When you say the name SIARGAO, the first thing that will come up from your mind is a place called “The Surfer’s Ultimate Paradise”. This is the place where you will find the highest measured waves in the Philippines and it has been included in the surfer’s World map where numerous foreign surfers from all over the world are visiting SIARGAO to experience the Elegant Gigantic waves…
From Surigao City, I rode an express Sea vessel called Britphil for only 180 Philippine Pesos where the travel time to SIARGAO is only 2 hours. When I arrived at SIARGAO, I went right away to the World famous Surfing site called CLOUD 9 located at General Luna SIARGAO and I was readily amazed when I saw my First Colossal Wave, it was a 15 foot high wave that welcomed me in CLOUD 9…
I stayed at BOARDWALK RESORT and was happy that I had a great accommodation because the owner DAVID MOTBEY gave me BIG DISCOUNTS and the Hotel Staff Logo and Jane are very entertaining to guests like me.
After having a short rest, I immediately prepared myself for a long day of adventure. There are a lot of activities besides surfing that SIARGAO offers and I am about to experience these in my 3 day vacation. I rented a “habal-habal” and met the driver Lino Espejon and became my local guide around SIARGAO. It is a 2 hour ride going to my first destination. For 700 Philippine Pesos, I visited the awe-inspiring Tourist attraction located at PILAR BEACH called MAGPOPONGKO ROCK FORMATION where rocks created a natural pool formation. The waves of PILAR BEACH are also good for surfing. After the MAGPOPONGKO ROCK FORMATION, I headed to my 2nd destination which is the biggest mangrove reserve in the Philippines, the DEL CARMEN MANGROVE SWAMPS, I hired a boat for 30 minutes and checked the Beautiful Mangroves which is very helpful in balancing the Marine Ecosystem by becoming a hatchery for different species of fishes and protecting the land from strong winds, storms and tsunamis. And I also checked the famous saltwater Crocodile swimming in that area. My last destination for my 1st day is in the PANSUKIAN RESORT, the only 5-Star resort in SIARGAO, they have their own architecturally customized BoardWalk heading to the still and tranquil river.
When I got back to the resort, I went right away to the famous CLOUD 9 BOARDWALK where I just rested and felt the strong breeze of the wind together with the humongous splash of the waves and the romantic sunset, it was just truly overwhelming and magical…
My 2nd day is an 800 Philippine Pesos Island Hopping to the 3 neighboring Islets of SIARGAO. I started at NAKED ISLAND, it is called as such because it is bare with pure white sand with no trees found in the small islet. Next is DAKU ISLAND, the Biggest of the 3 Islets which also offers a great white sand beach. But my favorite of them all is the last islet which is GUYAM ISLAND where I stayed longer because it’s like you have your own small version of SIARGAO, the wind and waves produces sounds that will relax your ears and would just make you lie and fall asleep in the fine sandy shore…
Of course, my exploration to SIARGAO wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t surf in the known SURFING CAPITAL OF THE PHILIPPINES. Good thing, my local guide Lino is a former Surfing Champion and he taught me how to surf for free…
And again, my vacation wouldn’t be complete without FOOD! So I ate in some of the famous restaurants in SIARGAO like the Dajon Restaurant, Payag Island Cafe, Kalinaw Restaurant, Ocean 101 Bar and Restaurant and my favorite restaurant of them all where I keep coming back every night is RONALDO’S where I ordered grilled varieties of Chicken Gizzard, Pork, Chicken Neck, Chicken Legs and Prepared Meat. It’s very tasty, mouth-watering and delicious…
SIARGAO is not only for Surfers, any person with different intentions is free to visit the spellbinding Island of SIARGAO and the locals will welcome you with waves of embrace as if you’re returning to your own home…
- Happy Loner Traveller
Beautiful! :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for appreciating my article and pics... hope you'll come back to check on my other articles as well as the future ones... God bless!!! :-)
ReplyDelete