I’ve been meaning to visit this place ever since I started traveling. I just couldn’t contain my excitement the moment our boat docked at the shoreline of this beautiful island. 📍Sambawan Island
🇵🇭BILIRAN ADVENTURE PRIMER🇵🇭
✈🛳🚌How to get to Biliran:
⏺ OPTION 1: 📌Take a plane from Metro Manila to Tacloban City, Leyte (e.g. Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and AirAsia). 📌Hail a taxi/jeepney/tricyle to get to the terminal of vans bound for Naval, the capital municipality of Biliran. 📌Transfer to a van to reach Biliran (travel time: 2.5 – 3 hours depending on traffic condition and number/duration of stop-overs).
⏺ OPTION 2: 📌Ride a bus from Metro Manila to Matnog Port, Sorsogon (e.g.i DLTB and Philtranco; travel time: 15 – 16 hours depending on traffic condition and number/duration of stop-overs). 📌Take the RORO ferry from Matnog Port en route to the port of Allen in Northern Samar (travel time: 1 – 2 hours depending on sea condition). 📌Ride a bus or van to reach Tacloban City (travel time: 5 – 7 hours depending on traffic condition and number/duration of stop-overs). 📌Transfer to a van to reach Naval, Biliran.
My friend and I just finished our tour of Matalom that day. We traveled to Ormoc City and alighted by the transport terminal beside Robinsons Mall. 📍Recoletos FallsWe had our quick brunch at the small stalls of the terminal before taking the passenger van en route to the town of Naval, the capital municipality of Biliran. We just couldn’t afford to get a proper meal because that would mean wasting our time eating instead of spending it on the road bound for Naval. 📍Recoletos FallsI was hoping we would arrive in Naval a bit early for our itinerary but sadly, our public ride wouldn’t leave the terminal until all the seats are occupied so we had to wait for more passengers.The ride took us two hours and a half before reaching Biliran’s capital. As soon as we were dropped off by the sea port of Naval, I immediately messaged our guide to pick us up.I noticed that the sea was a bit rough that day even if the weather was fair. I thought of our island tour the next day and was looking forward to calm waters. 📍Recoletos FallsOur guide brought us first to our accommodation which I booked in advance to avoid the hassle. We left our huge backpacks before heading to check out some waterfalls.
🏄🏝🚴Sites to Explore/Activities:
⏺ Sambawan Island 📌Take the passenger boat from Naval to Maripipi Island (travel time: 1.5 – 2 hours depending on sea condition. 📌Hire a motorcycle to get to Barangay Ol-og. 📌Rent a boat that will take you Sambawan Island (travel time is approximately 30 minutes). 📌If you are pressed for time, considering the schedule of public boats from Naval to Maripipi plies the Naval-Maripipi route only in the morning, you may hire a motorcycle from Naval to the town of Kawayan then hire a private boat that will take you directly to Sambawan Island (travel time from Kawayan: 1 – 1.5 hours depending on sea condition).
