Kalipayan sa Sambawan

My Sambawan Island trip is part of my 3-day visit in Biliran.

From Biliran, there are many ways to reach the island. But since we lack the luxury of time, we decided to charter a pumpboat at the town of Kawayan. This made the whole trip faster and more convenient but also a lot more expensive. We paid P3000.00 for the pump boat. The boat does not have available life vests with them so if you’re not a confident swimmer, bring one with you.

The trip to Sambawan was relatively calm--- no big waves, and the water was very clear you can view the underwater life especially at shallower depths. Along the trip, the volcanoes of Biliran, and Maripipi will flaunt their stature. Since the water is calm, we were able to move around the boat harmlessly and we were able to take pictures on our preferred angles.

After a 45-minute boat trip, we were able to reach the island group. Currently, there are already cottages being built along the coast of Sambawan. When we went there, people were tidying up dirt brought by the storm and the high tide. In spite this, the waters are still pristine and clear. You could spot schools of small fishes especially at the rocky areas. The beach is not sandy, it is composed of broken and sharp coral fragments mixed with eroded volcanic rocks.

A 10-minute hike will lead you to a view deck at the top of the island. This is where the classic pictures of Sambawan with a Mt. Maripipi background are always taken. Aside from the awesome and breath taking views, the wind breeze is also soothing and calming. From the top, you will be able to see the high mountains of Samar and Leyte. If lucky, the clouds will not be hiding Mt. Maripipi and the Biliran Volcanic Complex.

After viewing and having a short dip at Sambawan, our boatmen took us to a trip around the group of islands. There are many good diving spots around the area. Aside from good underwater diversity, the islands are also home to different species of birds. The sight of these birds taking refuge on the rocky slopes and in the short trees compliments the clear blue-green water.

We spent almost two hours in the island before we went back to Biliran mainland to continue our Biliran escapade.