Island Garden City of Samal by limledi
Island Garden City of Samal is emerging as a major travel destination. The island is only a 30 minute boat ride across the Pakiputan Strait. It boasts two exclusive resorts and a host of smaller accomodation for budget conscious travelers. Samal used to be the place to find a romantic pearl-diving atmosphere, but no longer. The days of prosperity for the once lucrative Aguinaldo Pearl Farm on the island are over. Nowadays, a first-class hotel complex - the Barcelo Pearl Farm Island Resort - spreads along the picturesque bay where only a few years ago thousands of oysters produced cultured pearls. And it is an exclusive resort; uninvited day visitors may not be admitted.
The white Paradise Island Beach on the north-west coast is the best beach on Samal. To the north of the Paradise Island Park & Beach Resort stand the cottages of the Coral Reef Beach Resort, and to the south, a little out of the way, the Costa Marina Beach Resort.
Big and Little Cruz, also known as the Ligid Islands, north-east of Samal, are good for diving. There is another good diving area near the Barcelo Pearl Farm Island Resort at Malipano Island, where the wrecks of two WWII ships lie 30m below water.
Once a year in the first week in March, the island celebrates the Pangapog Festival. Highlights of this many faceted festival are the boat races (Bancarera), a sandcastle building competition, and a street parade in Penaplata with colourful dance and music groups.
