Limasawa Island Travel Guide (Southern Leyte)

Blog Updated on January 16, 2026 by Aldrick ‘chiki’ Agpaoa

Limasawa Island, Southern Leyte Overview

Lying southwest of the Province of Southern Leyte, Limasawa Island is located right at the mouth of Sogod Bay. This tadpole-shaped island has the GPS coordinates 9.9303° N, 125.0746° E. First known as “Mazaua” according to the chronicles of Antonio Pigafetta, Limasawa is known as the “Cradle of Christianity” in the Philippines as this island is believed to be the site of the first Easter Mass on March 31, 1521. This was also the second stop of Magellan’s expedition (after Homonhon Island) and is the smallest municipality in the province of Southern Leyte.

Limasawa Island is known for its pristine and white sand beaches, simple and laid back island life, which I also saw through their livelihood (which is fishing). There is also a popular diving spot in Napantao Marine Sanctuary where numerous coral reefs and several species of fish are found. When I visited Limasawa Island as part of my personal #Project82PH, I can say that the people here are friendly (but shy), and the atmosphere is just relaxing – sans the crowds. The island also holds one of the most important pieces that mould the history of the Philippines.

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Best time to go to Limasawa Island

The Philippines generally only has two major seasons, the Wet Season (from June to October) and the Dry Season (from November to May). The best months to visit Limasawa Island are from March to May, where the tropical weather is at its peak and the warm, humid air dominates the landscape. The average annual temperature range in Limasawa is from 23 °C to 32 °C (73.4 °F to 90 °F). The warmest months on the island are from April to May, and the coldest months are from December to January.

How to get to Limasawa Island

Since Limasawa Island is off the coast of Southern Leyte, here are some limited travel options to get to the island:

By Air

The faster way to get to Limasawa Island is by air. The nearest airports to and from Limasawa Island are: Surigao Airport (IATA: SUG) in the province of Surigao del Norte and Mactan-Cebu International Airport (IATA: CEB) in the province of Cebu.

By Water

From Cebu:

*After landing from the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, you can reach Cebu Pier 1 in around 30 to 45 minutes. From there, you can purchase a ticket going to Maasin City. Fastcraft travel time is around 3 hours and the fare is around ₱ 1100 (OceanJet).

From Surigao City:

*After landing from Surigao Airport, you can reach Surigao Lipata Port in around 15 to 30 minutes. From there, you can purchase a ticket going to Maasin City. Fastcraft travel time is around 2 hours and the fare is around ₱ 800 (OceanJet).

From Ubay, Bohol:

*After arriving at the Port of Ubay, you can reach Maasin Port via the M/V Cesar Jose. Boat travel time is around 2 hours and 30 minutes and the fare is around ₱ 250-300 (RLS Shipping Lines).

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– From Maasin Port, ride a multicab going to Padre Burgos Port (in the municipality of Padre Burgos) for around 45 minutes. The multicab fare (Maasin to Padre Burgos) is ₱ 50.

– From Padre Burgos Port, ride a boat bound for Limasawa Island (schedules can vary anytime). The boat ride can take up to 1 hour and the fare is around ₱ 150 – 200.

– From the Port of Limasawa, you can now explore the Island via tricycle or habal-habal.

Things to know about when visiting Limasawa Island

Land Area	6.98 km² (2.69 mi²)
Languages / Dialects spoken	Filipino, English, Cebuano, Boholano, Waray
Cellular Signal	Globe: Poor to Fair Smart: Fair to Good Dito: N/A
Socket Standard, voltage (V), frequency (Hz)	Type A: 2 Parallel Sockets Type B: 2 Parallel Sockets with 1 Grounding Pin Type C: 2 Round Pins Voltage: 220 V Frequency: 60 Hz
Modes of Payment	Cash is King in Limasawa Island. Though some establishments accept Digital Wallets (i.e. GCash) for some transactions.
Currency used	Philippine Peso (PH₱)

Basic Cebuano / Bisaya Sentences / Phrases you might need to know

– Hi / Hello = Hi / Hello!

– Goodbye = Paalam!

– Thank you = Salamat!

– Excuse Me = Tabi sa

– How Much = Pila? / Tagpila?

– Good morning = Maayong buntag!

– Good afternoon = Maayong hapon!

– Good evening = Maayong gabii!

– How are you? = Kumusta?

– Where is ___? = Asa ang ___?

– Delicious = Lami!

Exploring in and out of Limasawa Island

The main modes of transportation on Limasawa Island are tricycles and habal-habals (motorcycle taxis). When visiting Limasawa, I recommend that you get Kuya Joel (+63 935 620 3348) as your tour guide. He will take you to places that can be seen on the island and it can be done in a day tour.

There is virtually no traffic on the island as the population there is sparsely distributed and only a few people live there. Generally, the road conditions are mostly paved, with some portions being dirt roads. Overall, visiting Limasawa Island is an experience on its own – having a glimpse of what shaped Philippine History into what it is today.

*Note that the places, prices, and information written as of publication date and time are true and are given best during my visit. Changes may occur without prior notice. If you notice any changes to the information given above, you can e-mail me here so we can dish things up!*

We’re born to travel!