Leyte: Multi-Faceted and Feature-Rich
The province of Leyte in the Philippines has historic significance not only to its locals but to the entire nation as well. It is located in the Eastern Visayas region southeast of Manila, the Philippines’ capital city. It occupies the northern section of the island that also bears its name. Its nearby islands include the scenic province of Samar to the east and Cebu, a major tourist destination in the country, to the west.
The first major historical event in the Philippines and the province of Leyte took place here in 1543 when Spanish explorer Ruy Lopez Villalobos came here and named the place as Las Islas Felipenas after the Spanish royalty. As you might have guessed it, the country’s name is its derivative.
The next major historical event occurred in World War II. Modern history’s largest naval battle occurred in Leyte Gulf on October 1944. Winning the battles in Leyte was a key move for Allied victory in the Philippines. From this province sprung the liberation of the country from Japanese occupation.
Since the province has made its mark in the history of the Philippines, then you should expect to see historical sites. Some of these historic sites are McArthur’s Landing Memorial marking the spot of his promised return, old Spanish houses in Baybay, and the Filipino Soldier Monument.
The climate in the province is observed to have more rains from the months of November to January. However, you should take note that there is no particular dry season that occurs within an entire year. The climate is perfect for crops such as cassava, sweet potatoes, and sugar cane. The best time of the year to visit would have to be after the months of heavy rain have ended and onwards.
Accommodations and Hotels
There are a lot of possible accommodations in the province. You may go for a cheap inn if you’re backpacking or have a stiff budget. You may choose any of the hotels or resorts as viable options depending on location, grade, and location. For instance, the province’s capital, Tacloban City, has a very prominent hotel known as Leyte Park Hotel. It is located at the San Pedro Bay, which lends a nice tropical ambience to the place.
If you’re not the type who wants to stay in a downtown area with all the noise from the traffic and busy people outside then the Rosenvil Pensionne is a great place to stay. It is situated away from all the hustle of a downtown area and is cheaper than many resorts. You also have the option to get accommodations on beach resorts like the Olot Beach Resort, but you should expect to have the rates a bit higher than what you might expect.
There are accommodations in the downtown area where rates are a cheaper than most but you would have to endure the noise in exchange for accessibility to other key locations. Room rates in Leyte province would usually fall below $20 for the really cheap accommodations. The really expensive ones will go from $40 to $80 on room rates.
Restaurants/Dining Options