Booked a flight to Siargao in hopes of swimming with the sting less jellyfishes.
Siargao is a tear-drop shaped island in the Philippine Sea situated 800 kilometers southeast of Manila in the province of Surigao del Norte. It has a land area of approximately 437 square kilometers. The east coast is relatively straight with one deep inlet, Port Pilar. The coastline is marked by a succession of reefs, small points and white, sandy beaches. The neighboring islands and islets have similar landforms.
It would be the perfect weather to do so because summer just started in the Philippines. While others would fly via Butuan which is in Surigao del sur, We flew via Siargao which is in Surigao del norte because that’s where the jellyfish sanctuary is.
We arranged a transfer from the airport to the resort but unfortunately, the resort misunderstood where the pickup will be and went to the Surigao airport instead of the Siargao airport. When we discovered the error we did things on our own.
Took a two hour can ride from Siargao Airport to Dapa Pier where we will take the boat on the way to our resort in Sohoton, Socorro. The pump boat was too expensive as it has to be a private one because of the resort’s location. We tried to widthraw money from atms but unfortunately there were only two banks in town. Eastwest bank and DBP bank and both did not accept the atm card of my colleagues, so we’d have to work with the cash we have on hand.
The pump boat costs us Php 3,500 pesos with the haggle which is good for 10-15 people. The Boat has to be big because the waves gets rough. It was a 2 hour long ride to which I just slept along the way due to lack of sleep the night before.
Club Tara Resort
Location: Socorro, Surigao Del Norte
Price range: 3,000-6,000 per night
Review: The location to me was superb. The cottages were built right in the water, each having it’s own balcony. The interior was in modern filipino style with wooden furniture and flooring. It is a place more for couples because the restroom does not have an exact partition between the sleeping area and restroom. But if you choose to relax some more indoors, A Jacuzzi is provided in each cottage.
Food here was not so great and is also very expensive. Mostly the basic cooking type of food. Small servings and ranges from 300-400 pesos per meal. I heard though that you can just buy fresh seafood at the wet market and have it cooked in the kitchen.
When we arrived the power went out and the generators broke. Felt like a thrilling scene from one “I know what you did last summer.” So we spent the night with no electricity.
DAY 1
7am Breakfast
9am Kayaking around the viccinity of the resort.
There are two sides where you can do kayaking or paddle boarding. The side on thw right there are no waves coming in because it is enclosed by the island itself. It’s a dead end there and no earth ti land your kayak to take a dip. But for sure you would enjoy the torquoise clear waters.
Right side of the island
On the other side where the ocean water comes in, the current can be a hassle as you paddle. There are two possible landings on this side. (Two small beaches) We chose the bigger one. Nothing special here though as it is not clean.
12pm Lunch
1pm Day tour 1
Registration
Jellyfish sanctuary
You ride a small bangka and paddle to the sanctuary. What i did for fun ia to help my boatman paddle so we get there faster.
They have the white (transparent) jellyfish and the brown ones. You can touch them but you are not allowed to swim in this area because the last timw somebody did. The jellyfishes died.
Hagukan cove
Also known as the luminous water cave. I was surprised thay it actually is. When I was swiming I already knew i wouldn’t get nice shots because I only have the gopro hero 3+ that lacks the night mode of the newest gopro hero 4. But viola!
no filter!
Spelunking and cliff diving
I forgot the name of the cave but climbing the cave passing through a body of water was new and exciting for me. It can be a bit slippery so you got to be carefl and don’t forget to bring your helmet and slippers. When you reach the top of the cave this is were you dive in to the water. I can swim pretty well but the problem is, Im scared of heights and It will be my first time to actually jump off a cliff!
yes this pic was before I jump
DAY 2
8am breakfast
10am Day tour 2
The part 2 of the tour was composed of few cave visits. About 10 minute boat ride from the resort itself.
We only did one because spelunking wasn’t their favorite and if I had known. I would wear a more proper outfit for it. Yes I was just on my bikini so i was worried with the bruises and scratches from caving. Especiallt two of the cave would require tou to duck your way in due to narrow openings.
To me, nothing special, but on the way to the caves we saw free swimming jellyfishes near the dock. We got all excited because after all, we went to Sohoton to swim with them.
There’s only two places I know where you can actually do that. Bohol and Siargao.
THE BUCKETLIST
Regardless of them being stingless, I was still scared to touch them. (i did though at the sanctuary, and my hands were all itchy after). So there goes my coolest picture of the year,so far!
Before ending the tour we asked if we could do some snorkeling. The current were so strong and rainshowers every now and then killed the fun. But we still get to check the bed of corals in Sohoton.
It reminded me of Siete Pecados in Coron.
1pm Lunch and pack up going back to Dapa port.
3pm Leaving Club Tara
It rained hard when we for back to the resort from the tour. So we waited a bit till it stop. It scared us that we might get stranded for another day and miss our flight back to manila.
We took the same boat from the tour, it is a bit small but it can make it through the waves on regular weather conditions.
Take note! Regular weather conditions. And during that time it’s like our left foot on the grave! It was a two hour long boat ride and telling yoh, It was the roughest boat ride I ever had. The current was so strong, it rained really hard so we were all wet. That scares me but I just put a music to kill the fear.
Good thing, we made it alive back to the port!
6pm Dapa Port
From the port we took a habal-habal (motorcycle) to the place where we were staying. It’s 45min-1 hour
Bollox Bar / White Paradise Beach Resort
Location: Baybay Burgos, Siargao
Price range: 1,200- 1,800 per night
Review: Booked this place because of the good reviews. It is owned by an English man named Alan who married a Filipina.
The food was fantastic! Wide varieties and can even request for what kind of food you want. Imported beers and steaks!
What struck me as I enter Bollox bar was the interior. I am a big fan of DIY interiors and this one comes off very artsy and fun, like the place I stayed in Camiguin. If you come visit at night, it’s even more unique. With the neon lights all over the floor and walls of the bar.
The bungalow was quite big. The couches were TOO big for the room giving more space to sleep. It has tv with cable. And A/C (but was not working that time), hot and cold shower and a balcony over looking the beach. Alan told us that if were lucky enough, we get to see the best sunrise of our life.
But luck was not on our side because it still rained at midnight.
The beach was good for snorkeling and swimming but it is the the spot for surfers.
After breakfast we headed to the airport where we flew from Siargao-Cebu-Manila.
We stopped by the surfing spots because all my surfer friends gave me an assignment of checking out the waves for them. I was also curious because I wanted to learn how to surf in the future.
This is not the end of my Surigao trip because later this year I’m coming back and flying via Butuan city to check the Enchanted River of Surigao del Sur.
BONUS!
A 4 hour stop over in Cebu.
Check out my blog about Manna’s Sutokil
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