Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Much of the area can be toured by boat, although to reach the
natural bridge
itself
you'll have to get out and walk; and as there are few marked trails, you'll need to hire a
guide
to find your way around. The boat trip into the park is spectacular, heading up
the
Cadacan River
is estuary which is lined by mangroves and nipa palms. As you
approach the park the river begins to twist and is then funnelled into a gorge of
limestone cliffs and caves.
The most accessible of the park's many impressive caves is
Panhuughan I
, which has
extensive stalactite and stalagmite formations in every passage and chamber, many that
sparkle when the light from your flashlight falls on them. If you're lucky you might
come across a number of specialized spiders and millipedes that live their lives here in
total darkness. There have been many significant archeological finds in the caves,
including burial jars, decorated human teeth and Chinese ceramics. During World
War II Filipino guerrillas used the caves as hideouts in their campaign against the
occupying Japanese forces.
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION SOHOTON NATURAL BRIDGE NATIONAL PARK
Access
The park is in the southern part of Samar, the only
approach being through Basey, on Samar's southwest
coast, where you can arrange a bangka for the 10km river
trip to Sohoton. The quickest way to get to Basey is via
Tacloban on Leyte, from where you can catch an early
minivan or jeepney (45min); a tricycle will then take you
to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources,
near Basey's plaza.
6
Fees, guides and information
At the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources in Basey (
T
055 276
1025,
W
denr.gov.ph) you pay the P150 entrance fee, and
can arrange a guide (P300), head torch (P300) and a
bangka (P1200 for a seven-seater) to take you to and from
the park. You can also get information about visiting the
park at the tourist o
ce in Tacloban (see p.361).
Marabut Islands
A hundred kilometres southeast of Catbalogan, the small settlement of Marabut is the
jumping-off point for exploring the
Marabut Islands
, a striking collection of toothy
limestone outcrops rising out of the sea only a few hundred metres offshore. In
Marabut you can hire a bangka and there are also places in town where you can hire a
kayak for the day. There's no
accommodation
on any of the islands, but there are some
good options on the mainland.
ACCOMMODATION
MARABUT ISLANDS
Caluwayan Palm Island Resort
Brgy Caluwayan, 17km
northwest along the coast from Marabut
T
055 276
5206,
W
caluwayanresort.com.
Caluwayan
offers luxurious
accommodation with a/c, TV and DVD players in lovely
native-style cottages on a pretty stretch of b
each. T
They also
offer kayak hire (P250/hr) and rock climbing.
P2500
Marabut Extreme Adventure
Marabut Marine
Park, 15km north of Marabut
T
053 520 0414.
Owned
by the Leyte Park over in Tacloban, this quiet little resort
has comfortable a/c wooden cottages with TVs and a
restaur
ant serv
ing fresh seafood. Free use of kayaks for
guests.
P2600
Eastern Samar
The eastern part of Samar is surf country, particularly around
Borongan
, and further
south on beautiful Calicoan Island, accessed from the small and sleepy town of
Guiuan. Calicoan has terrific beaches, caves and lagoons and was only just starting to
see touristic development when Yolanda devastated the island, and almost entirely
destroyed Guiuan; neither have been included in this edition of the guide.
The bus trip from Catbalogan across to the east coast is one of the great little road
journeys in the Philippines, taking you up through the rugged, jungle-clad interior past
isolated barangays and along terrifying cliff roads. After four hours the bus emerges
from the wilderness onto the typhoon-battered east coast at Taft and turns south
towards Borongan.
