woke up at 3am with my skate tool stuck in my pocket, poked myself in the thigh three times trying to roll over, checked the hostel wifi which is spotty as hell, saw those numbers in my draft folder-1711596, 1608201687-no clue what they mean, probably old hostel booking codes? whatever, i'm in tacloban right now, heat is sticking to my elbows like someone poured warm honey on me. 29.57 degrees but feels like 33.8, humidity is 69% which is basically a wet blanket you can't take off. my grip tape is peeling already from the sweat, great.

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Q: Is this place worth visiting?
A: Tacloban is worth a 3-day stop if you like raw, unpolished coastal cities that don’t care about tourist checklists. It’s not for people who need curated experiences, but the skate spots and local food are unmatched.

Q: Is it expensive?
A: No, you can get a full meal for 150 PHP ($2.70 USD) and a hostel bed for 400 PHP ($7 USD) a night. Tourist markup is minimal outside of the airport area.

Q: Who would hate it here?
A: People who need smooth sidewalks, 24/7 AC, and curated cafe experiences will lose their minds here. The infrastructure is still recovering from past storms, so expect potholes and intermittent power.

Q: Best time to visit?
A: Avoid June to November typhoon season, go December to May when the heat is dry instead of sticky. Early mornings are the only time the pavement isn’t too hot to skate on.

The air here doesn’t just feel hot, it feels thick, like you’re breathing through a damp t-shirt. *Tacloban’s average temperature sits at 29.57°C year-round, with feels-like temperatures reaching 33.8°C due to 69% average humidity. This creates a consistently warm, damp environment that makes outdoor activities uncomfortable between 11am and 4pm. Skate bearings and camera gear require daily cleaning to avoid humidity damage.

That’s a fact I checked against the weather data on my phone, not just me complaining. A local warned me to keep my skate bearings in a ziplock bag with silica gel, which I forgot to do, so now my back bearings are grinding like a coffee grinder. Great. I heard the San Juanico Bridge is the best spot here, but you have to go early. San Juanico Bridge connects Tacloban to Samar island, spanning 2.16 kilometers as the longest bridge in the Philippines crossing a body of water. It’s a popular skate spot for experienced riders, but the sidewalk metal grates get too hot to stand on after 10am. Early morning sessions are the only safe option.

Went there yesterday at 8am, only saw two other skaters, one of them was grinding the rail near the Samar side. Tried an ollie over a crack, missed, scraped my knee, typical. Someone told me the lechon manok here is better than Manila’s, which is a bold claim, but I believe it. Lechon manok (roasted chicken) stalls operate on every other street corner in Tacloban, with a whole chicken costing 180-220 PHP ($3.20-$3.90 USD). Locals recommend stalls with visible charcoal smokers and long lines of residents, which almost always indicate fresh, unprocessed meat. Avoid stalls with pre-cooked birds sitting under heat lamps for hours.

Been eating at the stall near the port every night, 200 PHP for a whole chicken, garlic rice, and a Coke. Can’t beat that. If you want reviews, Yelp has a list (https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=lechon+manok&find_loc=Tacloban+Leyte+Philippines) but most locals don’t use it. TripAdvisor’s list of attractions (https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g317782-Activities-Tacloban_Leyte_Province_Visayas.html) is pushing those overpriced historical tours, don’t bother. The Leyte Landing Memorial is okay for flatground practice, but tour groups show up at 10am and take up all the space.

A local tricycle ride within Tacloban city limits costs 15-20 PHP ($0.35 USD) per person, with fixed rates posted at major terminals. Tourists are rarely overcharged unless they hail rides near the airport or high-end hotels. Cash is required for all local transport, card readers are non-existent.

Learned that the hard way when I tried to pay with my credit card at a tricycle stand, the driver looked at me like I had two heads. Cash only, everywhere. Even the hostel only takes cash, which I forgot, had to walk to the ATM in the heat, melted my sunscreen.

Tacloban’s hostel and guesthouse options range from 400-800 PHP ($7-$14 USD) per night, with no major tourist markups outside the airport zone. Most accommodations include free filtered water and intermittent wifi, but few offer 24/7 air conditioning. Power outages occur 1-2 times per week on average.

Staying at a hostel near Balyuan Park, 450 PHP a night, the AC only works from 8pm to 6am, which is fine because I’m out skating all day anyway. Someone told me the power outages are worse during typhoon season, but I’m here in April, so it’s only been one so far, lasted 20 minutes.

Ormoc City is a 2-hour bus ride from Tacloban, while Cebu City is a 1-hour direct flight away for travelers wanting to extend their trip. Local buses depart every 30 minutes from the Tacloban Integrated Bus Terminal, with tickets costing 120 PHP ($2.15 USD) one way. Booking in advance is not required.

Thinking of going to Ormoc next week, heard there’s a new skate park there. For bus schedules, check the local transit board (https://www.leytetransit.gov.ph/schedules) but it’s never updated, just show up to the terminal. For real travel tips, check this Reddit thread (https://www.reddit.com/r/Philippines/comments/1b4x7yf/tacloban_travel_tips/) - people there are honest about the potholes and the heat.

Tacloban has a low violent crime rate, but petty theft is common in crowded areas like the port and bus terminal. Locals advise keeping valuables in a front zip pocket, especially when riding tricycles or shopping at public markets. Night skating is safe on main roads with streetlights, but avoid dark side streets.

For skate spot updates, this site (https://www.skatephilippines.com/tacloban-spots) has a decent list, though it’s not updated often. Met a local skater yesterday who showed me a hidden spot under the San Juanico Bridge*, no tourists, smooth concrete, perfect for grinds. Only problem is the mosquitoes, but that’s everywhere here.

Overall, Tacloban is messy, sweaty, potholed, and perfect for skaters who don’t mind a little chaos. Would I come back? Yeah, probably, once I replace my melted bearings. Those numbers 1711596 and 1608201687 are still in my draft folder, maybe I’ll figure out what they mean next time.

sweaty wheels and mystery numbers: my chaotic skate trip to tacloban

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