Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Digyo Island, Inopacan, Leyte

On my second visit to Digyo, I found that the island has very good coral growth. The corals come in different sizes and colors which I failed to discover in my first visit. The corals are located in the western part of the island facing the island of Apid. There are no corals in the part facing the mainland of Leyte. This time, we were with our convent personnel and parochial vicars. We also stayed overnight camping at the beach.





The island above is Apid just across Digyo. There is an existing barangay in this island.











The panoramic view of the island of Digyo.




I have heard of Digyo Island (pronounced as Dijo) for sometime already but I never thought it would be that beautiful. It is a gem of an island that awaits to be discovered. It is the smallest among four neighboring islands popularly known as Quatro Islas which includes Apid (there are settlers here and is already a barangay), Mahaba, Digyo and Himukilan. The first three islands belong to the town of Inopacan, Leyte while the last belongs to the neighboring town of Hindang. Digyo with its white sandy beaches is a nesting site of sea turtles. An information board on the beach announces it. The island is so small that one can leisurely walk around it in fifteen minutes. At present there are some people residing on the island who are its caretakers. As the island is privately owned, they charge ten pesos a day per person and a hundred pesos for the use of the kiosk. There is a good place for snorkeling as there are vegetations and some corals teeming with small colored fishes and on another part just nearby a good place for swimming as the water is so clear and shallow.


Last October 30, 2006 together with 12 members of the Sts. Peter & Paul parish youth, Frs. John Paul and Aaron and a seminarian, we camped overnight at the island. The timing was so perfect and we had such a wonderful stay. The sea was so calm in spite of the typhoon that was raging in the north of the Philippines and in the evening the moon was shining brightly with plenty of stars to gaze at.

From the main town of Inopacan, Digyo was forty minutes away by pumpboat. The travel would surely have been cut into half if the boat was a little faster.

The parish youth enjoying their outing on an island away from the parish, which is a first after several years. Tres Marias inside one of the tents that we used for the night.


Fr. Aaron enjoying the sand of Digyo by the hammock.


Fr. John Paul who can hardly swim loses his fear of the water and enjoys the clear waters of Digyo.

The sunset in Digyo was lovely, but the sunrise on the island as shown above was just spectacular. And to think that was my birthday. What an amazing gift that was!


The picture above was taken from the white sand beach of Mahaba. The island at the background is Himukilan. There is a coral reef just a few meters away from the beach of Mahaba. The sea drops off suddenly and on the wall one can see the corals and fishes.
The youth frolicking at the waters of Mahaba




54 comments:

claudz said...

Good Day!
I am so thankful to have viewed this page. I am a beach lover also. Me and my family have been to different beaches and even have gone to the digyo island twice. Yes, the place is really very beautiful and my children loves staying there.We had come across two dolphins the first time we went there. I also have gone to the Canigao island just 15 min. ride by a pump boat via Brgy. Itom in Matalom, Leyte. Yes, there are lots of colorful fishes there. I saw, the pictures here about the islands of Samar, and i do hope someday i could bring family there too. from : Mrs. Claudith Manawatao, Ormoc City

Unknown said...

we're going to tacloban this february 2009 and was wondering if you can give us directions from the tacloban airport to digyo. if we stay there overnight, how much do we pay for the boat? is it safe to camp there with my wife and 7 year old daughter?

Anonymous said...

i do want to know who you talked to to get to digyo because i know that there are owners of the island and i wouldn't want to go there without me asking for permission i hope you know what i mean. may i know how i can get in touch with them in due respect? hope to hear from you soon...thanks...

beachanatic said...

If you take the public bus from Tacloban, you can either take the bus going to Bato or Maasin, that one which passes by Baybay. You take off from Inopacan which is the first town after Baybay. Or you can take the bus to Baybay and from Baybay take another bus going to Maasin or Bato or hire motorcycle to Inopacan which is 24 ksm away from Baybay. There is a caretaker on the island of Digyo. You can text her to inform of your coming. The cel is 09283711333 or 09285767528. Name is Clara. Or you can hire a boat by the name of Pedot at 09168898993. It is safe to camp there. There is a fee for the use of the kiosk there and entrance per person about 20 pesos each. I still have to check again, but before we paid 1,500 for round trip of the boat.

beachanatic said...

I just recently inquired from Digyo about the price for the boat. They have two available boats: the one with a capacity of 15 persons costs 2,800 while the one with a capacity of 30 persons costs 4,000. This is for a roundtrip fare. The boatmen will just wait for you whether you stay overnight at the island or return right away.

Unknown said...

Thanks Beachanatic. Like you my family also loves the beach. You can check our travels at http://npamo.multiply.com

Anonymous said...

