Travel Tip: How to Get to Capul Island, Northern Samar

Capul Lighthouse

Capul is a historic island municipality in the province of Northern Samar. According to folklore, the name "Capul" came from the word Acapulco, signifying its important role on the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade. Sitting in the middle of the treacherous waters of San Bernardino Strait, it is well-known for its ancient fortress church, Spanish-era lighthouse and its local language called "Inabaknon" or "Abaknon", which is a unique language only used in Capul.

Matnog Port in Sorsogon

How to get to Capul Island? Here's how:

Via Matnog, Sorsogon

There are boats from Matnog Port that leaves daily for Capul Island. The boat can be found at the beach on the side of Matnog Ferry Terminal near the bus station. It leaves at around 10:00 AM, travel time is about an hour and fare is 100 pesos per passenger. This boat arrives at Barangay San Luis which is about 20 minutes away by habal-habal (single motorcycle) to poblacion (town center).

Ferries bound for Allen, Northern Samar

If you miss this boat, you may take the ferry to Allen and take the options below. The ferry leaves Matnog port at around 11:00 AM and fare is 130 pesos plus 30 pesos terminal fee. Travel time from Matnog to Allen is about an hour.

Boat bound for Capul in Dapdap Port

Via Looc Port in Allen

Also known as Balwharteco, Looc Port in Allen has daily passenger boats bound for Capul Island. This boat is the most convenient option as it arrives directly in the town's poblacion. It leaves Looc Port at 12:00 noon everyday, travel time is about an hour and fare is PHP 50.

The same boat leaves Capul Island between 6:00 - 7:00 AM the following day bound for Allen.

Via Dapdap Port in Allen

If you missed the boat in Looc Port, you may go to Dapdap Port which is just a 15-minute tricycle ride (PHP 15/person) from Looc Port. There's a passenger boat that goes to Capul every Monday, Wednesday and Fridays and they leave at around 2:00 PM. This boat arrives in Barangay Oson which is about 20 minutes habal-habal ride to the poblacion. Habal-habal fare is 20 pesos per person from Oson to poblacion.

Via Victoria

Another way is to go the town of Victoria (the next town south of Allen). Take a jeepney or tricycle from Allen going to Victoria and alight at the town center. From there, hail a pedicab to the port where you can ride a public boat to San Antonio island. Travel time from Victoria to San Antonio island is around 20 minutes, fare is PHP 30 per person.

Upon arriving on San Antonio Island, take a habal-habal to Sitio Dalupirit, fare is PHP 40 and travel time is about 15 minutes. From there, you can charter a boat going to Capul Island. Boat rental costs around 400 to 600 pesos depending on the size and the number of passengers. Travel time is around 20- 30 minutes.

Capul Lighthouse Hill

CONTACT PERSONS

Capul Tourism Office - 0930-1611831 (Mr. Marlo Cabatingan)
Habal-habal Driver - 0929-492-8338 (Kuya Jojo)
Boat to Capul - 0905-9208324 (Noel Salvacion)

Capul Lighthouse

Capul Island is one of Northern Samar's treasures that is generally out of the usual tourist path. An offbeat destination just waiting to be explored! Come and discover Capul Island!

This trip to Capul Island happened last February 14-15, 2014.

More photos on Pinoy AdvenTurista's Facebook Page, click here.