Bukidnon to Cagayan de Oro. Cagayan de Oro to Butuan. Butuan to Lipata, Surigao. Lipata to San Ricardo, Southern Leyte. San Ricardo to Liloan, Southern Leyte. ♥️
Bus. Bus. Bus. Tricycle. Ferry. Van. It really was tiring to travel by land and sea from Mindanao to Visayas. But boy was it so fun as if we were in The Amazing Race.
Saying that traveling around the Philippines is exhausting would be an understatement considering it being an archipelago. The never-ending transfers from one jump-off point to the next are undoubtedly challenging. Add to it the waiting times at ports and terminals before your public rides leave for their destinations. But the country’s distinct characteristics of being archipelago make the Philippines beautiful. You will seldom notice homogeneity among its islands teeming with diverse natural wonders which make up for each island’s unique identity. 📍Molopolo Beach
🇵🇭LILOAN ADVENTURE PRIMER🇵🇭
✈🛳🚌How to get to Liloan, Southern Leyte:
⏺ 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 Liloan. 📌Transfer to a van to reach Liloan (travel time: 3.5 – 4 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 Liloan.
🏄🏝🚴Sites to Explore/Activities:
Molopolo Beach
Bitoon Beach
Another province checked off on my bucket list! This sure seemed quick but it still was unforgettable one. I was traveling with my workmate and we were on the second phase of our adventure trip. 📍Molopolo BeachBoy was it a long and draining journey from Mindanao to Visayas. The plan was to cross Surigao Strait from Lipata to mainland Leyte. There’s a faster vessel that could take us directly to the town of Liloan but our estimated time of arrival in Surigao from Cagayan de Oro didn’t quite fit with the ferry’s estimated time of departure en route to Liloan from Surigao. Every minute mattered and we couldn’t afford to wait at the terminal. So we just opted to take the other option. The ship was slower but at least we didn’t have to wait for that long at the terminal. 📍Molopolo BeachWe just finished our hike in Bukidnon and after filling our tummies with a sumptuous meal prepared by our guide from Impasugong, our race against time that night started from Bukidnon to Cagayan de Oro. My friend and I freshened up at a lodge inside Agora terminal then had a quick nap to charge for the next day. 📍Molopolo BeachWe left Cagayan de Oro early en route to Butuan then transferred to another bus bound for Surigao. We quickly hired a tricycle that brought us to Lipata from the bus terminal upon arrival in Surigao. Thankfully, we arrived by lunch time at the port. Considering it was summer and the students were on vacation, the RORO vessel going to Visayas was full of locals and tourists. 📍Molopolo Beach
⏰⏳Sample Itinerary:
DAY 1
8:00 AM ETA Tacloban Airport
9:00 AM ETD for Liloan
12:00 PM Lunch / check-in
1:00 PM ETD for Bitoon Beach
2:30 PM ETD for Molopolo Beach
5:00 PM Head back to accommodation
DAY 2
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 4,000 – Php 5,000 (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.
The trip was supposed to be quick since mainland Mindanao is just close to Southern Leyte. I was ecstatic that we made the right decision to ride this ferry. It was slower but we didn’t have to wait that long at the terminal but it took the ship forever before it could maneuver and dock. 📍Molopolo BeachMy excitement waned as time went by and we were still floating near the port hoping to finally set foot on San Ricardo. Our fellow passengers were getting agitated too. We just didn’t know what was going on why we couldn’t dock. I heard some locals saying that maybe the captain was a noob. Others were saying it’s because of the tide and current. 📍Molopolo BeachWe hurriedly made our way to the van terminal as soon as we docked. And so the waiting began again before the van was full. The sun rays were getting directional when we arrived at our lodge in Liloan. We hired the service of a local tricycle driver to take us to Bitoon and Molopolo Beaches. This was our first stop, Bitoon Beach. If it weren’t for the mishap we encountered at San Ricardo Port, we could have witnessed the beauty of this beach by noontime just like the pictures of it I saw online.I only took a few shots because I was already disappointed. Well, devastated rather. The sun was about to set when we arrived here. And to make our photos not so enticing too, the tide was low that time of our visit as you can see in this photo. 📍Bitoon Beach
📜✏Tips/Reminders: 📌Upon arrival in Liloan, hire a tricycle that will take you to Molopolo and Bitoon Beaches. 📌Expect rain and rough sea condition during monsoon season (June-February). 📌Always observe the LNT principles.
☎Contacts: 📌Tricycle Drivers in Tacloban: Kuya Endaw (09463791975) and Kuya Robert (09362081686)
We headed here which was our second and last stop, Molopolo Beach, to cap off our day. We asked our guide to just pick us up at the agreed time in the evening. I still tried my best to enjoy the tranquil view as my friend and I captured dreamy images of this beach amidst the dimming atmosphere as the sun was about to set.This was my favorite shot at Molopolo Beach by far. The different hues of the kid’s tees made the best contrast against the scenic backdrop.Our tricycle driver picked us up and took us back to the town proper where we had our dinner. It was time to rest for another nature trip the next day.
***For other destinations in Leyte, you may visit this link.
