Top Things to do in Leyte Island
The 10 Best Things to Do in Leyte Island, Philippines
Discover the best top things to do in Leyte Island, Philippines including Kalanggaman Island, San Juanico Bridge, Leyte Landing Memorial, Lake Danao National Park, Napantao Marine Sanctuary, Sambawan Island, Sto. Nino Shrine and Heritage Museum, Robinsons Place Tacloban, M/M Eva Jocelyn Shrine, Digyo Island.
Restaurants in Leyte Island
1. Kalanggaman Island
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 639 reviews
Reviewed By Fat Girls Day O... P - Manila, Philippines
First and foremost the sand is NOT at all like powder. Quality and color and wise. If you look closely, you will see crushed corals and sea shells that are rigid when you walk barefoot, its better to wear your slippers or aqua shoes if you are planning to go around this island. We’ve opted to pitch our tents, but the weather is bipolar bringing random drizzles to heavy rains in the afternoon so we opted to rent one of the Atipi huts for an additional 500php/head. It is made up of wood and there is a vinyl mattress that covers the whole floor area. 2-3 people could fit comfortably inside too much of our surprise the linen is not covered with the cost and the managing person was charging us an additional 300php for the mattress cover. So hello NO to that. So we use our clean clothes to cover the mattress.
Normally, prior to going to the island you’d get offers from inland tours that will arrange everything for you including your boat transfers. So for our group 6, we were charged 2,500php/head with the promise of freshly cooked meals from breakfast-dinner for our overnight stay. They served us food for lunch one big grilled fish, take out grilled pork from their local Mr. Liempo and come dinner what was left over from our lunch meal was served then again to us during dinner. Pretty bad experience. We were promised of good locally sourced seafood, but there was a scarcity at that time to even purchase from the locals.
There are activities available and you could rent equipment. One comment though that the prices are a bit of a ripoff. Actually, every merchant and small stores are all rip offs. I understand that its a challenge to transport goods from the main town then bringing it to the island, but man the prices are 3-5x more expensive. We’ve been to El Nido’s neighboring virigin Islands, Calaguas in Camarines Norte, Siargao but never have I experienced this kind of skyrocketed prices.
Kalangaman is supposedly known for its magnificent sandbars that stretch from both ends of the island. While we were talking to a local boatman and he shares his sentiments towards the local government because they sell Kalangaman’s sand to resorts like the Plantation Bay in Cebu harboring and cutting down kilometer stretches of its sandbars.
As an avid fangirl of Philippine Beaches and I can safely say that for the past 5 years I have been traveling and going to known and secluded Beaches and Islands around the Philippines, but this island is rather disappointing considering the effort that I needed to travel far and long. If you are coming from Luzon or Mindanao this is NOT worth the effort and monetary cost. Your best bet for beach camping are those in the Camarines Norte region i.e Calaguas Island, for reasonable accommodation and really pristine shorelines go to Bantayan Island in Cebu, Siargao Island. Not here.
In any travel plans do your research well, allocate your funds accordingly by choosing the best experiences and places. One more thing, never trust too much with all things that are hyped. Be your own curator.
2. San Juanico Bridge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 343 reviews
The San Juanico Bridge, is an arch-shaped truss bridge in the Philippines stretching from Samar to Leyte crossing the San Juanico Strait. It is part of the Pan-Philippine Highway. It is the longest bridge in the Philippines spanning a body of water with a length of 2.16 kilometers.
Reviewed By Acineto
A fairly long bridge that has nice views over the San Juanico Strait. The bridge winds along the Islands, some of which are apparently resorts. Really nice views on a sunny day. Fairly far from the city, the easiest way to get here would probably be in a car but there were jeepneys that also went over. You can't stop on the bridge to take pictures though.
3. Leyte Landing Memorial
Overall Ratings
4 based on 100 reviews
The Leyte Landing Memorial is a memorial to the landing of American General Douglas MacArthur and his men at Red Beach. The memorial was erected in tribute to MacArthur’s fulfillment of his promise to return to the Philippines after it was occupied by the Japanese during World War II in the Philippines.
