Surigao Adventure: Day 2d - The Beach

After the caves, we visited a small island/beach during our Sohoton tour.  I forgot the name of this beach but it was nice, quiet beach.  The shoreline is short but it has fine white sand.  Crushed corals can also be seen along the shoreline and on the shallow waters.  The beach was clean, clear with small fishes around.  It was only us who were at that beach that time.  Not much to say about this beach, just sharing with you these pictures we captured with it.

Small beach

Closer to the beach

Beach with some rock formations

Another rock formations, with the other couple on our tour

Fine white sand

Unique rock structure, spade shaped.  This has white sands inside.

Clear water with some rocks/corals

Underwater shot

Underwater shot

This beach side trip is part of the Bucas Grande Island tour which was explored during our Day 2 Surigao Adventure.

Surigao Adventure: Day 2c - Bolitas Cave, Bucas Grande Island

Bolitas Cave was our next destination.  This is just perpendicular to Crystal Cave, which is said to be its twin.  Actually they have the same cave entrance, its just that in Bolitas Cave, you need to walk a little further to enter the small opening down to the cave.

This is the entrance to the twin caves

Closer shot of the Bolitas Cave entrance

Another shot of the entrance to Bolitas Cave

Another entrance shot of Bolitas Cave with people going down

Seeing the small entrance of Bolitas Cave, I passed on this one.  Even the couples who joined us with the tour no longer visited this cave.  So we just waited for my boyfriend as he wants to explore everything.

Based on the pictures he gathered, it seems that this cave is very small.  He also has difficulty in going down and climbing up the cave.  It was also hot and with very little ventilation down there.

Inside the Bolitas Cave

Creepy looking rock formations even on the ceiling

My boyfriend coming out of the Bolitas Cave

Bolitas Cave is very unique.  Its rock formations really resembles a bolitas or pellets.  The ceiling seems like droplets.  Not much head room under this cave.  But still worth seeing because of its uniqueness.

This visit to Crystal Cave is part of the Bucas Grande Island tour which was explored during our Day 2 Surigao Adventure.

Surigao Adventure: Day 2b - Crystal Cave, Bucas Grande Island

After visiting the Tiktikan Lake, our next stop were the twin caves, Crystal and Bolitas Cave.  These were called twins since these are located on the same place, just perpendicular to each other.

Crystal Cave
It's not difficult to reach the Crystal Cave even though you need to climb up to reach it.  Going there, the path were somehow formed into stairs with improvised handle to support and guide you all the way up.  Reaching the mouth of the cave will take about 10 minutes walk.

Going to the cave

Crystal Cave Entrance

numerous rock formations will greet you upon entrance

one of the "crystals"

this is Kuya Joxen (blue cap)

Unique rock formed in the middle

another "crystal"

 

Unique rock formation

Inside the cave

look at the ceiling!

Further down the cave

Just taking a shot while everyone is leaving the cave

Crystal cave is wide and with just a few walks, you will be able to tour around it.  Inside the cave, most rock formations are white in color with some sparkling material thus making it seem like a crystal.  The path inside the cave is just a straight one so it's not really difficult to discover rock formations there.  I was fascinated on how these white crystal rocks were formed as they are not only situated on the sides or wall, but also at the middle.  Also, the rock formations were unique, never seen similar to it in some other caves I've been to in the Philippines.  It's another nice experience to be exploring this Crystal Cave.

This visit to Crystal Cave is part of the Bucas Grande Island tour which was explored during our Day 2 Surigao Adventure.

Surigao Adventure: Day 2a - Tiktikan Lake, Bucas Grande Island

Our first stop was the Tiktikan Lake or Lagoon Tiktikan.  On the way here was a spectacular view of the lagoon already with its clear bluegreen waters and lush green trees.

On the way to Tiktikan Lake

  

 

Lovely lagoon at our background

There were huts in this lake which one can rent at Php 3,000 per night, good for 5 pax already.  I saw some people riding a boat around the lake which I think can be rented also.

