enclosed in beautiful gardens. It is
located about 2 minutes walk from the beach and the dive
shop. Bathrooms are shared and there is a communal social
area with satellite TV and a good book collection. There
is a restaurant with limited service and it is close to the
main restaurants on the island. There are two types of rooms:
Outside
Entrance is outside the main building with bathroom opposite.
Inside
Entrance is inside the main building on the second floor.
There is a shared bathroom. This is also where the TV room
is located.
