Southern Leyte isn’t the easiest place to reach, but it was sooo worth it for us! 

It’s one of the best places in the Philippines to swim with whale sharks responsibly, as they pass through naturally on their migration route from November to May.

The area also felt pretty untouched as it’s mostly small towns and farms, with just a few new dive shops and B&Bs popping up. 

The main things Southern Leyte is famous for are:

• Whale shark swims, ethical and run by local guides who spot them without bait.

• Diving and snorkelling, with new dive centres opening around Sogod Bay.

• Chilled local vibes, where you’ll mostly see daily life, not tourists.

Note: If you don’t want to swim with whale sharks, it might be best for you to skip this area altogether and spend more time in other spots 

HOW LONG TO STAY?

2-3 days at least because it’s a bit hard to reach. There’s heaps of snorkelling and diving to be done!

GETTING THERE & MOVING AROUND

• From Cebu/Bohol: Ferry from Liloan to Maasin (₱500–₱700, 40 min–1 hr), then a 2-hour drive to Southern Leyte (₱150–₱250 by van, private car ₱1,500).

• From Manila/Cebu (by air): Fly to Tacloban (~1.5 hrs, ₱1,500–₱2,500), then a 4 hr van/bus ride (₱1,100–₱1,400).

• Getting around: Best by scooter, though vans and multicabs are available.

ACCOMMODATION

Tourism there is still new, so don’t expect big resorts. Most stays are simple guesthouses or dive resorts.

Everyone recommends staying at Peter’s Dive Resort. We didn’t stay there (it was booked out) but we did the whale shark tour with them and it was excellent!

If we went again, we’d probably look at staying closer to Liloan since it’s where most whale shark trips start.