I miss this place.. We came to Quatro Islas 11 years ago as thesis, I promised myself that I will visit the islands again..
the pictures that we got were all lost and it's such amazing to see the perfect sand bar..and how you all enjoyed your vacation in thei wonderful place..

Anonymous said...

hi. it is a very lovely place and i would like to bring my family there to celebrate easter sunday. is there a boat that will take us back to the town in the afternoon? how much is the boat fee?

Anonymous said...

,,,,wow nce jud,,,,as in,,,,nindot unta makanha ko noh?,,,,,helo sko mga clzm8 nga taga inopacan,,,,cla,,emma,lorelyn,francis,editha,rhea,rosemar,gerald,
ug s uban pa,,,dn sko mga txmt cla,,ruel,lyndon joy,,,

Anonymous said...

Hello, im glad i found some info about that island... we really have plant to be there. Is it allowed to dive in that area or just snorkeling? I also would like to inquire about the fare for the boat by person. Will there be schedule for the trip or the boatman waits till the boat is full? Is there cottages too? What to bring in case if basic needs wont be available?
Thank you, hope to hear from you.
God bless

Anonymous said...

Hello, im glad i found some info about that island... we really have plant to be there. Is it allowed to dive in that area or just snorkeling? I also would like to inquire about the fare for the boat by person. Will there be schedule for the trip or the boatman waits till the boat is full? Is there cottages too? What to bring in case if basic needs wont be available?
Thank you, hope to hear from you.
God bless

Anonymous said...

sorry its *plan not plant :D hehehe. u know some typ-o mistake :D

beachanatic said...

The only ameneties in the island are few cottages and a toilet. You have to bring your own provision including drinking water and of course food. If you have complete diving gear then you can go scuba diving. There is no regular boat service going there. You just have to contact the numbers above and arrange for the boat to bring you there and pick you up after. I don't know now how much they will charge for the boat ride. Enjoy

Anonymous said...

Hey beachnatic thank you so much :D geeez im so happy to read ur response! Actually im just from Maasin. Would love to see that 4 islands and dive :D It would be amazing there for sure. Do u live there? thanks so much :).

Anonymous said...

hi there! the contact number that you jot down above are no longer in service..can i ask for another contact number pls? tnx ;-)

Anonymous said...

WHOOOWOOO!
Just went there yesterday! Damn! Napaka-cool! Walang katulad. at ang sandbar, sobrang ganda!

Anonymous said...

how can we go to this place?pls help me nman ohh,, i really need some contact numbers for more informations coz i dnt know this place kung saan magsakya or kung were magrent nang bangka!!pls guys ,help me,,,huhuhh

Anonymous said...

wow.. thank you so much for posting this blog.. i am from leyte.. to be exact from Tacloban city.. yet i've not yet discover this beautiful island. thankz..!

Anonymous said...

may i join you in one of your nature trips in the future?

Anonymous said...

Hello po!! Good day to you Father, ask lang po ako kung may new contact number na po kau sa boatman, we are now planning to visit this islands (june 23).... sana meron na ho.. thank you so much!! God bless you po...

Anonymous said...

Mngr Bernie contact number of boatman mang pedot:09168898993...the caretaker is his wife Vickki. Thanks for your blog..it inspires and na-i-inlove ako...

Anonymous said...

ganoon ba hindi naman pala mahal ang bayad pero sa pagkaka alam ko hindi lang iisa ang nagmamay ari ng island na ito so iisa lang yata ang sumingil ng bayad.

Kold said...

Safe ba dito at walang mga NPA members, may nagsabi sa akin na delikado raw sa may Inupacan at maraming kidnappings na nangyayari.

Jaja said...

hi all, baka may idea kayo magkano lahat ang budget if galing kang tacloban city.

Anonymous said...

ŠŸŠ¾Ń‡ŠµŠ¼Ńƒ рŠµŠ³ŠøстрŠ°Ń†Šøя Š½Šµ рŠ°Š±Š¾Ń‚Š°ŠµŃ‚ ?

Annie Girl said...

Hi! Is there a comfort room on Digyo island?

beachanatic said...

Yes, there is one public toilet. Since there is no running water you have to fetch water from the sea before you can use the toilet.

Anonymous said...

gud day ito po pla c vicky asawa ni pedot ang operator ng pumpboat papuntang isla gusto ko ipaalam na bago na po ang # na aming ginagamit kc po na reject na yong isa

Anonymous said...

ito po yung # naming bago kong gusto nyo po magpa book papuntang isla 09067058548 or 09394163721...salamat po...father pwd po ba mapalitan ang # na nkalagay dun sa taas ng mga # na ito?

c vicky po ito

Anonymous said...

wala pa po kc ako facebook kya anonymous nlang nlagay ko d2

solidadah said...

