Mararison Island Travel Guide
Mararison Island – Antique’s “Hidden Gem”
Off the coast of Culasi, Antique lies a small fishing place called Mararison Island (also called Malalison Island). Just 15 minutes from mainland Panay, Mararison is a simple yet surprisingly beautiful island that I can easily compare to the terrain of Sambawan Island in Maripipi, Biliran.
Read also: Sulu | Things to Explore in BARMM’s last frontier
Mararison Island will welcome you with white-sand shores overlooking the town of Culasi and the towering Mount Madja-as. I only had a day tour and a few hours to explore the island and the locals warmly welcomed me even when I traveled alone and it was wee hours in the afternoon. (Looking forward to coming back soon!) The barangay captain and some locals welcomed me, oriented me about the trail going to the highest point of Mararison, and let me register on their guest logbook.
The trail to its highest point is just a short 30-minute hike, depending on your pace, just passing through a small coastal village, then trekking your way through the island’s elementary school. The 360-degree views of Mararison is just awesome and you can see its neighbor Batbatan Island. The wind was just so strong by the time I visited and my drone barely compensates for the strong breeze. (I was screaming inside because my drone can be swept away easily. hahaha!)
Luckily, I got some perfect shots to show the natural beauty of Mararison Island. Here are some of them:
Mararison Island Travel Guide
Going to Mararison Island is just easy. Just find your way to the Municipal Hall of Culasi and look for their Municipal Tourism Office to register and for them to orient you on what to expect on the island.
As of 21 January 2025:
| Registration and Orientation | Culasi Municipal Tourism Office | ₱ 10 (terminal fee)
₱ 20 (environmental fee) |
| Tricycle to BCEL Breeze Resort (Barangay Malacañang) | Tricycle | ₱ 15-20 (one way) |
| Ride a Pump Boat to Mararison
(15-30 minutes, depending on sea conditions) |
Pump Boat
(0600 – 1700 H, daily) |
₱ 1000 / min. 5 pax (round trip)
₱ 200 each (if more than 5 pax, round trip) |
| Register at Mararison Island | ||
| Orientation on the hike | Mararison Island | |
| Hike to Island’s highest point | 30-45 minutes | ₱ 200 (guide fee) |
| Ride a Pump Boat back to mainland Panay | Pump Boat
(15-30 minutes, depending on sea conditions) |
You can also enjoy a night or two in Mararison Island. There are numerous homestays on the island that offer accommodation and food. Electricity can be quite limited in this area. For food, there are some sari-sari stores that offer snacks, but if you want to have some fresh produce to be grilled or cooked, you can buy from the mainland for cheaper prices and just inform your homestay host to cook for you.
We’re born to travel!
About Aldrick 'chiki' Agpaoa
