A Local’s Guide to 13 Best Things to Do in Ormoc City, Leyte (City of Beautiful People)
I am so excited to share with you, my readers, the things that should be done when one is in my dear hometown – Ormoc City.
Traveling to Ormoc for the first time? This detailed and curated travel guide will make it easy for you to navigate your way inside, save money, and maximize your time.
Get Started
HOW TO GET TO ORMOC
Direct Flights from Manila, Cebu, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and more are being served to Tacloban. Flights are operated by Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, and AirAsia.
✓ ENTRY POINT MANILA (NAIA) or CEBU (MCIA) or DAVAO
- By Airplane (Cebu pacific, Airasia and Philippine Airlines)
Board a plane going to Tacloban from Manila.
At Tacloban Airport, ride a jeepney to ‘Downtown’ or the city proper for P50. Ask to be dropped at Van-Van’s or Duptours terminal for a van for Ormoc.
The van fare is P150 and the trip usually takes about two-three hours.
✓ ENTRY POINT CEBU (Pier 3)
- By Boat (Roble Shipping Lines)
From Cebu, ride the Roble Shipping lines boat at Pier 3 to Ormoc. Roble Shipping Lines serves the route 6x a week and at 7:30pm. Travel Time is around 6 hours. Fare is about PHP 660.00 per person.
- By Fast Craft or Fast Boat (2GO, Oceanjet or Weesam)
From Cebu, ride any of the three boats at Pier 1 to Ormoc City, Leyte. The three fast crafts serve the route daily. Travel Time is around 3 hours. Fare is PHP 1100.00 per person.
Philippines 3G/4G internet data sim card & pocket WiFi rental
See more blogs & travel guides
🏷️13 Best Things to Do in Ormoc, Leyte
🏷️Ultimate Cebu Bucket List (101 Things to Do in Cebu)
🏷️10 Things to Do in Tacloban City, Leyte
🏷️36 Best Things to Do in Baguio
13 Things to Do in Ormoc City
For starters, our city is located in the western part of the province of Leyte and is now called the “City of Beautiful People.” It is a first-class city and the largest city in Leyte by land area. It is approximately 104 kilometers away from Tacloban City – the capital of Eastern Visayas.
The people of Ormoc are called Ormocanons. Ormocanons are predominantly Cebuano-speaking or Bisaya together with the whole western part of Leyte island.
1. Experience the Night Life at Quadro Ormoc
2. Swim, Chill, and Kayak at Lake Danao
3. Join and Celebrate the Pinya Festival
4. Heaven’s Peak not in Heaven
5. Get some Peace and Calm at Lake Kasudsuran
6. Be Amazed at Miracle View Ormoc
7. We are also rich in History! Like Puente de la Riena , Veteran’s and Centennial Park
9. Trek and Swim at Sayahan Falls
10. See the Hidden Gem of Ormoc at Lake Janagdan
11. Hunt for the Ormoc’s Delicacies
12. Visit the Magnificent Sal’s Pineapple Plantation
13. Have a Picnic at Tres Aguas Falls
🏷️10% OFF Private Mactan-Cebu Airport Transfers (CEB) for Cebu or Mactan
🏷️10% OFF [SALE] Oslob Whale Shark Watching from Cebu City or Mactan Island
🏷️12% OFF 4G/3G WiFi (MY Airport Pick Up) for Philippines
Talk to the locals, they mostly know everything about the place.
1. Experience the Night Life at Quadro Ormoc
- Address: Quadro is situated near Old City Hall and Superdome. The entrance fronts the Ormoc City Stage.
- Entrance Fee: FREE
Opened last 2016 is the first-ever night food bazaar in my hometown. The food bazaar is named Quadro: Foodie Market Feast. It offers a lot of food choices.
The sellers are situated on the perimeter of the Quadro while the consumer’s table is inside the said perimeter.
Read more: Quadro Ormoc: Guides and Tips
2. Swim, Chill, and Kayak at Lake Danao
- Address:
- Entrance Fee: PHP 50
- Contact:
Lake Danao is a guitar-shaped lake. It is the most popular tourist attraction in Ormoc.
Lake Danao is situated just 18 kilometers northeast of Ormoc City proper, the lake sits at an altitude almost similar to Tagaytay’s. It is part of the 2,100+ hectare Lake Danao National Park and is surrounded by the Amandiwin mountain range.
Food vendor awaits you at the lake. They sell “paluto” or “to cook” foods. It is actually cheap so you need not worry about the price.
