Kalanggaman Island
Kalanggaman Island
4.5
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Duration: More than 3 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
765 reviews
Excellent
491
Very good
172
Average
59
Poor
24
Terrible
19
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Equis I
Ocean City, MD110 contributions
Feb 2020
We arrived on the island for the break between our two dives. The simple fact of visiting the island costs you 500 PHP / person and apart from a very basic toilet, some shops where you can buy a coffee or something to eat and some chairs to use, there's nothing else. There are instead plenty of other tourists so forget any romantic escape plan you might have, not going to happen on this island.
The dives near Kalanggaman Island are very nice though, but unless you're a diver, you'll have to snorkel around looking for a free spot without boats and people.
The dives near Kalanggaman Island are very nice though, but unless you're a diver, you'll have to snorkel around looking for a free spot without boats and people.
Written February 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Daniel J
Budapest, Hungary19 contributions
Dec 2019
The island is pretty, no doubt, but it’s a rip off and a (foreign) tourist trap. Locals pay 150 PHP entrance fee, foreigners 500 PHP. Alright, if you get something for his money, but on the island there is absolutely nothing! I work on Malapascua and have been to Kalanggaman a few times for work so I didn’t pay (my first visit however was as a tourist), but I will never visit the island again if I have to pay.
The people on the island play basketball all day, not a single trashbin is to be found, there is a coast guard hut, but it’s like 250 meters from the end of the sandbar, and usually nobody is sitting there. Every time I went I collected a big bag of trash, there is a lot, especially on the other side, where the huts are. Red Horse (beer) bottles, plastic cups, sachets, straws, a lot of garbage is just everywhere.
I wonder if anybody is working on this island apart from collecting the fees from visiting boats/travellers. I don’t support this, that is the reason for this review. Diving is nice around the island, but occasionally you find fishing nets and hooks UW.
If you want a few photos and don’t mind the above, then for sure you’ll have some nice pictures.
The people on the island play basketball all day, not a single trashbin is to be found, there is a coast guard hut, but it’s like 250 meters from the end of the sandbar, and usually nobody is sitting there. Every time I went I collected a big bag of trash, there is a lot, especially on the other side, where the huts are. Red Horse (beer) bottles, plastic cups, sachets, straws, a lot of garbage is just everywhere.
I wonder if anybody is working on this island apart from collecting the fees from visiting boats/travellers. I don’t support this, that is the reason for this review. Diving is nice around the island, but occasionally you find fishing nets and hooks UW.
If you want a few photos and don’t mind the above, then for sure you’ll have some nice pictures.
Written February 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kennethhansen
Slagelse, Denmark20 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
The island was really good. The water haa small amount of life small fish and small crabs. The water is the best thing there.but its a turist trap for white pepole they charged extra for everything even though we didn’t ask for it and they didn’t tell us what was inkl. We paid 600php for water we didn’t ask for and didn’t know was for us. They changed 1000php for a overnight that was cancelled by coast guard (we paid 3000php and got 2000php back). And forinders they charge 3thimes as much
Written July 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
None
1 contribution
Dec 2022 • Friends
Used to be a fun little island, I have gone there for many years, but now it has been totally destroyed by commercialism. It is very small and they have completely destroyed the natural beauty and charm by building hundreds of structures and others that make it nothing more than a tourist trap. No place to sit on the beach anymore and if you sit on one of their seats someone will come up to you and require payment. If you go there now you will think, nice ocean view, can we go now.
Written February 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gavin P
Rainham, UK44 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
When we went as a large family group, the weather wasn’t very good and the sandbar was permanently underwater.
I walked around the island and the Western end of the island seemed abandoned. There was plastic waste all over the beaches, there were some sleeping huts which looked unkept and unused and a treehouse with broken steps. There were a group of untidy buildings and an abandoned boat dock.
We saw staff sweeping the beach at the Eastern end where there are coloured flags but got the impression that this was the only part of the island that got any attention.
The snorkeling was nothing special with little to see.
We spent the night in one of the beach cottages but couldn’t sleep as people in neighbouring cottages were talking all night and shining torches in our direction.
I really couldn’t wait to leave this place.
Maybe on a more sunny day at low tide, the island would be OK for a day trip but it wasn’t the picture perfect place we’d imagined.
I walked around the island and the Western end of the island seemed abandoned. There was plastic waste all over the beaches, there were some sleeping huts which looked unkept and unused and a treehouse with broken steps. There were a group of untidy buildings and an abandoned boat dock.
We saw staff sweeping the beach at the Eastern end where there are coloured flags but got the impression that this was the only part of the island that got any attention.
The snorkeling was nothing special with little to see.
We spent the night in one of the beach cottages but couldn’t sleep as people in neighbouring cottages were talking all night and shining torches in our direction.
I really couldn’t wait to leave this place.
