Apo Island Day Trip: Boats, Fees and Turtles
This guide is for visitors who want to drive themselves to the boat station at Malatapay and spend a day snorkelling or diving at Apo Island, one of the best-known marine reserves in the Philippines. It covers the drive, the boat options and their prices, the fees on the island, the rules at the turtle sanctuary and the months when the crossing is calm.
Why Apo Island
Apo is a small island off the Dauin coast, and its marine sanctuary, set up in the mid-1980s, is one of the oldest community-managed marine protected areas in the country. Resident green and hawksbill turtles graze in the shallow seagrass at the Turtle Sanctuary, so sightings are close to guaranteed on a normal day, and the coral gardens at Coconut Point and Chapel are among the best snorkelling and diving in the province. On land there is a short 10-15 minute hike to a viewpoint and a lighthouse trail, plus a small white-sand beach.
Getting to the boat
Drive south on the coastal highway to Malatapay in Zamboanguita, 25-30 km and 40-45 minutes from Dumaguete. The boat station shares the site with the Wednesday market (see the South Coast Drive), so on a Wednesday morning the large dirt parking lot is crowded and a scooter is easier. Parking is at the boat station and market area; a day fee may apply, so check on arrival.
The crossing takes 30-45 minutes each way by outrigger boat, depending on the sea. Boats run roughly 7 am to 4 pm. Book the boat the day before if you can, leave Dumaguete by 7 am, and aim to be on the water before 9 am, when the tour groups land.
Boat options and prices
Round-trip rates are posted by the Association of Malatapay and Apo Island Pumpboat Operators. Figures below are from 2025-2026 reports and should be confirmed at the station.
| Option | Price (approximate) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Private boat, up to 3-4 passengers | 3,000-3,500 pesos round trip | Plus a 5 peso terminal fee |
| Private boat, up to 6 passengers | 4,000 pesos round trip | Plus terminal fee |
| Private boat, up to 9 passengers | 5,000 pesos round trip | Plus terminal fee |
| Shared boat | About 300 pesos per person each way | Departs only when full |
| Dive-centre day trip, snorkeller | About 2,500 pesos | Usually includes fees and lunch |
| Dive-centre day trip, diver | About 4,000-5,900 pesos | Usually includes fees and lunch |
The private boat is the flexible choice for a self-drive group: you set the departure time and stay as long as you like within the boat's day. A shared boat is cheaper for a couple but you may wait for it to fill.
Fees on the island
These are 2025 reports; the community adjusts them, so bring extra cash in small notes. There is no ATM on Apo.
| Fee | Amount (approximate) |
|---|---|
| Entrance, Filipino | 100 pesos |
| Entrance, foreigner | 300 pesos |
| Snorkelling fee | About 50-100 pesos |
| Diving fee | About 300 pesos |
| Licensed guide at the Turtle Sanctuary (mandatory) | About 300 pesos per group; some sources say per person including gear |
The rules, and why they matter
The sanctuary works because the rules are enforced. Do not touch, chase or feed the turtles; keep 2-3 metres away. Do not stand on coral. Use reef-safe sunscreen. Life vests and guides are compulsory inside the sanctuary, and the guide will keep the group together. A licensed guide is required at the Turtle Sanctuary; the fee is small and the guide knows where the turtles are grazing that morning.
When to go
The calm season is roughly November to May, when the north-east monsoon (Amihan) brings the clearest water; February to April is the calmest, with visibility reported up to 30-40 metres. Dive operators often name March to June as their favourite months, with water at 27-29 C. From June to October the south-west monsoon (Habagat) makes the sea rougher and boats are sometimes cancelled, so keep a spare day if you are visiting then. Whatever the month, a calm early morning is your best chance of good conditions.
A sample timetable
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| 6:30-7:00 am | Leave Dumaguete; fuel in Dauin or Zamboanguita |
| 7:45 am | Park at Malatapay, pay the terminal fee, board |
| 8:30 am | Land on Apo, pay entrance and snorkel or dive fees, hire the sanctuary guide |
| 9:00-11:30 am | Turtle Sanctuary, then Coconut Point or Chapel by boat |
| Midday | Lunch on the island; viewpoint hike if you have the energy |
| 2:00-3:00 pm | Boat back to Malatapay before the afternoon wind |
| 4:00 pm | Back in Dumaguete in time for sunset on the boulevard |
Staying overnight
Accommodation on Apo is basic: Liberty's Community Lodge, Apo Island Beach Resort and homestays. Electricity is limited and there is no ATM or fuel. An overnight lets you snorkel the sanctuary before the day boats arrive, which is the quietest time with the turtles. Leave your rental parked at Malatapay and confirm the overnight parking arrangement with the station.
Getting there and parking
Vehicles do not go to Apo Island. There are no roads, no vehicle ferry and no hire vehicles are permitted on the island, so every visit is the same shape: drive to Malatapay, park, and cross by outrigger boat on foot. Your rental waits for you at the boat station.
Malatapay is on the coastal highway south of Dauin; the boat station is right at the seafront market site. Park in the boat station and market area (a small day fee is usually collected, check locally), lock up and leave nothing visible. On Wednesdays arrive before the market crowd builds from about 7 am, or expect to walk a little from wherever you find a space. If you are staying overnight on the island, tell the parking attendant so the vehicle is expected to stay, and take your documents and valuables across with you.
Which vehicle to book for the drive to Malatapay
The vehicle only has to get you from Dumaguete to the boat and back, about 45 minutes each way on a good coastal road, so choose for the people and gear you are carrying rather than for the island.
- Couples: a scooter or small car. The NMAX 155 makes the 45-minute coastal ride easy and parks in a corner of the boat station; a Vios or Wigo keeps you cool on the way home with wet gear in the boot.
- A group filling one boat: a van. Six people on a 4,000 peso boat or nine on a 5,000 peso boat works out cheapest per head, and a HiAce or NV350 carries everyone plus dive bags from a single Dumaguete pick-up and parks at the station for the day.
- Families: an Innova or Xpander. The Innova seats a family with snorkel gear and a cooler and handles the highway comfortably.
Plan your trip
Compare options in the full fleet and contact us for a quote; if you are combining Apo with the coast, the South Coast Drive fits on the same day. Facts last checked September 2026; fees, schedules and road conditions change, so confirm locally before you go.