Kalanggaman Island has re-emerged as one of the country’s most photogenic escapes, thanks to a push by local officials and tour operators who say visitor numbers are finally matching the island’s online fame.
Municipal tourism chief Neil Ruiz said bookings for the tiny isle, located 45 minutes by boat from Palompon, jumped 30 percent this quarter after new package rates and stricter environmental rules were introduced last month.
He explained that the strategy balances access with sustainability, adding that daily arrivals remain capped at 400 to protect marine life. Ruiz said the island’s powder-white sandbars and crystal shallows have become “viral staples” on social media, but the real draw is an experience that feels unplugged and intimate.
Pristine beaches and sandbars
Kalanggaman’s postcard appeal begins with its dual sandbars — one stretches 753 meters, the other 250 — framing a lagoon of pale turquoise. Travelers reach the main shore around mid-morning, then walk the shifting bars for panoramic photos before high tide hides the tips.
Lifeguards patrol each end, enforcing a no-flip-flops rule on the sandbars to protect fragile starfish beds. Visitors often cool off afterward along the eastern cove, where the seabed slopes gently and currents stay mild.
Sunbathing platforms and hammocks dot the coconut grove nearby. Because shade is limited, the tourism office urges day-trippers to bring reef-safe sunscreen and refillable water bottles; single-use plastics are now banned.
Marine adventures await
Snorkeling remains the best-selling add-on. Guides lead small groups over gardens of branching corals inhabited by damselfish, parrotfish and the occasional hawksbill turtle. Visibility regularly exceeds 20 meters between March and June.
For paddlers, single and tandem kayaks can be rented at the ranger station. A 40-minute loop around the southern tip provides chances to spot eagle rays gliding along the drop-off.
Although motorized water sports are prohibited, freediving enthusiasts often practice breath-hold drills beside a roped buoy that marks an eight-meter ledge.
Camping under the stars
Overnight guests must bring their own tents, sleeping mats and headlamps because rentals are unavailable on site. Rangers assign numbered lots and issue each group a small trash bag that must be returned filled before departure.
Campers cook on portable stoves; bonfires are strictly forbidden. The reward, according to frequent visitor Liza Soriano, is a “planetarium-bright” view of the Milky Way once generator lights shut off at 10 p.m.
Soriano added that falling asleep to waves instead of notifications offers a reset many city dwellers crave.
Local economy benefits
Palompon Mayor Ramon Oñate said island fees already finance coastal cleanups and scholarships for tourism students. He hopes Congress will soon pass a bill declaring Kalanggaman a protected seascape, ensuring long-term safeguards even as promotions continue.
Meanwhile, small cafés on the mainland report higher sales of breakfast meals and dry bags, indicating spillover income for residents. Ruiz believes the model proves a community can earn from tourism without exhausting its natural capital.
Travelers can book day or overnight permits through the municipal website or accredited agents. Boats leave Palompon port daily at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m., weather permitting.