⏺ Ulan-Ulan Falls
⏺ Recoletos Falls
⏺ Tinago Falls
It was almost nearing late afternoon when we reached the jump-off point via motorcycle. Together with our guide, we hurriedly trekked to reach Ulan-Ulan Falls. I was really awestruck when I saw this waterfall but this would have to wait. 📍Ulan-Ulan FallsSince Recoletos Falls is a bit farther, we decided to trek upstream to explore this waterfall first.There were some teens swimming here at Recoletos Falls when we reached its basin. They must have been swimming for quite some time because they left just a few minutes after we arrived.This waterfall is not as tall as Ulan-Ulan falls but its pool is deep enough for adrenaline junkies who want to cliff-jump.I climbed up to get to this spot to get this shot. Boy was I so careful not to slip.The rays from the sun were virtually absent that time as sunset was approaching so we agreed to head down to Ulan-Ulan Falls.We chance upon a few visitors when we arrived here at Ulan-Ulan Falls. I gotta say, it really is impressive.The Filipino word for rain is “ulan” hence Ulan-Ulan Falls since the water cascading down its walls resembles the rain. The thick vegetation surrounding this waterfall gives that comforting ambience coupled with its cold refreshing water perfect for the hot summer weather.Before capping off our tour here in the town of Almeria, I scrambled to get to this spot for my pictures. Getting here might look easy but positioning myself for posing took forever, maybe because I underestimated it. Nah, piece of cake, or so I thought. I kept falling into the catch basin every time I’d be holding on to the rock protrusions of the wall because they were not big enough to grab onto. The cascading water was too strong as it hit my face and body. It may be similar to rain if you look at it from afar, but when you get this close, it felt like a heavy downpour. I also remembered the same ordeal I had at Limutan Falls in Bataan when I was braving its slippery wet wall and I had an injury when I fell into this huge log washed up from an uprooted tree stuck at the waterfall’s catch basin.I almost gave up, to be honest. I could give it a try some other time. But I really had to give it a shot. After all, Biliran is too far from my hometown. I wouldn’t get another chance. Besides, we were lucky that there were only a few people during our visit. Imagine the crowd if we visited on a busy day. I would never get the opportunity to get solo shots. I could hear the muffled voices of my friend and my guide cheering for me. The sound of the waterfall was too loud for me to make out what they’re saying. I almost screamed in delight when I made it. Finally!It was almost dusk when we reached our lodge. We asked our motorcycle driver to just pick us up early in the morning for the next phase of our itinerary. Time to explore the highlight of our Biliran trip! 📍Sambawan Island
⏰⏳Sample Itinerary:
DAY 1
8:00 AM ETA Tacloban Airport
9:00 AM ETD for Naval
12:00 PM Lunch
1:00 PM ETD for Ulan-Ulan Falls and Recoletos Falls
3:30 PM ETD for Tinago Falls
5:00 PM ETA Naval town proper / check-in
DAY 2
5:00 AM Wake-up call
6:00 AM Breakfast
7:00 AM ETD for Sambawan Island
1:00 PM Travel back to Kawayan Port
2:00 PM Lunch
3:00 PM Explore other waterfalls
5:00 PM Head back to accommodation
DAY 3
6:00 AM Check-out / ETD for Tacloban
9:30 AM San Juanico Bridge Photowalk
11:30 AM ETD for Tacloban Airport
2:00 PM ETD for Manila
💰💶Estimated Budget (for a solo traveler): Php 7,000 – Php 8,000 (exclusive of airfare)
***Expenses may vary depending on the type of accommodation you will avail and personal consumption of food and other necessities. If traveling alone, you will solely shoulder the tricycle/motorcycle transfer and tour rates and boat transfer rates.
We woke up early the next day since we had to travel from Naval to the town of Kawayan which would serve as our jump-off to Sambawan Island.One way to get to Sambawan Island is to ride the public boat from Naval to Maripipi Island then hire a boat from Maripipi to Sambawan. This is the cheaper option but we opted for the more expensive due to time constraints.That slightly overcast morning upon arrival at Kawayan Port somehow ruined my hopes of seeing Sambawan Island in its full glory under the lively sunny weather, although it was still too early to assume that the thick clouds would linger.My friend and I excitedly hopped inside our rented boat as our boatman with his companion were preparing for our departure.This island is quite far from mainland Biliran compared to Maripipi but since we were pressed for time, we got no choice but to hire a boat instead which would take us directly to Sambawan.The ride took us about one hour and a half. The swell of Samar Sea that day was bigger than normal but it was tolerable for us considering my friend and I are used to choppy sea travel.The route going to Sambawan is not surrounded by any islands so I was already expecting rough waters even it’s summer season in the country.I could still remember how ecstatic I was as soon as our boat docked by the island’s shoreline.The shore was creamy in color but