Biri Island Travel Guide 2016

If I will have to stay in one place without doing anything – like literally just sitting and breathing, no internet and no gadgets, then it would be in the Island of Biri. The placid atmosphere, the strong waves of the Pacific and the scenic massive rock formations –  it left me damn speechless. Oh wait, actually no, I remember saying “wooowww”, like every 10 minutes! It’s one of the many places here in the Philippines where you’ll witness how nature works in mysterious, beautiful ways - just like love. 😀

For the budget wanderlusters who are dying to go there, you have to read this blog seriously and if you don’t want to be absent or late for work the following day, try to absorb every word that I say here. My friend missed a day at work because we didn’t expect so much waiting in vain during the trip. She’s based in Cebu and I’m from Tacloban. Anyway, here’s a detailed sample itinerary below. This is a better itinerary that what really happened to us there in terms of transportation. I’m including an easy route for those coming from Cebu as well.

TRAVEL GUIDE FROM TACLOBAN to BIRI ISLAND
Time	Trip	Amount	Notes
OCTOBER 6, 2016 (Thursday)
5AM	Tacloban City to Catbalogan	Php 120	Via City Tours (their terminal is near Duptours); Another good option is Grand Tours (at the back of  Savemore) – earliest trip is 5AM.
7AM	Catbalogan to Calbayog	Php 100	From where the van will stop, just ride a pedicab or tricycle going to Van-vans terminal or ask a local the nearest terminal for vehicles going to Calbayog
9AM	Calbayog to Allen	Php 100	We took a Jeepney here but you can also go to Grand Tours terminal in Calbayog if you prefer a van. This is just along the way so you can ask the driver to drop you off at the said terminal.
11AM	Allen to Lavezares Port	Php 50	Motorcycle is good for 5 pax – P120 (can haggle down to 100 if you’re alone or just the 2 of you)
11:30AM	Arrival in Lavezares	We had to wait for other passengers to come. If you’re in a hurry, you can pay for a special trip 750 pesos one way going to Biri. The boatmen will not embark if it’s not 15 passengers or at least it should be a total amount of Php750 to be collected from the passengers.
1:45PM	Lavezares Port to Biri Island	Php 75	Takes an hour pumpboat ride. It should only be P50 each but since there was still 1 vacant slot, we just paid a little extra.
2:45PM	Accommodation Check-in	Php 250 (Php500/night 2 pax)	Magallanes Suite and Spa (fan room). The room was nice and they have a generator so no need to worry about the 12AM-12PM electricity cut-off. I don’t have a contact number since it was just recommended to us by a local there. Check their fb page here - https://www.facebook.com/Magallanes-suites-2040080689549428/
3PM onwards	Tour at Bel-at Rock Formations / Swimming / Pictorial / Awra moments	Php273 each (Total of Php545 if 1 or 2 pax)	Environmental Fee – 50 Tour guide – 300 Habal-habal ride – 195
OCTOBER 7, 2016 (Friday)
4AM – 11AM	Sunrise Viewing at Magasang Rock Formations / Swimming / Muni-muni *We didn’t do the sunrise viewing because of the gloomy weather but I would suggest everyone to do it especially if you will be blessed with a fine weather.	Php645 total (P323 each for 2 pax)	Tour guide – 450 (that the usual 300 fee plus additional P150 for sunrise viewing) Habal-habal ride – 195 *If you don’t want to pay another tour guide fee on the next day, you can take a rest on the first day (especially when you arrive late afternoon), then visit the rock formations the next day starting in Magasang for the sunrise. Anyway, half a day is enough to do all the usual activities.
12NN onwards	Lunch and wrap-up to go back home	P50 – Pumpboat from Biri to Lavezares Port P30 – Tricycle ride to Allen Grand Tours Terminal P100 – Van ride from Allen to Calbayog P220 – Van from Calbayog to Tacloban *estimate 6-9 hours travel time depending on the waiting time at every terminal
Estimated Total		Php1691 (food not included)

