10 Best Things to Do in Basey, Samar (Tourist Spots that You NEED to Visit)
Basey, officially the Municipality of Basey, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Samar, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 56,685 people. -Wikipedia
The nearest airport, located in Tacloban City, is about 28 kilometers along the Maharlika highway through the winding San Juanico bridge.
It is home to the famous Sohoton Cave and Banig Weavers.
Traveling to Basey, Samar 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 traveling to the Island.
How to Get to Samar Island
✓ OPTION 1 (BY VAN/BUS)
Entry Point is in ORMOC PORT.
CHECK FAST CRAFT SCHEDULE & FARE HERE
- From the port, walk to Ormoc City Terminal near the Ormoc Public Market/2go Express ticketing.
- Then, ride a VAN or Bus going to tacloban/samar. (Make sure to ask if there are trips to samar)
- If you are riding transportation going to Tacloban, hop off at Tacloban New Bus Terminal.
- At Tacloban New Bus Terminal, ride a jeep or van going to Samar Island. Travel time is almost 3 hours.
- Tacloban to Samar Travel Time is almost 30mins but it depends on traffic.
✓ OPTION 2 (BY PLANE W/ BUS/VAN)
Entry Point is in NAIA via CATBALOGAN AIRPORT.
CHECK FAST CRAFT SCHEDULE & FARE HERE
- From Airport, board the plane going to catbalogan airport.
- At Catbalogan Airport, hail a motorcycle, or tricycle, or just rent a ride for transportation to your destination.
✓ OPTION 3 (BY PLANE W/ BUS/VAN)
Entry Point is in NAIA via TACLOBAN AIRPORT.
CHECK FAST CRAFT SCHEDULE & FARE HERE
- From Airport, board the plane going to Catbalogan Airport.
- At Tacloban Airport, ride a jeep going to Tacloban New Bus Terminal.
- At Tacloban New Bus Terminal, ride a jeep or van going to Samar Island. Travel time is almost 3 hours.
- Tacloban to Samar Travel Time is almost 30mins but it depends on traffic.
✓ OPTION 4 (BY BOAT W/ BUS/VAN) (OCEANJET FAST CRAFT)
Entry Point is in CEBU PIER 1 VIA ORMOC PORT
CHECK FAST CRAFT SCHEDULE & FARE HERE
- At Cebu Pier 1, ride a boat / fast craft going to Ormoc City.
- From the port of Ormoc, walk to Ormoc City Terminal near the Ormoc Public Market/2go Express ticketing.
- Then, ride a VAN or Bus going to tacloban/samar. (Make sure to ask if there are trips to samar)
- If you are riding transportation going to Tacloban, hop off at Tacloban New Bus Terminal.
- At Tacloban New Bus Terminal, ride a jeep or van going to Samar Island. Travel time is almost 3 hours.
- Tacloban to Samar Travel Time is almost 30mins but it depends on traffic.
- Just use the “WAZE” or “GOOGLE MAP” app to navigate your way to Samar Island.
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How to get around Samar Island
1.By Habal-Habal or known as Motorcycle
Good for couples. It is much better if you can drive it yourself.
2. By Van
It can accommodate up to 10-13 passengers. If you want to rent tour the island using the van, it will cost you around Php 2000-2500 or $40-50 per day.
3. By Multi-Cab
It can accommodate up to 8-10 passengers. If you want to rent and tour the island using the multi-cab, it will costs you around Php 1500-1700 or $30-34 per day.
10 Best Things to Do in Basey, Samar
Check out these Must-Do activities on Basey, Samar.
1. Explore the Sohoton Cave
2. Kayak your way to Sohoton Natural Bridge
3. Visit the Oldest Church – St. Michael Archangel Church
4. Watch and be Amazed by Banig Weavers at Saob, Cave
5. Pay respects to Sto. Nino Buscada Church
6. See the wonders of Balantak Falls
7. Chase Sunset at Bacubac Beach
8. Eat their Delicious Delicacy
9. Buy the Native Tikog as Presents!
10. Enjoy the Banigan and Kawayan Festival
Talk to the locals, they mostly know everything about the place.
