Kalanggaman Island – A Fascinating, Pristine Paradise

Witnessing a rising sun at the sandbar



The word 'Kalanggaman' means 'birds' or 'flocks of birds' because before the island turns into a famous tourist destination, it is a stopover of many migratory birds coming from the neighboring country like Japan, Siberia (Russia) and Korea which having a chilly winter season from September to November. The island serves as their haven during a mile, long haul flight. Also, the island is abundant with shells, clams, and fish, that is why they prefer to stop here before heading further south to Mindanao and Indonesian archipelago. Meanwhile, when winter ends, birds will head North passing by the island between February to April. Today, seeing these birds in the island is rare as presence of people could scare them.

Stargazing during the night

Kalanggaman island nowadays is very well streamed both in local and international attention, where a kilometer-long stretch of inviting turquoise water and white sand will never miss to mesmerize every visitors. This tiny island located in the Visayan sea will surely help you cover a refreshing getaway. Though tourists do visit here almost every day, there's still a great spot on the island that you can find which is exclusively perfect to recharge yourself from emotional distresses and congestive environment.


The southern side is of course laid with white sand. It spans to a kilometer stretch and is covered in fine sand; some are pebbles while the western side is rocky and slippery which is for me as an adventurous spot as this looms with corals, edible seaweeds and other shallow-living sea creatures. There are other possible activities to do on the island and this includes kayaking, snorkeling, and banana boat riding. But it is still best to enjoy the place on foot to experience the pristine of its beauty. During sundown, you should come over to the western side of the island to witness the dramatic sunset.



HOW TO GET THERE:

The Palompon proper is reachable through a three-hour road trip from Tacloban and a two-hour road trip from Ormoc. From Tacloban or Ormoc, you may reach Palompon via bus or van. If you’re coming from Cebu, you can take a ferry boat which leaves the port every 10am from Pier 1, and from Bogo City every 12 noon.

Online booking is required prior to your visit to Kalanggaman island. Visit https://www.palompondestinations.com/ to check for availability, pricing, and package details. Typically, you'll need to fill out a booking form with your preferred dates, number of guests, and personal information.

At the tourism office, you will pay an environmental fee. Filipino tourists who are not residents of Palompon are charged P300 for a day tour or P450 for an overnight stay. International tourists are charged P1000 for day tour and P1500 for an overnight stay.

Getting to the island from the wharf will take about an hour. Boat rental is at P4,500 for 1-20 passengers, P5,000 for 21-25 passengers, and P5,500 for a boat with a capacity of 26-30 passengers. For sharers, a rental will be divided by how many heads have availed of a boat.







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