The wonders of Biliran Province, Philippines

Every province in the Philippines has something in store for the people who want to visit their places. When you ask anyone here of what they can offer to tourists, they will confidently tell you about their beaches. If you ask me that too, I will give the same answer that's because my hometown (Palompon, Leyte) takes pride in our Kalanggaman Island, it is known for its long sandbar and turquoise water. However, our neighboring province called Biliran Island takes pride not just in its beaches but also in its numerous magnificent waterfalls. This island is so blessed with bodies of water. It is said that you may taste the sweetest water on the planet at one of the island's waterfalls.

Back in 2017, we explored three of the famous waterfalls in Biliran Island. It has been five years yet I can still vividly remember how mesmerizing those beauties were. It was a particularly memorable trip for me because it was the first time I had ever seen such large and stunning waterfalls.

We were a group of college buddies who went on an out-of-town trip after our exams since it was our way to cope with our life outside school. We began our 3-hour long drive at dawn in order to get to our destination early.

_{Foggy morning along the Matag-ob Highway at 5am}

We arrived at Biliran Island at exactly 7 in the morning and had a stop in Naval town to buy some fresh catch fish for our lunch. Then we drove to the town of Almeria where we found the most dramatic waterfall we have ever seen. On our route to our main destination, we were already welcomed by these beautiful rice terraces with a lush mountainscape in the background. What a refreshing view!

_{Rice Terraces of Sampao}

After an hour drive, we arrived at Barangay Sampao, Almeria which is the entrance point to the two waterfalls we visited. We trekked through the dense forest of Sampao guided only by small signages and narrow forest paths.

After the challenging 30-minute trek, we finally found the Ulan-ulan Falls. This is the dramatic waterfall I mentioned earlier, because the force of its falling waters produces a mist that leaves you feeling as if you're in a magical realm.

The name Ulan-Ulan derives from the Visayan dialect, which means "rain," because it appears like it is raining when you are standing near the falls. Also, the falls create strong winds due to its height.

_{The top of Ulan-Ulan Falls}

Its cascading waters create a catch basin with enough water to swim in. We indulged in its refreshing water and forest sight for an hour before we headed on to our next stop.

<sub>My college buddies enjoying the view

Ulan-ulan Falls in a collage</sub>

Just above Ulan-Ulan, about a 10-minute trek, lies the beautiful Recoletos Falls. Basically, the cascading waters of Ulan-ulan come from this area.

The name Recoletos is derived from its namesake San Jose Recoletos, given by the former University President (University of San Jose-Recoletos) who is a native of Biliran. You can find the statue of San Jose located in a cove just beside the waterfalls.

Recoletos is a 15-meter-high waterfall. It features a large pool with deep water ideal for swimming and cliff jumping. We enjoyed plunging in its cold water and relaxed under a tree shade. The area is literally encircled by lush forest that covers the surrounding from the harsh sun which was perfect for us stay longer a bit.

In the middle of this wild place, we talked a little about school and more about life. This is how I miss my college days by reminiscing these memories.

<sub>The main falls surrounded by greenery

Recoletos shot on GoPro

A natural pool</sub>

After spending hours discovering the Ulan-ulan and Recoletos Falls, we packed up and headed back to the spot where we parked our car. It took an hour drive to get to our next and last destination, the Tinago Falls of Caibiran. I was very astonished by the view on the way there. Never in my life I have seen a view as beautiful as this. This is one of the best road trips I had.

_{Roadtripping by Mountain ranges of Caibiran}

Tucked in the forest of Caibiran, near the heart of the island lies the beautiful Tinago Falls. Just a 10-minute walk from the main highway, you can already see the main waterfall. It was the biggest one among the falls we visited.

Tinago is a Visayan word means "hidden" in english. It was called Tinago Falls because it lies in the middle of dense forest, but I think it's not hidden anymore since it is now popular and considered as one of the main tourist destinations in the island.

We were very lucky when we went there because there are only a few tourists who visited the falls. We enjoyed the view all for ourselves. The water is refreshingly cold so we didn't leave the place without plunging into its natural pool.

We spent most of our time and prepared our lunch here before we left. We drove to the downtown Caibiran and celebrated the town's fiesta before we went home.

I must say that Biliran Island is one of the places in the Philippines to discover beautiful waterfalls. These photos are pieces of evidence that the island will never disappoint you. They are truly the wonders of Biliran Island. If you happen to visit the island, do not forget to include these places in your itinerary.

See you on my next travel!