This is a 6 days trip to 5 provinces in Eastern Visayas. But I will be posting each provinces in a different blogpost. This is our day 1 and 2 in Leyte where the famous Kalanggaman Island is located. Budget is Php 1,645.

I bet many backpackers and Filipino travelers today have been to this place already or might be planning to go there. I went to Kalanggaman Island during my 6 days backpacking trip in Eastern Visayas. So basically, this is going to be just a simple travel guide for everyone who plans to go there.

How we went there and what happened during our trip?

Via Plane: In our case, we flew all the way from Clark International Airport to Tacloban City Airport in Tacloban City, Leyte. From the airport, we rode a jeepney going to Tacloban town proper for 13php each. Then, from town proper, we rode a multicab going to Tacloban New Bus Terminal for 8php each. Unfortunately, it was a night flight so we’ve arrived in Tacloban by 8:45pm already. We have to stay overnight in Tacloban because the last trip of buses and vans going to Palompon is 5pm according to the locals. The first trip of Ceres bus going to Palompon is 3am.

We checked-in at a nearest hotel which is El Ramilo. It is only walking distance from the New Bus Terminal and near Robinson’s Mall. Then, we woke up before 3am to catch the first trip of bus. The bus left the terminal by 3:30am and we got into the market in Palompon by 6:30am. Bus fare is 175php anf travel time is 3hrs. In Palompon market, we walked towards the port where their tourism office is located.

We registered in the tourism office for 150php each and joined other local and foreign tourist in a pump boat with 20pax capacity. Renting the whole boat would cost you 2000php. We only paid 206php per pax and that is a round trip boat fare already. You need to agree with the other passengers for the time of return because you will be using the same boat when going back to Palompon.

Before we rode the pump boat, we bought our lunch in the nearby market. We bought a lechon manok and rice packed in leaves.

Once we were in the boat, the tourism office told us a few reminders and gave us 2 types of plastic for the garbage. A black and a transparent one separating the biodegradable to non-biodegradable.

The boat ride travel time is more than an hour. Upon arrival, there are cottages for rent and so as tables and chairs. We opted to rent a table and 3 chairs. Rental fee for a table is 30php and 10php for a monoblock chair.

Kalanggaman Island Experience:

This small island in the Eastern Visayas of the Philippines is a true gem. You want to see a beach with a white sand? Wanna swim in a crystal clear blue water? Wanna take a pose and have a good instagrammable photo in a long white sandbar? Wanna get away from the noise of the city? Love virgin islands that were not yet developed because you appreciate nature more? If your answer to all of these questions is yes, then it’s a yes to Kalanggaman Island.

We spent the day exploring the small island while taking photos. We ate the lechon manok that we bought in the market for our brunch. The sun was really hot but that didn’t stop us to enjoy the crystal clear blue water surrounding the island.

If you wanna ask me if it’s worth a visit? Definitely, yes!

If you wanna ask me if it’s the best island that I visited? No

If you wanna know my answer if I am going to rate it 1-10? It’s 8.5!

After 12nn, we left the island with other passengers of the boat. When we were back in Palompon, we decided to have our late lunch at Franz Cafe walking distance from the port. After that, we asked the locals of where we can possibly go and sight-see. They directed us towards Lantaw View Deck where you can view the whole Palompon Town in one side and the Green Hills at the other side. Entrance fee is 10php. We have rented motorcycles (habal-habal) for 80php each back and forth. We were not really amazed with what we saw so we decided to go back after a few minutes and asked the drivers of the motorcycles to drop us at the terminal going to Biliran which is another province nearby and our next day destination.

Important Facts That You Need To Know:

If you will be spending the whole day or overnight in the island, make sure to buy food ahead of time in Palompon because there were no stores or restaurant in the small island.

You can rent for grilling materials in the island in case you need to use one.

For an overnight stay, you can rent one of the small bunkhouses or tent. Or better yet, just bring your own personal tents if you can to lessen your expenses.

I didn’t saw a good comfort room. I just took a bath in a shared bathroom and the water was obviously, still, a salt water. (This is just to lessen your expectation).

Do not expect a powdery sand.

Sample itinerary and actual expenses:

Tell us if you did enjoy picture taking in Kalanggaman Island as much as we do.

-Echo (www.byahecho.com)