Reviewed By Rheinialal
This is one of Leyte's major tourist attraction. The double life sized statues of Gen. McArthur and others are just amazing. Gen. McArthur's promise "I shall return" is well known in Leyte. This place is also perfect for walking and jogging because of it's wide area, or you can just there and enjoy the sea breeze.
4. Lake Danao National Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 74 reviews
Reviewed By iamlibby - Manila, Philippines
Went there with friends last May 17, 2017. Entrance fee is only 5pesos/pax, parking fee is 10pesos. Floating Cottage was 150/hr and kayak for rent 300pesos. What was surprisingly pricey was the camote and banana cost 100/kg!
Place was a refreshing sight as well as the cold waters. CR is found at a hills spa location, donation of 5pesos is welcomed for maintenance. Overall going there was a welcoming experience!
5. Napantao Marine Sanctuary
Overall Ratings
5 based on 29 reviews
Reviewed By SaranganiDiver - Manila
Most people arrive in Padre Burgos for the first time with Napantao Marine Sanctuary on their Bucket List of dive locations. They leave Padre Burgos with an annual return visit on their Bucket List.
6. Sambawan Island
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 50 reviews
Reviewed By NewWorldSurfer - San Francisco, California
Upon arrival at noon Saturday we were enthralled as there was NOBODY but a few workers there. Later in the afternoon quite a few boats showed up, and some stayed overnight. The bungalow was 1500P per night and VERY rustic. Electricity from 6 to 6 Some other overnight guests got drunk and got loud, as drunks tend to do.
About the diving; viz was soso, corals good, biomass soso. Strong currents. Saw no other divers (a big +). After drifting, our boat disappeared and I had to swim almost a kilometer to shore and get another boat to rescue my girlfriend (they divemaster waited out in the channel with her).
7. Sto. Nino Shrine and Heritage Museum
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 116 reviews
Reviewed By aoc827 - Cebu City
If the tour guide is great, you would definitely appreciate the place. This is mainly a museum, the Marcos family has never stayed or lived in this tourist spot.
Area is not really well maintained, especially the ground floor but the second floor was still in good shape (thanks to the type of wood they used).
8. Robinsons Place Tacloban
Overall Ratings
4 based on 48 reviews
Reviewed By _kirbyloganrun - Manila, Philippines
Staying right next to Robinsons, we were at the mall everyday enjoying the restaurant and small snack places there. We ate at Irish Potato which was excellent and had mango shakes at another place. Also we bought a birthday cake at an excellent shop there that was amazingly delicious. Well air conditioned for cooling off from the hot days there in the Philippines. Nothing opens up until 10a.m. so if you wanting to eat early in the mall, it's hard to find restaurant open before this time. The movie theatres are very nice there and we enjoyed a couple of movies while there.
9. M/M Eva Jocelyn Shrine
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 75 reviews
Reviewed By iamatopmodel - Davao City, Philippines
Going there while commuting was not very pleasant. Had to pass by the unsightly places of Tacloban. I wondered why those settlers were allowed by the LGU to build their shanties again right along the shoreline where their houses were once decimated by the typhoon. I'm questioning where did the Yolands funds go. Getting into the boat and seeing the structures surrounding it made me feel outraged.
10. Digyo Island
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 22 reviews
Reviewed By Victorianlad - Melbourne, Australia
The stunning Cuatro Islas has four lovely Islands of which Digyo Island is clearly the best, so I completely agree with TA reviewer casper020687.
The island has the classic white beach and coconut trees, plus small open air nipa-style cottages on which to place one's bags or sit.
The waters were a bright blue on the sunny Sunday when I visited. There is a small sandbar and a sari-sari store for drinks and snacks.
Anyone who criticised this island would be a harsh judge.
Most enjoyable. A banca (departing from the foreshore near Inopacan Municipal Hall) Seating 36 or 60 costs P5000 with crew; one Seating 16 has a daily tariff of P2500. There is an environmental fee payable for Cuatro Islas of P60 a person.
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