Canigao Island: Overnight stay; Travel guide and Itinerary
One of my passion is to visit amazing places while spending less. Canigao Island is on top of my list. A few weeks ago, one of my friends shared a blog about this island. I was captivated even with just the pictures featured from the blog and instantly decided to visit the island.
How to get there
From Tacloban
Ride a van to Maasin City, you can choose Duptours, Van-vans, or other shuttle services with a trip to Maasin City via Baybay City. The fare is Php 200 to Php 220. Ask the driver to drop you off at Matalom Municipal Hall. This is the only place to get to Canigao after the LGU took over the management of the island. The entrance fee is Php 20 for children 6-12 years old and Php 40 for adults. The pump boat fare is Php 55 although signs say it is Php 60. There’s no specific time when the boat will depart from Matalom port but, it seems that as long as the boat is full, they can sail to Canigao anytime. The first trip to Canigao is 7:00 am but, can be earlier depending on the number of passengers for Canigao Island. The last trip is 5:00pm.
Welcome to Canigao
The color of the sea, the white fine sand, and the coconut trees will surely give you a great welcome sign to the island.
Canigao Island from afar
What a welcoming site…
Amazing white sand and blue water…
Our ride to Canigao. Thanks for the safe ride.
Where to stay
You can rent a tent for Php 200 and space fee for Php 100. The tent is good for two persons. You can also bring your own tent. In addition, there are also some nipa huts and cottages where you and your friends and families can stay overnight.
Tents for two for only 200 pesos.
Canigao Island Cottages
Where to eat
If you were not able to bring food, don’t worry because there are “dampa”/”paluto” style canteens in the island. Scallops are P170 per order and fish is P170/kilo plus P20 cooking fee. They also offered to cook half a kilo of rice for P55.
There are sari-sari stores in the island that sells canned goods and other merchandise.
Toilets and showers are also available on the island for a fee.
Seafood at the wet market – actually that’s a scallop.
Exploring the island
Canigao is a small island, about 400 sq. meters in area. Exploring the island will take about an hour or less depending on your usual walking pace, including stops to take photos and selfies.
A long stretch of white beach.
Mini jungle in Canigao Island.
Sunset…
One of the things that excites me is watching “paintings on the sky” as the sun sets.
Bonding moment with friends
The island is secluded, serene and unspoiled. It’s the perfect place to commune with nature and relax and at the same time have a good time with friends and family.
RH + Sand + Beach = Tama
Sunrise…
Wake up with Sun’s light flashing beside you.
See you later Canigao
After a long day and night stay, we thanked and bid goodbye to our wonderful host.
Sample Itinerary and Budget
| Date and Time | Activities | Budget | Remarks |
| Day 1 | |||
| Tacloban to Matalom | Php 200 | Fare | |
| Matalom Port | |||
| Matalom to Canigao Island | Php 95 | Php 40 Entrance Fee; Php 55 roundtrip fare | |
| Setup the tent | Php 300 | Php 100 space fee; Php 200 tent fee | |
| Lunch | Php 145 | Php 90 for cooked ½ kilo fish; Php 55 for cooked ½ kilo rice | |
| Swimming and roaming around the island | |||
| Dinner | |||
| Don’t care… Enjoy your stay, chat, drink, until you pass out. | |||
| Day 2 | |||
| Wake up and Breakfast | |||
| Departure or stay for the whole day and ride the last trip to Matalom | |||
| Total | Php 940 | Php 200 fare back to Tacloban City |
April 1, 2017 Update:
I received many queries about reservations and contact numbers for the accommodation and tour packages in the comment section and even in my facebook page. So, here it is guys!
For reservation please contact these numbers
- 09069753053 – TM
- 09196678122 – Smart
- Contact Person: Mae Dungo
Kalanggaman + Canigao Tour Package
3 days and 2 nights
overnight in Kalanggaman island
overnight in Canigao island
10 pax of minimum
Inclusions:
- Van transfer
- Tacloban to Palompon
- Palompon to Matalom
- Matalom to Tacloban
- Boat Transfer
- Palompon to kalanggaman
- Kalanggman to Palompon
- Matalom to Canigao
- Canigao to Matalom
- Entrance fee
- Kalanggaman
- Canigao
- Accomodation
- Tent in Kalanggaman
- Tent in Canigao
- Food for Kalanggaman
- Lunch,dinner,breakfast
Php 3,300 each
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Last summer lng po ba ito?.. Planning to go there in 2 weeks.. Just checking some updated infos about the island..
Yes, last april lang ito.
aside from tents…any rooms for rent???
Yes, there is. Cottages for P500 to P700 and rooms for P1,500. This was last year’s data, though.
Hi do u hav any contact numbers that we can call to ask questions regarding the place and how to get there? We are having a difficult time looking up for contact persons to reach so we can plan our trip there since we will be coming from mnla. So far all the numers we got cant be reached. Thanks
Hi,
Unfortunately, I don’t, but I’ll check with my friends who recently went there.
Hi ?can i ask if the 60peso fee for bangka is roundtrip already?
Yes po.
Hi do you have any contact number(s)? do i need to have a reservation 1st? family are planning to go there this weekend hope you can help.Thank you
may mapag iwanan ba ng sasakyan?
Hi Harry,
Hindi ako sure kung meron, pero since LGU ang namamahala sa Canigao Island, I think pwede mo silang kausapin o ipagbilin ang sasakyan sa kanila.
Hi Ann,
Unfortunately, I have none. However, I will ask my friends who recently went there if they have.
hi there! we are planning to go to canigao this coming April 13, 2017 ( holy thurs). is the island available on this day?
thank you!
Yes po.
Can we go there without any reservation?
Yes Alex. Actually, when we went there, we don’t have reservation. There are plenty of tents for rent there or you can bring your own. Thank you for visiting my blog! 🙂
How much for over night stay 1 nights only
wat tym is the last trip of the banca to canigao?
Hi, usually it is 4-5pm before the sun sets.
Good day we’re planning vacation on canigao for three days .
Asking for what is cheaper for food,
Its to bring food and cook their?
Or we dont bring anything just to pay for food they will cook?
Im thingking coz if we bring food to cook that island alot to bring..that makes us i think fatique..
Thank you
Hi, the price is not that high when we went there and what we ordered served as our lunch and dinner. However, i think it’s still a lot cheaper if you cook but of course someone will sacrifice their time to enjoy to cook your food.
Hi….planning to go there this june, mag kano ang boat service papuntang canigao? Thank you
Are going to charter a boat? I’m not sure how much, but per head it’s less than a hundred. The details is in the sample itinerary. Thanks for dropping by! 🙂
Thank you,
How about the tent rental if for example we are three days. The rental of tent is 300 per night ist for all three days? Or evryday we rent that tent 300? Same question for cottage.
Thank you.