ABCD Beach (Calicoan Island)
- Shortboard, Longboard
- Best for
- Advanced
- Skill Level
- Ocean
- Spot Type
- Empty
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
ABCD Beach on Calicoan Island is an exposed, reef-coral break known for world-class surf and very long rides. The wave is described as powerful and consistent, working from roughly 1.0–1.5 m and holding up to around 2.5 m (and beyond) while delivering peeling waves to both lefts and rights. Reports emphasize that the break is best at mid to high tide—especially on a rising tide—because the reef becomes too exposed at low water. Conditions are clearest and most striking for surfers: the bottom is a sharp reef with rocks and sea urchins, and strong rip currents/tidal flow can intensify during larger swells. This makes the lineup feel intimidating and punishes mistakes quickly, particularly when the tide drops. Local guidance highlights using booties and timing sessions around rising mid-tide rather than low tide. For wind sports, the spot is mainly described as advanced. Kitesurfing opportunities are tied to the Amihan season and are framed as advanced wave riding; however, the same shallow, sharp reef that defines the surfing also makes it unsuitable for beginners. Wingfoiling is also limited by shallow depth and is only considered feasible at high tide, requiring expert familiarity with the local seabed topography. Crowds are typically low: reports describe it as rarely crowded, with only a few surfers on weekends. Facilities are basic but practical for a surf trip, including parking, food/drink options, and showers/toilets, while gear support is limited to surfboard rentals and basic repair/storage through local accommodations and camp operations. The area has no lifeguard presence reported and emergency help is expected to route through Guiuan town facilities.
- Exposed reef-coral break with world-class quality
- Long ride potential (often 150–300 m on good days)
- Best performance at mid and high tide with rising tide
- Crystal-clear water quality reported
- World-class, consistent exposed reef break with powerful Pacific swells
- Long rides (often 150–300 m on good days) reported
- Crystal-clear water and generally rarely crowded lineup
- Extremely hazardous reef conditions (sharp coral, rocks, sea urchins) especially at low tide
- Moderate wind reliability and gusts; wind/reef combination increases risk for less-experienced riders
- No lifeguards and rescue is not dedicated/motorized
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- W, SW
- Offshore directions
- W
- Wind Range
- 15–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Mixed — West/Southwest winds can align with clean offshore conditions for Pacific swell.
- Reliability
- moderate
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Moderate gusts reported.
- Best Months
- December, January, February
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 7–12 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean
- Beach
- Sand — Sand beach.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Big — Big swells; starts working around 1.0–1.5 m and can hold up to 2.5 m+.
- Launch
- Medium — Sandy beach launch into a reef-bottomed bay.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — Moderate launch difficulty reported, with sharp reef hazards.
Through the year
Rarely crowded overall; small weekend influx reported.
June to December (typhoon risk; active periods often June–December).
By sport
What to expect for each.
Advanced wave-riding opportunity during the Amihan wind season; reef is very shallow and sharp, making it hazardous for beginners.
- Kite Sizes
- 7–12 m²
Foilable only at high tide due to shallow reef; best for wave-winging but requires expert knowledge of local bottom topography.
- Foil Friendly
- Limited — Limited foil-friendliness due to shallow, sharp reef conditions.
- Min Depth
- 1.5 meters
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
World-class exposed reef break handling large Pacific swells with long, fast rides (rights and lefts). Works best mid to high tide; on low tide the reef becomes especially hazardous.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- E, NE, SE
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid, High — Best tide position is mid and high, especially with a rising tide.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed reef break on the Pacific side; less protection from swell/wind.
- Wind Effect
- West winds provide cleaner offshore conditions for Pacific swells.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds size well but becomes very heavy and expert-only on larger swells.
- Wave Quality
- World class — World-class wave quality reported.
- Wave Power
- Powerful — Powerful reef break with world-class quality.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Peeling shape described.
- Peel Speed
- Fast — Fast peeling described for the reef break.
- Ride Length
- Long — Long, fast sections; typical rides reported between 150 and 300 m on good days.
