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Discover Southern Leyte
LIMASAWA ISLAND
Location
Southern tip of Southern Leyte; a 45-minute pumpboat ride from Padre Burgos
to the island.
Attraction
Site of the celebration of the First Christian Mass in the Orient when
Ferdinand Magellan came in 1521; historical and cultural viewing of the Magellan
Shrine/Marker.
It is also a divers' paradise. It boasts of magnificent walls and sheer
drop-offs decorated with a variety of lovely fan corals which never fails to awe
even the most traveled and experienced diver. The island also has sites
for novice divers and beginners, as well as excellent reef communities on a
gradual slope. It is ideal for open water diving and underwater
photography. For the more daring and adventurous, there are numerous holes
and cavelets where one may encounter a passing sea snake or a couple of squids.
Travel Tip
Best time to visit the island: March to early June/October to December.
Trips can be arranged by the Southern Leyte Governor's Office and passenger
pumpboats are available at Padre Burgos wharf.
TANCAAN POINT (Sta. Sofia
Beach)
Location
Padre Burgos
Facilities
Concrete stairway to a watchtower overlooking the deep sea and historic
Limasawa Island; natural shades and picnic tables.
TANCAAN
POINT/BUENAVISTA FISH SANCTUARY
Location
Padre Burgos; a 45-minute travel from Maasin City by land.
Description
A real stand-out when it comes to diving, snorkeling or just plain
beachcombing or swimming; offers total exhilarating underwater tours: excellent
corals, drop-offs, holes and cavelets, canyons, mini-trenches; rich variety of
fishes like napoleon wrasses, groupers, sweetlips, snappers, parrotfishes,
butterflyfishes, eaglerays, sea turtle, barracudas and pelagic fishes.
Travel Tips
Best time to dive: October to May, private boat can be hired from Maasin or
Padre Burgos. Divers should bring their diving equipment and food.
GUINSOHOTAN AND BUSAY FALLS
Location
Maasin City
Attraction
Clear waters good for swimming and picnicking.
SAN PEDRO AND SAN JUAN BEACHES
Location
Town of Hinunangan
Attractions
White coral beaches ideal for swimming, surfing and skiing; can be very well
accommodate a variety of activities related to diving and other water
sports/recreation.
ILIJAN POINT/NAPANTAW FISH
SANCTUARY
Location
San Francisco town which can be reached by motorized banca in about two
hours from Maasin City upon prior arrangement with private boat operators.
Description
Healthy corals, clear water, rich marine life; the highly diverse underwater
terrain in the area promises to be a challenging and exciting dive that a
resident school fully grown surgeon fishes welcome the "intruder" to a
celebration of marine bliss and tranquility; hideout full of huge sea fans and
soft corals; the place is virtually intact.
Travel Tips
Visitors should bring their own equipment and provisions (water, foods,
etc.); bathing/swimming/ snorkeling is allowed in nearby beaches and adjacent
reef areas; best time to dive: October to May.
MAASIN CATHEDRAL
Location
Maasin City
Facilities
Catholic Church situated inside a beautiful park with recreational
facilities such as swings, slides and tennis court.
Attraction
Image and "santos" whose art and architecture dates back to the Spanish
era are still found in its altar and ceilings.
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