Whew!
Kalanggaman Island!
Finally!
I first heard about this island in the late 90′s when the family used to spend Holy Week at Duwahon Island in Villaba, Leyte. I remember Jun Burgos, a close friend, mention Kalanggaman (also spelled, Calanggaman) but not without a forewarning – the island, he said, is farther west and crossing can be dangerous during non-summer months when the sea gets rough. Moreover, the island is bare, with hardly any vegetation or trees for shade; no water source, nothing but white sand and crystal clear waters around it. Jun hastened to add, Kalanggaman then was a mere stop-over point for fishermen…
On two occasions on a trip to Malapascua, Cebu (first, coming from Villaba and on the second trip, from Tabango, Leyte) the pumpboat we took passed by near Kalanggaman, but not that close – all I was able to see from afar was the white sand, and yes, there was vegetation after all – a couple of coconut trees.
Years later, I would hear stories about more and more camping enthusiasts able to get to Kalanggaman and they all had common things to say: Paradise. Unspoiled and crystal clear waters. White powdery sand.
I was full of envy.
I knew it, though, that someday I would have the chance to see for myself Kalanggaman.
And the day finally came, unplanned like out of nowhere, and I was invited to go with an assessment team commissioned by the Department of Tourism Head Office from Manila to go visit the island.
We went there yesterday, Tuesday, February 22, 2011.
Indeed, the island is simply beautiful.
Kalanggaman Island is a sitio of Palompon, Leyte and its LGU (Local Government Unit) led by the mayor currently manages the place.
It lies about 15 kms from Palompon, which is on the western coast of Leyte, and less than midway between Leyte and Bogo City of the island of Cebu.
We took a big enough pumpboat which was a good thing as the water started to get rough 10 minutes out from Palompon. It was an hour’s trip – a rough ride most of the time, but nothing to be scared of. It was a “normal” thing, as one of the boat’s crew members sheepishly remarked.
The island is still bare although there are now structures built on it.
There are no provisions for accommodation/overnight stay in the island.
Those who stay overnight come ready with their tents and all.
There are a couple of picnic kiosks for rent, with tables and chairs.
There is a public Restroom.
Be forewarned though that there are no commercial stores, no restaurants there. So one has to bring own food and water provisions.
There is no electricity power in the island but we were told that it now has battery-powered lights at night and that solar panels, which would charge the batteries, have just arrived and would soon be installed.
Security is not a problem: there is a Police team assigned there 24/7.
Mobile phone signal from the major phone providers is good, so one is in touch with the rest of the world.
To those who love taking the less beaten path and being away, literally far from it all, nothing can be better than Kalanggaman Island.
It is nature at its island best!
GETTING THERE:
If coming from Manila, one needs to get first to either Tacloban City, Ormoc City (both in Leyte) or to Cebu City.
Palompon, Leyte is the jump-off point to Kalanggaman. Palompom is a 2-hour drive from Tacloban City; about 30-40 minutes drive from Ormoc City.
If coming from Cebu City, one can either take a slow boat or a fascraft to Ormoc City, or motor first to the northern part of Cebu (either to Bogo City or to Malapascua Island), then take a boat or pumpboat to either straight to Kalanggaman or to Palompon.
There are daily boat trips plying the Cebu City-Palompon route; also Bogo City, Cebu-Palompon. If coming from Malapascua, Cebu, it’s a 1.5-hour pumpboat ride to Kalanggaman.
For more info on how to get there and other travel arrangements, please contact Ludette Ruiz of Leyte Gulf Travel and Tours:
- http://leytegulf.callezaragosa.com
- email: leytegulf@callezaragosa.com
- tel. nos. (053) 3217966 and 523-7966
Yay, this is more gorgeous than Boracay! I see coral stones, just like Isla Verde’s. So I presume that the “sand” are corals, powdered through millennia.
It is like an island paradise!
A very beautiful island, with white fine sand, its a shame I am from Leyte and I did not know this beautiful small island on the other side of Leyte. I would love to go there, thank you very much for your site. I saw it while googling and had you not placed it in your site I would still be bathing on the other side of the island (the beaches are not really comely).
I would like also to tell others who would love to go there… Please protect the island from pollution, no littering around; take your own basura (litter) with you upon leaving the island… If everybody does this, the island will remain beautiful.
Again thank you very, very much.
Thanks a lot for appreciating Kalanggaman Islet. It means so much to us…
I would like to come and visit the island sometime… this island fascinates me very much, the turquoise clear water, the fine and white sand… which is whiter than any other’s teeth, I can´t wait till I´m there.
Calanggaman is indeed a paradise! We were there February 25, 2011, coming from Malapascua Island. This is my dream island with clear waters and white sand beaches. I really like the sandbars on both ends of the island. Hoping the next time I visit, I could stay overnight. We stayed only for a few hours and left early because of the big waves going back to Cebu.
By the way, I would like to ask permission to repost the info here at my FB account.
