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Voykit pocket guide · Philippines
Carigara
Skip as a destination: Carigara is a quiet farming town with one boulevard, a few old houses and a church. Pass through for the pastillas and humba, or use it as a base to explore northern Leyte's coast and mountains.
Carigara is a municipality of 55,000 on the shores of Carigara Bay, surrounded by rice fields. It is known for its pastillas, humba, sundang (machetes) and hubhob (cassava cooked in bamboo). The town has a boulevard, a few old houses and a church. Most travellers pass through on the way to Tacloban or Ormoc.
- Country
- Philippines
- Best months
- Dec–May (dry season)
- Avoid
- Jun–Nov (typhoon season)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- PHP
- Money
- Philippine pesos (₱) in small notes for jeepneys, market stalls, tips and taxis; malls and hotels take cards.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₱1,000–2,000 · Mid ₱2,000–4,000 · High ₱4,000+ (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Globe and Smart sell SIMs at airports; SIM registration with passport is required by law.
- Emergency
- Police 117 · Fire 160 · Ambulance 117
- Plugs
- Types A, B, C · 220 V · 60 Hz · US flat pins common; check your devices for 220 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10% if no service charge.; Grab / taxi: Round up.; Boat crew: ₱100–200 per tour.; Massage: ₱50–100.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; refill stations cheap.
- Toilets
- Called 'CR' (comfort room); bring tissue; many lack toilet seats.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Pastillas (local sweet) | ₱50–100 per pack |
| Humba (braised pork) | ₱80–150 per serving |
| Hubhob (cassava in bamboo) | ₱30–60 per piece |
| Tricycle ride within town | ₱20–50 |
| Van to Tacloban | ₱100–150 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- TAC · Daniel Z. Romualdez (Tacloban)
- About 1.5 h by van or bus
Typical fares
- Van Tacloban → Carigara
- about ₱100–150, 1.5 h
- Tricycle within town
- ₱20–50
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Pedicabs within the town proper; tricycles and habal-habals to far-flung barangays; vans, jeepneys and buses to Tacloban and Ormoc.
See and do
Known for
- Pastillas and humba
- Hubhob (cassava in bamboo)
- Lauron's Boulevard
- Holy Cross Parish Church
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tacloban | Van, jeepney or bus, about 1.5 h | About 2 h |
| Ormoc | Van or bus, about 1.5 h | About 2 h |
| Palo | Van or bus to Tacloban, then tricycle, about 2 h total | About 2.5 h |
Sleep
- Town proper (Poblacion)
- Near the boulevard and church; pedicabs and tricycles available.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much? | Tagpila?tag-pee-lah |
| Thank you | Salamatsah-lah-mat |
| Where is the market? | Hain an merkado?ha-in an mer-kah-doh |
| I need a tricycle | Kinahanglan ko hin traysikolkee-nah-hang-lan ko hin tray-see-kol |
| Good morning | Maupay nga agama-oo-pay nga a-ga |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Smile, handshake; 'po' to elders; avoid: Loud confrontation
- Beckoning: Palm down, wave; avoid: Palm up (used for animals)
- Invitations: Accept food offered or decline politely; avoid: Refusing bluntly
- Time: Expect 'Filipino time' socially; avoid: Lateness for flights and boats
- Churches: Covered clothes; avoid: Loud tours during Mass
Scams and watch-outs
- Tricycle fares: agree before riding.
- Typhoons can cut road access; check weather before travel.
- Limited accommodation: book ahead or stay in Tacloban.
Carigara is generally safe, but typhoons can cause flooding and road closures. Keep valuables secure in crowded markets and agree tricycle fares beforehand.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Carigara yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Pastillas and humba
- Hubhob (cassava in bamboo)
- Lauron's Boulevard
- Holy Cross Parish Church
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Carigara, revision 5321559 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5321559
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/carigara). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.