Sambawan Island : Itinerary + Budget Guides for First-Timers
WHAT'S IN THIS GUIDE?
DID YOU KNOW?
Biliran is composed of two major islands – Biliran and Maripipi, and smaller islands and islets that dot its water including the famous Sambawan Island.
Sambawan Island or Sambauan Island is an uninhabited island and is located five kilometers away from the west coast of the municipality of Maripipi in Leyte. It is a popular dive site and a marine sanctuary. Turtles, sea snakes and reef sharks are also found there often. Current is mild and suitable for all range of divers.
Traveling to Sambawan Island for the first time? This detailed and curated travel guide will make it easy for you to plan a trip, save money and maximize your time. This guide will also make sure that you get the best out of your money while travelling to Sambawan Island.
Scroll down to read must-know travel tips before you go, followed by a sample itinerary + budget breakdown , recommended hotels/places to stay , things to do/places to visit and lots of extra travel tips.
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How to get to Biliran — By plane + Van, Biliran can be reached on an hour flight + an hour van ride from Cebu. Biliran has no airport so you need to travel by boat or airplane.
Always book your hotel early — Avail low rates and avoid fully-booked rooms by booking online as soon 2-3 months before your travel departure. Click below to compare discounts and read reviews by other travelers.
Check discounts and prices online — Save money by checking discounts on tours & airport/hotel transfers. Booking before you leave also saves you time & avoids the hassles of bringing large amounts of cash during your actual trip.
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Spend 2 days or more — While it’s possible to explore the highlights of the island in a day, consider planning at least 2 days to tour the island.
Save More while Traveling — I’ve included a lot of money saving tips on this guide. You can actually save more when you do not include attractions that has entrance fees. You can achieve cheaper expenses by knowing where to find and book the attractions.
Getting around Biliran — There are a lot of transport and tour options available whether you want to go with a private tour or a do-it-yourself trip. You can even go full local and try the motorcycle/tricycle commute to get around or stick with packaged tours that can offer a hassle-free experience.
Grab is not offered in this area.
See more blogs & travel guides
Pre-Travel Guide
✓How to get to Sambawan Isalnd
✓ How to get around Sambawan Island?
✓ Should I book my Sambawan Island hotel online?
✓ What to prepare for a trip to Sambawan Island?
✓ How to find cheap flights to Sambawa Island?
✓ When is the best time to visit?
✓ Travel Must Haves
✓ Money-saving tips
How to get to Sambawan Island
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)
Manila to Tacloban.
From Tacloban ride Van-vans, Duptors, Grandtours to Naval, Biliran. The trip will take approximately two hours and a half. Fare is PHP 120.00 per person.
At Naval, take the passenger boat to Maripipi Island. This is a two-hour trip. Note that this boat is the only one that goes to Maripipi and it leaves at 10:00 AM daily except Sundays. This same boat, then, leaves Maripipi to head back to Naval the following day.Fare is PHP 70.00.
When you arrived at Maripipi Island, ride a motorbike or habal-habal to Barangay Ol-og, which will cost you PHP 50.00 per person.
Rent a boat to Sambawan Island. A round trip boat should cost PHP 600.00 for five (5) people. You’ll know you’ve arrived at the island when you see a very festive welcome signage made from bamboo and several bilao.
◾The locals way
At Naval Port,ride a ferry boats going to the Maripipi Island. Fare per head is Php 60. Travel time is 1.5 hours.
Once you reached the town of Maripipi, hire a habal-habal, fare is Php 30 per head to Brgy. Ol-og. From there hire a boat for Php 600. Travel time to Sambawan is 15 minutes. [Maripipi Regular Boat Schedules] The ferry departs at 10:30 Am from Mon- Sat and leaves the following day for Naval at 4:30 Am
✓ ENTRY POINT CEBU (Pier 3)
◾By Boat (Roble Shipping Lines)
From Cebu, ride the Roble Shipping lines boat at Pier 3 to Naval, Biliran. Roble Shipping Lines serves the route 6x a week and at 7:30pm. Travel Time is around 6 hours
At Naval, Biliran, Ride a habal-habal to Kawayan Municipality Php 60 per head.
