Eastern Visayan islands Leyte and Samar are havens for travelers seeking off-the-beaten-path destinations in the Philippines. Because many of these beaches are only accessible from the industrial city of Tacloban, they are frequently overlooked in favor of more popular tourist destinations such as Boracay and Palawan. Island hopping in Leyte and Samar will be the highlights of any tourist’s trip to the Philippines, with some of the best beaches in the country and an authentic travel experience.

The tourist infrastructure on this side of the island nation is lacking, but the experience of discovering the best hidden beaches in the Philippines as a tourist compensates for this if you’re willing to put in a little more planning than usual! Here are the best beaches near Tacloban!

Best Beaches in Leyte

The island of Leyte is ideal for backpacking the Philippines for travelers looking for less-traveled to places without being completely remote. The best beaches in Leyte are located mostly in the south. Here are some of my picks for the best beaches near Tacloban.

1. Kalanggaman Island- Palompon

The best beach in Leyte, hands down, is located on the pristine Kalanggaman Island, where you’ll find possibly the whitest sand with various shades of turquoise. Kalanggaman is well-known for its sandbars, snorkeling, scuba diving, and camping.

How to get to Kalanggaman Island from Tacloban

Like most islands in Leyte, It is difficult for both tourists and locals to get to Kalangaman. First, you must first travel to Palompon, which is a 3-4 hour bus or van ride from any of Tacloban’s bus terminals. To get to Kalanggaman Island, you must make a reservation through the Palompon Tourism Office, which is nearly impossible to do on the day of. A tour must be booked in advance, either through one of the numerous Kalanggaman agencies found online or on Facebook. The price of Kalanggaman is determined by the number of people riding in the boat on your preferred tour date. I paid about $45 USD to ride on an eight-person boat for the Kalanggaman day tour, which I booked through WeWander Travel and Tours, booked through WeWander Travel and Tours. The tour includes transportation to and from Tacloban, a very generous Kayaman of meat, seafood, rice, and fresh fruit. The price is hefty for the average tour, but for views of one of the most beautiful islands in Leyte, Kalanggaman must top your list.

2. San Pablo and San Pedro Island- Hinunangan

Known as the Twin Islands, San Pablo and San Pedro boast some of the best beaches in Leyte, and even better, both can be visited on the same day. Most people choose one of the islands to camp overnight, so bring food to last you. The island has cottage accommodation, very, very basic toilets, and a small convenience store where you can buy drinks and non-perishable food items.

How to Get to San Pablo and San Pedro Island from Tacloban

My friend and I took a van from the Tacloban City Bus Terminal to San Pablo Island. You must take a bus to St. Bernard. Before arriving at Brgy Canipaan (Hinunganan), make sure you pass through the town of Silago. Locals will greet you with boats, which can cost up to 1,5000 pesos round-trip for the entire boat, depending on your haggling skills. Join a group so you’re able to further split the costs. There is also a public boat for 30 pesos, which we missed because it only runs when the boat is full, as we arrived in the evening.

3. Canigao Island- Matalom

Canigao is a local favorite for those in Southern Leyte because of its beauty and ease of access. A large island in Matalom, you’ll find a lively atmosphere of family and friends spending their weekend eating, drinking, and partying. Canigao Island is one of the best beaches in Leyte for solo travelers in the Philippines who do not want to be completely off of the grid. With its markets, barbeque food stalls, and various camping grounds, you’ll easily make new local friends and find ways to entertain yourself for a fun overnight trip.

How to Get to Canigao Island from Tacloban

From the Tacloban City Bus Terminal, ride a 4-hour van to Matalom. Get off at the Matalom Municipal Plaza and await the public boat costing 60 pesos round-trip. In fifteen minutes, you’re on Canigao Island. This is one of the easier islands in Leyte to travel to.

4. Mahaba Beach and Tankaan Beach- Padre Burgos

Padre Burgos’ two beaches, Mahaba and Tankaan, are ideal for beachgoers who want to enjoy the beautiful beaches of Southern Leyte without the hassle of camping. Padre Burgos has a plethora of low-cost accommodation options, making it a unique backpacker destination in the Philippines. I stayed at Peter’s Dive Resort, which has a great mix of locals and backpackers, making it a great place for solo travelers in the Philippines.

How to Get to Padre Burgos from Tacloban

From the Tacloban Downtown Bus Terminal, take a van to Maasin City. From Maasin, take a local bus to Padre Burgos. Tricycles to and from the beaches of Padre Burgos cost between 20 and 50 pesos, depending on where you stay.

Best Beaches in Samar

The lesser developed island of the two, Samar Island has some of the best beaches and islands in the Philippines, period. With almost no outside tourism, the journey to the northeastern Visayan island is an adventure in and of itself. After visiting the islands and beaches of Samar, you can confidently brag about visiting some of the most undiscovered beaches in the Philippines!

