The driver picked me up a the Leyte Park Hotel at 8am. We then drove across the San Juanico bridge, and then on to Basey, Samar. About an hour drive. The private van cost me 3,000php. I am sure there are cheaper methods to make the trip. I just didn’t have the time to search around for them.

In Besay, they have a park station where you pay for the banka to take you on the hour long trip up river to the caves and natural bridge. The cost is just over 2,500php for the boat, which holds 7 passengers. Thus your fee is around 380 pesos. This includes the guided tour inside the caves as well.

Pictures of Sohoton Caves, Samar Philippines

At the station, I hooked up with 3 American medical volunteers and 3 Filipino seamen to share a boat. The ride was a bit long, but it was also my favorite part of the tour. I really enjoyed seeing the lush vegetation and observing how people lived along the river. I only have my Casio EX-Z8 camera for videos, so the quality is not as good as I would like, but here is a video of the river tour.

When we arrived at the caves, there was a very friendly and knowledgeable guide there to greet us. We first went up river a short while to the natural bridge. After taking pictures there and admiring the scenery, we headed back to the cave entrance. There we all given our hard hats and a flashlight. Then we went for a tour to see all the different rock formations in the caves.

When we came out of the cave it was raining. But the banka had a cover on it, and we stayed nice and dry during the ride back to Basey. From Basey I gave the three Filipino seamen a ride home to Tacloban in the van.

Really enjoyed this trip, and recommend it to anyone who enjoys eco tourism!

The tour lasted about 5 hours, and included Price Mansion, MacArthur Park, Palo Cathedral, Hill 120 and a side trip to the San Juanico Bridge. The price was 2,500php per person, 2 person minimum. Includes all entry fees, tour guide, air conditioned van and boxed lunch. Since I was alone, the tour cost me 5,000php. Expensive, but sometimes have to spend if you are limited on time and don’t know your way around. It was certainly convenient as it was all done via Leyte Park Hotel. The tour guide and driver were both friendly. Overall, I considered worth the cost.

Price Mansion is where General MacArthur had his office after taking Leyte back from the Japanese. There are several pieces of memorabilia there, including many pictures, the actual sound system used and other pieces. There is a hole in one part of the wall where they say a Japanese bomb was dropped while the General was in his office, but it did not detonate, and thus MacArthur was not hurt.

MacArthur Park is the site where General MacArthur made good on his famous oath to return to the Philippines when he was driven out of the country by the Japanese. There is a famous statue there commemorating his landing on the beach in Tacloban, and it was one of the main pictures I wanted to get while there.

Hill 120 is where the American flag was raised the first time during the re-taking of the Philippines.

Palo Cathedral is a very large church and was used for injured soldiers and civilians during the war.

San Juanico bridge connects the island of Samar and Leyte. This is a nice looking bridge, built during the 1970′s under the Marcos regime.

Pictures of Tacloban Philippines World War II Memorial Tour

The hotel was constructed by President Ferdinand Marcos and his wife, Imelda Romualdez Marcos. Tacloban is the home town of the former First Lady, Imelda Marcos. Ground breaking began on January 27, 1979 and was inaugurated by the first couple on July 2, 1980.

The grounds are peaceful and safe. The view out over the water is wonderful. The swimming pool is ok. There is free wifi, but only in the lobby. The staff is very friendly.

However, I did find the price of 2,500php a bit high, in that the rooms are showing their age, water pressure was poor and hot water almost non existent in my room. The breakfast buffet which was included with the room was average at best.

Though I enjoyed the staff and the grounds, my next trip to Tacloban, I will be looking for a better kept hotel with more reasonable rate.

Here is a short video I took on the morning of June 13, 2009 from the terrace in my room.

Pictures of Leyte Park Hotel in Tacloban