Mountain · Lamitan, Basilan
Basilan National Park
The forested heart of Basilan, dominated by Basilan Peak at around 971 metres.
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Beach · Lamitan, Basilan
Calugusan Beach
A white-sand public beach in Lamitan, a short drive from Bulingan Falls.
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The place
Beach in Lamitan, Basilan
A white-sand public beach in Lamitan, a short drive from Bulingan Falls.
Beach
Traced to its sources since the guide was written.
When to go
Avoid high noon, when the sand glares and the heat is fierce; at low tide broken shells and coral cover the shore.
Safety in Basilan
Basilan carries standing foreign-government advisories, and several countries advise against all travel to parts of it. The situation around Lamitan and the coastal corridor is markedly better than the advisories’ blanket framing, and Filipinos travel there routinely. That is not the same as it being unremarkable. Coordinate with the provincial or city tourism office, travel with local contacts, stay on the main corridor, and do not improvise into the interior municipalities.
About this place
Calugusan is a barangay of Lamitan with a strip of white sand on the coast. It is the usual swim after a visit to Bulingan Falls.
At low tide broken shells and coral cover the public beach, and a writer who visited in 2015 found it deserted. A gated private beach less than a kilometre further on is cleaner, with clearer water and a small wharf.
What to do
Swim at the public white-sand beach
At low tide broken shells and coral cover the shore, and the noon sun is hard, so bring water and shade.
langyaw.comWatch the jumps off the small wharf
Local young people jump from the small wharf into deep water between the public beach and the gated private beach, less than 1 km further on, where the water is clearer.
langyaw.com
Before you go
- Coordinate with the Lamitan city tourism office before visiting.
- Bring water and shade; the noon sun is hard on an empty beach.
Where you’ll be
Lamitan, Basilan
Sources
Crafts made in Lamitan
Every craft of the region
textileYakan weavingYakan tennun is the dense, brightly patterned woven cloth of the Yakan of Basilan, made in named categories such as the seputangan, sinaluan and bunga sama. The seputangan, worn by women at the waist or as a head cloth, is the most intricate design.Valenzuela400 · CC BY-SA 4.0Photo by Valenzuela400, CC BY-SA 4.0. Open the source file.
Where to sleep in Basilan
resort
Sitti Auna Riverland Resort
Lamitan
Resort in Lamitan City; venue of an MIPA workshop, October 2026
bangsamoro.gov.ph · as of 2026-10- No photo of this pension yet
pension
ARCAR Pension House
Lamitan
Listed by Lamitan City under accommodation
lamitancity.gov.ph · as of 2024-05 - No photo of this guesthouse yet
guesthouse
Lamitan City Terminal & Hostel
Lamitan
Hostel at the city terminal, listed by Lamitan City under accommodation
lamitancity.gov.ph · as of 2024-05
Named where a public source names them; no rates or availability. Ask the place directly.
More to see nearby
Everything in Basilan
Museum · Lamitan, Basilan
Datu Kalun Shrine and Museum of Lamitan
A park honouring Lamitan's founder, and the museum of the Lami-Lamihan festival.
Best: Around June 29, for the Lami-Lamihan Festival
Heritage · Lamitan, Basilan
Monte Santo Shrine
A Catholic pilgrimage shrine on Mount Ubit, walked as the Stations of the Cross in Holy Week.
Best: Holy Week, when pilgrims walk the Stations of the Cross
Nature · Lamitan, Basilan
Forever Tulip Garden
A garden in Lamitan of 30,000 tulips cut from recycled plastic bottles.