Guiuan - municipality of the Philippines in the province of Eastern Samar

Guiuan is a municipality in Eastern Samar, Philippines. It was the first place in the Philippines where Europeans landed; Magellan's expedition reached here in March 1521.

Understand

Guiuan is a municipality in Eastern Samar where some of the Waraynon lived.

Get in

By plane

• Guiuan Airport. Has one runway that can accommodate turboprop planes. There is no commercial service since 2012; the few flights servicing Guiuan are general aviation and cargo charters. 2019-07-28

As there are no commercial flights to Guiuan, the nearest airport with commercial service is Tacloban (IATA: TAC), with flights from Manila, Cebu, Davao, and Clark, either operated by Cebu Pacific (and Cebgo), Philippine Airlines (and PAL Express), or AirAsia. From Tacloban, UV Express and buses are available; they cross into Samar island via the San Juanico Bridge.

By bus or van

• Guiuan Bus Terminal. The town's main transport terminal, serving both big and small buses, and vans 2019-07-28

There are buses and UV Express vans to Guiuan from Tacloban and Borongan.

From Luzon, Silver Star has buses from Manila, which take the ferry to cross into Samar (Allen) from Luzon (Matnog). There are also smaller operators using second-hand Korean buses or non-AC minibuses, but Silver Star is more reputable over those.

By ferry

• Guiuan Port. Operational, but does not see any commercial ferry service. 2019-07-28

The nearest seaport with commercial passenger service is Ormoc port in Leyte, served by ferries and fast ferries from Cebu City. From Ormoc, you can take a bus to Tacloban, which is a two-hour ride via Palo—Carigara—Ormoc Road (Route 70/AH26). From Tacloban, there are minivans and buses to Guiuan; a trip from there takes 2½ hours.

See

In Guiuan you can see many beaches such as Calicoan beach, and Sapao beach (Dumpao). There is a beautiful cave named Linao Cave. The water is cold and clear. In Sulangan you can see the San Antonio De Padua Shrine, a divine church.

• 15th-century Catholic church, Sta. Cruz St.. The most beautiful church in the island of Samar. Built solely by manual labor, this edifice of adobe stone is indeed a cultural heritage. Inside, one can find uniquely carved icons as a Spanish Baroque altar. This 400+-year-old Catholic church, inspired by the Spanish colonizers that came to the Philippines after the Magellan expedition, also features chiseled doorways and has a classical facade. This church is under restoration and reconstruction by the NCCA, following Typhoon Haiyan. 2016-02-24
• Guiuan Church Tower. A monumental to native labor, it is the tallest existing tower in the municipality. Two thirds of its height was said to have been destroyed by earthquakes many years ago. The imposing belfry is a comforting sight for an exhausted overland travellers that come from various points of the country via Borongan, the provincial capital of Eastern Samar. 2016-02-24
• Pearl Island. This is a quaint coral islet developed by BFAR. It is devoted to experimental round and blister pearl culture and giant clams project and is ideal for scuba diving and underwater sports. 2016-02-24
• Philippine Radar Station. A sophisticated weather forecasting instrument. One of the PAGASA stations in the country. Located on top of a hill, and offers a panoramic view of the town, the Leyte Gulf and the vast Pacific Ocean. 2016-02-24
• Tubabao Island, 11.045°, 125.696°. Served as the former International Refugee Organization (IRO) campsite for 6,000 displaced White Russians from 1949-1952. 2022-02-03
• 3149 US Naval Base, Calicoan Island. On December 1, 1944, a fleet of LCT's Liberty Ships and barges poured into the Guiuan Bay to unload machines that was to transform Guiuan into one of the biggest naval bases in the Far East at the time. 2016-02-24

Do

• Pray at the Shrine of St. Anthony of Padua, Brgy. Sulangan. This picturesque barrio is famous for its Shrine of St. Anthony of Padua whose miraculous attributes devotees and visitors from afar and wide. 2016-02-24
• Surf, ABCD Beach, Brgy. Sulangan. Declared as the surfing capital of the Visayas in 2001, by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. This is an ideal place for surfing during the months of September to December due to the presence of big waves by the northeast trade winds. 2016-02-24

Buy

• Metrobank, Lugay St. 24-hour ATM. Has a Master Card/Visa Card ATM. 2016-09-18
• PNB, San Nicolas St. 24-hour ATM. Has a Visa Card ATM. 2016-09-18
• Prince Hypermart. 8AM-7PM. large Supermarket with most things you will need. 2016-09-18

Eat

• Considering that Guiuan is a coastal place. Guiuan is rich in fishes such as tamban, suno, sulusugi (sword fish), and bulad (dried fish).
• GSECC Food Haus Brgy. 5 Lugay Street.

Drink

Sleep

• Tanghay View Lodge, +63 915 416 8067. Fan/air-con single/double rooms with or without bathrooms. Cable TV. from 2015-12-22
• Addison Pension (Addison Hotel), Brgy.4-A Lugay st., +63 9364563950. 2016-02-24
• Khaishra Hotel, Lugay St.. 2016-02-24
• Marcelo's Place, Brgy.Lupok, +63 9053723637. 2016-02-24
• Residencia Vicente, Brgy.Lupok. 2016-02-24
• Seabreeze, Brgy.Lupok, +63 9177717284. 2016-02-24
• Misty Blueboat House, Brgy.Lupok. 2016-02-24
• Guiuan Pension House Ext., San Nicolas st.. Fan/air-con single/double rooms. From 2016-02-24
• Calicoan Villa, ABCD, Brgy.Sulangan, +63 9172069602. 2016-02-24
• Banago Beach Resort, Banago, Brgy. Sulangan, +63 9065181348. 2016-02-24
• Carline Lodging House, Brgy.1 Conception street, +63 9175216531. 2016-02-24

Go next

• Tacloban
• Borongan
• Catbalogan