Maybe on a more sunny day at low tide, the island would be OK for a day trip but it wasn’t the picture perfect place we’d imagined.
Written August 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cecilia A
1 contribution
Jun 2024 • Family
Expensive to see the island and the boat fare, high tide when we turned up so the sand bar was underwater, begged for longer stay until 3.00pm because the tide was going out so we can stroll a bit on the sand bar but boat captain was very adamant to leave at 2.00pm. Windward side of the island was too rough for swimming, but enjoyed swimming on the leeward side, managed to find where less rubbish. Compared to some islands I've been in around Palawan and Busuanga, Kalanggaman slightly overrated.
Written July 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jondalgaard
Solroed Strand, Denmark5 contributions
Jul 2024 • Family
Beautiful. But the price for everything from the trip there to the few things you can rent and buy is screwed in the weather.
Remember to bring everything you need for the entire trip. You might buy drinks and snacks. No food.
Their anti pollution rules are not taken seriously by themselves. There lies waste and flows a few meters from the tourist areas.
Remember to bring everything you need for the entire trip. You might buy drinks and snacks. No food.
Their anti pollution rules are not taken seriously by themselves. There lies waste and flows a few meters from the tourist areas.
Automatically translated
Written July 31, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Flyer29616333814
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Family
This little sandbar was great. I have visited this place before in 2016, and LISTEN to me from experience, because I was born in Palompon. The water near the shore is very clean and blue, and you can go on the boats and jump from the sides. The opposite side of the island is better than you think it is, with lots of fish and crabs. You can explore inside of the water. There are many sea urchins on that side. On the sandbar, it’s a picture perfect view, but as of now, theres lots of sharp shells (not too sharp) there, and its very dangerous to swim inside the currents of the sandbar, as they are strong. Make sure to bring your own food, too. The sand near the boats are very fine and smooth. Off the further end of the island, theres pieces of plastic and trash, and they should clean that up. Overall, great place. Visit before it gets too popular. And go there on a good, sunny day for a good sunset.
Written January 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dirk H
Melbourne, Australia586 contributions
Apr 2022 • Friends
Kalanggaman Island never disappoints. The water is crystal clear and warm. The island itself isn’t large bit a great place to visit for a family day out. Kayaks are available for rent. There is a tour operator Go Light Travel and Tours who offers great packages for lunch or bbq.
Love tis island
Love tis island
Written May 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cibiaggi
Trento, Italy114 contributions
Mar 2024 • Friends
On Kalanggaman Island, in the middle of the Philippine Sea, it seems paradise has placed its headquarters here.
A riot of colors and wonder!
All the shades of blue existing here alternate and show themselves in all their glory. It may seem too good to be true and instead, it exists and I was lucky enough to see it with my own eyes.
A spectacle!
A riot of colors and wonder!
All the shades of blue existing here alternate and show themselves in all their glory. It may seem too good to be true and instead, it exists and I was lucky enough to see it with my own eyes.
A spectacle!
Automatically translated
Written August 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi my mom and i will be staying in Carigara , meron po bang public transpo going to palompon ? if meron po , hm yung fare? , thank you in advance
Written May 1, 2024
Hi. Sorry I dont understand Tagalog, can you resend in english pls
Written May 14, 2024
How many tourist came there last February 2019? Do you have any records regarding this?
Written February 7, 2021
Hi we're thinking to go to Palompon island were coming from San Miguel districts,I am thinking to get transport from there and straights to Ormoc to Palompon. Are these easies way?
Written September 25, 2019
If you're coming from San Miguel with your own transportation vehicle. You don't need to go to Ormoc to reach the town of Palompon. From San Miguel, you'll pass by Barugo, Carigara, Kananga, Matag-ob then Palompon, around 96km (according to Google maps). Palompon is not a separate Island, Kalanggaman is the island which is under the town of Palompon.
Written October 7, 2019
What are the time of departure of boats from polompon going to kalanggaman?
Written March 6, 2019
I would like to know how we could contact any Inn for reservation. Thanks
Written February 28, 2019
Hello, if you will go to Malapascua I would as FrenchKiss Divers there for a reservation, look at their homepage for the contact!
From Cebu its quite long to go there just for a quick barbecue. There are NO accommodations on Kalanggaman!
Written March 2, 2019
Are there restaurants and hotels or even accomodation in the island? Where we can spent overnight?
Written January 13, 2019
No restaurant/hotel in the island. You may however opt to spend the night in the island and you have to arrange it with the LGU prior to your boat ride to Kalangaman. Restaurants/hotels are however available at Leyte mainland, should you opt to spend the night in Palompon.
Written January 30, 2019
Hi Can anyone please give me directions how to get there coming from Tacloban or Ormoc?thank you
Written January 12, 2019
You can also arrange your tour with any local travel agency to save you time. I was lucky Hero travel solutions accommodated me with other local tourists with acceptable fee. Try it..
Written January 12, 2019
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