Bounty Beach

Bounty Beach sits on the northern tip of Malapascua Island, off Daanbantayan at Cebu’s northern point — the strip of sand the island built its economy around. Fine, pale sand runs the length of the shore, backed by a dense row of dive shops, guesthouses, and beachfront bars. Most of what happens here traces back to Monad Shoal, the offshore cleaning station where thresher sharks surface at dawn; boats leave from this beach before sunrise on any day the weather allows.

Malapascua carries an old Spanish name — mala pascua, “bad Christmas” — said to have been given by sailors who had a rough landing here one Christmas Eve. The current strip of resorts and bars is largely a post-2013 rebuild: Typhoon Yolanda leveled much of the original beachfront, and what stands now reflects more than a decade of reconstruction along the same stretch of coast.

• Live music and beachside dining run through the evening along the main strip.
• Boats to Monad Shoal leave from this beach daily, usually before 6am for the best chance at seeing the sharks.
• Paddleboards and kayaks are available to rent for exploring the shallow water along the coastline.

Explore More in North Cebu Mainland

• Logon Beach
• Catmon Hot Spring
• Bogo City Baywalk