1. Explore the Sohoton Cave
1. Explore the Sohoton Cave
- The Sohoton Caves and Natural Bridge Park is an 841-hectare protected natural area and tourist attraction inside the Samar Island Natural Park. The natural park includes caverns, subterranean rivers, waterfalls, limestone structures, dense vegetation, and a natural stone bridge.
Read more: How to Get to Sohoton Cave and Natural Bridge Park
2. Kayak your way to Sohoton Natural Bridge
- Just a few meters from the Sohoton Cave, you can already reach the Sohoton River by kayaking. Talk about hitting two birds with one stone!
Read more: How to Get to Sohoton Cave and Natural bridge Park
3. Visit the Oldest Church – St. Michael Archangel Church
- The centuries-old St. Michal the Arcangel Church, set on a hill, is one of Samar’s most beautifully maintained churches. The bell tower on the church’s left wing is one of its most notable features.
Read more:
4. Watch and be Amazed by Banig Weavers at Saob, Cave
- Saob Cave in Basey, Samar, was formerly home to hundreds of banig weavers, known as paraglara in the local dialect. Weavers, primarily women, would throng the whole length of the cave’s vast chasm, and the walls would reverberate with laughing, loose conversation, and the rustle of dry grass under delicate fingers.
5. Pay respects to Sto. Nino Buscada Church
- Mt. Carmel Chapel in Barangay Buscada is located about 1 kilometer away from the present church. It is the parent church of Tacloban (in Leyte) and the origin of the Tacloban’s revered Sto. Niño icon. Tacloban’s creation as a barrio of Basey dates back to the 1770s. This church, built in 1845, has a Jesuit façade with layers of tombs for walls made out of coral stone blocks. It is the starting point for the historical exchange of images between Basey and Tacloban City.
Read more:
6. See the wonders of Balantak Falls
- Balantak Falls is located in Rawis, a barangay next to Sohoton. This waterfall is made up of three water falls. You may also hike to the falls. Its chilly and flowing waters are ideal for soothing and massaging fatigued muscles. Going to Balance Falls takes time, but when you see the water falls, you will realize that it was well worth the effort. You can also ride a habal-habal to Balantak.
Read more:
7. Chase Sunset at Bacubac Beach
- The Bacubac beach is another beach located near Basey, Samar. The Basaynon are only familiar with this beach since it is so lovely. Every Basaynon flocks to this beach, especially on important events like the new year, Christmas, and fiestas. This is because access to the beach is free during these times. This beach’s large waves contribute to its charm. This beach also has a floating cottage.
8. Eat their Delicious Delicacy
- Native Delicacies in Basey Binagol are made from a root crop that is similar to “cassava” and locally called “talyan” Binagol is a mixture of flour, sugar, milk and packed on top of a halved coconut shell and covered with banana leaves.
- Moron is a sweet delicacy this is soft and sticky also wrapped in banana leaf and is a bit oily.
- Suman-latik is made from glutinous rice, coconut milk, brown sugar also wrapped in banana leaf suman also called “budbod” and latik reffering coconut syrup above the suman.
- Bukayo this delicacy is very sweet and made from coconut and a mixture of brown and white sugar with strips this is for people who love sweet desserts.
9. Buy the Native Tikog as a Present!
- Basey Samar is also known for its colorful and unique “tikog” handicrafts. This tikog is a native red plant used as a raw material for mat weaving. This tikog can be used as bags, pouches, storage boxes, slippers, and other crafts. Women are the one who produces this kind of handicraft. These mats are made by some women in the barangay.
Read more:
10. Enjoy the Banigan and Kawayan Festival
- The town of Basey holds its town fiesta on September 28 and 29, every year. Numerous events are held to mark the fiesta, including the annual civic parade. In Basey, various organizations and barangays participate in this procession. The drum and bugle corps from the various Basey-area schools also plays in the background. The Kawayan and Banigan festival is held every 28th day, or the despiras.
- The fiesta, which takes place on the 29th day, is when everyone in Basey prepares food, dessert, and drinks like “tuba.”
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 NEARBY ACTIVITIES
Basey, Samar: A Must Visit Place
Always remember to “Develop your One Days to Day Ones!“
XOXO,