Read more: A Local’s Guide to Lake Danao Ormoc
3. Join and Celebrate the Pinya Festival
Facts about the festival:
- Celebrated every June 23.
- Floats will be parading at the center of the city.
- School contingents with hundred of participants competing.
- Queens will parade and dance in the streets.
- There will be a Parade of Lights.
- Fiesta food bazaar is present.
Growing up in Ormoc, it has always been a place where Pineapples are very very famous. I don’t know if it is because of the plantation that has been around ever since I was a kid.
The festival just recently took place when the Gomez reign in our municipality and I am so glad it did. It brought the festival to life.
Isn’t that a marvelous and wondrous sight to behold?
Read more: Everything You Need to About Piña Festival Ormoc
4. Heaven’s Peak not in Heaven
- Address: Brgy. Cabintan, Ormoc City, Leyte.
- Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday ;8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Entrance Fee: Php 25.00
- Contact: FB Page
There is a small portion of the road to Heaven’s Peak that is not cemented but is accessible by any vehicle. There is also a narrow portion of the road.
At the entrance of the place, you will be greeted with a lot of vibrant colored flowers and green lushes plants. Then, you will need to pay the entrance fee before proceeding to the premises.
Read more: Everything You Need to Know About Heaven’s Peak
5. Get some Peace and Calm at Lake Kasudsuran
- Address: forest of Brgy. Gaas, Ormoc City
- Entrance Fee: Php 20.00 per person
- Opening Hours: Local tourism only welcomes guests until 2 PM for safety purposes.
This lake is so-called “The Little Lake Danao” by the locals. Lake Kasudsuran has a length of 1.9 kilometers. The 5-hectare Lake Kasudsuran is located 27 km. (a 45-hr. drive) northeast of Ormoc City on the virgin forest of Brgy. Ga-as and Mt. Janagdan, a plateau 1,000 m. above sea level.
THINGS TO BRING & REMEMBER:
• Wear comfortable clothes and shoes
• Pack a light bag only
• Bring your own pack. No food stalls or eateries in the falls.
Read More: Lake Kasudsuran Travel Guide
6. Be Amazed at Miracle View Ormoc
- Address: Miracle View, Lake Danao Road, Ormoc, City, Leyte
- Entrance Fee: Php 20.00
- Opening Hours: 6:00 AM to 06:00 PM ; Everyday
- Contact number: 0909 946 0064
The road to Miracle View is cemented so it is easily accessible by any vehicle. It is approximately 14 kilometers away from the city proper.
The place has opened to the public since August 2019.
You can easily locate the area because it is just beside the road and medium-sized signage is clearly visible at the roadside. You will not get lost, mind you. You can feel the cool breeze of air as you are nearing the place.
Read More: Miracel View Travel Guide
7. We are also rich in History! Like Puente de la Riena , Veteran’s and Centennial Park
- Address: Jose Navarro St, Ormoc City, Leyte
- Entrance Fee: FREE
- Opening Hours: Any time of the day
Veteran’s and Centennial Park is a park located near Ormoc’s sea wall and is a memorial to the veterans who fought during the liberation of Leyte and the Philippines.
Puente de la Reina is the historic bridge that was built during Spanish times and was known as the “Bridge of the Queen”. This is the city’s oldest bridge and is the last existing structure that gives evidence to the Spanish colonization of the city. The bridge was used as a docking area for ships or sailboats of the Chinese and Javanese merchants who are selling their products to the locals. Puente de la Reina is included in the Puentes de España en las Filipinas or the Spanish Bridges in the Philippines.
Read more: Historical Places in Ormoc
8. Alto peak (Mt. Aminduen)
- Address: Alto Peak, Ormoc, Leyte, Philippines
- Duration: around 5 hours required
- Entrance Fee: Php 20.00
- Opening Hours: Local tourism only welcomes guests until 2 PM for safety purposes
The Mt. Amindiwin crossing is a delightful hike over occasionally level and gently inclined terrain before the hard rise to the peak from its foot, making it the highest mountain in Eastern Visayas. Included in the normal day hike route is a trek to and across Lake Janagdan, which presents a challenge (1120 MASL).
Read More: How to Get to Alto Peak
9. Trek and Swim at Sayahan Falls
- Address: Sitio Maglahug, Brgy. Gaas, Ormoc City, Leyte
- Entrance Fee: Php 20.00
- Opening Hours: Local tourism only welcomes guests until 2 PM for safety purposes
It is a natural gem tucked away in the most remote area of Ormoc City. It is a waterfall where the flow drops in a run of distinct stages or mini-falls. The place has opened to the public since August 2019.
