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The island is unassuming and laidback despite having a strong grounding in both Philippine and world history. Over the past months, the island started to get traction after its beauty took social media by storm. The attention has moved the island to rise above history textbooks to becoming one of the hotspots on this side of Visayas. This is Limasawa - an island where its beauty is weaved in its stories.  Time to get wet in Limasawa Island. History has been nice to the island of Limasawa. This island municipality was the site where the first Christian mass was heard paving the way for the evangelization of the country. At a length of 10 kilometers from its northern tip to the south, it stands as smallest municipality in Southern Leyte, both in size and population. We already explored the island through its land trails and, for this travel blog, let’s see what lies beneath the waters of Limasawa. Limasawa Sanctuary (Entrance Fee: Php100) The Limasawa Sanctuary is a coastal stretch that lies on the northeast side of the island. The protected area coast lies along the cliff sides of Limasawa. There are a few rocky coves that boats can dock on where guests can enjoy a quick dip or snorkeling in the area.  Enjoying the serenity of one of the coves of the Limasawa Sanctuary. Our boat docked in one of its small rocky cove along the rugged coast. It was a ruggedly cozy and homey but there was nothing really special about it because, on this side of the island, the beauty lies under the waters of the island. We put on our snorkelling gears and, with just a few kicks from the shoreline, we were enthralled by the beauty of the coral reefs of the Limasawa Sanctuary.
The underwater scene of the sanctuary bursts in different colors. I was captivated by the rich marine ecosystem flourishing underneath the waters of Limasawa. I enjoyed watching a variety of fish bobbing in and out of the coral reefs in the area. The current carries you through a myriad of living and colourful coral reefs of the sanctuary. I even caught a glimpse of a parent Nemos guarding their “home”. It was a an underwater world bursting into life right before my eyes. The Limasawa Sanctuary was proof of how rich the island’s resources under its waters. Magallanes Port The Magallanes Port is one of the entry ports to the island of Limasawa. Interestingly, it is also the most popular, not for its structure, but for what lies under its waters. The port lies along the white sand coast of Baranggay Magallanes and the depth of its waters make it more conducive for RORO and larger boats to dock on. Magallanes Port facilities here are more developed making it the gateway to the island.
The beauty of the Magallanes Port is hidden under its waters. The port and the surrounding white sand shorelines are calm that makes its conducive for its frequent visitor - the sea turtle. Most social media post about the island marvels at sea turtle sightings along the coastal waters of Limasawa. We did get the same favor of swimming with two sea turtles along the waters of the port. We had a great time swimming alongside these gentle sea creatures. Further down the dock, adventure seekers can marvel at the rich underwater scene along the foundations of the port. This is where free divers get their dose of the Limasawa underwater scene. The foundations of the port has become a home of many coral reefs giving it that beautiful and dramatic underwater scene. Free divers and enthusiasts visit the spot for that socmed-worthy shots. This is one reason why I want to head back to Limasawa. Talisay Beach Talisay Beach is a secluded beach cove on the southern end of the island. This beach spot has a shoreline that is filled with pebbles and shells with pockets of white sand. It is pristine and untouched, giving this cove a more rustic and calming vibe. Locals frequent this beach spot especially during the weekends.  The rocky coves of Talisay Beach was a ruggedly beautiful. The boulders at the end of its beach hides secluded small coves of the beach. It is easier to access this area during low tide because you can wade through the waters along its coast. You will be amazed by the rock formations and its nooks and crannies. You can find your own spot along the crevices of its rock formations to enjoy the sound of the waves and the serene vibe of the place. Our boatman-guide said that you can also cliff jump in the area during high tide.
From the coast of Talisay Beach, you can also catch a glimpse of the Limasawa South Parola. The lighthouse stands along one of the cliff area of the southern end of Limasawa. The coast on this side is a mix of both cliffs and rocky coves. The spot offers a panoramic view of the Bohol Sea. Cabulihan – Magallanes Rock Formations We ended our boat tour sailing along the southwest coast of the island. This side of the island is more rugged with a combination of rock formations and jagged cliffs. There are small coves that emerge during low tide but you can already see, from the rock formations, how nature molded these rocks through time.
The rock formations come in different forms and sizes. Umbrella rock formations are plentiful, with some forming like snake heads facing the waters of the Bohol Sea. There are rock formations where seawater carved small caves and crevices. These crevices are probably are home to many nocturnal creatures of the island. Its beauty is best appreciated from afar with one’s imagination playing with the rock formations of Limasawa Island. Sidenote: The boat tour around the island of Limasawa Island also included beach stops at Dakdak Beach and the Lagoon Beach Resort. I already included both sites in my previous travel blog so I did not include it on this blog. POST TRAVEL NOTES Limasawa Island is a great destination to explore both on land and sea. Its natural beauty perfectly fuses with its culture and history. It does not just amuse you with its stories but it also charms you with its beauty above the ground and under the sea. More importantly, it immerses you to the old Philippine island atmosphere where everything slows down for you to appreciate the small things happening around you.  Let's get explore another urban spot next... It is interesting when we explore and discover places that we just read in our books. It gives you a deeper appreciation of the place. It rises above the stories and gives you a better understanding of our roots as Filipinos. If we want to discover what makes us Filipinos, go ahead and explore the less travelled Philippines. Check out my Limasawa travel video on my Youtube Travel Channel: #ByahengOffTheGrid
Getting there: From Manila, you can take a flight to Tacloban and then take a van to Maasin. You can take a jeep to Padre Burgos Port and take a ferry to Limasawa Island. If you are coming from Cebu (like we did), you can take a Fastcraft to Maasin Port. Once in Maasin Port, walk to the main highway where you can take a jeep to Padre Burgos. You can then take a ferry to Limasawa from the Padre Burgos Port. Once in Limasawa, you can take a trike to your accommodation. PinkApple and Natalie’s Beach House offers basic accommodations in Limasawa Island. You can reach them through their Facebook page here. For Limasawa land and boat tours or motorcycle rentals, you can get in touch with Limasawa JSKJ Motor and Tricycle Tour. #MahalinNatinAngPilipinas Shoutout to my travel buddies - HULL & STERN Dry Bags for keeping my stuff safe and dry during my travels. Get 5% off on your Hull & Stern dry bag purchase on the Hull & Stern website when you use the code - marc7del.
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Marc del Rosario
I believe in education, entrepreneurship, and caring for the environment. 
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