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Voykit pocket guide · Philippines
Hilongos
Spend a half‑day (4–6 h) in Hilongos as a port stop; add a night only if you need local transport to nearby towns.
Hilongos is a small coastal town on Leyte Island, mainly a ferry gateway to Bohol and nearby Leyte towns. Its attractions are limited, so a few hours suffice unless you plan a day trip to Tacloban or Ormoc.
- Country
- Philippines
- Best months
- Dec–May (dry season)
- Avoid
- Jun–Nov (rainy 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 ₱500–800 excl. bed · Mid ₱800–1,500 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Globe and Smart sell SIMs at airports; SIM registration with passport is required by law.
- Emergency
- National emergency 911 · Police 117 · Fire and 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 |
|---|---|
| Coffee (café) | ₱50–80 |
| Rice meal with fish or meat | ₱80–150 |
| Bottle of water (500 ml) | ₱20–30 |
| Tricycle ride (short distance) | ₱20–40 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- TAC · Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport (Tacloban)
- About 70 km (43 mi) north, 1.5 h by bus/jeepneyAbout 43 mi (70 km) north, 1.5 h by bus/jeepney
Typical fares
- Hilongos → Tacloban (jeepney or bus)
- about ₱150, 1.5 h (check)
- Hilongos port → Ubay, Bohol (ferry)
- about ₱300 round trip, 2 h (check)
- Tricycle, short hop in town
- ₱20–40
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
Jeepney and tricycle are the main local transport; hire a tricycle for short trips or a jeepney for inter‑town routes.
See and do
Known for
- Hilongos Port
- Ferry connections to Bohol
- Gateway to eastern Leyte
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tacloban | Jeepney north via the Pan‑Philippine Highway, about 1.5 h | ≈2 h round trip |
| Ormoc | Jeepney south via the highway, about 2 h | ≈4 h round trip |
| Bohol (Ubay) | Ferry from Hilongos port, about 2 h | ≈4 h total including boarding |
Sleep
- Hilongos town center guesthouses
- Basic rooms, walkable to port; check availability
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Pasensya napah-sen-sya na |
| Thank you | Salamatsa-la-mat |
| How much? | Tagpila ito?tag-pee-la i-to |
| Where is the bathroom? | Nasaan ang banyo?na-san ang ban-yo |
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
- Ferry schedules can change; confirm times with Roble Shipping or Gabisan Shipping.
- Road travel may be slow during the rainy season; plan extra time.
Low street-crime risk for a small port town; the real hazards are typhoons (Jun–Nov), wet-season road delays on the Pan-Philippine Highway, and ferry schedules that change without notice. Keep bags with you at the port and confirm your onward boat the day before.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Hilongos yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Hilongos Port
- Ferry connections to Bohol
- Gateway to eastern Leyte
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Philippines Department of Tourism: www.tourism.gov.ph/
- Wikivoyage: Hilongos, revision 3883293 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=3883293
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Hilongos
Paki-dala dito
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No foreign embassy in Hilongos; the US and most others keep embassies in Manila and a consulate in Cebu. Register your trip and keep a photo of your passport.
Port and highway town: keep the ferry ticket and your onward bus fare in cash.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/hilongos). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.