Information details

The huts and people boating

Another view of the Lake

The lagoon at low tide

We also had our lunch here c/o our contact boatman, Kuya Vincent.  Actually, we didn't inform him that we will avail his offer to cook lunch for us.  The couple who was with us during the tour, avail it so maybe they thought we will avail their lunch also.  Since we hadn't had lunch yet and our packed canned goods may not be enough to keep us full (since we don't have any rice) and I think Kuya Vincent prepared already lunch good for 4, we just took their lunch meal.

We're almost done eating when I took pictures of our food

Kuya Vincent charged us Php 350 per head for our lunch.  It consists of 3 types of fishes: 1 big grilled fish, 2 plates containing small sized fish cooked with sauce (like sweet and sour) and 1 medium sized fished.  The lunch also includes rice, softdrinks, banana and camote.  For the rate they charged us, I find it quite expensive.  But anyway, the big grilled fish was delicious.  The smallest fish was ok too.  Those were the only viands I've tasted.  That's why I find their rate of Php 350 expensive since, for me, it's not worth it!

After the Tiktikan Lake, our next destination will be the caves.  Please read them in my next blog.

More Surigao Adventure blogs here:
Day 1
Day 2

Surigao Adventure: Day 2 - Sohoton National Park / Bucas Grande Island

Whole day of Day 2 will be spent in Bucas Grande Island as per our initial itinerary.  This is located at the lower part of Siargao Island as you can see in the map from my previous blog but still these are part of Surigao del Norte.  Bucas Grande Island tour or also known as the Sohoton National Park tour is where you get to see various caves, lakes, lagoon and the one of a kind stingless jellyfish.

From Revlun Pension House, based from my research, we will just take a tricycle for about 30 minutes travel to reach Hayanggabon Port where boats are situated and the starting point for Bucas Grande Island tour.  Since it was a Good Friday, there were very limited transportation around.  We had difficulty in finding a tricycle.  There was even no any transportation in the Claver Terminal.  A few habal-habal were parked so we just asked them if they could take us to Hayanggabon port.  I know their rate will be expensive compared to tricycle but we are left with no choice.  This was my boyfriend's first habal-habal ride.  More details on transportation from Claver to Hayanggabon port here.

It was a Good Friday, almost no vehicles in sight

Once in Hayanggabon port, we met with our boatman, Kuya Vincent.  His rate was Php 3,500 for the tour for 2 pax with pick up and drop off at Hayanggabon Port and inclusive of all the fees.  Lunch was not included so we just packed some canned goods.  A day before, he advise us if another couple can join us in the tour, thinking the rate will be lowered since there will already be 4 of us, I agreed.  But when I confirmed, rate will still be the same.  I just let it pass, saying let it be our help on Surigao's tourism.  Besides, it is supposed to be a holiday (Good Friday), so it must be double pay work, we joked.

 

Kuya Vicent accompanied bigger group on a separate boat so he left us with Kuya Joxen as our tour guide (he does tours as well separately from Kuya Vincent but we wasn't able to ask how much his rate).  It took us about 45 minutes boat ride before we reach our destination.  Below are the tours we visited from Kuya Vincent's package, in order:

Tiktikan Lake
Crystal Cave
Bolitas Cave
Beach
Sohoton Cove - Horseshoe landmark
Hagukan Cove
Magkakuob Cove
Jellyfish Sanctuary
Coral Reefs Snorkeling
Island hopping: Club Tara, Cantiles Island (?), Hidden Resort

Please click each destination for my blog about it.

Here are our Day 2 expenses, good for 2:

Habal-habal to Hayanggabon port - Php 200 (20 minutes)
Water at Tiktikan Lake - Php 20
Tour - Php 3,500
Lunch - Php700
Tip to boatmen - Php 200
Lucky me - Php 40
Tinapay - Php 20
Water - Php 25
Balot - Php 17
Tinapay - Php 14

Total for Day 2:  Php 4,736

Day 1 expenses: Php 2,151

Total so far: Php 6,887

We brought some canned goods for our lunch but Kuya Vincent offers lunch to be cooked which was not included in the package.  So these canned goods were eaten for our dinner along with the breads we bought (there's no rice to be bought that night near our hotel since its a Good Friday, most stores are closed).