Please take note that this is a 45 to 60 minutes trek on a rocky road, wild grasses, and trees. Guess one must endure hardships to reach the destination.
Read More: All About Sayahan Falls
10. See the Hidden Gem of Ormoc at Lake Janagdan
- Address: Brgy. Cabintan, Ormoc City (Jumpoff)
- Registration Fee: PHP 25.00
- Opening Hours: Local tourism only welcomes guests until 2 PM for safety purposes
Lake Janagdan is the smallest among the three signature lakes of Ormoc.
Lake Janagdan is located in the eastern part of Ormoc and is part of the Mt. Aminduen ranges. It measures 1120masl and is surrounded by lush and diverse vegetation. Various plant species can be found, with ferns, vines, and trees covered with mosses. Different types of insects often crawl along the trail too.
Read More: Guide to Lake Janagdan
11. Hunt for the Ormoc’s Delicacies
- Address: You can buy this at Ormoc Port
Besides the infamous burger house, desserts are a must to try when one is visiting Ormoc.
Chocolate Moron is a smoother variety of suman (another delicacy that can be found in the Philippines) . This delightful chocolate moron is made out of ground glutinous rice, locally known as “malagkit” being cooked in coconut milk. Moron can either be plain or mixed with cocoa or chocolate.
Ormoc’s Best Cassava cakes are also to die for! Don’t forget to visit them both. I have attached a map at the bottom of this page to locate the location of these worthy delicacies.
Read More: Best Delicacies in Ormoc Worth Trying
12. Sal’s Pineapple Plantation
- Address: 2JQ7+J82, Ormoc City, Leyte
- Entrance Fee: FREE
- Opening Hours: Any time of the day but it’s best to visit this during day time
In Ormoc, there is a famous plantation called SAL pineapple plantation. Here we have vast kilometers of nice tasty pineapples. The field itself is 210 hectares (518 acres) and is located in Brgy. In a day, over 2,000 harvests can be made. Yes, 2,000.
Quite a number, right? You know these pineapples are so significant that there is a Queen Pineapple Festival. Imagine all the tasty goodness that happens on this day.
The Queen pineapples derived their name from their taste. This sounds like such a fun time to have with the kids, and it is only half an hour away from the city center.
This can be googled.
Read More: How to Get to Sal’s Pineapple Plantation?
13. Have a Picnic at Tres Aguas Falls
- Address: Tres Aguas Falls, Brgy. Cabintan, Ormoc City, Leyte, Visayas
- Entrance Fee: As of now, still FREE.
- Opening Hours: Local tourism only welcomes guests until 2 PM for safety purposes
Tres Aguas Falls – A waterfall that has been newly discovered in our city.
This place is a bit difficult to visit. Visitors should hire a certified guide to help them out. Using an off-road vehicle is a must as certain parts aren’t well-paved yet.
Read More: Tres Aguas Falls Travel Guide
TIPS, NOTES, AND REMINDERS
- Bring extra clothes so that in every corner, the outfit is different.
- Visit on weekdays to avoid the crowd.
- Bring water so that you can’t be dehydrated.
- Plan ahead and prepare.
- Dispose of waste properly so bring a trash bag if possible.
- Respect wildlife.
- Be considerate of other visitors.
Read More: 101 Things to Do in Cebu
IMPORTANT NOTE: The rates, contact details and other information indicated in this post are accurate from the time of writing but may change without Shellwander’s notice. Should you know the updated information, please message me on Facebook.
WHAT’S NEARBY?
✓ ULTIMATE TRAVEL GUIDE AND ITINERARY TO SAMAR ISLAND
🏷️10% OFF Private Mactan-Cebu Airport Transfers (CEB) for Cebu or Mactan
🏷️ 5% OFF 4G WiFi (MNL Airport Pick Up/Delivery) for the Philippines
🏷️10% OFF [SALE] Oslob Whale Shark Watching from Cebu City or Mactan Island
🏷️18% OFF Private Cebu & Mactan Twin City Tour
Map to help you locate the places and foods I have listed
Have you ever been to the places I’ve listed above? Go and try them yourself!
Always remember to “Develop your One Days to Day Ones!“
XOXO,
jean piere delima
https://www.facebook.com/IbrahimTransportServicesOrmoc
Ormoc Rent a Car