About Samar accommodation

Samar is the biggest island province in the Eastern Visayas, and it still flies well under the radar next to Cebu and Boracay. What you get instead is proper adventure country: cave systems you can paddle through, waterfalls with hardly anyone else around, and a coastline of tiny limestone islets popping out of the sea. It's a laid-back pick for anyone keen on caving, kayaking or just a quieter slice of the Philippines.

Accommodation here is simple and good value rather than flashy. Here's how to pick the right base.

Where should you stay in Samar?

• Catbalogan City: Samar's provincial capital and the most practical base for most trips. It's the jumping-off point for Basey and the Sohoton cave system, with the widest choice of hotels and lodges in the province.
• Calbayog City: The northern hub, handy if you're flying into Calbayog Airport. It has the biggest spread of hotels on this list and puts you close to Tarangban Falls and Buri Baras Beach.
• Marabut: A small coastal town south of Catbalogan, right on San Pedro Bay. Stay here if the limestone islets and island-hopping are the main reason for the trip.
• Basey: The official gateway town to Sohoton Natural Bridge National Park, but it has next to no formal hotel inventory on Traveloka right now. Most visitors base themselves in Catbalogan (about 45 minutes away) and day-trip out to Basey and the park instead.

How much is Samar accommodation?

Samar is an easy destination on the wallet. There's no big international resort chain here yet, so pricing stays firmly in the budget-to-mid-range band, with a small step up for the one proper island resort.

• Budget stays: From AU$17 a night. Simple lodges and inns around Catbalogan and Calbayog, no frills but perfectly comfortable for a short stay.
• Mid-range hotels: From AU$30 a night. Clean rooms with air-con and decent facilities in both Catbalogan and Calbayog, the sweet spot for most travellers.
• Resort-style stays: From AU$115 a night. Marabut's beachfront resort is the one true splurge option, with island and bay views included.

What is Samar known for?

Your hotel is just the base. Here's what most visitors build a trip around.

• Sohoton Natural Bridge National Park (Basey): Samar's headline attraction. A boat and kayak trip through a subterranean river leads to cave chambers, a natural stone bridge arching over the water, and hidden lagoons. Guides are compulsory and part of the experience.
• Marabut Marine Park (Marabut): A cluster of small limestone islets scattered across San Pedro Bay. Paddle a kayak between them to reach coral patches, tiny beaches and a low-ceilinged lagoon cave, best visited early before the light gets too harsh for photos.
• San Juanico Bridge: The long bridge linking Samar to neighbouring Leyte, with open water views the whole way across. Worth the drive just for the scenery.
• Langun-Gobingob Cave System (Calbiga): One of the largest cave systems in the Philippines, with enormous chambers and a resident bat and swiftlet population. A must for anyone into caving.
• Tarangban Falls (Calbayog): A multi-tier waterfall a short trip from Calbayog City, with clear pools that are ideal for a cool-off swim.
• Nijaga Park (Catbalogan): A relaxed waterfront park in the capital, good for an evening stroll with views over Maqueda Bay.
• Samar Archaeological Museum (Catbalogan): A small museum covering the province's natural and cultural history, a good rainy-day stop.
• Buri Baras Beach (Calbayog): A stretch of coast close to the city, easy to reach for a low-key beach afternoon without a long drive.

What are the best hotels in Samar?

Samar's hotel scene is modest and mostly locally run rather than big chains, but there's honest, well-reviewed choice across the main towns.

• Caluwayan Palm Island Resort: Samar's standout resort stay, set right on the water in Marabut with easy access to the limestone islets. The top pick if you want a proper resort feel.
• Asia Novo Boutique Hotel - Catbalogan: A tidy boutique option in the capital, a comfortable mid-range base for day trips out to Basey and Sohoton.
• GV Hotel Catbalogan: A reliable budget chain right by Catbalogan's city hall, simple and well located for getting around town.
• ROLET HOTEL: A solid mid-range choice in Catbalogan with a bit more polish than the budget lodges nearby.
• West Prime Hotel & Restaurant: A comfortable Calbayog stay with its own restaurant on site, handy if you're flying in or out of Calbayog Airport.
• La Choeben Suites: A comfortable Calbayog option close to Tarangban Falls and Buri Baras Beach, good value for the northern side of the province.

Tips for booking a stay in Samar

• Pick your base by trip focus: Catbalogan for Sohoton and Basey, Calbayog for the airport and northern falls, Marabut for the islets.
• Book Sohoton in advance: tours through the park need a boat and a guide, so arrange this through your hotel or a local operator before you arrive rather than turning up on the day.
• Pack light rain gear: Samar sits in a wetter part of the Philippines, so a light rain jacket is worth having even outside the wet season.
• Carry cash: smaller lodges, tricycles and local eateries outside Catbalogan and Calbayog city centres are mostly cash only, so stock up on peso before heading out to Basey or Marabut.
• Sort transport ahead: Samar's towns are spread out, so a fixed-rate tricycle, habal-habal or hotel-arranged transfer is far easier than trying to plan it on the fly.
• Set expectations on inventory: this is a small, low-key hotel scene rather than a resort strip, so book early in peak months if you want a specific property.