Travel Eastern Visayas
This is a hodgepodge of information, travel trivias, tips, updates, and reports on different destinations in Eastern Visayas. We welcome information from friends, fellow travellers, and experts who would be so happy to share something. Do share with us anything that might help us in exploring the beauty of Eastern Visayas.
Below is our travel report for Tacloban,Sohoton Cave in Basey Samar, Tadyaw Beach Tolosa Leyte, Padre Burgos Southern Leyte, Limasawa Island, amadaraga Falls Lawaan E. Samar, Cuatro Islas Inopacan S. Leyte, Baybay, Palompon, Bato, Lake Danao in Ormoc, update on Padre Burgos.
Charming Tacloban
Tacloban is a small charming city in Leyte. It is the center of commerce, trade, culture, and government in the Eastern Visayas. The city has hidden charms for unknowing visitors.
A bridge walk in the beautiful San Juanico Bridge is a must. Enjoy the night at Magsaysay Boulevard over cold San Miguel Beer and a clean sea breeze . For book lovers there’s the bookstore/reading room/cafe along Burgos street, called Libro.
Taclobanons love to eat which accounts for the numbers of resto/bar and eateries which cater to every budget and craving. Personal top picks are Sunzibar for great food , must try is their Ribs. Canto Fresco in Astrodome serves the best pizza and pasta in the city. Cafe Urbana for a great cup of chocolate and crepes. Kyles Folkhouse for cheap beer and good ambiance, Calle Zaragossa is an open air garden cafe, and Guiseppes for finedining .
San Miguel Beer price starts at P25 up to P35.
Do not forget to sample the city’s delicacy: Binagol and Moron . Its sweet, sticky, and rich
Toast to the best tuba the Bahalina. Tuba is a native wine from coconut . Aged tuba is bahalina. You can buy a bottled bahalina at Kokoys Grocerette.
There are daily flights from Manila to Tacloban City. From Cebu, the best way to get to Tacloban would be to ride on a fast boat, such as the Supercat fast craft, to Ormoc City and then take a 2 hour van for hire from Ormoc to Tacloban. It is very easy to cross to Cebu as well from Tacloban as there are van trips to Ormoc every one hour, and the fast ferry from Ormoc to Cebu has three trips each day.
From Tacloban , it is easy to cross down to Butuan and Surigao via bus and a scenic ferry crossing from Lilo-an to Butuan. If you are lucky, you might even spot dolphins swimming along with the ferry.
Tacloban City Fiesta June 29, 2008
The Tacloban City Fiesta is celebrated in the last week of June with various religious and cultural activities that ends on the day of the fiesta, the 29th of June.
For this year, the Pintados Foundation is going to give way to the “Sangyaw”. Sangyaw Festival was a festival pet project of then First Lady Imelda which was replaced by the Pintados Festival after the latter left the country in the wake of the EDSA Revolution. The Pintados Foundation, an NGO took reins in spearheading the celebration of the Pintados Festival every fiesta with or without an hermano mayor for almost 20 years.
Sangyaw Festival will be attended by contingents from other provinces , municipalities, and cities. The City Government of Tacloban headed by Mayor Alfred Romualdez revived the Sangyaw Festival.
Highlights of the Fiesta celebration:
a. Balyu-an - a reenactment of the old age practice of borrowing the larger Sto Nino image form the then mother parish of Basey when Tacloban was but a small barrio under the administration of Basey.
b. Subiran Regatta – a race of native boats on sail and paddle along San Pedro Bay
c. Streetdancing – witness the contingent from various delegations showcase their choreography and grace as they vie for the top prize.
d. Annual Search of Ms. Pintados - another beauty contest in our pageant crazed country
And so much more!
Sohoton National Park, Basey Samar
Basey town in Samar boasts of a a beautiful limestone cave that is now a protected National Park. The ride form the town of Basey through the Sohoton river is a treat in intself. Along the way one is treated to a soothing vista of mangrove and swampland teeming with life. Keep your eyes open for a monitor lizard sunning itself along tha banks. Past the mangrove the river becomes wider, and one glides past h little quaint villages that dots the river. Sohoton cave at the end of the 1 hour and 30 minutes boat ride. Experienced cave guides will take you into the cave and out.
How to get there :
From Tacloban City – take a Basey Jeepney at the old bus terminal which is beside the old wet market. The stench from the market is unbearable so prepare to gag yourself or ignore the odorous air. But for the with faint olfactory head off to the New Bus Terminal and take a mini bus that goes to Guian. Tell the driver to drop you off in Basey. ( P15.00 per pax fare)
From Basey town – walk or take a pedicab ( P5.00 for 2 ) to the pier. The Basey Tourism Office is located at the pier.
