Calicoan Island is one of the Philippines’ best-kept secrets. It’s a beautiful mix of white sand, Pacific waves, and untamed wildlife on the craggy coast of Guiuan in Eastern Samar. This 17.89-square-kilometer island, known as the “Sleeping Beauty of Eastern Samar,” has quietly attracted adventurers, surfers, and nature enthusiasts for years.

The surf is Calicoan’s most famous attraction. Because it has four different breaks, ABCD Beach has some of the strongest and most consistent reef-break waves in the country. Surfers from all over Southeast Asia come here, especially between September and October. But the island has a lot more to offer than just its surf.

A Landscape of Wonders

Six lagoons exist at the center of the island, surrounded by thick tropical forest. The biggest one is 30 hectares wide. There are dozens of caverns in the limestone along the cliffsides, the most famous of which is the eerily beautiful Linao Cave. The northern wetlands are full of fish, shrimp, and crabs, and the waters around them are home to thriving industries in fish farming, seaweed farming, and pearl harvesting.

The island is about three hours by van from Tacloban City Airport and is located in a strategic spot between Guiuan and Sulangan. Staying at places like Calicoan Island Villas keeps things cozy, and the town of Guiuan nearby has all you need. This is a place that rewards those who are curious and willing to go off the beaten path.

Ngolos Beach is also in Calicoan, which is protected by the Guiuan Marine Reserve Protected Landscape and Seascape. This protects the area’s amazing biodiversity. Visitors can snorkel in crystal-clear reefs, kayak across hidden lagoons, or just breathe in the salty air along the 32-kilometer coastline.