Hello there!
It's been almost two years since I moved here in Tacloban City, Leyte. I hate to admit it but I never had the chance to explore Eastern Visayas region. I mean, I only had the chance to travel during special assignments or during our company's annual team building activity. It actually took me almost a year before I crossed Leyte and Samar islands through the country's longest bridge - San Juanico.
A good friend of mine from Manila flew to Tacloban a few days ago and planned to visit Kalanggaman Island. Since I was itching to travel to new places, I decided to tag along!
Kalanggaman is an island off the coast of Palompon, Leyte, approximately four hours away from where I currently reside. Going there wasn't that easy, if you ask. We arrived at Tacloban's new bus terminal in Abucay around 4:45AM hoping to catch the first bus to Palompon, Leyte - the jump off point to the island. Sad part was, the first trip to Palompon was around 7AM. We took the alternate route, which is Ormoc and from there, we rode a van to Palompon.
Palompon, Leyte
At around half past nine in the morning... Finally, Palompon! We first bought food and utensils for our island escapade at a nearby market. The boat transfer from Palompon Ecotours Office to Kalanggaman Island leaves every hour and the last boat trip from the island is at 5PM. Unless you're as rich as Ayala-Zobel or Henry Sy, renting the whole boat for your own shouldn't be a problem. It costs Php 3000 roundtrip, with a capacity of 15 pax. However if you're feeling kuripot like us, you can arrange your trip to some passengers at the terminal who are willing to share the boat with you. Before leaving, you need to pay Php 150 for the day tour fee and the staff will orient you about the do's and don'ts in the island such as proper waste disposal and segregation.
It took us another hour to reach the famed island. As we neared its shore, we witnessed how the deep blue waters of the Visayan Sea slowly transformed into a shade of turquoise. Then, there it was - an island with a long expanse of verdant coconut trees with blinding white sand coruscating in the azure waters. After three centuries of waiting, I have finally set foot on this island!
PARAISO
Beautiful island.
The classic S-curve.
For years, Kalanggaman was just a secret among the locals. In 2013, a cruise ship - MV Europa Cruise Line - passed through the island and dropped off some of its 400 passengers to get a glimpse of the island. Since then, it had gained popularity both here and abroad, all thanks to the power of social media.
Unlike Boracay, there are no fancy accommodations, shops, or restaurants in the island. A number of native huts are located across Kalanggaman Island. I've been to a lot of beaches in the Philippines and I must say that this one is the best I've ever been so far. Recently it was named by Skyscanner, a leading travel advisory website, as the best sandbars in the Philippines. The water that surrounds the island is very tempting to swim, however there's a portion in Kalanggaman Island where swimming is strictly prohibited due to strong riptide. The side where the boats dock is the best spot for swimming. The sand on this part is powdery white. The opposite side is not frequented by people due to its rocky shore.
A few native huts for rent.
Hello from the other side of the island.
Kalanggaman Island is the perfect place to chill, a place where one can find solitude and peace. We only spent four hours in the island yet it felt eternity when we were there. The time was very slow. Believe me, the long travel to this island was really worth it.
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How to get there
There are two options: one is via Cebu and the other one is via Tacloban
Via Tacloban
The nearest airport is Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport in Tacloban. There are several flights from Manila and Mactan-Cebu to Tacloban. From the airport, make your way to the new bus terminal in Abucay. There are vans and/or buses plying the Tacloban-Palompon route. But as what I've mentioned earlier, there are only a few buses that ply that route. The chance of finding your true love is even higher than this one. Lol, you get my point did you? The alternate route is to ride a bus or van to Ormoc, and from there, transfer to a new van to Palompon. The fare to Palompon from Tacloban is Php 150. The same price goes to the Tacloban-Ormoc route. The fare from Ormoc to Palompon costs Php 110.
Via Cebu
If you're coming from Cebu, take a supercat to Ormoc City. The trip will only take less than two hours. From Ormoc, well, you already know that. However, there are also boats that sail directly to Palompon, Leyte.
Tips and Tricks
The earliest boat trip to Kalanggaman Island leaves Palompon at 6AM. When we went there last week, we left Palompon at around 11AM and the water was quite rough. Also, there were only a few people in the island when we went there. A friend told me that the island could get crowded during the summer season. To avoid inconveniences, it is best to make a reservation with them, most especially if you're traveling from April to May. You may contact them at these numbers: 0917-3037267 and 0917-3037269.
Baywatch-ing
The following are the rates for the Kalanggaman day tour:
Regular rate
(day tour)
Overnight rate
International tourist
P500
P750
Non-Palompon tourist
P150
P225
Non-Palompon college student
P40
P60
Non-Palompon high school student
P30
P45
Non-Palompon elementary student
P20
P30
Non-Palompon senior citizen
P120
P180
The pumpboat boat rates are as follows:
For boats with a maximum capacity of 15 people: P3,000
For boats with a maximum capacity of 25 people: P3,500
For boats with a maximum capacity of 30 people: P4,000