At Kawayan Municipality, Rent a boat at Php 3,000 for day use Php (3,500 Overnight) and travel to Sambawan. Travel time is 60 minutes. Boat Capacity maximum of 10 persons.
or
◾By Fast Craft or Fast Boat (2GO, Oceanjet or Weesam)
From Cebu, ride any of the three boat at Pier 1 to Ormoc City, Leyte. The three fastcrafts serves the route daily. Travel Time is around 3 hours. Fare is PHP 600.00
At Ormoc City, ride a tricycle to Robinsons near Simangan. Note: make sure to point out that you will be riding a van because there are 2 Robinsons in Ormoc. Fare for the tricycle is PHP 8.00.
At Robinsons Ormoc Van Terminal, ride a Van to Naval,Biliran. Travel Time is about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Fare is PHP 130.00.
At Naval, Biliran, Ride a habal-habal to Kawayan Municipality Php 60 per head.
At Kawayan Municipality, Rent a boat at Php 3,000 for day use Php (3,500 Overnight) and travel to Sambawan. Travel time is 60 minutes. Boat Capacity maximum of 10 persons.
MAP ON HOW TO GET TO SAMBAWAN ISLAND
Should I book my Sambawan Island Hotel Online?
My answer will always be YES but there are no hotels in the island. I recommend you bring tents.
What to prepare for a trip to Sambawan Island?
Sunblock— If you don’t have a plan in getting yourself tan, then bring some sunblock to protect your skin from the suns UV rays.
Hats and Eye wear — Protect your eyes from the heat of the sun.
Cellphone Waterproof Case — You don’t want to drench your phone w/ saltwater.
Rent a GoPro – If you are in Cebu, my friend can rent you one here.
Food – Although there is a convenience store in the island, it is much better to bring your own foods and drinks.
Powerbank & Batteries – Electricity on the island only runs from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM
Tent – Even if you are not staying overnight, just bring. It can lessen your expenses.
Snorkel and Scuba diving gears – Bring your own.
How to find cheap flights to Tacloban?
Start your search on Wego, Momondo, and Skyscanner.
Also, check Tacloban promo alerts several weeks or months ahead of your trip if you are planning your trip early. The cheapest promos are sold up to a year in advance of the travel/flight departure date & are often only available if you book directly with the airline.
When is the Best Time to Visit?
In my experience, March – June are the best months to visit Sambawan Island.
Travel Must-Haves
✓ Google Map App – A life-saver for me because without it, I might get lost.
✓ Google Translate – Super powerful app. Translate anything.
✓Gps-Guided App – Tour the city like a local with this app.
✓ Sunscreen – Protect yourself from sunburn or much worse – Cancer.
✓ Pocket Wifi or Sim Card – The convenient of searching anything is a go-to. Please don’t forget this baby. It is a life-saver for me though.
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Money Saving Tips
Get a good map and explore the city on your own tour — You can tour the city at your own pace plus you can choose from a variety of options. There are a lot of awesome things to do in Biliran that doesn’t cost a dime.
Drive a motorcycle — This is the cheapest way to get around.
Stay at hostels or airbnb — If you are travelling alone or by group of 3, hostels are best for you. But, if you are travelling in group of 4 or more, then airbnb is best for you. I have calculated the difference and airbnb ones are best for group of travellers.
Where to Stay in Sambawan Island?
Since there are no hotels in the island, you can rent a tent, open air cottage or an enclosed one.
Sambawan Itinerary
Guess what? I am such a joiner for this trip. Did not look it up online again.
Day 1: Sambawan Island En Route (Prepare to get wet!!)
