2016 • 02 • 29

This summer, while most tourists will be headed for old favorites like Boracay and Bohol, those who are looking for peace of mind and an affair with nature will be on the lookout for alternatives. If you’re one of them, then maybe Kalanggaman Island is where you should spend your summer.

Kalanggaman Island (or Calanggaman Island) in Palompon, Leyte, isn’t exactly a well-kept secret. Those in the so-called travel circle have known about this quiet, unassuming island for years. But for some reason, it had never really created that big a buzz the way destinations like Palaui, Caramoan or Calaguas have. And that may be a very good thing if that means not disturbing its almost untouched beauty.

Kalanggaman is 753m long, fringed with sparkling white sand that gets hugged by the turquoise waters that separate Cebu and Leyte. What sets this uninhabited island apart from the others is its long, long sandbar that stretches and sticks out to the sea.

Intrigued? Check out this video featuring aerial shots of the island, produced by Nelo Rebojo Stills&Motion, a photography and videography company that specializes in aerial services. More information about them at their Facebook page and Vimeo account.

KALANGGAMAN ISLAND from Nelo Rebojo Stills&Motion on Vimeo.

How to get there: From Tacloban airport, you may take a 4- to 5-hour van ride to the town of Palompon. From Palompon, you may hire a boat or join a tour to Kalanggaman Island, which is an hour away.

Alternatively, if you’re coming from Cebu airport, you may take a cab to Pier 3, where you may board the ship to Palompon (P500, 4 hours). Another route is to take a fast boat to Ormoc (P600, 2 hours) and then ride a van to Palompon (P150).

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