Biri Island is a small island saturated with natural attractions like the Biri Rock Formations. There are 7 rock formations: Magasang , Magsapad, Macadlaw, Puhunan, Pinanahawan, Bel-at and Caranas.
Biri Rock Formation at Biri Island, Samar
How to Get to Biri Rock Formations and Biri Island:
There are 2 jump-off points to Biri Island; Lavezares town in Northern Samar or Matnog in Sorsogon. Though the latter is closer to Biri Island, the boats doesn’t have fixed schedules.
*Nearest Airport to Biri Island is located in Catarman, with direct flights to and from Manila.
From Catbalogan, Samar to Biri Island:
There are vans (Grand Tours ) bound for Calbayog for Php 100 (1 hour) . The van will stop at their terminal in Calbayog where you can switch to a van headed to Allen (Php 100). At Allen, take a padjak (Php 20) to the town center and ask to be dropped to either tricycles or jeeps bound to Lavezares town. I would recommend taking a tricycle instead (Php 20; 30 minutes) as it gets full easily than waiting for the entire jeep to be full. Ask the tricycle driver to bring you to the pier or port where boats to Biri Islands are docked.
From Catarman, Samar to Biri Island:
Take a jeep bound to Lavesarez town (Php 50). At Lavezares town, look for the port where the passenger boats to Biri Island are docked.
From Allen, Samar to Biri Island:
At Allen, ride the tricycle bound for Lavesarez town, fare is Php 20. Tell the tricycle driver you will get off at the port where the passenger boats to Biri Island are docked.
From Lavesarez town to Biri Islands:
Passenger boats are available from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM only. Fare is Php 50 but sometimes due to lack of passengers, the boatman may ask you to just split the cost with some passengers. Travel time is 1 hour, fare is Php 50. The boat can accommodate maximum 6 passengers. If you miss the passenger boat, you can hire a pump boat to take you to Biri Island. Chartering the boat will cost you Php 300 (pakyaw rate).
From Matnog, Sorsogon to Biri Island:
There is a boat that travels to Biri Island regularly however the schedule is not fixed (forgot to ask the time). Fare is only Php 150. This is the easiest route. From Biri Island (poblacion port) to Matnog, Sorsogon, the boats leave daily at 7:00AM.
Alternatively, you can ride the ferry that connects Matnog to Allen Samar . From Allen, Samar, take a tricycle to Lavezares town and look for the port with boats bound for Biri Island.
Getting Around in Biri Island:
Take note that normally these passenger boats will NOT drop you at the poblacion (town center) in Biri Island where lodges and homestay are available. You have to ride a habal-habal (motorcycle) for Php 10 per person.
Biri Island to Biri Rock Formations:
Habal-Habal is the only mode of transportation to Biri Rock Formations. Tour rates are now standardized – Php 200 ( maximum 8 hours/ maximum 3 passengers) which includes Bel-at, Caranas, Magasang and Magsapad Rock Formations.
Pay the tourism fee for Php 50 per person at the Tourism Center or else, the poor habal-habal drivers will be penalized for one week. They will be prohibited to drive for 1 week, most of them have families so they could not afford not to work. There are people manning the jump off point to the rock formations so they know how many tourists are being brought to the area.
*Make sure to bring water and food as there are no stores nearby.
Recommended Home stay:
Ate Glo’s Homestay: Php 150 per day. It’s a blue bungalow house owned by a retired teacher who is now living in Catarman. There is a caretaker there Ate Neneng who will be glad to assist you. There are four rooms, and one shared bathroom. Mobile Number: +63 920 8698 668
Eateries are located near the port. Stores and eateries closes early. But if you are staying at Ate Glo’s they have a small store that sells canned foods and pancit canton that closes late at night.
Electricity: Electricity in Biri Island runs from 12 noon to 12 midnight only.
Signal: Smart Broadband is okay. Globe cellphone signal is okay.
* First published : July 12, 2012
* Updated: August 1, 2013
*Updated: November 14, 2013
*Updated: June 6, 2014
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Thank you Gael, andito na lahat ng kelangan ko! Been having second thoughts about going here later this year since I’ve been hearing talks of people being poisoned, na experience mo ba or narinig mo rin yun?
i heard about that too, my bro warned me. i got sick for over 5 days perosobrang ganda ng experience ko. sumama tiyan ko nung asa eastern at western samar ako kase my nakain ata akong sirang pagkain. pero s biri, wala naman. bumili naman at kumain ako dun kung saan saan. siguro s my mga away lang yun. 😀
Salamat Gael! Solo flight ka lang ba sa Biri? Will be going there solo lang din kasi, pangarap ko kasi maging pinoysolobackpacker eh hehe
Very detailed ate Gail! Kaya dami mong fans eh including me hehe! Ganda jan! Namiss ko magisland hop woot.
gustong gusto kong puntahan ‘to… sana soon! thanks for the info Gael… deadma sa mga issue ng poisoning… magdadala nalang ako ng sariling food… hehehe! 🙂
yakang yaka mu yan kaw pa! 🙂 thank you din s mga post mu, malaking tulong pag tinatamad na ako mgresearch. haha mababaet naman taga samar, actually gus ko tumira dun. hehe pero yeah, ingat pa din s food at lalo na s water. nasira tiyan ko kase nung asa eastern samar ako, kala ko immune na ako kase sanay ako s amg street foods, d pala. 1 week ako nagkasakit. enjoy Mervz! 🙂
heard about this place from a tour agency. and i wondered if it was possible to head there independently. apparently, it is! great guide!
this is such a nice place to visit. nice people, they are not abusive. the air is so fresh. the view is the best. you can swim in the natural pools carved by the waves through decades in the rock formations.
I love Biri! Maraming salamat Gael for the guide, very helpful during our trip 🙂
Thank, salamat.Wonderful Biri island.
The travel guide is impressive, helpful & well written.
K U D O S to your website. God speed.
I will visit biri soon ! hahahaha !
Hi Gael. Do you have a contact number of Ate Glo’s Homestay?? After going to the rock formations, where would you suggest us to go, just somewhere near the area.
Hi gael. Is there any other place in biri or nearby biri where we can stay that have an airconditioned room? with hot and cold, few to mention..like other hotels..thank you gael.
hi, not sure about the AC rooms but yes, there are budget hotels in Biri. rate is roughly Php 300 for twin rooms.don;t have the contact info though.
Thanks for sharing. I will be coming from sorsogon,and I’m thinking the route matnog-biri as the best for me. May I know from somebody if what time the boat leaves from matnog?
g300
thank you for posting such a nice place. that’s our very own!!
Wow! i’ve been to Biri last year. One day isn’t enough to get to 6 rock formations. 🙂 Ganda dun sobra! 🙂
I’ll be visiting you nxt year! Excited to be fascinated by biri 🙂
crossing my fingers to visit Biri island including its majestic rock formations next month…hopefully the weather would cooperate, jejeje…am a bit afraid with big waves…but still, pag nararanasan naming mag biyahe sa mga isla at medyo maalon or maalon talaga…tinatawag nalang namin yan na..it is our “adventure on high seas”..jejeje