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 0400 am | Wake up Time and Breakfast |
| 0700 am | Buy foods at market |
| 0830 am | Arrived at kawayan Municpalty |
| 0945 am | Arrived at Sambawan Island |
| 1015 am | Prepare food |
| 1100 am | Trek to the watchtower |
| 1230 nn | Lunch |
| 12:45 nn | Picture Taking, Chika and Swimming |
| 0300 pm | En route to Kawayan Municipality to wash up |
| 0445 pm | En route to Naval, Biliran |
| 05:00 pm | Free time |
A lot of things can be done in Biliran. Check out my Biliran Travel Guide Budget and Itinerary
1-Day Sambawan Island Budget Expenses (for 6 people)
Your travel expenses will largely depend on your traveling style and how much you plan to spend on activities, accommodations & food. To help you set your own budget, here are budget estimates if you follow the 1-Day itinerary posted above. Make sure to review all discounts & online booking prices.
Prices below are ‘per person’, calculated based on a group of 6 people sharing the travel expenses.
Your travel expenses will largely depend on your traveling style and how much you plan to spend on activities, accommodations & food. To help you set your own budget, here are budget estimates if you follow the 1-Day itinerary posted above. Make sure to review all discounts & online booking prices.
Prices below are ‘per person’, calculated based on a group of 6 people sharing the travel expenses.
| Transport expenses breakdown | |
|---|---|
| PHP 660 | Roble Shipping Fare |
| PHP 500 | Sambawan Boat Fare — PHP 3000/ 6 |
| Activities/Attraction costs breakdown | |
|---|---|
| PHP 45 | Entrance fee per person. |
| PHP 20 | Environmental fee per person. |
| PHP 84 | Small Cottage Day Use — PHP 500/6 per person. |
| Budget Trip Expenses Summary | |
|---|---|
| PHP 1160 | Transport — Shared expenses per group of 6. |
| FREE | Accommodations — Since we stayed at a house of my bestfriend, then its free. |
| PHP 500 | Food — Full meals x 3 days |
| PHP 150 | Activities — Admission tickets/entrance fees on selected activities above. |
| PHP 1810 | Total — Including all expenses above for a day in Sambawan Island. |
| Other fees to take note of | |
|---|---|
| PHP 300 | Bench and Table |
| NONE | Corkage Fee |
| PHP 1500 | Rooms for Rent |
| PHP 100 | Tent Pitching per day |
| PHP 200 | Paddle boat for 2 hours |
| PHP 2,500 | Scuba rental |
| PHP 300 | Kayak rental per hour |
| PHP 150 | Sail boat for 2 hours |
| PHP 10,000 | For movie, tv production or commercial per day |
| PHP 23 | For anchorage or mooring of sea craft less than 3gt perdsay |
| PHP 300 | For anchorage or mooring of sea craft less than 3gt-10gt per day |
| PHP 1,000 | For anchorage or mooring of sea craft more than 10gt per day |
Thank you sale residence for accommodating us during our stay.
* Prices subject to change without prior notice
What to do in Sambawan Island
Check out these Must-Do activities in Sambawan Island.
1. Go trekking at the hill for the 360-degree view of Sambawan
2. Stargaze while camping at night
3. Try scuba diving and snorkeling
4. Go kayaking
1. Go trekking at the hill for the 360-degree view of Sambawan
Be amazed at the formation of the island. The watchtower is located here too.
2. Stargaze while camping at night
Low lights are the best way to gaze at the star. Just brace yourself from the chilly vibes.
3. Try scuba diving and snorkeling
Be at awe with the marine sanctuary this island has to offer. Just inquire at the diving camp.
4. Go kayaking
Practice your kayaking skills with our friends , special one or family. Have fun!
Nearby Activities
✓ Bethany Hills
✓ Recoletos Falls
✓ Rice Terraces
✓ Canaan Hill Farms
✓ Mainit Hot Springs
✓ Agta Beach
✓ Relax in VRC Resort
✓ Island Hopping
Map to Help You Locate Biliran Attractions
Have you visited this island? How was it? Share your thoughts below.
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