Siargao is one of the precious jewels situated at the end those less travelled roads. It has been in the radar for quite a while now but has only gained popularity among surfing enthusiasts. Until most recently, few have set their eyes to this lone paradise lying unperturbed in the eastern waters of Mindanao. This hidden paradise might have been overlooked for a very long time but it quickly garnered quite a following when people learned that beyond the monstrous waves this island is famous for are beautiful lagoons, enchanting cave pools and several gorgeous islands that it is now considered as the number one destination for this year and the years to come.
A WEEK IN SIARGAO
First stop were the three rarely spoken jewels which could become your reason to visit the island as it will prove you that Siargao is not just a surfer’s haven. These three are Magpupungko Tidal Pools, Taktak Falls and Tayangban Cave and Lagoon. Renting a motorcycle is the cheapest option to get around the island but if you happen to be just like us who can’t drive or just too scared to drive and don’t have a driver’s licence then the best option would be to hire a motorcycle. For P1500, your driver will take you to the best spots this island has to offer starting from the enchanting pools of Magpupungko to the cold spring waters of Taktak Falls and the unspoken cave and lagoon of Tayangban. These three is definitely perfect to get your adventure in Siargao jumpstarted. Not only that. The island is such an eye candy that merely driving around is enough to get you through the day happy and content.
USEFUL TIPS IN SIARGAO
- You can always haggle for the cost. For those who can’t drive, the motorcycle (Habal-habal) costs P1500 which can be shared by as much as three people. If you are just a pair of travelers, the lowest you can haggle the cost would be P1300 for one full day of motorcyle rental with the driver as your tour guide.
- For experienced motorcycle drivers, have your driver’s licence handy as you might encounter check points requiring such. Standard rate for motorcycle rental is P500/day exclusive of gas but can go as low as P300/day for a multi-day rental of at least four days and up.
- For those traveling in groups but could not drive, your best option would be to hire a tricycle which could fit up to five people for P2000/day.
- There are also SUV and van rentals on the island which is quite a great option for those traveling in bigger groups. Rate starts at P2500/day exclusive of driver and gas.
- Visiting Magpupungko Tidal Pools is best done during the lowtide hours. Locals normally know the hightide and lowtide hours so its best to ask them before heading out.
- The roads in the island are prone to vehicular accidents so please observe caution. Although majority of the roads are concreted, they are poorly lit. Driving around should be easy but it is highly advisable to head back to GL before the sun goes down. If you happen to be still on the road after the sun sets, drive slowly until you get back to your hostel.
SUGBA LAGOON: Paddle Boarding, Cliff Jumping & Island Hopping
Another destination in Siargao that has quickly taken the spotlight recently is Sugba Lagoon. This little piece of heaven lies in the secluded town of Del Carmen and can be reached after 45 minutes on a motorcycle and another 30 minutes on a boat if you are to come from GL. Getting here may not be that easy and some might even find the cost of this tour over the top but soon after seeing Sugba Lagoon will make you realize how measly you had paid for an entire day spent in paradise. You’ll never see paddle boarding the same way ever again after doing it over the pristine emerald waters of Sugba Lagoon. You’ll never chicken out of cliff jumping and would quickly take the plunge after seeing its inviting and refreshing waters. And your definition of paradise will forever change after this charming lagoon took the standards several notch higher.
Related Read: SUGBA LAGOON: Guide To Siargao’s Most Stunning Jewel
Useful Tips:
- Prepare yourself for a long drive just to get to the Tourism Office/registration site for Sugba Lagoon.
- To save on food, it is best to buy precooked meals sold in GL for your lunch and snacks. However if you want to feast over seafood, there is a market place near the Tourism Office in Del Carmen where you can find a variety of freshly caught fish, crabs and other seafood. You can have them cooked in Sugba Lagoon where it’s charged P50/kilo for the rice and P100 for each dish.
- There are also fresh seafood sold in Sugba Lagoon but is pricey compared to those sold in the market place in Del Carmen.
- Check out the nearby Kawhagan Island before heading back to Del Carmen for an additional charge of P400/boat. The island features a sand bar of fine white sands and is a great place to view the sunset.