Yes, go ahead Jay. Just provide a linkback (at your FB post) to my blog.
hi jay!
can i ask you to provide some details in going there? also the cost? i’m planning to go there end of the month.
thanks!
Hi jay,
How much did you spend going to Calanggaman from Malapascua?
I will be in Malapascua on the 17th – 19th and I would like to see this beautiful island
Thanks
It seems to be a nice place. How much would it cost us if we are going there this first week of May? Planning to spend a night on the island or nearby beach. We’ll be coming from Manila or Tacloban.
Thanks a lot.
Please contact Leyte Gulf Travel and Tours or call (053)3217966 or 523-7966 for details. They know better
Thanks for your post. I am from Ormoc City and planning to go there first week of May. Nice photos, too!
I would like to ask if the the child 1year-8years old has entrance fee?
Sorry, that, I cannot answer. You will have to inquire at or google search Palompon – the LGU manages and maintains the island.
Thanks again Gerry for bringing this to our attention – we will definitely visit later this year! Admire your photography – will keep in touch! ATB Steve and Jelyn
Thank you, Steve! Best to cross to island summer time when the sea is calm. It can be rough on other months.
paradise indeed.. fave spot? the sandbars. love the water, the beach, staff, and everything about Kalanggaman Island
Hi,
Very nice photos.
I’d just like to ask if it would be safe to go there in September? Some blogs say that going to Kalanggaman during non-summer months maybe dangerous?
Thank you so much!
Hi Anne. I think you also posed the same query at my old site? I posted a reply there. Anyway, so long as you only take the bigger boats authorized by the munisipyo, it shouldn’t worry you much altho seas can be rough during non-summer months.
OMG!!! Ganda talaga ng bansa natin!!!
wow! I never had the chance to spend some time in such a place like this, now as what i’ve seen and heard about the place i really want to go there… Thanks for sharing this post…
Thanks for writing! Was at the island last week; view latest photos >>> http://callezaragosa.com/gerryruizphotoblog/2011/08/kalanggaman-spin/
how much is the fare from tacloban to palompon?? ang 3500 na boat ride back and forth na ba yan or 1 way lng??ilan ung capacity ng boat??
Fare via aircon vans Tac-Palompon is around PhP150/ea (not sure of exact amount but it won’t be more than PhP200.) PhP3,500 motorized banca rate is round-trip (if you stay overnight at the island they will either wait for you or they’ll pick you up the ff day); capacity: max 20 passengers.
Hello,
Is the 3500 per person? Or only for single person? I am coming from Tacloban.
Also, would we be able to get all our supplies minus our tent in Palompan?
Thanks
Cody, the regulated fare of P3,500 (round trip) is for each accredited pumpboat – not per person – with a maximum load of 20 passengers.
when i go back home, kalanggaman will surely be in my itinerary. thank you so much for sharing this…
Hi! I’m a student at the Visayas State University in Baybay City, and I would just like to ask if Kalanggaman Island has any tourism problems or issues? Because I’m planning to have a case study there.
Thank you and more power!
Hi Maja. I don’t think I’m the right person to ask about this but in my personal view, there’s none that I could think of. Only thing I can say is I think they would welcome serious prospective investors from the private sector who could help develop and/or manage the area as espoused by the provincial gov’t leadership.
Mano Gerry,
Damo nga salamat sini nga very informative post mo.
I have heard a lot about Kalanggaman Island from fellow bloggers, pero an imo gud mga photos an nag-inspire sa akon nga bisitahon ini nga island
Damo nga Salamat! Hope you enjoyed your visit
Very enticing photos sir! Just got back from Malapascua – If I had known Calanggaman was just a bit over an hour away by outrigger … anyways, that means another trip is in order
Is there a hotel within the island?
Hi Jemmar. There is no hotel in the islet, only at Palompon.
super nice pix……. we are from cebu, how much mn ang barko from cebu??? we’re interested kasi mgteam bldg kami this summer….we are more than 10… how much kaha ang budget each??? hoping for ur reply…thankx =)
Is there public bangka going to Kalanggaman? Would you know how much? If there’s none, how much is a bangka’s rent? Your pictures make it really more enticing. We’ll be in Ormoc last week of April. Thanks! God bless.
Accredited motorized bancas are available at a flat rate of PhP3,500 (round trip) with a maximum capacity of 20 passengers. Upon reaching Palompon, I advise you coordinate with their Tourism office at the pier area where fees are collected and arrangements w/ use of pumpboats are made. Enjoy!
WELL, WELL, WELL… I don’t have my dictionary to look for big words to describe what I saw approaching the Island, and also when on the island… If heaven is like this, I will repent my ways so I can go there for eternity… WOW WOW WOW.
Because some guy trying to make a days pay was persistent at Malapasqua, we decided to say, “What the heck” … after all, Malapasqua is not exactly a place that is void of wonderful descriptions either and I wondered if we should “waste a day” to check out this other place. Thank you Jeramil…
An old friend of mine used to say, “If you don’t care where you are, you ain’t lost”… hahaha so true!!! It is kinda the approach I try to follow while on holiday and so far it seems to be paying off.
