Kalanggaman Island

Palompon’s Best: Kalanggaman Island

Kalanggaman is undeniably Palompon’s best beach destination. Many local and foreign tourists plan a trip and visit the island chiefly during summer. Well for sure you can’t just sit at your computer seeing and watching pictures of it on web but definitely you’ll probably plan a straight off trip after that. However in my case, curiosity overstated my desire to visit the island which made me plan a trip in a sudden.

For an hour and a half boat ride, we then finally arrived at Palompon’s uninhabited and best tourist destination, the Kalanggaman Island!

Getting there: From Tacloban City’s terminal, we rode a van (3 hours estimated travel time) bound for Palompon, Leyte. After reaching the town proper, we went to Palompon’s Eco-Tourism Office to book a trip to the island.  It charges us P3,000.00, overnight pakyawan pumpboat rate (can accommodate 10-15 persons)

Palompon Port to Kalanggaman Island

Note: Just recently, a public notice was given prohibiting boats coming from Malapascua and any other place other than Palompon, Leyte from docking in Kalanggaman Island, provided that they have necessary permits. So, any guests should first contact the eco-tourism office of the municipality to ensure that the service boat to the island has the compulsory and obligatory licenses or authorizations. 

My Last Island for 2015

I’ve been to other renowned islands in Leyte and Kalanggaman was the last island I visited last year. Auspiciously, it was not crowded at the time we went there since it was September and people rarely go on trips during ‘ber’ months. So, solong-solo namin ang isla! With this luck, we explored around the island, took pictures on its long and snowy sandbar, and dip on its pellucid, luminous waters without anyone trying to photo bombed the scene. 

Note: The white sand actually mixed up with pieces of barren corals, so be sure to wear slippers on some areas with coral bits.

Unfortunately, we haven’t got the chance to kayak around the island. Kalanggaman basically offers water activities like riding on a canoe-styled boat or a stand-up paddle but sadly, there were no available equipment that time. But nevertheless, the trip to the island was very worth it. Boracay feels!

Note: Be sure to stay at the island overnight so you won’t miss the evident descent of the sun below the horizon; the blinking stars at night; and the aurora’s illustrious rays that lights up the island the next day.

Other notes:

• Bring water and food. Bring tent. Contact the tourism office before your scheduled trip. 
• There are police officers who check and monitor the island daily. No worries for your safety and security.

Recommended activities:

Kayaking

Stand-up Paddle

Snorkelling

Scuba diving

Eco-Tourism Office Contact numbers:

(Mobile)

0917-303-7269

0917-303-7267

(Landline)

053-338-3094

PUMP BOAT RATES :

Php 3,000.00 for 15 capacity & below

Php 3,500.00 for 25 capacity & below

Php 4,000.00 for 30 capacity & below

ENTRANCE FEE

REGULAR RATE ( DAY TOUR )

Foreign Tourists : Php 500.00

Local Tourists : Php 150.00

OVERNIGHT RATE

Foreign Tourists : Php 750.00

Local Tourists : Php 225.00

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 Palompon, Leyte. When you arrive in Palompon, the port area is located near the terminal. You can ask some pedicab drivers to take you to the Tourism office or port area for Kalanggaman Island.

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 travel to Palompon, 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.

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