TRAVEL GUIDE FROM CEBU TO BIRI ISLAND
Time	Trip	Amount	Remarks
WEDNESDAY
7PM	Cebu port to Calbayog Samar	Php 850	Via Cockaliong Shipping lines (You can sleep comfortably inside the ship. Just try to bring something that could keep you warm if it’s going to be cold)
Please take note of the Cockaliong Shipping Lines schedule going to and from Calbayog Samar Route Departure Day & Time Arrival Day & Time Cebu to Calbayog Mon/Wed/Fri – 7PM Tue/Thu/Sat - 7AM Calbayog to Cebu Tue/Thu/Sat -7PM Wed/Fri/Sun - 7AM *This is current as of October 2016. Check website for any changes: http://www.cokaliongshipping.com/schedules&rates.html
THURSDAY
7AM	Arrival in Calbayog – Take a jeepney/van going to Allen	Php 80 if Jeepney (P100 if van)	Take a walk going to the highway and  wait for a jeepney or van to pass by
9AM	Arrival in Allen; Take tricycle going to Lavezares Port	Php 100 (20 per person)	It’s Php120 for the whole tricycle. If you’re alone, they may just quote you 100.
10AM	Lavezares Port to Biri Island	Php 50	This is assuming that there are a lot of passengers by that time.
11AM	Check-in for accommodation	Php 300	No need to worry about booking an accommodation especially when it’s low-peak season. The habal-habal drivers could suggest a lot of lodges there.
11AM onwards	Tour / Rock Formations / Swimming / Pictorials / Soul searching	Php 545	Environmental Fee – 50 Tour guide – 300 Habal-habal ride - 195
FRIDAY
8AM	Check-out and go to the Biri Port (can also have an option for sunrise viewing in Magasang Rock Formation before doing this at 4AM)	Php 10	Ride habal-habal going to the port
9AM	Biri to Lavezares	Php 50	Via Pumpboat
10AM	Lavezares Port to Allen	Php 50	Via Tricycle
11AM	Allen to Calbayog	Php 100	at Grand Tours terminal in Allen
12NN	Calbayog to Catbalogan	Php 100	at Grand Tours terminal in Calbayog
7PM	Catbalogan to Cebu	Php 700	Roble Shipping Lines
Roble Shipping Lines schedule going to and from Catbalogan Samar Route Departure Arrival Cebu to Catbalogan 7PM every Thursday only 7AM Friday Catbalogan to Cebu 7PM every Friday only 7AM Saturday *This is current as of October 2016. Check website for any changes: http://www.robleshipping.com/schedules/
7AM the next day	Arrival in Cebu	Total Amount: Php 2,905 (excluding food and if travelling alone)

If you're coming from a faraway land, it's better to visit other nearby destinations as well to make your trip worthwhile. You can drop by the wonderful caves and waterfalls in Samar, pass by San Juanico Bridge in Tacloban, then go all the way down to the white beaches in Leyte. For those coming from Manila, you can take a plane going to Tacloban and follow the guide above, or take a plane going to Catarman (PAL) and take a jeepney going to Lavezares. 

During this trip, I’ve learned that it wasn’t easy to get out of Biri on your way home especially when: (1) you’re on a budget; (2) when you’re alone or a couple; (3) if  it’s low peak season and (4) if you miss the first passenger boat trip for that day. It was Friday when we were supposed to go home. From 11AM, we waited at the docking area with very few passengers coming in. We need to be a total of 15 passengers at least. At 3PM, we were only 7 heads waiting. Yes, 4 hours waiting and only 7. 8 more to go! My butt was already on fire. We realized that we will not be able to catch the Roble ship bound to Cebu in Catbalogan anymore. It will leave at 7PM and since it would take 4 hours to travel from Allen to Catbalogan, we just decided to stay in the island for the day. I suggest that if you’re about to go home, make sure to schedule it in the morning and go to the docking area as early as 7AM so you can catch the first pumpboat trip going back to Lavezares. If you miss this, you may need to wait for hours for the next trip or may need to pay a lot more for a special trip. 
However, if you have a lot of money, just forget everything that I've said and go there, like right now! :)

Some Reminders:

1.       Electricity is only from 12PM to 12AM.

2.       Smart 3G not working – only Globe 3G.

3.       No restaurants. Only "point-point", in tagalog turo-turo.

4.       Can do other activities such as scuba diving and snorkeling (ask the locals, they'd be happy to help).

5.       Dialect is Bicol-Waray mix.

6.       Locals are helpful and kind. Place is safe.

By the way, I commend my friend Cynthia for keeping her composure and positivity despite the unfavorable events. I believe things happen for a reason and that reason would always make us stronger, better and happier. Pak! 

Magasang Rock Formation

Paki-pusuan mga bes haha

Stolen photo captured by our photographer. We were like that for a few minutes, just looking at the Pacific.

Because here in Biri, you can be a model.

Behind the scenes! Lol. Meet Kuya Ronnie. He was our so-called tour guide but he was actually more like a professional photographer.

Like I'm this small and it's that big? Like masakit sa neck

Scenic and dramatic but don't worry, it's organic.

hello big rocks

Just a witch trying to get some kili-kili powers

How was it formed like this naturally?Like MINDBLOWING

 

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