Eastern Visayas: Bridging the Pacific to the world

Details

Category: Destination

Published on Sunday, 22 January 2012 18:53

Biliran • Eastern Samar • Leyte • Northern Samar
Samar • Southern Leyte

About the region

Known as the “Twin Islands of the Pacific,” the islands of Samar and Leyte are home to more than 4 million warm and fun-loving people of the Philippines’ Eastern Visayas region. The two islands are separated by the narrow San Juanico Straight connected by the famed San Juanico Bridge. Samar and Leyte, including the island province of Biliran, boasts of pristine beaches, rich marine resources and mouth-watering native delicacies that reflect the ingenuity, cheerfulness and resiliency of the Leyte-Samarnon people.

The best time to see the region is during the months between November and June, when the weather is calmer.

How to get there and go around

From Metro Manila:

By air. Domestic airlines that offer daily flights to Tacloban City, Leyte are Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Zest Air, and Airphil Express. Flights usually last for one and a half hours.

By land. Travelers can take buses to Tacloban City. Bus firms that provide such service are located in Cubao, Quezon City, and Pasay City. Buses to Tacloban will ride a ferry from the Port of Matnog in Sorsogon to the Port of Allen in Northern Samar. Tourist should prepare for more than 26 hours of travel on mostly well-paved roads.

To learn more, see:
www.philtranco.com.ph | www.backpackingphilippines.com

From Cebu:

By air. Travelers can fly from Cebu taking flights of Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and Airphil Express.

By sea. Tourists can take daily ferries to Ormoc City, which is southwest of Tacloban City. Travel from Ormoc to Tacloban by land via a passenger van is approximately two and a half hours

To learn more, see ormoc.gov.ph

Where to stay

Leyte-Samarnon people are known for their cheerfulness and hospitality. Tourists should not be surprised if they find themselves being asked by new acquaintances to sit down and join a conversation while sipping tuba (a local wine made from palm sap) or sharing a dish or two. Local hotels and resorts offer a variety of services - from freshly cooked and mouth-watering dishes to relaxing massage and exciting tour packages - all at surprisingly cheap prices.

To learn more about accommodations, see:
samar.lgu-ph.com | www.marabut.org
ormoc.gov.ph | www.ilovatacloban.com

What to eat

The region offers gastronomic delights that include native crabs, prawns and mussels. Native delicacies also include sweets made from glutinous rice, mungbean, coconut milk, and pili nuts. Travelers should not miss drinking tuba.

To learn more, see www.ilovetacloban.com

• < Prev
• Next >