Aloha! It’s 2017 and I’ve started the year with a very adventurous and “buwis-buhay” experience. This is my first ever trip to Mindanao particularly in CARAGA region. On the very first day of the year, we landed to the City of Island Adventures or what we have known as Surigao City then traveled to Siargao, the surfing capital of the Philippines.
Siargao offered a different experience to me. It is not just the islands and the beaches. To me, it is more on the waves, the dialect and the people. Siargao could be a place I can compare with Palawan (particularly Coron) though I can say Siargao has already been dominated by foreigners. My brother even compared it to Bali in Indonesia. Unlike Coron, it is still rising as one of the best destinations in the Philippines and I’m blessed and lucky to be in such a most talked about place.
DAY 1
There were a couple of unfortunate moments we have struggled before we reached Siargao that made this day a very memorable one. This is not to scare you or something, I just want to share my experiences.
(1) First, we were not able to land on time in Surigao due to very thick clouds; thus, the airport was not visible. The captain had already announced that if the airplane fails to clear the clouds then, we have to go back to Mactan Airport with just enough fuel. The plane took four rounds of circling around the island to clear the clouds before we have successfully landed. Thank God!
(2) Second, since it’s a New Year’s Day, no vessels travel to and fro Siargao. But, we were informed that a small pumpboat was ready to pick us up to Siargao. (FYI, there is actually a direct flight from Cebu to Siargao but we mistakenly have booked a flight from Cebu to Surigao. We actually wanted to drop by Mabua Pebble Beach in Surigao but we missed it due to time constraints.) I will not recommend you to ride a very small pumpboat from Surigao to Siargao though it would just take 2 hours. Always check if they have life vests ready and look for that paper where you fill up your names as passengers in case of any untoward incident. If you want a #SafeAdventure, catch the earliest fastcraft/ferry at 5AM or the RORO or just go for a direct flight to Siargao. The waves are seriously huge and horrible. By saying “horrible”, they’re really dangerous. For us, those waves aren’t normal. We were not informed that we would end up so swamped that all the things inside our bags were very wet. Dry bags are a must! View the video in this link.
There were 9 of us in a very small pumpboat – 3 foreigners, 1 local passenger, 1 captain, 1 assistant and the 3 of us, my brother and Angel his girlfriend. At first, we were chill and confident. We even laughed at the challenging waves from the Pacific Ocean and how they tickle our tummies whenever our boat hit against the waters. But passed an hour later, one foreigner started to cuss on the boat captain which made me feel nervous convincing myself that it was no good anymore. I could still remember how the waves would cover us including our pumpboat.
We passed through a really bad storm. For 15 minutes, we were cold and shaking. We couldn’t see any island around just pure thick clouds. We barely opened our eyes because salt water and rain keeps splashing to our faces. We were holding each other, shaking, covering our bags, keeping our phones and cameras safe and praying. I couldn’t cry because I do not know what to feel. I was trying to relax myself but my body shakes on its own. I was thinking a lot of what ifs. I was thinking my life would end up January 1, 2017. But after that storm, the big waves became normal to us. We just wanted to reach the island already. Grateful that we survived, we reached Del Carmen port and luckily, a tricycle driver found us and brought us to General Luna Cloud 9 where we looked for a room to stay. The people there just said that it was “normal” and it was just first of our adventure. Well, I almost died Day 1.
1. Surfing at Cloud 9
Surf board: 200 pesos per hour
Instructor: 300 pesos per hour
We reached Cloud 9 and checked in at Ocean Pacific Inn, the only resort we found to have an available room. The resort also serves food and there, we took our lunch. We prepared ourselves for surfing at the famous Cloud 9! Surf boards for rent are 200 pesos per hour and since we are newbies, we also got two instructors with us for 300 pesos per hour. For you to really enjoy, I suggest you should get an instructor.
Before getting started, we had a quick orientation on how to ride on the surf board and where to place our feet when we stand up and balance on it. We were able to figure out which leg is stronger — stuff like that. What the instructors do is they push your board along with the big wave that’s about to come. They also makes sure that your surfing experience is well documented and you would end the day learning and enjoying how to surf.
As a newbie, I enjoyed it. You might be hitting your head with someone’s surf board or you might roll under the sea when you fail to balance and stand up on the surf board, but it’s definitely worth the experience. It is such a nice feeling when you would be able to stand up and balance yourself. According to my instructor, surfing competitions happen on September so I guess it would be a great time to visit Siargao during that month.