- Typical Ride Length
- 150–300 m
- Ride Length Details
- Waves can provide long, fast sections with rides between 150 and 300 meters on good days; very long ride days up to ~300–500 m are also reported.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for ABCD Beach (Calicoan Island) in the full forecast view.
ABCD Beach (Calicoan Island) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 3–12 ktsGusts 15 kts
- Direction
- NE54°
- Strongest day
- Tue, Oct 2712 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.9–1.6 m8s period
- Temperature
- 27–29 °C
Over the next 7 days, ABCD Beach (Calicoan Island) is forecast for daytime winds of 3–12 kts, peaking around 12 kts on Tuesday, October 27 with gusts to 15 kts. The prevailing direction is NE. Waves run 0.9–1.6 m with a period of about 8s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- sharp coral reef
- sea urchins
- rocks
- submerged boulders
- strong rip currents and tidal flow especially during large swells
- shallow water at low tide
- urchins and sharp rocks on the reef
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguards reported.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — No dedicated motorized rescue service for wind sports/wind activities; assistance is generally provided locally.
- Emergency Info
- Nearest medical facilities are in Guiuan town (~30 minutes away by road). Emergency numbers reported: 112 and 911.
- Localism / Vibe
- Moderate — Moderate localism reported.
Rules of the spot
Standard surfing etiquette applies; respect the local surfers who manage the lineup.
- Not recommended at low tide due to exposed reef
- Booties are highly recommended due to sea urchins and sharp reef.
- Best on a rising mid-tide (mid to high) to avoid hitting shallow reef/rocks.
- Avoid low tide when the reef becomes especially exposed.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Tacloban
- Nearest Town
- Guiuan
- Nearest Airport
- Tacloban City Airport (TAC) / Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport
- Parking
- Limited parking available near local surf camps and resorts.
- Public Transport
- Local transport is mainly tricycles and vans-for-hire linking to Tacloban City; access to the island typically involves transfers from the mainland.
- Access
- Accessible by road from Guiuan via the Calicoan Island bridge (per provider notes).
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- Waray-Waray, Tagalog, English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Near — Several surf-focused resorts and guest houses are located directly at the beach or within walking distance in Sulangan.
- Food & Drink
- Local resorts offer seafood and traditional Filipino dishes; small sari-sari stores available for basic snacks.
- Equipment Rental:
- Surfboards are available for rent at beach-front camps; specialized kite/wing gear is limited.
- Gear Storage
- Limited storage offered by local surf resorts for guests.
- Gear Repair
- Basic surfboard ding repair is usually available through local surf guides/camps.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
Calicoan is described as an eco-adventure area with uncrowded beach and cave experiences alongside the main surfing focus.
White sand beaches, natural pools, and caves.
A natural cave featuring a crystal-clear freshwater pool for swimming.
Local heritage sites in Guiuan town.
Historic 18th-century church in Guiuan, noted for shell ornamentation.
Explore limestone caves and forest lagoons.
Bike or motorbike trail through jungle between barangays.
Boat trips to nearby uninhabited islands and sandbars in the Leyte Gulf.
Fresh seafood and local dishes.
Local open-air dining spots serving fresh seafood and Filipino staples.
Snorkeling and swimming in clear waters.
Exploring long stretches of white sand and coral formations.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at ABCD Beach (Calicoan Island)?
The best overall months at ABCD Beach (Calicoan Island) are September, October, November, December, January, February, March. The best wind months are December, January, February.
Which wind directions work at ABCD Beach (Calicoan Island)?
ABCD Beach (Calicoan Island) works with W, SW winds. Offshore directions are W.
What equipment sizes are recommended at ABCD Beach (Calicoan Island)?
Recommended equipment sizes at ABCD Beach (Calicoan Island): Kitesurfing: 7–12 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 15–25 kts.
What skill level is ABCD Beach (Calicoan Island) suitable for?
ABCD Beach (Calicoan Island) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Advanced · Wingfoiling: Expert · Surfing: Advanced.