It is my third visit to the “FAR AWAY ISLANDS” called Philippines (I now get the spelling right every time) and it seems I will have to hire a heavy equipment machine that can dig a deeper trench for me as I walk and discover new places so my jaw keeps from scraping the ground. AMAZING is not a word I use lightly BUT, I can insert that word in my conversation many times in one day here.
This is March 19 and a great sadness creates a pall over me as I struggle to pack for the long flight to Canada… going back to -20 something temperatures is not a pleasant thought but pales in comparison to the empty feeling of leaving this place…
Whoever said ” I’LL BE BACK” knew what he was talking about…
I’LL BE BACK
ELi
Very nice beach, I’d love to spend my family vacation there, I’d love to swim in that crystal clear water…(,”)
Hi. Thank you for the very informative, detailed blow-by-blow description of Kalanggaman and how to reach it. May I please share this with a group of friends as they are very interested to go there and has sort of tasked me to organise the trip? Thank you so much.
Hi Rosemarie, by all means go ahead and share it.
I love to go there! I am from Ormoc also and didn’t know about this gorgeous island…
I want to share this link…
hi…we are planning to go to kalanggaman this coming may 19, 2012. di ba pwede kami sasakay ng pumpboat from bogo city to kalanggaman island? magkano po ang fare sa bangka galing bogo city?. pls reply asap..
Hi! Sorry but I have no idea how much the fare is if you charter a pumpboat from Bogo to Kalanggaman. There are no regular pumpboat trips for that route.
thanks for the reply..but we can go there via bogo city right?..
Yes, there are regular trips Bogo to Palompon on certain days of the week (not daily). Better check with shipping lines in Bogo before you travel.
Hello,
I am going there coming from Tacloban and was wondering if you could tell me about how much the cost is for 3 people for the van and boat to the island?
Also, is it possible to buy the supplies in Palompon?
Thanks
Chartering a van from Tac to Palompon costs around P6,000 round trip same day; P8,000 round trip if planning to stay overnight at the island (van will wait for you). If you take the public vans, it’s less than P200 per pax, one way. Pumboat fare is P3,500 (per pumpboat, round trip) maximum of 20 passengers. Yes, we advise you to buy your basic supplies at Palompon – food & drinks, utensils, ice, batteries, etc.
Thanks Gerry,
Gerry, where do you find these public vans in Tacloban?
Thanks
Vans in Philippine towns are mostly in their local bus terminals. In Tacloban, aside from the city terminal, big van companies have their own terminals.
hi po, do you know somebody from bogo cebu who can rent a pump boat for us going to kalanggaman? your response will be a big help for us….thanks
Sorry, I can’t help you on that, I have no friends from Bogo (yet) hehe
Sir question naman po we’re planning to go there kasi this July sana maganda panahon…heheh ask ko lang po kung may sariling sasakyan ba pwede po ba iwan lang sa Palompon pier at magkano po ba bayad? Safe po ba? And sa pump boat halimbawa less than 20 persons kami same rate pa rin po ba yun? Tnx much po sir
You can safely park your car near the Palompon’s Eco-Tourism Office where you pay for the entrance & pumpboat fees. It’s at the back of the bus terminal at the entrance to the pier. Parking is free. The pumpboat fare of P3,500 is a flat rate – meaning, it’s P3,500 (round trip), regardless of whether you’re traveling alone or as a group of 20. There is no stopping you, however, from befriending & joining other groups (so long as the other group is willing) and that you do not number more than 20.
hi. ask ko lang if okay lang na pumunta sa island anytime? pupunta kc kmi dyan bukas.
The latest word I heard from the Palompon Eco-Tourism office is that they have been swamped with record-making number of visitors to the islet, specially during weekends this month (May) that they have started to control and limit the number of daily visitors. Even we, ourselves, had to have our Sat-Sun schedule (supposedly tomorrow & Sun, May 19-20) reset to Sun-Mon owing to the fact that there were no longer pump boats available! Gee. Best to call the Palompon tourism ofc first (they have a website – go google it).
Hi Gerry,
I’m from Ormoc City but living in Manila for quite some time. I was surprised to hear about Kalanggaman through your blog, I didn’t realize there’s such a wonderful place existing in my native land. Anyway, is the month of June considered non-summer month already? Is the water going rough at this time of the year already? I’m planning to be there next month.
Thank you.
Regards,
Rey
Hi! June is still a good time to visit the islet.
I love the pictures! can’t wait to go there! good thing, my mother was born and raised in Palompon…
Hello Sir! i would like to ask if we need to inform first the tourism office of Palompon before going to the island in a certain day? Is there a daily boat trips from Palompon to Kalanggaman? How’s the water during the month of august-september? Since the Palompon eco-tourism office have already started to control and limit the number of visitors, what specific day would you suggest us to come over the island? We really need your response sir. We really really wanna go there soooooo bad.
By the way, your photography is amazing, i already felt the excitement just by scanning your definitely exceptional photos 