it was not sandy. You will notice pebbles and crushed corals once you step on its shores.You need to trek to get to the view deck. Walking to get to the viewpoint was short and easy anyway.The trek to explore the hilly curves of Sambawan Island is suitable for beginners. Besides, even if you’re a non-hiker, you wouldn’t want to miss this view after traveling this far.Boy was I feeling euphoric as we were nearing the island’s viewpoint. After all, this trip had been years in the making.We reached the elevated wooden cottage at the top of the island. It was the perfect spot to get this panoramic view of the island in the middle of the vast sea.We hurriedly set up our cameras. Our photos were still a bit dull due to the lack of sunshine.The sun started to peek and bless us with its warmth as it was hidden behind Maripipi Volcano.The sunrays were perfect for our picture. Golden hour, it is. This was what we’ve been waiting for.Sambawan really is famous among backpackers because of the island’s distinct shape and iconic boulders at the top.If you notice, most of the portions of the hills were brown in color due to sand and rocks. We didn’t see any grassy greenery atop because of the summer weather in the Philippines at that time. If you visit during rainy season, expect a greener landscape but the overcast weather or worse, thunderstorms might ruin your chances of getting lively photos due to the absence of sunshine. You may check other photos online for comparison.Compared to the island’s lush vegetation during rainy days, this scenery still looked picturesque despite the orange and brown expanse of Sambawan Island, contrasted by the bluish tint of the sky and sea.The sunrays were getting harsher by the minute but the hot weather didn’t stop us from our pictorial.We continued taking loads of photos of the island’s every angle. Because why not? We had to maximize and make the most of our “not-so-cheap-for-a-frugal-traveler” expenses for this adventure leg of ours.I prefer the view on the other side of the island more than this face of Sambawan but you get Maripipi Island as your backdrop on this side though. That’s how close Sambawan is to the municipality of Maripipi.You will also notice here the huts of Sambawan Dive Camp and Beach Resort where you can rent cottages for accomodation.
📜✏Tips/Reminders: 📌The duration of trek to get to the waterfalls of Biliran are quite short and beginner-friendly. 📌There are also other waterfalls to see in Biliran if you still have a lot of time to spare in your itinerary. Just ask your motorcycle driver/guide to take you to these spots. 📌Please take note that renting a private boat that will take you from Kawayan directly to Sambawan Island may save you a lot of time but this is the much more expensive option than taking the Naval-Maripipi route. 📌Expect rain and rough sea condition during monsoon season (June-February). 📌Always observe the LNT principles.
☎Contacts: 📌Motorcycle Driver/Tour Guide: Kuya Alfie (09261269714) – he can guide you to the waterfalls of Biliran. You may also hire him to take you to Kawayan Port if you opt to hire a boat from Kawayan to Sambawan. 📌Tricycle Drivers in Tacloban: Kuya Endaw (09463791975) and Kuya Robert (09362081686)
It could have been a different dreamy experience for sure if we opted to spend the night to catch the sunset or sunrise the next day but like I said, we just couldn’t afford to allot a huge chunk of our time here or else we would miss visiting other places in our itinerary.It was a good thing I had my GoPro with me. I was able to get some shots with a wider angle just like this one.Fortunately, the elevated wooden cottage at the top of the island has a roof that sheltered us from the sun. After all, the sunrays were getting harsher every minute.The island of Sambawan also offers snorkeling and diving spots but we weren’t able to do some swimming activities since we were pressed for time.We took some more shots overlooking the view to cap off our Sambawan trip then decided to trek down the hill. We captured some more pictures by the shore.Damn, the turquoise water was really inviting. I really did wanna take a dip but we had to go.As were cruising back to mainland Biliran, I was thinking that maybe someday, I’ll get the chance to go back to Sambawan and stay much longer.We had our quick lunch before heading to the town of Caibiran where this waterfall is located. Tinago Falls is developed compared to Ulan-Ulan Falls with a concrete stairway leading to the waterfall. The sunrays were touching the cascade of the waterfall so I had to improvise by using my sunglasses to get the motion blur I needed since I hadn’t purchased yet an ND filter at that time.The pool of Tinago Falls was crowded with people during our visit. I found it too challenging to frame our solo shots that’s why I only captured a few images. We didn’t stay that long and traveled back to our lodge because we had to check out. We spend the rest of the afternoon aboard a public van en route to Tacloban City.
***For other destinations in nearby provinces, you may visit this link for Samar and this link for Leyte.
