Mapanas
Mapanas, Northern Samar is a coastal municipality covering 12,170 hectares across 13 barangays with a population of 14,264. Positioned along the renowned "Tuna Highway," Mapanas stands as one of the province's tuna capitals, where local fishermen carry on centuries of fishing tradition. The town features a coastal landscape filled with rugged rock formations, pristine white sand beaches, natural tidal pools, and hidden waterfalls within thick green forests. Key attractions include the heartshaped azure blue lagoon at Pinusilan Rock Formation (a key area of the Northern Samar GeoPark accessible via a bridge from Naputad Beach), the 20-meter-tall Mayong Payong Rock Formation, and the white sand shorelines of Naputad Beach and Luyang Rock Formation. The town is also known for its local delicacy isi (or huruhagdan – a traditional treat made of ground rice, sugar, and coconut milk), offering visitors activities like freediving, snorkeling, paddleboarding, and forest hiking.
How to get there?
To get to Mapanas, take a public van bound for Mapanas from the Catarman Land Transport Terminal via the Samar Pacific Coastal Road. Travelers coming from Eastern Samar can also reach the town through the National Highway connecting Arteche and Lapinig.
Attractions
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Where to Eat
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Where to Stay
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What to Do
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Map of Mapanas
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