Leyte & Samar

The two main islands of Eastern Visayas Region are Leyte and Samar, connected by San Juanico Bridge, the second longest bridge in Southeast Asia. Leyte’s major city is Tacloban. Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park located in Burauen, about 66 kilometers from Tacloban, attracts visitors with its lakes, craters, hot springs, multi-coloured mud, virgin forests and lagoons. Kalanggaman Island in Palompon, Leyte, is a virgin island with pure white sand. 

Samar is heavily forested, runs a beautiful coastline of turquoise bays, secret surf breaks, towering cliffs, and sandy beaches. Samar tends to draw adventurous tourists; the spelunker; the canyoner; the diehard surfer looking for an undiscovered break. Not to be missed when visiting Samar is the marvelous Sohoton Natural Bridge National Park, a prehistoric wilderness in Western Samar province, full of caves, waterfalls, and underground rivers.

Things to do

• Swim or go kayaking at Lake Danao

• Visit the MacArthur Landing Memorial National Park

• Enjoy Kalanggaman Island

• Visit Sohoton Natural Bridge National Park

• Go on Torpedo Boat Adventure Ride in Ulot River

How to get there

The best way to go to Leyte from Manila is by air. Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines and AirAsia operates daily from Manila or Cebu to Tacloban City. From Manila, flight duration is 1.5 hours and from Cebu is about an hour. To get to Samar is by land transportation from Tacloban City and duration is approximately 1.5 Hours.