DAY 2
Instead of separating the island hopping and our trip to Socorro, we decided to do them in one day when we found a negotiable boat referred by one of our surfing instructors. Two foreigners joined us during island hopping: @rossreekie and @elenaisierendeeuphorie.From General Luna, we traveled to Bucas Grande Island by boat (this time, a larger boat) for 2 hours. And there, we realized that those waves we encountered during Day 1 were really “normal ” because we faced the same big waves during our island hopping. Eventually, I just got used to it.
2. Club Tara Resort
Entrance Fee: 30 pesos each
Paddle Board Rent: 200 pesos per hour
Club Tara has given me a very good impression. Though I was a little turned off by the pool that was not well maintained, it was okay. Nature gave beauty to it and I guess you’re paying for the picturesque view when you decide to stay there. There were some who just stopped over there for lunch but we just enjoyed swimming and rowing the paddle board for 30 minutes.
Club Tara has given me a very good impression. Though I was a little turned off by the pool that was not well maintained, it was okay. Nature gave beauty to it and I guess you’re paying for the picturesque view when you decide to stay there. There were some who just stopped over there for lunch but we just enjoyed swimming and rowing the paddle board for 30 minutes.
3. Sohoton Gamay: Crystal Cave Paradise & Bolitas Cave
Entrance Fee: 50 pesos
We had a quick extraordinary spelunking experience when we reached Sohoton Gamay known to have the twin caves of Bucas Grande namely Crystal Cave Paradise and the Bolitas Cave. Entrance fee is 50 pesos for the 2 caves. The guide provided each of us with a helmet and a torch/flashlight before getting started.
Inside Crystal Cave Paradise was the first time I have seen shimmering formations of stalagmites and stalactites in a cave. They were like big stones showered with silver dusts — just fascinating. One is not allowed to touch any of those in order to preserve the beauty of the crystals.
We had a quick extraordinary spelunking experience when we reached Sohoton Gamay known to have the twin caves of Bucas Grande namely Crystal Cave Paradise and the Bolitas Cave. Entrance fee is 50 pesos for the 2 caves. The guide provided each of us with a helmet and a torch/flashlight before getting started.
Inside Crystal Cave Paradise was the first time I have seen shimmering formations of stalagmites and stalactites in a cave. They were like big stones showered with silver dusts — just fascinating. One is not allowed to touch any of those in order to preserve the beauty of the crystals.
4. Tiktikan Lake
Entrance fee: 25 pesos each
After the quick spelunking experience, guess we had to prepare ourselves for a jump at Tiktikan Lake. Others stop at Tiktikan Lake for snacks or meals but we just dropped by for a quick cliff jumping. For the non-swimmers, they can provide you with life vests.
Cliff jumping has 2 options — you can jump at the 15 feet (2-storey high) or to the first level just below it. Of course! I went for the first level. (Hahaha Why do I have to scare the shit out of me?) Plunging to the blue waters made me feel so accomplished though I only took the first level. Achieved!
After the quick spelunking experience, guess we had to prepare ourselves for a jump at Tiktikan Lake. Others stop at Tiktikan Lake for snacks or meals but we just dropped by for a quick cliff jumping. For the non-swimmers, they can provide you with life vests.
Cliff jumping has 2 options — you can jump at the 15 feet (2-storey high) or to the first level just below it. Of course! I went for the first level. (Hahaha Why do I have to scare the shit out of me?) Plunging to the blue waters made me feel so accomplished though I only took the first level. Achieved!
5. Sohoton Cove: Hagukan Cave & Magkukuob Cave
Permit Fee: 100 pesos (Foreign) 50 pesos (Local)
Entrance Fee: 190 pesos (Foreign) 70 pesos (Local)
Table Charge: 50 pesos
Pump boat with 2 Boat Guides: 800 pesos
Jellyfish Santuary: 100 pesos each
For us to discover the rest of the lagoons and caves, we still had to pay some entrance and environmental fees. Fact: Every island has fees and the fees differ when you’re a local or a foreign tourist. Elena (@elenaisierendeeuphorie) considered that as being racist just because she’s white she had to pay double. Of course, as local tourists, this favors us. This might not really be a big issue but they are aware of this and they care about their expenses too. Just to do something about it, we told the teller we are all 5 locals in the group though we had 2 foreign joiners. LOL
Our boat docked in the main cottage and we agreed with our boatman to meet in Cafe Grande for our lunch after our tour at Sohoton Cove. After we settled some fees, we transferred to a smaller boat and proceeded with the tour.
