10 Fun Things to Do If It’s Your First Time in Leyte

The Farm at Guinciaman is a sprawling, agri-tourism estate in San Miguel, about an hour’s drive from Tacloban City. Local vacationers usually stay a night or two in the cozy, family-friendly rooms of its farm stay, Alqueria de San Miguel, while exploring The Farm’s activities, like bathing in their Anahaw and Lagoon forest, lounging by the pool next to rice paddies, and ordering Napoletana pizza in the woodlands.

But if an overnight stay doesn't quite fit your schedule, an ATV Tour is a solid pick. Armed with safety gear and guides on your trail, you straddle your quad as you ride through mud, gravel, rocks, creek crossings, and other elements of nature while admiring the surrounding wetlands and mountain ranges.

In Baybay City, a cafe perched atop the hills offers a scenic view of clouds blanketing the surrounding mountain range. Don't worry. There's no hiking needed. You just need to arrive in Brgy. Villa Solidaridad at around 4:30 a.m., pay a local habal-habal P20 to take you up the hills to IncreDable Café. 

Stroll through their IG-worthy garden on the way to the hillside cafe, where you can order silog meals starting at P90 paired with coffee-based drinks (starting at P120) while waiting for the sunrise.

The sandbar stretches into the sea, with its size and shape shifting with the tides, wind, and weather. At low tide, the sandbar stretches out like a bird’s neck—fitting, since langgam means bird in Cebuano.

While you don’t often see the rest of Kalanggaman on social media, it’s also quite a stunner. It's a white-sand island full of lush coconut trees with shores that can rival other top beaches in the Philippines.

There's no doubt Kalanggaman should be on the top of your list of sights to see when in Leyte, but what most newbie travelers don't realize is that getting that Insta-perfect shot of yourself on the sandbar takes a bit of planning—and really good timing.

The full sandbar emerges at low tide past 4 p.m., which is around the time boats are required to leave the island.  As a result, most day trippers end up seeing only a portion of the sandbar. To really appreciate it in all its glory, consider an overnight camping trip on Kalanggaman Island—yup, you can bring and pitch your own tent or rent one there.

Tabuk Marine Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is a 72-hectare island that’s home to fish, birds, and other wildlife. Most tourists skip this optional stopover before Kalanggaman Island, giving it an off-the-beaten-path vibe that we almost wanted to gatekeep.

In Palo, the Metropolitan Cathedral stands solemnly with a memorial mass grave honoring those who perished during Typhoon Yolanda. Over in Baybay, the Immaculate Conception Parish Church sits near the city’s well-preserved ancestral homes, making it a double stop for heritage lovers. The Diocesan Shrine of St. Anthony de Padua in Baybay draws thousands of devotees each year for its reputation as a miraculous site, while Tacloban’s Archdiocesan Shrine of Santo Niño is one of the churches in Leyte that was successfully rebuilt after Super Typhoon Yolanda’s devastation.

What used to be a compound of huts and simple barbecue stalls got a major facelift and was unveiled in 2023 as the new, reclaimed area now known as the Baybay City Boardwalk. In 2024, the Pantalan Foodcourt was then opened to the public, giving the locals and tourists a huge dining hall and scenic spot to enjoy their favorite local eats.

While you’re in the area, make a quick pit stop at the Pasalubong Center in the Binaybayon Complex. It's roughly a 10-minute detour, which will reward you with tons of local delicacies and pasalubong to hoard. Get biscuits such as galletas and roscas, kamote chips, and jackfruit chips made in the processing center nearby. Don't miss out on the chocolate moron. It's a Visayan variety of suman, definitely worth trying and hoarding to bring home or as snacks for your upcoming tours. 

Contrary to rumors, the famous San Juanico Bridge connecting Samar and Leyte is not closed. The country’s longest bridge—spanning just over two kilometers—is currently undergoing rehabilitation, but it remains open with a few limitations, like reduced capacity and slightly longer travel times.

If you’ve only seen this bridge in your school textbooks and on social media, don’t skip it when in Leyte. Hop on a jeep, bus, or private vehicle while crossing the San Juanico Bridge from the Leyte side, to the Santa Rita, Samar side. Because the restrictions cause vehicles to drive slower, you’ll have ample time to take in the scenery, including the islets and roll-on/roll-off cargo ships (RoRo) crossing the San Juanico Strait. But if crossing the bridge on foot is on your bucket list, hold that thought. Note that jogging or walking on the bridge is not allowed until rehabilitation is done.

Here's a fun side quest you can try when you get to Samar: Look for Pasqualino’s, an Italian restaurant in a sprawling property with a distant view of the San Juanico Bridge, the strait, and its scenic surroundings. Order a wood-fired pizza (starting at P400) and pasta (starting at P350) while enjoying the panoramic views at the al fresco dining area.

When Super Typhoon Yolanda ravaged the country in 2013, Leyte was one of the worst-affected areas. The Yolanda Shipwreck Memorial Park, also known as Yolanda Shrine, is a memorial made from the hull of MV Eva Jocelyn, a cargo ship that washed up in Barangay Anibong, Tacloban, Leyte, during the super typhoon.

A quick climb up the ship gives you a 360-degree view of Barangay Anibong and the surrounding port. This landmark also makes for fun photos—most end up doing their impression of the infamous Titanic scene, but feel free to be more creative. The shrine also pays tribute to the victims of the typhoon and symbolizes how far the community has rebuilt since the disaster.

Need a little motivation to for a lesson about Leyte's history? This ride might do the trick.

The Leyte Provincial Government Complex (LPGC) in Palo now offers Segway tours around the newly built Provincial Capitol. For just P400 per person, you’ll get a crash course (get it?) on handling the e-scooter, plus a guided tour around the complex with fun, bite-sized history lessons—on wheels, of course. 

Most people say the highlight of Lintaon Peak is the field of 16,000 LED rose blossoms—and while they do put on a dazzling show at night, we beg to differ. What took our breath away is the natural daytime view of Baybay’s sprawling greenery. Think panoramic views of rolling hills, the surrounding seas, and the 65-foot statue of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal all in one frame, talk about a postcard-worthy sight!

AirAsia flies direct from Manila to Tacloban four times a day, seven days a week. The airline has 28 flights to the destination weekly.