Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Allen
Arriving from Luzon by bus or ferry, your first taste of Samar is the small port town of
ALLEN
, in northwestern Samar, which has basic services and amenities but little else of
interest to travellers. Most people head straight from the boat onto a bus or van, or out
to the nearby Balicuatro or Biri-Las Rosas island groups.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
ALLEN
By boat
Ferries
from Matnog on the southernmost tip of
Bicol make the trip to the Balwharteco terminal in Allen,
several times each morning (1hr).
By bus and jeepney
From Allen there are dozens of
buses and jeepneys a day east to Catarman (1hr) and
beyond, and south to Calbayog (2hr) and Catbalogan (4hr),
where you can catch an onward bus to the southern half
of the island. Buses heading south and east from Allen all
pick up passengers at the port itself.
6
ACCOMMODATION
Wayang Wayang Beach Resort
5km south of town
T
0920 924 8070.
There's no real beach here, but this
quiet resort, a short tricycle ride from town, is the best
place to stay if you get stuck in Allen. Simple nipa cottages
are set back from the beach, whilst plu
sher
oceanfront
rooms are bigger and come with cable TV.
P800
The Balicuatro Islands
he remote
Balicuatro Islands
off Samar's northwest coast afford the chance to find
your own slice of paradise for the day, although currently only a couple of them have
anywhere to stay. The capital of
Dalupuri Island
, where most bangkas arrive, is
San Antonio
, a sleepy barangay with dozens of little bangkas that can take you on
day-trips to the other islands.
The rest of the islands, also largely unexplored by tourists, are mostly home to farmers
and fishermen.
Capul
, for example, is a picturesque little island about one hour from
San Isidro, with a majestic seventeenth-century fortified stone church built by the
Spanish, and an almost derelict coastal road that takes you past some incredible coves
and beaches.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
THE BALICUATRO ISLANDS
By boat
Scheduled morning bangkas leave from Victoria,
8km south of Allen, to San Antonio on Dalupiri (30min).
Private bangka trips can also be arranged direct to resorts
on Dalupiri from San Isidro (P400), 7km south of Victoria.
There is one morning bangka from Looc ferry terminal in
Allen to Capul (1hr) or you can arrange a private trip for
around P500.
Services
San Antonio in Dalupuri has a post o
ce and a
small hospital.
ACCOMMODATION
Capul Island Beach Resort
Capul
T
0780 461 0095.
Laidback resort on a lovely stretch of white sand with
simple fan and a/c (P1000) cottages. They also have a two-
bedroom house
which
can be rented out for as little as
P1600 per night.
P500
Octopussy Bungalow Resort
Dalupuri
T
0916 399
4297,
W
octopussy.ch.
Pretty concrete-and-thatch cottages
in quiet gardens close to some marvellous beaches. There
aren't many places to eat in the area, but the resort also
offers h
alf- (P8
00 per person) and full board (P1100 per
person).
P1400
Catarman
The ramshackle north coast port city of
CATARMAN
is served by flights from Manila
and - though it has never been a tourist destination - makes a good point of entry to
Northern Samar if you want to save yourself a long bus or ferry journey. It's also only a
short hop from the Biri-Las Rosas Islands.
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
CATARMAN
By plane
PAL operates a daily flight from Manila and have
o
ces at the airport, and also on J.P. Rizal St in town.
Tricycles (P60 or P10/person if you share) wait at the
airport to take arriving passengers the
5km into town.