| DESTINATIONS | Sugba Lagoon Kawhagan Island |
| RATES | Sugba Lagoon Only – P1600/boat Sugba Lagoon + Kawhagan Island – P2000 Note: Each boat can fit up to 6 people max. |
| WHAT ARE THE FEES | Rentals Paddle Board Rental – P200/Hr Kayak Rental – P200/Hr Snorkel Gear – P200 Table & Chairs – P100 Entrance Fee – P100 Docking Fee (Kawhagan) – P150 Paluto Fee Rice – P50/kilo Viand – P100/dish |
| DAY 2 – SUMMARY OF EXPENSES (4 People) | Habal-Habal GL-Del Carmen @ P800/2 – P400 Sugba Lagoon + Island @ P2000/4 – P500 Breakfast – P60 Lunch @ P600/4 – P125 Dinner – P120 Entrance Fee – P50 Docking Fee – P40 Paddle Board @ P200/2 – P100 TOTAL – P1395/Pax |
| CONTACT PERSON | Tourism Office (Del Carmen) – 09305510107 |
DAY 3 – SOHOTON COVE & TRI ISLAND: Paradise Overload In One Day
Just when we thought we have already seen the best of what Siargao Island can offer came Sohoton Cove and the three stunning islands, Naked, Guyam and Daku, to take the game yet again to another level. If we were awestruck with Sugba Lagoon, I could not think of a word to describe the fascinating experience we had with Sohoton Cove and the three gorgeous islands that followed. I didn’t know swimming with the jellyfishes was fun. It was quite a unique experience for me. Something I never thought was possible really. Then toppling the amazing experience we had with the jellyfishes were the jaw-dropping beauty of Sohoton Cove’s lagoons, caves and karst mountains. It completely caught me by surprise since I thought such beauty could only be found in Coron and El Nido. I felt a little pang in my stomach fearing Siargao might just topple Coron in the number spot but was also excited to know what else this paradise filled with never-ending surprises has to offer. Then the answer came to me instantly after seeing Naked, Daku & Guyam Islands which with such ease put the other more famous beaches to shame.
Related Read: SOHOTON COVE: An Otherworldly Paradise, The Heart & Soul Of Bucas Grande
Useful Tips:
- This tour can be quite expensive. Boat service alone can cost up to P4000 and that doesn’t include yet the other fees in Sohoton Cove.
- If you wanna make the most out of this tour then better get started as early as 6AM to avoid the crowd and to have better chances of visiting the other sights without being a little press for time.
- After touring Sohoton Cove, you can drop by Club Tara Resort for some snap worthy photos for your Instagram.
- This tour can be done separately if you wanna have more time to explore each destination but please know that tour in Sohoton Cove is time bounded depending on the number of tourists visiting on the day of your visit. If even you prefer to do it separately, Kuya Romeo offers island hopping tour for P1200. You may call him at 09158581654.
| DESTINATIONS | Sohoton Cove Naked Island Guyam Island Daku Island Club Tara Resort (Optional) |
| RATES | Boat Rental GL-Sohoton Cove-Tri Island – P4000 GL-Sohoton Cove – P3000 GL-Tri Island – P1500 Socorro-Sohoton Cove – P2000 Hayangabon-Sohoton Cove – P3500 Sohoton Cove Tour Pump Boat + Guide Fee – P830 Boating Sabay-Tojoman Lagoon – P100/pax |
| WHAT ARE THE FEES | Sohoton Cove Fees Per Person Filipino: Permit – P50, Entrance Fee – P25, Environmental Fee – P25 Non-Filipino: Permit – P100, Entrance Fee – P100, Environmental Fee – P50 Safety Gear Fee – P40 Meal Package P250-P300 |
| DAY 3 – SUMMARY OF EXPENSES (4 People) ***We found two other travelers and shared with them the cost of this tour. We were also lucky to haggle the boat cost down to P3500 for Sohoton Cove & Tri Island | 2Way Habal-Habal Hostel-Port – P40 Boat @ P3500/4 – 875 Permit Fee – P50 Entrance Fee – P25 Environmental Fee – P25 Safety Gear Fee – P40 Table – P25 Boating Sabay-Tojoman – P100 Pump Boat + Guide Fee @ P830/4 – 210 Breakfast – P100 Lunch – P160 Dinner – P100 TOTAL – P1750/Pax |
DAY 4 – GENERAL LUNA’S CLOUD 9: Blissful Moments Riding The Waves
Riding the waves are not just for surfers. It is for everyone may you be a surfer wannabe or just some curious soul wondering what it’s like to dance with the waves. Among the places here in the Philippines, we all know that Siargao is the best place to get a taste of your first surf. With that in mind, off we went surfing to cap off our Siargao adventure. It was not an easy feat but was definitely a perfect ender to yet another epic story we would surely cherish forever.
Useful Tips:
- Your first surf is definitely not going to be easy but you will eventually get the hang of it. No matter how many times you will fall hard into the water, get back up and don’t give up. Your glorious moment won’t be as fulfilling without the hardship.
- Start early. The waves are the best in the early hours of the morning.
- You would do best to pay attention to the surfing basics your instructor would be telling you prior to hitting the waves. I know it’s kinda easy said than done but keep in mind that practice makes permanent.
| DESTINATIONS | Beginner-Friendly Surfing Spot Cloud 9 |
| RATES | Board Rental With Instructor – P500/hr Board Rental Only – P500/day |
| DAY 4 – SUMMARY OF EXPENSES | Surfing for 1Hr – P500 Breakfast – P60 Lunch – P120 Dinner – P100 TOTAL – P780/Pax |
TOTAL EXPENSES IN 4D3N FOR EVERYTHING
Direct flights to Siargao from Manila are now available with Cebu Pacific. Since that option was not yet available and all the other options were quite expensive at the time of our travel, we opted for Butuan as our primary access point instead. Illustrated below is the total expenses for this trip sans the expenses we accrued after our flight was rerouted to Davao.
| Total Expenses Days 1-4 | P5120 |
| Accommodation (3 Nights) at P400/night/2Pax | P600 |
| 2Way Bus Butuan-Surigao City | P440 |
| 2-Way Ferryboat Surigao-Siargao (P230/Way) + Terminal Fee (P10/Way) | P480 |
| 2-Way Tricycle Surigao-Port (P50/Way) + Habal-Habal Dapa Port – GL (P200/Way) | P250 |
| Air Fare Booked With PAL (P495/Way) ***Got discounted plane tickets during a seat sale in February 2017 | P990 |
| TOTAL | P7880/Person |
HOW TO GET THERE
From Manila – Fly via Cebu Pacific directly to Siargao. If direct flights are too expensive then you can either fly to Butuan or Surigao City. Both Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines have flights to either of these two destinations.
