Region

Northern Samar

Base in Catarman; day-trip Biri, Capul and Laoang. 3–4 nights cover the highlights.

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Key facts · Philippines

Visa: Depends on your passport
Currency: Peso (PHP, ₱)
Language: Filipino and English
Plugs: A · B · C · 220 V
Time zone: UTC+8 all year

Month by month hereIn detail ↓

Rules in force · 5Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…

Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
Philippines ↗Complete the free eTravel registration on the official government site within 72 hours before arrival; ignore lookalike sites that charge.
Philippines ↗Typhoon season runs roughly June to November: flights and boats are cancelled at short notice; buy flexible tickets and keep a spare day.
Philippines ↗Carry pesos in small notes; many stalls, jeepneys and taxis are cash-only.

Northern Samar is the gateway from Luzon to Eastern Visayas via the Allen roll-on/roll-off port. The province is known for the Biri rock formations, Capul Island lighthouse, and quiet island beaches. Most sights are spread across the coast and islands, so a single base in Catarman (the capital) with day-trips by van, jeepney or boat works best. The province is typhoon-prone; check the weather window Nov–Apr.

Where to sleep

3 places in this region

Sleep base

CatarmanCity guide
Capital, airport, hotels and nightlife.
Best Dec–May
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Catarman →

Day trip

CapulCity guide
Lighthouse and island views; boat from mainland.
Best Feb–May
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Capul →
LaoangCity guide
Island municipality with beaches and mangroves.
Best Feb–May
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Laoang →

Plan the nights

How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags

Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags

Night sequences

3 nights: Catarman 3, day-trip Biri and Capul
4 nights: Catarman 4, add Laoang and Palapag

Typhoons can shut Catarman Airport and the Allen port for 1–2 days; have a buffer day.
Boat schedules to Biri and Capul depend on weather; ask locally the day before.

Day-trips door to door

To	From	Door-to-door p50	Last return	Note
Biri Rock Formation	Catarman	90 min	check	Boat from Biri port; rock formations are tide-dependent.
Capul Island	Catarman	120 min	check	Boat from mainland; lighthouse and Spanish-era fort.
Laoang	Catarman	60 min	check	Van or jeepney; island tours by boat.

Bags between cities

Check

When to go

Months and weather

Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate

Seasons at a glance

From each city's month table

Pick a month to see where to go.

Only good-now countries

Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table

Country	JJan	FFeb	MMar	AApr	MMay	JJun	JJul	AAug	SSep	OOct	NNov	DDec
Catarman	go	go	go	go	go	×	×	×	×	×	×	go
Capul	×	go	go	go	go	ok	ok	ok	ok	ok	×	×
Laoang	×	go	go	go	go	ok	ok	ok	ok	ok	×	×
Philippines (country-wide)	go	go	go	ok	ok	ok	ok	×	ok	ok	ok	go

Go: the good monthsFair: workable, mixedPoor: heat, rain or hazeAvoid: storms, floods, closuresno data yet

Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.

Climate strip

Month by month

Zone	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Coastal Northern SamarEntire province	dry	dry	dry	ok	wet	wet	wet	wet	wet	ok	dry	dry

ok: workablewet: daily rain

Coastal Northern Samar: Dry season Nov–Apr; wet season May–Oct with typhoon risk Aug–Oct.

Best months are also the driest: Jan–Apr. Expect rain any time; pack a rain jacket.

Getting in and passes

Arrival times and regional passes

Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes1 partGet in

Get in

Door-to-door p50, 2026 estimate

From	To	How	p50	Note
Manila	Catarman	Flight (Cebu Pacific, PAL) via Catarman Airport (CRM)	~1 h 30	Daily flights; check current schedule.
Manila	Allen	Bus via roll-on/roll-off ferry	~12–14 h	Buses depart from Cubao and Pasay; the ferry crosses the San Bernardino Strait.
Tacloban	Catarman	Bus or van	~3–4 h	Road via Catbalogan; vans are faster.
Calbayog	Catarman	Bus or van	~1 h 30	Direct route along the coast.

Eat and move on

Regional food and where to go next

Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next

Regional food

Where and when it works

Dish	Where	Timing / trap
Seafood (grilled fish, kinilaw, crabs)	Coastal towns and Catarman	Fresh catch daily; try the local kinilaw (ceviche).
Binagol (taro dessert)	Catarman and Palapag	Sweet taro with coconut milk, wrapped in banana leaves.
Suman (rice cake)	Markets	Common snack; buy from street vendors.

Go next

Samar Island region guide

planned

Road or bus

Explore the rest of Samar: caves, waterfalls and the Samar Island Natural Park.

Samar Province

planned

Bus or van via Catbalogan

Southern Samar with Calbiga caves and the Sohoton Natural Bridge.

Eastern Samar

planned

Bus via the coastal road

Surf town of Borongan and the Pacific coast.

Leyte Island

Ferry from Allen to San Isidro or bus via Tacloban

Leyte's WWII sites, Kalanggaman Island and the San Juanico Bridge.

Planning aids

Built from this guide's own data

Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…

Region in numbers

Where to sleep: 1 base
Day trips: 3, 1 h to 2 h
Nights suggested: 3–4 nights
Ways in: 4 listed
Best months: No month rated best

Going in…

Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.

Pick a month.

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Deep dive

Photos, reading and every source

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Sources

Ask about Northern Samar

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