1. Yolanda Beach- Jagnaya, Salcedo

Eastern Samar is home to some of the most beautiful beaches on the island. Named after the tragic 2013 typhoon, Yolanda Beach is one of my favorite beaches I’ve visited in the Philippines. It is a pristine, long stretch of white golden sand and clear waters where you can easily find both privacy and Instagrammable photo ops. You can even swim in a hidden pool behind the rocks of the beach. While you cannot camp on Yolanda Beach overnight, there are numerous accommodation options available in the nearby Guiuan.

How to get to Yolanda Beach from Tacloban

Take a three-hour Dupotour (located in Downtown Tacloban) van to Guiuan, but request that the driver stop in Salcedo at the Jagnaya market area. Depending on where you are in town, a fifteen-minute tricycle to the beach will cost you no more than 300 pesos. If possible, arrange for your tricycle driver to return you to town.

2. Calabuso Beach- Marabut

Calabuso Beach in Marabut is only 45 minutes from Tacloban and does not disappoint. If you stay at the luxurious Caluwayan Palm Island Resort, you will have direct access to one of Marabut’s best beaches. Though the resort’s price is slightly higher than the average Philippines backpacker budget, Calabuso Beach, famous for its magnificent rock formations, makes it worth at least a day trip.

How to get to Calabuso Beach from Tacloban

You must take a van from Tacloban to Marabut, which can be found at the New Tacloban Bus Terminal, and tell the driver to drop you off at the Caluwayan Palm Island Resort. To get to the beach, you can buy lunch at the resort or pay 200 pesos for access to the stunning infinity pool, and from there just walk.

3. Macate Island- Sulat

Macate Island in Sulat, an Eastern Samar island popular for surfing, is ideal for overnight trips. Like most remote islands in the Philippines, you can camp in a cottage or a tent, with access to cooking, electricity, and bathroom facilities to make your stay as comfortable as possible. While getting to Macate Island from Tacloban takes time, the trip is well worth it.

How to get to Macate Island from Tacloban

Take a van to Borongan City from Duptours in Downtown Tacloban. The journey will take approximately four hours. You must take a taxi from Borongan City to Sulat, which should cost around $10 USD. Although only a 20-minute boat ride from Sulat, you’ll need to find a local to take you there, so it’s best to visit Macate Island in a small group to save money.

Leyte and Samar: Travel Tips

Backpacking the Philippines is not as easy (and cheap) as many Southeast Asian countries. Most visitors to the Philippines do not venture off to the Eastern Vasayan islands, so if you’re an adventurous traveler who wants to escape the usual tourist traps, Leyte and Samar are excellent choices. After staying in Tacloban for six months, here is my advice for those looking to spend time on either of these two islands.

7 Tips for Traveling around Leyte and Samar

 

1. Go in a group

I’m absolutely not a group person and have always preferred traveling alone, but if you want to see the best of these two islands, you’ll need to make some friends to cut down on costs for accommodation, boats, and basically everything else in this group-oriented country. While you can visit a few of these beaches on your own (and with Filipinos being so welcoming, you’ll never be truly alone), traveling in a group will definitely make your experience more fun. And speaking of boats…

2. Haggle for boats

A lot of the more remote islands in the Philippines do not have public boats running to and from the mainland, meaning you’re up to the mercy of the locals at the ports awaiting unsuspecting tourists. Most local boats can accommodate up to fifteen people, and when you pay, you pay for the entire boat, whether there are two or twelve people. Ask the locals what the price should be, and prepare to pay less or more depending on the person.

3. Search Facebook for accommodation

Outside of the backpacker hotspots in the Philippines, it’s nearly impossible to book a dorm room on Hostelworld or Booking.com. Most accommodations, ranging from cottages (yes, you will have to sleep on a hard, wooden floor) to luxurious beachside resorts, can be found on Facebook. The advantage is that you usually do not have to pay in advance; simply message them your arrival dates.

4. Get ready to wait for bus departures

Buses in Leyte and Samar do not leave until they are completely full, so you could be waiting for hours. With such infrequent buses between the two islands, I always recommend leaving as early as possible because it’s better to wait than to be stranded.

5. Bring your own tent

Luckily, it is perfectly legal (and safe) to camp on many of the beaches, and it’s a much more affordable (if not free) option than renting an entire cottage, especially for solo travelers in the Philippines. It is also the best way to visit the hidden beaches and islands in the Philippines without worrying about accommodation. Make sure your tent is waterproof because when it rains, it RAINS.

6. Get data

Staying on hidden beaches in the Philippines means wifi is also nowhere to be found. I’m usually liberal with my lack of data usage while traveling, but in Samar and Leyte, data is essential to not driving yourself crazy when staying alone on the quieter islands.

7. Do not litter

And finally, leave the Philippines’ beautiful beaches just as beautiful as you found them. Many islands have a no-trash policy, which means you must take everything you bring with you off the island.