Coron

If I were to choose a place worthy of comparison to Samar in terms of beauty, it would be Palawan. About an hour’s flight from Manila, Coron offers the best of nature- from exotic seascapes, to surreal wreck dives, to charming lagoons and hot springs.

The picturesque Banol beach and the thermal lake, accessible by outrigger boats make a day of island hopping completely unforgettable. It was also my first time to enroll in a diving course from one of the many dive resorts in the area.

Food is plenty and the people are very friendly. Coron town is quite small, so try to spend time exploring the sights and sounds. They also have a viewing deck up a hill that offers a stunning panorama of karst formations in the nearby lagoons.

Where to stay: Accommodation is never a problem in Coron- we even stayed at a hostel that was not listed in travel guides, and the rates were a surprisingly low Php500 per night.

The town is peppered with dive resorts such as Kokosnuss, Evergreen Diving, and Seadive Resort- all with complete diving equipments and qualified dive masters.

Calicoan Island

Few places in the Philippines can rival the beauty of Samar’s dramatic landscapes. Calicoan island is located on the tip of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, and is dubbed the “Surfing capital of Visayas”.

Large waves from the Pacific Ocean lures surfers and adventurers alike, and curiously enough, religious devotees of St. Anthony of Padua. The barrio of Sulangan has a church that is said to be miraculous, and special trips from Tacloban City via vans (travel time around 4 hours) allow people to hear the pilgrim mass around mid-morning.

Seafood is cheap and plentiful at the town market of Guiuan. For sand and surf enthusiasts, white sand beaches circle the coast while comfortable accommodations are available both in the town proper and in Calicoan Island.

This place is particularly memorable for me because the entire family used to travel and stay a few days in Guiuan during summers.

Where to stay: If you favor 4-star accommodations (costing you about Php 14,500 for an overnight stay for two), the fabulous Surf Camp is for you. Amenities include an infinity pool, an Indonesian-style villa with interioir decoration, a restaurant, viewing deck with an awesome view of the Pacific.

Those with more modest pockets can stay at Calicoan Villa- just beside Surf Camp. A cottage with no airconditioning costs somewhere between Php1,500-2,500. 30 minutes away in the town proper are hostels that cost around Php600 for overnight twin accommodations.

Surf Camp, Guiuan

Marabut, Samar