For us to discover the rest of the lagoons and caves, we still had to pay some entrance and environmental fees. Fact: Every island has fees and the fees differ when you’re a local or a foreign tourist. Elena (@elenaisierendeeuphorie) considered that as being racist just because she’s white she had to pay double. Of course, as local tourists, this favors us. This might not really be a big issue but they are aware of this and they care about their expenses too. Just to do something about it, we told the teller we are all 5 locals in the group though we had 2 foreign joiners. LOL
Our boat docked in the main cottage and we agreed with our boatman to meet in Cafe Grande for our lunch after our tour at Sohoton Cove. After we settled some fees, we transferred to a smaller boat and proceeded with the tour.
In order to enter and exit the Sohoton Cove, it has to be low tide. The passage is like an underground river and when you see the light, such a wonderful beauty of a paradise welcomes you. There were rock formations around and one of them is the Horse’s Foot.
We proceeded to Hagukan Cave where we discovered the luminous waters in Sohoton. When you splash the waters from the inside of the cave, the waters show you neon lights instead of the usual clear water. The cave is also one of the homes of the Balinsasayaw birds in which the ingredients of the bird’s nest soup is taken from.
6. Lunch: Cafe Grande
Cook Fee: 100 pesos
Utensils/Table Fee + Rice Ordered: 220 pesos (5 persons)
It was almost 2pm when the small boat brought us to Cafe Grande where we met with our boatman. We took our lunch there and paid another fees for the utensils used, cook fee for the chicken meat and the rice we ordered.
We also paid for the Jellyfish Lagoon but sadly we missed it. That was supposedly the highlight of the day but we missed it and we had to because we were running out of time going back to General Luna which is another 2 hours. We just quickly dropped by the main cottage and asked for a refund.
It was almost 2pm when the small boat brought us to Cafe Grande where we met with our boatman. We took our lunch there and paid another fees for the utensils used, cook fee for the chicken meat and the rice we ordered.
We also paid for the Jellyfish Lagoon but sadly we missed it. That was supposedly the highlight of the day but we missed it and we had to because we were running out of time going back to General Luna which is another 2 hours. We just quickly dropped by the main cottage and asked for a refund.
7. Naked Island
Back to General Luna, we reached Naked Island and it is truly bare. No coconut trees, no cottages just benches and white sands. Glad we came there in the afternoon and Mr. Sun was out already. It would be so hot in there during the day. It was the best time to inflate my Yunixx (that’s the name of my unicorn floater) but not the best place to swim with her because of the strong waves during that time. Our boatman advised we use it to Guyam Island so we carried the very big unicorn to the boat and brought it to the next island.
8. Guyam Island
Entrance Fee: 10 pesos each
My unicorn was an instant celebrity. The passengers from the other boat was pointing at her. How could a boat be carrying a huge unicorn? Haha. When we reached Guyam Island, a group of Mexicans immediately borrowed her for picture taking. Funny, all of us got united for a unicorn. One of them even talked about uno, dos, tres, kutsilyo, baso, la mesa — words that we, Filipinos have too. So good to have met and laughed with people from around the world.
My unicorn was an instant celebrity. The passengers from the other boat was pointing at her. How could a boat be carrying a huge unicorn? Haha. When we reached Guyam Island, a group of Mexicans immediately borrowed her for picture taking. Funny, all of us got united for a unicorn. One of them even talked about uno, dos, tres, kutsilyo, baso, la mesa — words that we, Filipinos have too. So good to have met and laughed with people from around the world.
Daku Island was also 15 minutes away but we decided to just have a nice view of the island from a far and spent the sunset at Guyam Island.
DAY 3
Motorcycle Rent: 500 pesos per day
Gasoline: 40 pesos per liter
In the morning, we decided to rent a motorcycle for us to tour around Siargao and do resorts hopping! My brother just learned how to drive and this was one of the moments when he was able to enhance this skill. Motorcycle rent is 500 pesos per day but if you rent it for two days or more, the rate would go down to 450 or 300 pesos depending on the number of days. (May also depend on your haggle powers) Of course, you pay for your gasoline. Gasoline is 40 pesos per liter. We loaded ours with 2 liters and it was more than enough for the whole day.
In the morning, we decided to rent a motorcycle for us to tour around Siargao and do resorts hopping! My brother just learned how to drive and this was one of the moments when he was able to enhance this skill. Motorcycle rent is 500 pesos per day but if you rent it for two days or more, the rate would go down to 450 or 300 pesos depending on the number of days. (May also depend on your haggle powers) Of course, you pay for your gasoline. Gasoline is 40 pesos per liter. We loaded ours with 2 liters and it was more than enough for the whole day.