From Surigao City – Ride a ferry to Dapa Port in Siargao. There are trips available daily with the earliest departing at 5:30AM and latest at 11AM. Fare ranges from P220-P320 depending on the seats.
From Butuan City – Ride a bus or van to Surigao City. Travel should take 3-4 hours. Fare is P220. From the bus terminal, ride a minivan or tricycle to Surigao Port (P15.) Then ride a ferry to Dapa Port in Siargao Island.
From Cebu – Cebu Pacific also has direct flights from Cebu to Siargao. If flying is not an option then you can ride MV Lady Of Love operated by Medallion Transport Inc to Surigao City. The marine vessel leaves Cebu on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 8PM and departs Surigao City on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8PM. Fares range as low as P825 for the economy seat to P5550 for an executive suite.
From Davao – Philippine Airlines now has direct flights to Siargao. If flying is quite expensive for your taste then you can ride either the bus or van to Surigao City. Fare is P570 (non-AC) ; P720 (AC) and travel could last up to 15Hrs. In Surigao City, simply hop on a ferry to Dapa Port in Siargao Island.
SURIGAO-DAPA-SURIGAO FERRY TRIP SCHEDULE
| SHIPPING LINE | SCHEDULE | FARE |
|---|---|---|
| MV Fortune Angel 1 | Surigao-Dapa: 5:30AM Dapa-Surigao: 11AM | Mabuhay Aircon – P300 Business Aircon – P220 Economy (Upper deck) – P250 Economy (Lower deck) – P220 |
| MV Fortune Angel 2 | Surigao-Dapa: 11AM Dapa-Surigao: 5:30AM | Mabuhay Aircon – P300 Business Aircon – P220 Economy (Upper deck) – P250 Economy (Lower deck) – P220 |
| LQP 2A | Surigao-Dapa: 5:30AM Dapa-Surigao: 12NN | Regular Rate – P250 PWD – P200 Senior – P200 Student – P220 |
| Dapa Express | Surigao-Dapa: 06:15AM Dapa-Surigao: 12:00NN | Regular Rate – P250 PWD – P200 Senior – P200 Student – P220 |
| MV Atlantis Yohan | Surigao-Dapa: 11AM Dapa-Surigao: 6AM | Business – P320 Tourist – P300 Economy – P250 |
SOME USEFUL TRAVEL TIPS
Getting Around – Motorcycles are the best when getting around Siargao since the island lacks public transportation plying the route to or near each tourist destination. I don’t know how much do I need to emphasize this but always be safe. Drive at a moderate speed. Wear helmet. Avoid being on the road at night time as the roads are poorly lit. Countless accidents had happened in the island resulting to injuries or worse death so again, “Be Safe.”
Where To Get Your Tour – The Tourism Office in GL offers tour packages. There are also travel agencies that offer tour services to the best spots in the island. However for me, the most flexible and effective way is still to tour on your own. Rent a motorcycle or hire a driver to tour you around. As for the boat, you can find plenty of boat operators at the port in GL. Rates are always negotiable so don’t hesitate to haggle. Just make sure to be reasonable not to exploit the locals.
Where To Eat – Around Siargao are several eateries selling meals (rice + viand) for as low as P30. In GL just along the main strip to Cloud 9 is a fruit stand that sells a variety of delicious home cooked Filipino food. If you are more into gastronomic adventure then you’ll be happy to know Siargao has a wide array of choices such as Kermit, Buddha Surf and Warung just to name a few.
Where To Stay – Accommodations in Siargao range from the most affordable backpacker’s hostels to luxury resorts so you will have a lot to choose from depending on your budget. I will list below some of the most recommended resorts in the island based from reviews given by travelers in Agoda.
Best Time To Go There – For non-surfers who just want to relish the tropical goodness of this island, the best time to go there would be during the dry months from February-June. If you wanna catch the waves then September-January is the most ideal time for you to visit.
Minimizing Your Impact – To keep Siargao the virgin paradise that it is now and in the years to come, we as visiting travelers have to minimize our impact. Avoid bringing in or using plastics. Bring reusable water containers so you won’t have to buy bottled water every time. Dispose your waste properly at all times. It’s a shame but as fast as Siargao is becoming a tourist magnet is the sad truth that it isn’t ready and equipped yet to counter the negative impact of tourist influx.
Never Ending Footsteps 