Been there in that place and it's really a paradise. Just a small island where you can walk around it. I made an article about beaches and I grabbed one of your picture together with the link of your blog, I hope it's okey.. kindly check this out..

http://trifter.com/practical-travel/nature-lovers-getaway-beaches/

beachanatic said...

It's ok, simplesoul. Just read your article and it's nice. Keep it up.

Anonymous said...

i would like to ask how many minutes pumpboat ride from inopacan to digyo island?

beachanatic said...

It's about 30 to 45 minutes ride to Digyo depending on the fastness of the boat.

Anonymous said...

father ganon pa rin ba contact no ni mang pedot? hope we can visit soon the beach paradise

beachanatic said...

Yes, that is the latest number that they gave me.

Anonymous said...

hello beachanatic i would like to know more information about digyo island i found it on my freinds pictures its cool place to have funs with my family,so me and my fiancee will have a plan to go that beach very son after our wedding but we dont know how much cost in total from ormoc-that inopacan and what baranagy we should stop to get the pumpboat in inopacan incase we get own car service and how much teh pampboat for round trip and how much there cottoges cost
tnx lots
hoping any comments soon

Anonymous said...

can i have also the right and correct cel.number of the owner? please..

beachanatic said...

Hello, the recent cel no of Pedot the boat owner is 0906-7058548 or 0939-4163721. However, he says that his boat is a big canter that can accommodate 30 persons and costs 3,500. Somebody by the name of Egay has a smaller good for ten persons and go for 2,500 pesos. There is no cottage yet for overnight stay in Digyo. You have to bring along your tents if you want to stay overnight. The entrance fee is 20 pesos per person and the kiosk rental is 200. The caretaker who resides in the island is named Clara. If you come from Ormoc, you go down at the town proper of Inopacan which is the town after Baybay. It's about 65 kms from Ormoc. The pier is just nearby. Enjoy your trip.

Ming Andrada said...

Hi, I love your post! I will visit the place on Monday with my mom, I hope there is a cheap boat for rent in roundway. By the way is Ate Clara is the owner? I sent her an msg but I got no reply.

Thanks a lot for this detailed post :)

beachanatic said...

Clara is not the owner but the caretaker of the island. Enjoy your trip.

Anonymous said...

I went to Digjo too in 2006. The boat fare is flat rate round trip. It doesnt matter how many people as long as the boat can handle it. If there's only few people you still have to pay the same rate.
It was beautiful and the water was very clear. I will be back for sure.

Anonymous said...

I had been there a couple of weeks ago, the Island so nice you will never regret.100% matatawag mo talagang VACATION.

Anonymous said...

wow ! ang ganda sana mka punta ako actually mahilig xa mga beach ! nga pla im jennifer manzano fr.sodog so, leyte ! punta ren kayo x canigao islang maganda rin doun

Anonymous said...

Hello, mao raba gihapon ang number ni pedot ug ni clara..? maybe will text or call them.. we plan to go to digyo maybe nextweek.. Hope to hear from you soon!! thanks

beachanatic said...

Yes, as far as I know, Pedot has still the same cell number.

yolly lor said...

Hello , pwde ko po bang malaman kung magkanu ang entrance fee, the cottage?

thanks .

Anonymous said...

hi , i am enterested this place taga hilongos parents ko gusto namo nga mag overnight stay sa digyo or any of the quatro isla mangayo mi ug list sa abang 1.boat round trip 2. pila bayad per head ang mga bata libriba 3.duna pa bay laing bayaran

i want your response as soon as possible para maka andam me

thank you vicky

cbismark said...
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cbismark said...
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Anonymous said...

Mons nice Blog! Baga yana ko la ini kakit-i. Hehehe. Sige gihapon tak purupasuada hit mga white sand beaches. Ha northern Samar Mons damo pa didto!

Unknown said...

Good Day....upon searching Digyo island...I came accross your blog...this was so beautiful and very inspiring for me as a solo traveler...your blogs was so nice to read and the pictures are so beautiful...
I have a schedule to go to this island on Seept.2012 and your site makes me more excited to see the island...Can't wait for my turn...weeee....
Have a good journey always...looking forward for more blogs to read...Godbless po!

Anonymous said...

Gusto po sana naming pumunta sa digyo island . magkano po ba ung babayaran namin sa pumpboat for roundtrip?? sana po ay tulungan nyo kami. pls kahit contact # lang po sa caretaker ng island. pls po. salamat :)

Liam'sMom said...

Sa mga bata entrace fee meron din pop