Popular Tourist Destinations in Samar Part 3

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TOURIST DESTINATIONS
IN SAMAR

Samar is divided into three parts – Northern Samar, Western Samar and Eastern Samar. For purposes of clarity, Western Samar is simply referred to or called SAMAR.

The Sohoton National Park covers all the three parts of Samar.

Samar province is caught between mountain and sea. It is hilly, with mountain peaks and narrow strips of lowlands, which tend to lie in coastal peripheries or in the alluvial plains and deltas accompanying large rivers. It includes almost every kind of topography: mountains, forests, rivers, lakes, plains, coasts, and islands and is blessed with a lush rain forest harboring tropical flora and fauna, crossed by multiple navigable rivers, pocked by mysterious caverns and refreshing waterfalls. A tourist wanting something out of the ordinary may experience all these wonders of nature and still only be a few hours from civilization. – http://www.tourism.gov.ph/SitePages/InteractiveSitesPage.aspx?siteID=47

Sohoton National Park

Photo from: http://samar.lgu-ph.com/tourism.htm

The Sohoton National Park is a protected area about 841 hectares. It’s huge and deep into its forest are cave connections that are yet to be discovered. Richard, our guide, told us they were able to explore more than 30 caves so far and more to follow. That was just for Sohoton, and you have to realize that Sohoton is just a tiny part of the vast rainforest of Samar. So it is true, there are still a lot to uncover in this beautiful island. Read from: http://jontotheworld.com/sohoton-national-park-samar/

Sohoton Natural Bridge

Photo from: http://faq.ph/samar-island-the-caving-capital-of-the-philippines-biggest-cave/

Although this national park is on Samar, it is easiest to access it from Tacloban. The journey upriver to the park from Basey, the access town, is half its charm, with the wide swath of water flanked by palms and higgledy-piggledy villages of bamboo houses on stilts. Upstream the river narrows and limestone outcrops appear and extend upwards until the boat is travelling through a small gorge into the park itself. Another 10 minutes further upstream and a 300m walk through the forest, there’s a wide swimming hole under the arch of the limestone natural bridge that gives the park its name. Surrounded by forest, it’s a quiet, steamy green outpost where local villagers are actively engaged in managing the park and guiding visitors to caves with enormous, sparkling stalactites and stalagmites. Kayaking trips are available. Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/philippines/sohoton-caves-natural-bridge-national-park/introduction#ixzz4ZCzeOQ45

Sohoton Cave

Photo from: http://sltrippers.blogspot.com/2011/03/sohoton-cave-basey-samar.html

This is one of the main attractions of Sohoton National Park. The entrance of the cave is parabolic-arc-shaped and with the height of fifty (50) meters. The cathedral-like entrance chamber of the cave is definitely inviting with its fantastic view outside and the cool breeze emanating from the cave. The flat door is about 20 meters by 50 meters

Spiky-shaped and other shape of stalactite will be observed in its ceiling and wall. From the cave you can see a natural swimming pool where most of the tourists loved to swim and do the binge eating after. Read More: http://basey6720.blogspot.com/2012/05/sohoton-national-park-basey-samar.html#.WKqd8n_IJpY