Hinunangan, Southern Leyte

CALAG-ITAN FISH SANTUARY, 

HINUNANGAN SOUTHERN LEYTE

Getting there:

The route to the fish sanctuary is a two (2) and a half hour drive from Tacloban City passing through the Abuyog-Silago Highway. You can find southbound PUVs (Public Utility Vehicle) which travel to St. Bernard, Southern Leyte traversing the municipality of Silago. Just thirty (30) minutes away from this town, you’ll see a tarpaulin-made signage at the right side which states the road going to the fish sanctuary.

Eco-Tourism Destination

After our trekking adventure at Laguma Rock in Silago, Southern Leyte, we went to this local marine sanctuary at Brgy. Calag-itan to look into some marine fishes protected under the government of Hinunangan. The Calag-itan Fish Sanctuary was one of the other marine protected areas in the municipality and serves as a permanent asylum and shelter for the protection of fish in the area. Although it is a refuge sanctum for marine resources, the place became a local eco-tourism destination for fish interaction.

The place looks like an old pier. There are also small beach cottages where you can stop and stay for a while. Across the sanctuary were the islands of San Pedro and San Pablo of Hinunangan noticeably sighted from the area. You will also see mangroves and beach rocks on nearby coastal shores. 

We've seen small, black and yellow-striped saltwater fish, “molmol” or parrot fish which comes so big and brightly colorful, and the “pakol” or triggerfish which inhabits the shallow coastal waters of Calag-itan. There are also some other kinds of fish but these types were the ones frequently seen. So bring with you snorkeling masks or diving equipment to surely enjoy looking at these beautiful fishes and sea coral underwater.

The management allows fish feeding at the sanctuary as well as diving or swimming but please be reminded not to harm them.  

Notes:

1. Entrance Fee: P10.00
   Cottages: Ranges from P100.00 to P300.00
2. Fishing is strictly prohibited.
3. They only allow bread for fish feeding. So make sure to buy some before going there.
4. Bring snorkeling mask or diving gears. You certainly should not miss sighting fish and other marine creatures below the water surface. If you have underwater cameras, then it is much better!

TRAVEL GUIDE

IF YOU ARE FROM MANILA OR CEBU:

There are actually daily flights from Manila to Tacloban and Cebu to Tacloban. If you're from Manila, the flight takes at least an hour and twenty (20) minutes. If you're from Cebu, air travel takes about forty five (45) minutes or less. After you arrived at Tacloban Domestic Airport (San Jose, Tacloban City), go to Tacloban City Bus Terminal via taxicab or transfer service. 

Airlines that travel from Manila to Tacloban: (9+ flights per day)

• Cebu Pacific
• Air Asia
• Philippine Airlines

Airlines that travel from Cebu to Tacloban: (3+ flights per day)

• Cebu Pacific
• CebGo
• AirAsia
• Philippine Airlines

Tacloban City

At Tacloban City Bus Terminal, look for vans or buses which transports to St. Bernard, or Hinundayan, Southern Leyte. Land travel to Hinunangan takes about three (3) hours from the city.

Note: Make sure that the PUVs pass by Silago or Hinunangan. There are buses which head to St. Bernard via Sogod, Southern Leyte.

CEBU CITY VIA ORMOC CITY

If you are from Cebu City and would like to get to Leyte via ferryboats, you can take the Cebu-Ormoc route and purchase tickets from ferry outlets in Cebu City (via large transports or fast crafts). Sea travel takes at least seven (7) hours for large passenger ships and just three (3) hours for fast crafts. The city’s bus terminal is just beside the port area so you can directly go to the terminal and ask drivers which vans and buses go or pass by Hinunangan, Southern Leyte. 

For promo fares and other details:

OceanJet
Roble Shipping
SuperCat

Weesam Express

Note: There are also Cebu-Leyte routes via Maasin, Baybay, and Hilongos, Leyte.