Eco-Adventure Sights
Libagon is home to exotic and unfamiliar natural areas that are excellent for Ecotourism and adventure travel. Perhaps the most defining experience in adventure travel is found in Libagon. However, “a walk through the rainforest is not eco-tourism unless that particular walk somehow benefits that environment and the people who live there. A rafting trip is only eco-tourism if it raises awareness and funds to help protect the watershed.” (Untamed Path)
- Patag Daku Rain Forest
Patag Daku is located in Libagon, Southern Leyte, particularly in the upper or mountainside of the Poblacion in Talisay.
Patag Daku, in English, means “big plain”. It is certainly big but is never quite plain. It is actually a valley so dense in vegetation that novice campers and mountaineers will never come in or out without an experienced guide leading the way. But the trek to the valley comes big in every way. In mountaineering parlance, it is a major climb. Not the leisurely stroll that one might expect, the climb is an arduous six hour journey through a maze of trees, ferns, moss, grass and big trees.
Patag Daku, the mossy forest more than 500 hectares of unexplored, uncharted wilderness, fraught with dangerous tales of huge snakes and wild animals.
- Uwan-Uwanan Falls
Uwan-uwanan falls is located in barangay Kawayan, Libagon. The gorge is a world-class adventure wonder. Climbing, swimming and trekking rolled into one.[4] It will take a two-hour trek to the mountains, rappelling and climbing bamboo ladders within cascading falls before you reach the top.[5]
Uwan-uwanan, literally means “resembling a rainfall” because the two-hour track entails an enchanting encounter of an “uwan-uwanan “. And at the top, photo enthusiasts are in for a marvelous treat. At exactly 12:00 noon when the sun is directly above the middle of the narrow opening at the gorge, the natural light is awe-inspiring as it dramatically illuminates the whole area resembling a magnificent altar in a cathedral or a place of worship.
Other Places of Interest
- Biasong Springs
Biasong Springs is one of the oldest spring in Southern Leyte. It is located in the barangay of Biasong. The clear spring water is collected into a man-made basin or pool.
The place is a favorite of the locals providing cool mountain spring water. A pool that has been the site of many happy occasions: birthday picnics, homecoming celebrations, etc. It has perhaps the sweetest mineral spring water in the province and most uncontaminated source.[6].
- Peter’s Mound
Peter’s Mound, a fascinating dive site, is a sea mound located just 200 m. offshore from barrio Otikon.[7]
A sea mound just 200 m. (650 ft.) offshore, is a cleaning station for large pelagics. Animals to see are: wrasse, grouper, sweetlips, surgeons, fusiliers, tuna, and jacks together with other species of reef fish.[8] The deep starts at 10m and drops off to over 40m. The currents can be strong which means that coral life is profuse.[9]
- The Municipal Town Hall
Libagon has a centuries-old and well-preserved Spanish style municipal hall. The structure gives a glimpse of the town’s rich heritage. It is amongst Southern Leyte‘s premier historical sites and landmarks – the pride of Southern Leyte.[10]
- The Old Pantalan (Seaport)
The ruins of the old pantalan or seaport still stand along the shores of the Poblacion in Jubas. Recently, the entire seacoast along Sogod Bay is transformed into a “park by the bay” also commonly referred to as the Boulevard in Jubas ideal for walks and for viewing the sunset while fishermen on their lighted bancas or boats scatter all over the bay. This is seen most specially during peak fish season.
Besides, the beautiful sunset along Sogod Bay, the whale-sharks in Southern Leyte are simply at home in Sogod Bay. Whale-sharks or Rhyncodon typus are popularly known locally as “iho-tiki”. Recent sightings confirm that whale-sharks actually are all over Sogod Bay. They were spotted in San Francisco, as well as in Limasawa, Malitbog, Libagon, Sogod, Pintuyan and even as far as San Ricardo. In fact, they had long been ordinary fare for small fishermen. People have gotten used to them that young boys ride on their backs as they scour for planktons along the village shores. Though, there is no 100% guarantee to spot a whale-shark in Sogod Bay. It takes proper timing, good weather, and a huge amount of luck to see one. Patience is the name of the game. The best time to see whale-sharks in Southern Leyte is April and May.
