This Samar sightseeing guide will walk you through its rugged but beautiful countryside. You’ll find many interesting caves, centuries old architecture, and an interesting tour of the flourishing rainforest. Samar is one of the places in the Philippines that portrays a different form of tropical splendor.
The first part of our Samar sightseeing guide will be about the many caves that visitors may explore. The most famous among such caves is the Calbiga Cave. It has some of the largest karst formations in the Philippines and is home to a number of unique bats, eyeless shellfishes, and cave crickets. Other caves in Samar include Guinogo-an Cave, Danao Cave, Guimit Cave, Tinago-an Cave, Bolongto Cave, and Calbiga Cave.
Another natural attraction in the province is the abundance of waterfalls, which is the next part of our Samar sightseeing guide. After some cave exploring you can also enjoy the beautiful scenery in the area of the many waterfalls that you’ll find here. Calbayog City alone has its own family of waterfalls that include the majestic Bangon-Bugtong Falls where people usually take a dip and dive. Other waterfalls, some of which have become picnic sites, include Tabokno, Pan-as, Blanca Aurora, Lologayan, and Nasarang.
In the next part of our Samar sightseeing guide, we’ll explore some of the historical sights in the area. Those who would like to get a bird’s eye view of the province’s history may do so in Samar’s Archeological Museum. You’ll find a lot of artifacts that depict how life was for the province’s early inhabitants, some of which date back to the 14th century.
A lot of centuries old architecture in the Philippines still remains today. For instance, Basey Church in Tacloban has been around since the 17th century. The ruins of Saint Francis Church can be found in Tarangan. And you also have the restored Calbayog Cathedral, which still shows touches of Spanish architecture.
The last leg of our Samar sightseeing guide would cover the beaches. The beaches here may not be that popular in the Philippines as the ones you’ll find in places like Boracay but they are none less scenic. Malajog Beach, which is only 40 minutes from Calbayog City, is a popular destination among the locals. If you’re looking for a place that is a bit closer then check out Naga Beach and have a picnic. Bagacay Beach along the Maharlika Highway is a beautiful strip of white sand that offers scenic views.
A Samar sightseeing guide will conduct you through the historic and natural attractions in this province. The attractions here may not be the most popular ones in the Philippines, yet they have the capacity to soothe the soul. The lush rainforest is a rare find not only in the region but in the entire Philippines as well. Nature and history lovers will enjoy the many sights here in Samar.
Once known as Western Samar, Samar is a province in the Philippines situated in the Eastern Visayas Region. Catbalogan City is its capital and the western portion of Samar Island is its jurisdiction (this also includes the islands in the Samar Sea which are situated to the west of the mainland). Two of the three cities of Samar Island (Catbalogan City and Calbayog City) are positioned in the district or municipality of Samar. Flanking the area to the east is Eastern Samar. Samar is connected to Leyte via the San Juanico Bridge, which traverses the San Juanico Strait, the thinnest channel in the Philippines and the region to the north is Northern Samar. Leyte Gulf is situated at the south of the province is the. The phrase ‘Samar Al Safar’ is also signifying the season of summer.
The province of Samar is considered the center of kut-kut art. It is a method or technique merging or combining antique Western (European) and Oriental art procedure. Kut-kut creation is considered to be a lost art and thus it is now highly popular amongst are enthusiasts and collectors. Nowadays, only a small number of these art pieces are known to survive or exist. According to history and research, it was between the 1600's to 1800's that the technique was practiced. For this reason, Kut-kut was considered an exotic art technique in the Philippines based on early century methods (layering, encaustic and sgraffito). The combination of these early techniques created a unique artwork distinguished by multi-layered surface, an illusion of three-dimensional space and fragile whirling interwoven strokes.
The majority of locals in Samar province speak the native dialect Samarnon-Waray-Waray. This dialect or language is also known as or Samar-Leyte Visayan, Waraynon or Samarnon. However, Cebuano is the native tongue or dialect in the island municipalities of Santo Niño and Almagro.
The internet is one of the best ways to gain access some of the vital information regarding the province of Samar. The official website of tourism in Northern Samar (http://www.northernsamartourism.ph/) and the official website of Eastern Samar (http://www.easternsamar.gov.ph/) are some of the helpful sites to visit for related facts about Samar Province. These websites have updated and real-time news and information about current events happening in Samar. It is a must for first time visitors to check these sites.
Samar is an island south of the Philippines surrounded by Leyte Gulf, San Bernardino Strait and San Juanico Straight. It is blessed by natural wonders such as beaches, mountain ranges and rivers. It also has a rich history dating from pre-Spanish times. Samar has several destinations for sightseeing and other activities for tourists.
For a sightseeing historical and cultural tour, one should not miss visiting the Samar Archaeological Museum and Research Center. This museum showcases various artifacts from different periods of history. One can appreciate its collection of antiques dating from pre-Spanish times. Art works of Christian saints and martyrs showcasing the Spanish period are also displayed in the museum.
Another historical site to visit for a sightseeing tour is Homonhon Island. This is the site where Spanish explorer Ferdinand Magellan first landed on Philippine territory in March 14, 1521.
Caves scattered around the province are destinations for the adventurous travelers. Sohoton Cave, a fifteen-minute drive from Borongan, Eastern Samar, has magnificent rock formations and breathtaking landscapes. This is destination is ideal for activities like hiking, rock climbing and geology. The Calbiga Cave, located in Westeren Samar, is in a 3,000-hectare area. It is a series of caves with underground rivers, tunnels, caverns and rock formations. Hiking and spelunking are the popular activities in Sohotan Cave and Calbiga Cave.
While in Calbiga, one should not miss the Calbiga Whitewater River. This is an ideal place for activities like sightseeing, kayaking and white water rafting. The river having a length of ten miles showcases wild cool waters and lush vegetation along its banks. The numerous rapids and drops will surely add to the thrill of navigating this river.
Water activities enthusiasts should visit to the Marabut Marine Park. Located in Southern Samar, this destination boasts of beautiful corals, reefs and diverse aquatic life. This is ideal fro scuba diving, snorkeling or just beach combing.
For those who want rest and relaxation, there are several destinations for activities like sightseeing, picnics and swimming. Blanca Aurora Falls in Catbalogan offers families to have picnics and sightseeing. Resorts abound the area. The spectacular waterfall is a perfect backdrop to an enjoyable picnic and sightseeing. Guuian Island has a pristine natural beauty with clear deep waters and soft sands. This is why the island is visited by tourists. Scuba diving the waters will reveal colorful exotic fishes and coral reefs. Near this place is Mercedes Beach. White sands, gorgeous underwater life and a lovely sunset are the attractions of this place. These are the reasons sightseeing, swimming and scuba diving are popular activities in this place.