Sohoton National Park in Basey is run under the management of Basey Tourism Office. They have tour packages to the cave , as well as other caves in the area. The package includes the boat ride, lighting, and guide.
Sohoton Cave Package
P1,900 – for a group of 6 pax. If you have foreigners in your group there is an additional P100.00 for each foreigner. ( price as of April 2008 )
Tad-yaw Beach Resort in Tolosa Leyte
The eastern coast of Leyte teems of beaches with fine black sand courtesy of the island’s volcanic origin. This coastline stretches from San Jose in Tacloban City, to Palo , Tanuan, Tolosa, and Dulag; and is dotted with beach resorts. Some of the so called resorts have shaky cottages that are rented out for a ridiculous price. Cottage here means a bamboo table and a roof on top of it with bench around it. Though there are a few good resorts along this area to name a few. There is Dio Island Beach Resort which has seen better days, and there is McArthur Beach Resort for those who can afford to spend a little extra.
In our search for nice beach resorts sans the crowd and the ridiculous price of a “cottage” somebody pointed us to Tad-yaw in Tolosa.
Tad-yaw Beach Resort in Tolosa is a fenced Beach Resort just a few minutes outside the main town proper. A huge waterjar , in keeping with its name tadyaw which means a big earthen jar in the Waray tongue, greets the visitors. Tad-yaw is a big compound of landscaped gardens, spaced out picnic tables,and man-made lakes. They also have real cottages with sleeping accomodation with AC for guests who would like to stay the night. A skimboard is for rent for P150.00 ( whole day )
Tad-yaw is a bit pricy for budget travellers. Its P500.00 for a decent picnic table, that comes with a nice thatched roof and big enough to sit 15 to 20 people . The overnight cottage starts at P5000.00
But one can just pay P30.00 entrance fee and still enjoy the clean beach. A lot of coconuts dot the sea shore for a shade. Spread a mat under the coconut tree and enjoy your own little picnic.
How to get there : OnBurgos Street in Tacloban City hop on any jeepney with a signboard that says Tolosa, or Dulag, or Mayorga. Tell the driver that you will be getting off Tad-yaw. You wont miss the resort because there is big signboard along the highway. ( fare P20.00 per pax )
Daily Flights from Cebu to Tacloban
Air Philippines is now flying daily from Cebu to Tacloban vice versa. The plane lleaves Cebu at 6 AM arrives in Tacloban at 6:50 AM and departs again for Cebu at 7:10 AM arriving in Cebu at 7:50 AM.
The lowest promo fare as of May 27 , 2008 is Php1,670.00
In Tacloban City you can call 523- 1220 for reservation. Or contact any Air Philippines and Philippine airlines ticketing outlet.
Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte
Padre Burgos lies on the tip of Southern Leyte. A small laid back town ideal for resting away from the claustrophobic cities. A sleepy backwater town of friendly people. Life is unhurried . There are no nightlife, malls, fastfoods or restaurants, and internet cafes.
But visitors come to this town every year to catch the gentle whale sharks . Padre Burgos also offer good diving sights, and snorkelling.
The three diving outfits that operate in Padre Burgos offers accomodation and has a restaurant. Try Peter’s Dive Resort. Good food, and the owner Peter and his brother Dave are very accomodating and kind.
Its also a great place to soak up the sun on their coral beaches, or feast onseafoods. Tiny eateries , and canteens along the pier or anywhere in town will gladly cook them for you.
How to get there:
Tacloban to Sogod
Take a passenger van at the New Bus Terminal to Sogod. The fare is P150.00 for a 2 hour and thirty minute drive.
Sogod – Padre Burgos
From Sogod you have to take a one hour jeepney or bus ride to Padre Burgos. Fare is P60.00
( Fare rate as of 2nd week of July 2008)
Limasawa Island
A pocket of paradise just across Padre Burgos.
A very clean island of gentle folks. This tiny coral-shored island is a 1hour boat ride away from the town of Padre Burgos.( Fare is P50.00) The boat from Padre Burgos to Limasawa 1 PM each day. From Limasawa to Padre Burgos the boat leaves at 7AM.
The great attractions of the island includes its torquise waters teeming with fishes and other sea creatures that makes snorkelling and diving a wonderful experience. ( To dive in Limasawa, one has to get to Padre Burgos where diving resorts can provide you with diving equipment)
Hike to the village of San Agustin to see the sactuary of big flying fox ( Bat Sanctuary ). An alternative is to hire a habal-habal or motorbike to bring you to San Agustin and back to the island’s poblacion for P150.00
Magellans Cross at the highest peak of the island is a must offers a great panoramic view of Limasawa and the neigbouring islands of Panaon, Liloan and the town of Padre Burgos across.
