Travel Guide: Kalanggaman/Calanggaman Island

Visiting the island has always been part of my bucket list. Finally, after planning for months, our quickcation on the island last Holy Week with my friends was successful. We even thought that it will be canceled due to Typhoon Maysak/Chedeng that has been reported as a Category 5 before it entered PAR. Fortunately, it downgraded into a Tropical Storm and off we go just like what we have planned. But so much for all the weather forecasting and let’s focus with the trip. lol

Kalanggaman/Calanggaman Island is part of Palompon City in Leyte Province. This island or islet is known for its bird’s-wing-like-formation sand bars and for its very enticing crystal clear waters. So if you are looking for a perfect getaway with your friends, family or you just merely want to have soul searching, then this is the best destination for you.

How to Get to the Island?
From Manila: Book your flight to Cebu, Tacloban or Ormoc City.

From Cebu: There are numerous ways to reach the island:
1. Travel by boat to Palompon
2. Head to Bogo City by bus (4 hours travel time) then travel by boat to Palompon.
3. You can also rent a pump boat just like us via Maya Port. (2 hours travel time to the island)
4. There are also pump boats from Malapascua Island that will take 1 1/2 hours or 2 hours depending how big waves are.
(Note: You can pm me for the pump boat owner’s contact number. Rate is 8,000pHp)

From Tacloban or Ormoc City: Take a van for Palompon City. Travel time is prolly 2-3 hours. From Palompon City, travel by boat for an hour for 3,000 – 4,000pHp.

We arrived at around 3:30pm and we immediately prepared our tents and started to grill the pork and fishes. The crew were so very kind to help us with all the preparations also.

There are no residents in the island and we’re the only visitors who’ll be staying overnight. This means that we own the whole island for the night! hahaha! So where are the other visitors knowing that it’s a Holy Week?

While we we’re preparing everything, one of the policeman on-duty in the island asked us if where’s the location of the Typhoon Maysak/Chedeng since they don’t have any updates from Palompon Government. Good thing I’m a typhoon-tracker-freak and I am updated of the typhoon’s track, which is heading for North Luzon. So I told the policeman about it and was relieved.

And yes you read it right, there will be policemen around the island that will stay overnight with the tourist. Aside from them, there are cleaners/staff who will take your overnight fees and who watches over their little canteen.

Although there are little establishments in the island, they are for the policemen and staff who stays there. So better bring your own tents if you are planning to stay overnight.

While waiting for the late lunch/early dinner, we strolled around the island and checked for perfect scenery to take photos with.

 

I love this part of the island because of its big pile of rocks that adds beauty to the angry waves. So you can be a wanna-be model here and have a photo shoot like these: lol

More photos with Neil

While others are still taking photos of themselves, I decided to clean up a little bit. lol

Now look at the Kalanggaman/Calanggaman Island’s sunset.

The next day, while I’m still battling my hangover, everyone’s been telling me that we’re ready to go. Like srsly?! Anyhow, we’re still heading for Malapascua Island so its fine with me. Since the pump boat that we rented still has an early appointment with we-do-not-know-who then we left the island as early as 8:00am. Even though we didn’t stayed that long in the island, we were still mesmerize with its unspoiled beauty. Still a happy kid.

Things To Remember:

• If you are planning for an overnight stay, bring your own tents.
• Bring a lot of drinking water since there are no potable water in the island.
• Bring a lot of foods (obviously).
• There are toiletries and a little canteen where you can buy beers and liquors (yahooo!!)
• No signal for Sun Cellular.
• The island has a solar power only. This means you can’t charge anywhere. Better bring power banks.
• Strong winds are normal here. No need to panic. lol
• And please if you have spare food, please give something to the policemen or to the staff. They we’re so happy when we gave them half of our lechon manok since they have only stock canned goods in the island.

For our side trip adventure in Malapascua Island, you can check it here.