9. Malinao Beach
Malinao beach in general is truly “malinaw” or calm. Unlike the huge horrible waves, here was just a good place to relax and enjoy nature. Some parts of the beach are still under renovation and improvement. At the other side are the mangroves. You could imagine a crocodile hiding somewhere behind them. (Haha)10. Bayud Beach Resort
Bayud Beach Resort was also under revamping. What we did, we looked for another passage to take a peak of the resort but we ended up in a strange distant beach so we just went back to the main road so we wouldn’t waste our time.
11. Dedon Island Resort
Dedon Island Resort has superb reviews and was already featured in one of the articles of Forbes as one of the coolest hotels in the world. We got so intrigued. Though we haven’t booked a free day tour in the resort, we still pursued entering but the security was so tight we just ended up taking pictures in front of the gates. Haha.
12. Magpupungko Beach and Tidal Pools
Entrance Fee: 50 pesos each
Magpupungko Beach is one hour away from General Luna. It’s tidal pools would tell us that there could be a lot of beautiful things to see and experience when it is low tide. The beach got giant waves and during low tide this pool becomes visible. It’s deep and a lot of beautiful fishes hide in it. Some take advantage of the pool for cliff jumping and others for snorkeling.
Magpupungko Beach is one hour away from General Luna. It’s tidal pools would tell us that there could be a lot of beautiful things to see and experience when it is low tide. The beach got giant waves and during low tide this pool becomes visible. It’s deep and a lot of beautiful fishes hide in it. Some take advantage of the pool for cliff jumping and others for snorkeling.
13. Boardwalk
Lastly, we visited the famous Boardwalk Resort in Cloud 9. It’s a nice place to chill where you can enjoy the fresh salty air overlooking the dangerous yet fascinating big waves.
DAY 4
Five in the morning, we tried to catch the earliest fast craft – Fortune Angel- but tickets were already sold out. So, we bought tickets for RORO Montenegro instead and took 3 hours to reach Surigao City. Mabua Pebble Beach is around 30 minutes from the city but we skipped it to check in our flights early.SCHEDULE OF FERRIES FROM SURIGAO PORT TO DAPA PORT
MV LQP. Surigao to Dapa – 5:30AM | Dapa to Surigao – 10:00AM
M/V DCL. Surigao to Dapa: 7:30AM | Dapa to Surigao 1: 30pM
DAPA EXPRESS. Surigao to Dapa: 10:00AM | Dapa to Surigao – 5:30AM
FORTUNE ANGEL. Surigao to Dapa: 11:45AM | Dapa to Surigao – 5:45AM
RORO MONTENEGRO. Surigao to Dapa: 12:00PM(noon)| Dapa to Surigao 6:00AM
Source: Senyor Lakwatsero
Timeline and Expenses
DAY 1 PHP
Tricycle from Airport to Pier 150
Boat Fare from Surigao to Siargao 1500
Comfort Room 15
Tricycle from Del Carmen to General Luna 500
Snacks: Burger and Mani 95
Surf Instructor 600
DAY 2
Breakfast 115
Tricycle to Market for Island Hopping 60
Food for Island Hopping: 4L Water, Chicken, Banana 233
Club Tara Entrance 60
Paddle Board Half Hour 100
Bolitas Cave Entrance 150
Guide Tip 100
Tiktikan Lake Entrance 75
Cook Fee for Chicken 100
Entrance and Boat to Sohoton Cove 888
Lunch at Café Grande 132
Guyam Island Entrance 30
Boat for Island Hopping 3600
Motor to Inn 60
DAY 3
Breakfast 120
Checkout Expense: Accomodation, Surf Board Rent, Food 4455
Motorcycle Rent for Resort Hopping and Magpupungko 500
Gasoline 80
Lunch at Cashey’s 550
Magpupungko Entrance 150
Parking Fee 20
Dinner at Mama’s Grill 285
DAY 4
Motorcycle to Dapa Port 300
RORO fare 771
Breakfast: Bread and Coffee 31
Cup Noodles 50
Tricycle from Port to Airport 70
Airport Terminal Fee 300
Total 16245
Individual Expenses 5415
Pasalubong Personal Expense 900
Grand Total 6,315 pesos
Happy travelling everyone! #PhilippinesFirst #BraveTheWave
Ikaw na joeybells! 😁😁😁😁
ReplyDeleteHahaha omg ka supportive hahahah
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