The Marvel of Marabut

I have always subscribed to the saying that “big surprises come in small packages.” In a captivating archipelago endowed by the Almighty with 7,107 island wonders, this adage is ever so true in the best-kept tourist spots in the country’s off-the-beaten path.

One of these big surprises is the bucolic town of Marabut in Samar which takes pride in its diverse ecosystem, marvelous rock islands, crystalline waters, and its own little stretches of fine white sand beaches every Filipino travel bug longs for.

Your interlude with nature begins at Marabut Extreme Resort (formerly Marabut Marine Park) which offers a front row seat to the awe-inspiring limestone rock island formations that punctuates the bay. The scenery is so irresistible that the next logical thing to do is to paddle a kayak for the all-important island-hopping (or shall I say, rock-hopping) adventure.
Each rock island has an amusing shape and interesting features to showcase, among them, lush coral gardens, patches of greeneries, and white beaches, which are short in length, but never short in the unique experience they can offer.
A must-see is the Tinago Enchanted Lagoon and Cave which can be reached after about 30 minutes of leisurely paddling. Tucked behind the towering rock formations, it can be reached by passing through a low-ceiling tunnel-like entrance where a new world unfolds.

The lagoon is a rich wetland ecosystem teeming with mangrove forests which is a habitat to various species of fish and fowls, making the area their retreat at dusk.
Marabut Extreme Resort is also a swell venue for team-building excursions with its adventure facilities that would test the participants’ mettle physically and mentally.
It is also an ideal take-off point for a cliff trek to a vantage peak which affords you a breathtaking view of the vast expanse of Marabut Bay.

For a touch of luxury amidst a rural setting, guests can stay or dine at the newly-opened Caluwayan Palm Island Resort which boasts of well-appointed rooms with a view, a swimming pool, aquasports facilities, and a bar and restaurant for your cravings from regional Waray cuisine to Filipino favorites.
For a complete nature-tripping experience, visitors can trek the Kadongos Falls for a rejuvenating dip, snorkel at the Amambucale Reef, or simply gaze at the romantic sunset. Well, the things-to-do are really quite limitless in this proverbial small package and are better left to your imagination.

Finally, the good thing is you don’t have to go through hell to get to heaven. Marabut can be reached within an hour from Tacloban City Airport, passing through the iconic San Juanico Bridge and the meandering scenic roads which reveal Samar’s natural allure.

To know more about Marabut, log on to www.marabut.org.

Text by Bernard L Supetran