Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
CARABAO ISLAND
named the Sir Polyon Lounge - servi ng br eakfast, soup,
hamburgers and grilled meat and fish. P750
White Beach Dive & Kite Resort T 0998 181 6237,
W carabao.whitebeachdivers.com. Formerly the friendly
and popular Ivy's Vine , this place is under new management
as of early 2014 and has improved the rooms and facilities.
There's a selection of simple beach fan and sm arter a/ c
rooms (P2600), plus a dive and kitesurfing centre. P1500
INOBAHAN BEACH
Ging Grill and Restaurant Next to Republic of
Inobahan Beach Resort. Cheap, straightforward snacks
and meals, including hot dog sandwiches, noodles and
burgers for a bargain basement P40. Daily 11am-8pm.
Republic of Inobahan Beach Resort T 0918 330
3718. Four thatched cottages, each spacious enough
for three. There's also a small restaurant - intriguingly
6
Samar
The island of SAMAR , between Bicol and Leyte and 320km from top to toe, has yet to
take off as a major tourist destination, which is both a shame and a blessing.
Administratively divided into three parts, Northern, Western and Eastern Samar , large
parts of each remain unspoilt, wild and beautiful. Homonhon Island in Eastern Samar
is where Ferdinand Magellan is reputed to have set foot for the first time on Philippine
soil in 1521, but these days the island is better known as the arrival point for many of
the Philippines' worst storms. Typhoon Yolanda made landfall in southeastern Samar in
November 2013, and devastated numerous cities, towns and villages in its path. As well
as the terrible human costs, the typhoon has had serious economic implications, and
the fact that many of the island's key tourist destinations are out of action removes
another source of income for locals. The east coast surfing mecca of Guiuan was almost
completely destroyed and has been removed from this edition of the guide, while
Sohoton Natural Bridge National Park , a prehistoric wilderness in Western Samar,
remained inaccessible to visitors at the time of writing. Further north, the towns of
Calbayog and Catbalogan escaped the worst of the damage and offer plenty of
adventurous activities in their hinterlands, including the chance to explore some of
Southeast Asia's biggest cave systems. Further north, there are dozens of wonderfully
untouched islands off the coast near Allen .
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
SAMAR
By plane There are airports at Calbayog and Catarman,
both served by PAL.
By boat Coming from Cebu there are numerous slow ferry
connections to various ports along Samar's west coast,
including Calbayog and Catbalogan. Ferries from Matnog on
Bicol in Luzon arrive in Allen, in the northwest of the island.
By bus and minivan Tacloban on neighbouring Leyte is
linked to Samar by regular buses and minivans, crossing
the 2km San Juanico Bridge, which spans the San Juanico
Strait. From Manila, Eagle Star ( W eaglestar.com.ph) buses
cross on the Matnog-Allen ferry and run down the coastal
road to Calbayog (12hr).
Northern Samar
Served by flights from Manila and boat from Luzon, Northern Samar is primarily used
as an access point to the island, but there are also some beautiful islands offshore. The
Balicuatro and Biri-Las Rosas island groups are slowly being developed for tourism, but
most remain wonderfully pristine and untouched.
WHEN TO VISIT SAMAR
Samar has a different climate from the rest of the country, with rainfall possible throughout the
year and a dry period only in May and June. Most of the rain falls from the beginning of November
until February, when there can also be fierce typhoons. The best time to visit is from May to
September, although the growing number of surfers who come here to take advantage of the
swells that rip in from the Pacific might argue that the typhoon season is best.
 
 
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