SIARGAO has become one of the top vacation destinations in the country today especially after the many positive features circulating all over the internet about the place. Just looking at the pictures and the different videos about the place, I really want to see it for myself.
Last month’s long weekend for the Araw ng Davao festivities was just the perfect opportunity for us to squeeze in some quick vacation in this piece of paradise.
Getting there
We have not pre-booked any flights going to Siargao so my friend and I decided to just avail of a two days, one night join-in tour package which included roundtrip transportation from Davao to Siargao, accommodation, and entrance/environmental fees for each place we are going to.
If you are going to avail of the same type of tour package just know that travel time from Davao to Siargao takes about 10 to 12 hours. About eight hours from Davao to Hayanggabon Port (Surigao del Norte) and another two to three hours boat ride to General Luna, Siargao.
There are stops along the way though so you can buy food, go to the comfort room or just stretch. We left Davao at about 9 p.m. and arrived in Siargao at 9 a.m. the next day, so definitely bring a neck pillow during this trip!
The Tour Itinerary
-Magpupungko Beach
Our first stop is at Magpupungko Beach located in the town of Pilar which is more than an hour away from General Luna. This beach is famous for its amazing rock formations and tidal pools which is truly beautiful in person.
Walking around the area you can both enjoy the big waves and take a dip in the different rock pools. Going there during the weekend means that there’s a crowd in the bigger pool but if you want some alone time you can keep on exploring the area and you’ll find smaller pools. Food stalls are also present in the beach area where you can grab some lunch or snacks.
-Sugba Lagoon
From Magpupungko Beach we then headed to Sugba Lagoon in Del Carmen. Before getting there, we booked our boat ride at the Mangrove Protection and Information Center. Travel time from the center going to the main lagoon took about an hour with beautiful sightings of mangroves along the way.
Reaching the main lagoon area, you can rent gears and equipment like life vests, paddle boards and kayak boats for P200/hour. Sadly, we haven’t gotten the chance to rent a paddle board since the place is packed with tourists. The big lagoon also houses the famous diving board perfect for some action shots or for your “insta” photos.
-Cloud 9 Boardwalk
Next stop is the iconic Cloud 9 boardwalk, this was our last stop on the first day and our first stop on second day. Our Siargao trip wouldn’t be complete without dropping by here.
Cloud 9 is a place for both surfers and non-surfers alike as they can choose to just chill and admire the waves or surf. Surfing lesson rates is at P500/hr. I believe that the place is still being renovated as of this writing but once it’s open again to the public, I highly suggest going here in the morning to avoid the crowd.
-Island Hopping
Island hopping is also one of the most popular tourist activities in Siargao. Islands included in this package are Guyam, Daku and Naked Island.
Sadly, we missed our stop in Guyam Island because it was difficult for our boat to dock on the island so we proceeded to Daku Island instead. We also had our lunch in this island. There are different sellers in the island where you can buy ingredients and let them cook it for you for a fee of P50 per kilo of your chosen fish/meat.
After our scrumptious meal and some beach bumming we then headed to our last island stop: Naked Island. The island’s name really speaks for itself because it’s really practically naked with only one thriving baby coconut tree during our visit (lol). Our guide said that the locals have been trying to plant trees there but it just doesn’t thrive in the island. Naked Island is still a beaut nonetheless!
Even though we gained some eye bags during the long trip, we have also gained a tan and a quick glimpse of what Siargao has to offer! Another trip bonus was our tour group for being super hyper and fun which made the long travel less tiring as it should’ve been!
Until the next trip!
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Hi, I’m Kriztja and thanks for reading My Notebook! Check out my blog: rainbow-wishes.blogspot.com for more. Comments? Suggestions? Email me at: kriztja.labrador@gmail.com