Lake Danao Natural Park

Lake Danao Natural Park is a protected natural lake and park located in Barangay Lake Danao, Ormoc City, Leyte, Philippines, about 18 kilometers northeast of Ormoc City proper at around 650 meters above sea level. Centered on the guitar-shaped freshwater Lake Danao, the 2,193-hectare park is known for its forested mountains, calm waters, floating cottages, and biodiversity. It serves as a major ecotourism destination and watershed for Ormoc and nearby communities.

Visitors can expect a calm, guitar-shaped freshwater lake surrounded by forested hills and mountains at about 650 meters elevation. The park features a lakeside viewing deck, floating cottages and rafts, and boats for paddling on the lake. Areas to explore include the lakeshore, viewpoints overlooking the water, and forested trails. The environment is quiet and natural, with opportunities for sightseeing, photography, boating, and picnicking in a cool mountain setting.

Lake Danao is a natural lake of volcanic and tectonic origin that has long served as a watershed for Ormoc City. It was initially declared as Lake Danao National Park and later re-established as Lake Danao Natural Park under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS), covering 2,193 hectares to protect its forest and freshwater ecosystem.

The lake is valued by local communities as a watershed, livelihood source, and recreation area. Its distinctive guitar shape and mountain setting are prominent in local identity and ecotourism promotion, and it serves as a key natural attraction and gathering place for residents of Ormoc and Leyte.