Ormoc is a city in the Philippines located in Leyte province. It Is the second most populated city in that province and serves as a home for many people. The name of the city comes from the word ‘ogmok’ which means lowland or depressed land. In this city, so many things take place including the annual Thanksgiving festival called the Tugob Festival. Below I have listed you the seven best things that you can do while in Ormoc, so here we go!
1. Have fun at Lake Danao Natural Park
Lake Danao National Park is a gorgeous place to have a nice pleasant afternoon outdoors. It is a place where you can take your whole family and have such a good time bonding.
There is a great view of the lake itself (which is tremendous by the way), and the whole grandeur of the scenery will bring a certain calmness to you. Plus, aside from just letting your eyes enjoy the surroundings, there is also the chance to take part in some of the fun water activities, for example rafting. Talk about the perfect Sunday afternoon!
Lake Danao Natural Park
Address: Brgy. Lake Danao, Ormoc, Leyte
Price: from 0.2 USD
Duration: around 3 hours required
Access: 30 minute drive northeast of Ormoc city via Luna - Dolores - Milagro Rd
Near by Food: Sal’s Bar and Restaurant
2. Cross the Puente de la Reina, Ormoc's oldest bridge
This is the oldest bridge in the city and has a lovely ancient look to it. It doesn’t just look ancient, because it IS ancient. I’m talking about the 1800s. Now let’s take it back in time a bit, shall we? This bridge used to be where boats docked when traders used to come into the city to sell their goods.
Best time to visit this bridge? Anytime! It is still in use up until this day because those cobblestones aren’t there for nothing, are they? Walking across this bridge is like walking through time, because around it is the modern world while the Punta de la Reina is historic itself.
Puente de la Reina
Address: Puente de la Reina, Jose Navarro St, Ormoc City, Leyte, Philippines
Duration: around 1 hour required
Access: Off Aviles Street right before Lorenzo’s Grill
Near by Food: Lorenzo’s Grill, iFun
Traveler's tips
Ormoc's city central is full of life, and, indeed, packed with many interesting finds. If you're to take a step further from the bridge, you may find a classic building that formerly housed the city hall way back then. The interiors of the building have since been overhauled into an art gallery, where local artisans and visiting creatives come together to showcase their spectacular works.
I visited the gallery in early 2020 out of curiosity. One of my friends who lived there told me about this trendy space upon our last meetup. Since I was already set for Cebu back then, to kill any remaining time I had left, we decided to head there for a good check. The Ormoc City Community Gallery and Art Museum is open to the public from Monday to Saturday. Admission is free of charge!
3. Savor the taste of Queen pineapples
In Ormoc, there is a famous plantation called SAL pineapple plantation. Here we have vast kilometers of nice tasty pineapples. The field itself is 210 hectares (518 acres) and is located in Brgy. In a day, over 2,000 harvests can be made. Yes, 2,000. Quite a number, right? You know these pineapples are so significant that there is a Queen Pineapple Festival. Imagine all the tasty goodness that happens on this day. The Queen pineapples derived their name from their taste. This sounds like such a fun time to have with the kids, and it is only half an hour away from the city center.
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4. Visit Alto Peak
Looking for a challenge? Want to push your body to new limits? Do you want to achieve something new? Then let’s climb Alto Peak. Alto Peak is one of the most frequently visited places in Ormoc, and it is not hard to see why. The slope can get up to a ninety-degree angle and would require ropes. How exciting does this sound? There are some beautiful trails that you would get to follow as you climb. Now since this one is quite a challenge, it would be more of a camping trip because it cannot be climbed in a day. While camping, you would get to enjoy the blanket of stars at night and wake up to the beautiful sunrise along with the beautiful sounds of nature.
Alto Peak
Address: Alto Peak, Ormoc, Leyte, Philippines
Duration: around 5 hours required
Access: 40 minute drive northeast of Ormoc city via Luna - Dolores - Milagro Rd
Near by Food: Sal’s Bar & Restaurant
5. Be sporty at Leyte Golf and Country Club
The Leyte Golf and Country Club is definitely one that you do not want to pass up an opportunity to visit. This Golf and Country Club is one of the most lavish places you will ever visit. It is not only a place you can go to play golf, but you will also get the opportunity to be taught how to play golf. This place provides a nice, quiet and serene environment and the hospitality here is very welcoming. Bring the kids along! They can enjoy themselves in the play area while you enjoy the golf. Can we just talk about the lavish green lawns? Can we? I mean talk about appealing to the eye! So go ahead and get sporty.
Leyte Golf and Country Club
Address: Sitio Can-lado, Brgy. Mabini, Ormoc City, Leyte
Price: from 20 USD
Opening Hours: 9am - 6pm
Duration: around 3 hours required
Access: 35 minutes south of Ormoc City on via Hermosilla Dr
Contact: +63 9065880378
Near by Food: Chicken Ati-Atihan Restaurant
6. Frequent cafes and bars
There are so many lovely places that you can go to get a drink or a quick bite. Here are some of my favorites. First, we have the Roma Café and Bar. There is a wide range of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to choose from. If you want a place where you and the girls can go for a nice evening out, or you and the bros can catch up over drinks, then Roma Café and Bar is the place to be. Then we have Bebidas Coffee Bar, where some of the best coffee is served. This place is located in such a relaxed area, and not only can you enjoy the great coffee but also smoothies, milkshakes, beer, wine and snacks, need I say more?
Traveler's tips
If all this is not enough to satisfy your sweet tooth, there is one place I'd love for you to visit. Ikea Cakes and Snacks (not to be confused with the Swedish brand IKEA) is best remembered for its decadent cakes, as well as snacks that pack up a homemade charm.
The chocolate cake is, without a doubt, a hit amongst the general public, and it has become the go-to 'pasalubong' or souvenir for the people of Leyte and even nearby islands. My parents have oftentimes visited Ikea Cakes and Snacks to buy the cake on their way back to their hometown.
7. Explore Leyte Geothermal Production Field
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Finally, we have the Geothermal Production Field. Here is where you can find the single biggest power plant in the world. There are actually five power plants on this field and one of them is the biggest. This geothermal plant is very significant to the city of Ormoc because it provides generated power to all of Leyte Island and some other areas around. It is located in Tongonan and can be spotted from a distance because of the white steam that it produces. How fun does it sound to visit the largest power plant in the world?
Leyte Geothermal Production Field
Address: Corner Tongonan, Kananga, 6531 Leyte, Philippines
Opening Hours: 9am - 6pm
Duration: around 3 hours required
Access: 30 minute drive north of Ormoc City via Palo - Carigara - Ormoc City Rd
Contact: +63 538936001
Near by Food: Big Roy’s Resto Grill
Experience the Ormoc magic!
After reading all this why would you not want to visit Ormoc? It is full of great people, places, and food. I mean from the pineapple festivals to the guitar shaped lake to the gorgeous scenic views, this place has got it all. Take your family for a nice long vacation at Ormoc and get to explore and learn how other cultures live and interact with the welcoming people. So what are you waiting for? Let’s go!
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