Leyte Island-Hopping: Cuatro Islas Inopacan/Hindang: Apid Himokilan, Mahaba, Digyo Island

What would you do with three hours to spare in a place where you have to leave and probably not re-visit again in the near future?

Well, maximize the stay, go out and explore, of course! This was what Tutubi did when he visited Bato, Leyte, having heard of the Cuatro Islas, part of the towns of Inopacan and Hindang, north of Bato town, one late afternoon.

Tutubi asked around Inopacan Barangay Poblacion where people let him to the barangay hall where friendly locals assisted him and pointed him fishermen who rented out their boats for PhP1,500.00 to do the island hopping tour of Cuatro Islas, literally meaning four islands consisting of Apid Island, Mahaba Island, Digyo Island and Himokilan Island touted as Leyte's "Hidden Gem" or Secret Hideaway.

Is there any truth to the claim?

Boat launching bayanihan-style on the beach of Inopacan, Leyte

Images of Cuatro Islas, Inopacan, Leyte:
(pictures taken early dusk at low light thus you can't see how white is white here like the sand)

Digyo Island "beach resort": you can pitch a tent to camp overnight here if you're looking for a place to stay

The most popular due to the most picturesque among the four islands is Digyo Island. It's also the smallest, you can actually circle the island on foot for about 30 minutes. It has a long beach tail that looks like a sandbar during low tide, with white sand a bit coarse but still something very good as it's not
developed (there's no entrance fee/environmental fee to be paid on the island (or the collectors were no longer around when Tutubi got there as it's already late)

the white sand of Digyo Island is a bit coarse (shown here is Tutubi's hand, rare appearance)

Late afternoon on Digyo Island white sand beach, no other people as it's getting dark

Mahaba island features a long beach and island form, thus the name which means long in Tagalog (Tagalog visitors named the island). There you can see white sand beaches fringed by limestone cliffs while under the water live colorful corals and fishes worthy good for snorkeling, and diving

Boats docked on the beach of Mahaba Island where several families live

Himokilan Island, is the fourth and last island visited, the nearest of the four to Inopacan town but is politically part of Hindang town. Quite a number of families live on the island, mostly fishermen. The beach here is surrounded with images of saints, perched on poles, and sort of take the role of guardians of the fishing village on the island.

Himokilan Island, part of Hindang town, has images of saints guarding the beach

Tutubi would love to re-visit these islands in the future, should the waves or the wind take him to that part of the world again. But next time, he wants to explore the underwater citizens around the islands

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Notes:

there are numerous dive sites near Cuatro Islas that can be explored by divers/snorkelers. No beach resorts but you can try asking local fishermen for homestays or you can pitch your tents for overnight camping. For hotels, there are some in Inopacan town, Hindang, Hilongos or Bato

The following day, Tutubi visited Canigao Island for lunch before going back to Tacloban to catch his flight back to Manila. He was also told about Calanggaman Island (Kalanggaman) further north in but it's too far to be visited, someday maybe, someday.

Boat rental rates start at PhP1,500.00 up depending on the size of the boat, how many you are in the group and, of course, how good your haggling skills are.

These islands are sometimes spelled as Quatro Islas, Digyo Island as Digjo Island.

Apid Island is not featured on pictures here as Tutubi didn't realy land there, farthest from the four and there's just no time left before the sunset. Pictures were blurry due to the shaky boat and low light conditions.


How to Get to Cuatro Islas, Inopacan, Leyte:

map of Cuatro Islas in the Camotes Sea between the islands of Cebu and Leyte (map via OpenStreetMap)

It's basically a flight to Tacloban Airport, or ferry to the Port of Tacloban, then a jeepney to Tacloban Transport Terminal, followed by a van/jeepney/bus to Inopacan (Duptours and Van Van comes to mind).

From Araneta Center Bus Terminal in Cubao, Quezon City, there are also overnight RORO bus to Leyte (CUL Transport, Ultrabus, Eagle Star etc.) if you don't have the moolah but lots of time and your butt can endure long bus trips. (Fare is around PhP1,200.00 travel time about 24 hours)

You can also take the overnight ferry from Cebu to Bato Leyte then board a jeepney to Inopacan or alternatively take the fast craft from Cebu to Ormoc, Leyte then take a jeepney to Baybay City followed by another jeepney to Inopacan town.