Accomodation is very cheap at the government run guesthouse. Its P 250.00 a night for an airconditioned room with its own bathroom and queen size bed for two pax. The guesthouse has 2 rooms only. Camping on the edge of town plaza is allowed. Tents for rent at 100.00
There are no eateries in the island. There is one islander who cooks and serve food for island visitors.
Electricity runs from 5PM to 1 AM only.
Amandaraga Falls, Lawaan Eastern Samar
Amandaraga Falls in Lawaan Eastern Samar is a 1 hour and 30 min ride away from Tacloban City. A pristine, waterfalls that cascades in the midst of a jungle. the scenery is breath - taking. Enjoy the day frolicking on natural pools. Amazing birds, fly about. Must see for nature lovers. This trip involves a 45 minute hike through a forest.
Cuatro Islas, Inopacan Leyte
Inopacan is the jump off site to get to the Cuatro Islas. The four lovely isles of Digyo, Apid, Mahaba, and Himokilan are bordered by white sandy shore and surrounded by beautiful coral gardens, are considered to be among the best in Leyte island. The island waters are rich fishing grounds and home to 287 species of reef building corals. Himokilan is the largest island of the Cuatro Islas where the big delicious coconut-cracking crabs called tatus are found.
Cuatro Islas is perfect for island hopping. Snorkel and sunbath on your selected isle sans the noise and crowd of touristy beaches. Relish the feeling of having the island for yourself if only for a day ala Robinson Crusoe but be sure to bring your own provisions.
Baybay,Leyte
Mt. Pangasuhan Ecopark is located in Brgy. Pangasuhan, Baybay, Leyte. One of the few remaining virgin rainforests in the Philippines. It is richly endowed with diverse flora and fauna, many of which are considered endangered species like flying lemurs and tarsiers; a unique and precious ecological asset.
Enjoy a trek with a reliable guide at the Jungle Valley Park, once a study site for scientists cataloguing the Philippine rainforest flora and fauna. There are waterfalls, natural pools, indigenous dipterocarps (tropical hardwood), and rare animals.
Visit the tarsier sanctuary and a butterfly farm at the VSU ( formerly VISCA). Other attractions includes caves, waterfalls, rivers, and hotsprings.
Palompon, Leyte
Palompon , located in the north western part of the Leyte island, is one of the oldest town in the province. Palompon is famed for the Tabuk Island Bird Sanctuary and Marine Park. A small island adjacent to the main town of Palompon, this protected area is a haven for environmentalist and nature lovers. The three story tower affords a picturesque view of the town. The healthy mangroves around the island is home to different species of fish and birds. Giant fruit bats (also known as Flying Fox) roosts on trees around the mangrove area during the day. It is a fascinating experience to wait and watch them at sundown as they leave to hunt at night.
Bato,Leyte
Gunhuban Falls in Brgy. Buli Bato Leyte, is another local attraction that is yet to get national attention. Located in the eastern part of the town proper of Bato this pristine falls empties to Tugawihan River. Enjoy a day of picnic and swimming in this local hideaway. The Gunhuban Falls enjoys the support of the barangay and municipal protection having been recently declared as a Municipal Park. The LGU as well as the barangay officials of Buli are providing initial facilities such as kiosk, dressing room and eating tables. The local administrations effort to protect and promote the falls is very commendable. The municipality of Bato has been awarded the Cleanest Island Body of Water.
Bato Leyte is the jump off point for Bohol from Leyte side. There is a ferry that services the Bato via Ubay, Bohol route..
Lake Danao, Ormoc City, Leyte
Lake Danao can be reached through Ormoc City, which is a 125 km. from Tacloban City ( 2 to 3 hour ride). Long and violin-shaped, Lake Danao is hemmed on all sides by cloud-capped-mountain ranges. These mountains contain lush virgin forests with endemic flora and fauna. At 700 meters above sea level, the lake has a cool temperature of 21 -26 degrees Celsius and is said to be the habitat of giant eels.
Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte
Sogod Bay in Southern Leyte and the neighboring Limasawa Island are a diving mecca. Whale sharks are the main attraction of Padre Burgos. Healthy corals and abundant fish life are great for macro shots and makes Sogod Bay one of the finest diving destinations in the Philippines with the island of Limasawa as a declared marine sanctuary. The pier of Padre Burgos is an excellent site for night dives. There are several dive shops established in the area. The whale shark season runs from December to April.
Travel Links
Jens Peters http://www.jenspeters.com
Pandan Island http://www.pandan.com
Petes Dive Resort http://www.whaleofadive.com
Beachanatic Blog http://beachanatic.blogspot.com
Trexplore www.bonifaciojoni.blogspot.com
Villa Marmarine www.marmarine.jp
Siquijor http://www.hollyette.com