Sambawan Island, Biliran| Unravelling Maripipi’s Paradise

September 16, 2022September 21, 2022 Rex Lim Lim 2022, ADVENTURE, beaches, BLOG, BUDGET, GUIDE, HOW TO, ITINERARY, TOURIST SPOTS, TRANSIT PINAS, TRAVEL, TRAVEL GUIDE

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Maripipi, Biliran: Sambawan Island is often overshadowed by the alluring islands of Kalanggaman and Digyo in Leyte, and is usually under the radar of tourists and travelers. But this unassuming yet charming island will leave you wanting more once you set foot on its shores!

Table of Contents

Paradise (Almost) Untouched

The island is located five kilometers from the west coast of Maripipi Town and south of the Samar Sea.

Sambawan is a small uninhabited island that is a series of small interconnecting landmasses that curves out into the open sea. This is then hugged by the turquoise waters teeming with marine life, on a normal day one might see some Thresher Sharks roaming around the shallow parts of the island.

Moreover, at the highest point of the island, a five-minute hike up on a concrete staircase is a watchtower that will give you a breathtaking panoramic view of the island.

If you spend the night, you will then be mesmerized by the sunrise and sunset on the rocky terrains of Sambawan carpeted in grass with the islands of Maripipi, Biliran, Masbate, Samar, and Leyte in the backdrop.

Sambawan Island is a declared marine sanctuary that is a haven for snorkeling, swimming, scuba diving, or just camping out.

Isla De Panamao

Biliran is the fourth smallest province in the country composed of two islands -Biliran and Maripipi. To add, it was once called Isla De Panamao, and where the first large-scale shipyard that supports the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade. At the turn of the 18th century, it was then named Biliran in reference to the native grass, “Borobiliran”, which grew in abundance on the island.

There is something about Biliran Island that makes me want to come back. Frankly, I enjoyed my stay here rather than my day tour on Kalanggaman Island.

Honestly speaking, the sand looks good in photos, but the shores are mostly made up of crushed white corals. Also, I didn’t mind it either since I had the beach all to myself that day, and I enjoyed my brief stay on this quiet unassuming island.

If you just want to unplug, get away from it all, and just live an authentic island life, then Sambawan might just be for you.

Something about its rawness, off-the-grid state, and it is hardly crowded at any time of the week, Sambawan Island is definitely Biliran’s best-kept secret.

How to Get There

Sambawan Island is located in the town of Maripipi in the province of Biliran.

From Tacloban City, the nearest commercial airport to Palompon is the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport or Tacloban Airport.
- Cebu Pacific Air Schedule, as of September 01, 2022:
  - Manila-Tacloban-Manila – 6x Daily
  - Cebu-Tacloban-Cebu – 16x Weekly
  - Manila-Ormoc – not yet available
  - Book HERE
- Philippine Airlines Schedule as of September 01, 2022:
  - Manila-Tacloban-Manila – 4x Daily
  - Cebu-Tacloban-Cebu – 11x Weekly
  - Book HERE
Upon arrival in Tacloban City, transfer to any jeeps bound for San Jose Downtown (50php/pax) and ask the driver to drop you off at either Duptours or Grandtours Terminal
Take any Naval-bound vans, or if you happen to miss those vans, then ride any Ormoc-bound vans and ask to be dropped off in Lemon Crossing. (120php/pax, 1.5-2 hours travel time)
From Lemon Crossing, wait for any vans bound for Naval. (150php/pax, 1 hour travel time)

Then from Naval, transfer to a passenger boat bound for Maripipi Island.
- The ferry departs at 10:30 am from Monday to Saturday and leaves the following day for Naval at 4:30 am
From the Port of Maripipi, charter a habal-habal to the public beach of Brgy. Ol-og.
At Maripipi Island, charter a boat for 1500 php roundtrip to Sambawan Island
Sambawan Island Rates and Fees as of September 2022 (Biliran Tourism):

Entrance Fee	Php 80+20 environmental fee
Cottage 1 Beach hut, sitting for 8pax	Php 500.00/day
Cottage 2 Lodging cottage for 12 – 15 pax	Php 2,500.00/day (3 beds, With T&B, Electric, Beddings, 200 l. Fresh Water Etc.)
Cottage 3 Lodging cottage for 2 – 6 pax	Php 1,500.00/day (2 beds, With T&B, Electric, Beddings, 100 l. Fresh Water Etc.)
Big Cottage	Php 1,000/day
Tent pitching fee	P 100/day (small tent)
Scuba Rental	P 2,500
Bench & Table	P 300
Mooring Fee or Docking Fee	P 50 – 300
Kayak Rental	P 300 per hr

Biliran Tour Guide – if you’re looking for a hassle-free and convenient way to tour around the province without breaking the bank, you can hire Kuya Joery
- Joery Catigbe – 0905 699 4461 / Facebook Page

Itinerary and Expenses

This is part of my 3-Days Eastern Visayas Backpacking Adventure

Day 01
0510 Tacloban Airport

0530 Travel to San Jose Downtown 50php

0600 Duptours, van to Hernani, 380php

0900 Hernani, breakfast

0930 Tricycle to Canhugas

0940 Canhugas Nature Park 20php entrance

1030 Depart for Ginduyanan Cove

1045 Jumpoff Point, start trek

1100 Ginduyanan Cove

1200 Back at highway, wait for van

1245 Depart for Tacloban, 380php

1500 San Juanico Bridge

1545 Tricycle to Robinsons North, 150

1620 Depart for Libungao, Kananga, Leyte 200php

1830 Libungao, wait for Palompon bound shuttles

1900 Shuttle to Palompon 100php

2000 Palompon Tourist Inn 1000php

2130 Dinner

2230 lights off

Day 02

0500 Wake up, prepare

0630 Meet Guide, Clifford Kalanggaman Tara

0730 Depart for Kalanggaman Island 1850 joiners tour

0830 Free Time! Tiya Lydia

1400 Depart for Palompon Port

1315 Palompon Port, wait for van bound for Ormoc

1600 Depart for Libungao, Kananga 125php

1615 Van to Lemon, 70php

1710 Lemon, wait for van to Naval, Biliran

1730 Depart for Naval, 150php

1830 Naval, Biliran, check in at TJ Pensione 1000php

1930 Dinner at Port Area

2030 Back at Hotel

2200 Lights off

Day 03

0500 Wake-up call, breakfast

0630 Meet Guide, Joery Catigbe

0730 Kawayan Port, depart for Sambawan Island

0830 Sambawan Island, 100php

1030 Depart for Kawayan Port

1120 Kawayan Port

1230 Ulan Ulan Falls, 20php

1400 Depart for Naval

1430 Naval, Tidy up at TJ Pensione

1500 Van-Vans Terminal, 300php

1530 Depart for Tacloban

1815 Tacloban Airport

Where to Stay

RLJ Beach House, Biliran, Philippines

Biliran Paradise Sea Houses (HH), Biliran, Philippines

TJ Pensione