Here are the numbers of our boatmen:
Kuya Vincent -0930.802.8704
Kuya Joxen - 0909.204.4829

Other boatmen I inquired for the Sohoton tour:
Samy - 0907.715.7134 (rate Php 3,500 for 2, tours only)
Keni - 0939.438.0618 (rate Php 3,000 for 2, tours only)
Dodo (Sohoton Tourism Office) - 0939.904.7019 (rate Php 4,950 for 2, tours and fees)

Surigao Adventure: Itinerary

Here is our itinerary for our Surigao Adventure happened last Holy Week, March 28-April 1, 2013.  Some of the time indicated are estimates.

Day 1:
9:30am - Arrival in Butuan
Travel to Surigao City, alight in Badas Junction
Travel from Badas to Claver
Check in Revlun Pension House
Late lunch at G-ann
Rest

Day 2:
7am - travel to Hayanggabon via habal-habal
8am to 5pm - Bucas Grande Tour
Tiktikan Lake
Crystal Cave
Bolitas Cave
a beach (I forgot the name)
Hagukan Cove
Magkukuob Cove / Diving Cave
Jellyfish Sanctuary
Coral Reefs Snorkeling
Island hoping: Club Tara, Hidden Resort, and one island (forgot the name)
Back at Revlun Pension House

Day 3:
6am - check out Revlun, travel to Tinuy-an Falls in Surigao del Sur via Butuan
3pm - arrival in Tinuy-an Falls
5:30pm - depart for Britannia
(see transportation details here)
Check in at La Entrada in Britannia, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur

Day 4:
8am - island hopping in Britannia
12noon - check out La Entrada, travel to Hinatuan via habal-habal
2pm - arrival in Enchanted River
4pm - depart in Hinatuan for Butuan
8pm - arrival in Butuan, check in at Juliann's Inn

Day 5:
6am - check out at Juliann's Inn
8:15am - flight back to Manila from Butuan

For details of transportation from one province/location to another, please refer to this blog post.  Tinuy-an Falls and Enchanted River visit is feasible in 1 day.  If only we were able to leave early in the morning to travel to Surigao del Sur, we will be able to visit Tinuy-an Falls and Enchanted River the same day.  This was our initial plan so that on the 4th day, we'll just relax in Britannia Group of Islands.

Here are the details of our Surigao Adventure trip:
Day 1
Day 2 

Surigao Adventure: Transportation, map and research

It was in some cable channel when I first saw the beautiful tourist spots in Caraga Region.  What attracts me most was the Tinuy-An Falls and Enchanted River.  These are situated in Surigao del Sur.  At an instant, I put Surigao in my soon to visit province.  Luckily, I was able to spot a promo fare going to Butuan (cheaper than a flight going to Surigao City or Siargao) last year and booked flight for me and my boyfriend without asking his permission yet, hehe.  From initial research, I learned that Butuan is nearer to Surigao del Sur, about 5 hours travel than in Surigao City which is 7 hours travel.

It was quite a challenge to research for itineraries, expenses and tours for our 5-day Surigao trip.  The famous destinations I've heard and read in Surigao Islands are Bucas Grande, Siargao beaches and surfing sites, Enchanted River, Tinuy-An Falls, Britania Group of Islands and Cagwait beach (Boracay of the Caraga Region).  I wanted to visit all these but 5 days is not enough.

I first draft our itineraries visiting all the famous destinations above.  Considering the travel time and our flight schedule.  I know I won't be able to visit them in 5 days.  It was unfortunate that the flight we got on the first day was at 9am arrival to Butuan and the flight back to Manila on the fifth day was changed by PAL Express to 8am instead of 11am.

Before I go on, let me share this map to you.  This is the Caraga Region.  I got it from google search but I forget from which site. 

Caraga Region

Let's do a little Geography 101.  These locations will be mentioned throughout this blog (and succeeding blogs about Surigao) so you may refer to these from time to time.

• Placer, Surigao del Norte - this is where Badas junction is 
• Claver, Surigao del Norte - this is where the Hayanggabon port is situated
• Socorro, Surigao del Norte - located in Bucas Grande Island, part of Siargao
• Surigao City, Surigao del Norte - flights with name "Surigao" is located here
• Cagwait, Surigao del Sur - this is where the Boracay of Caraga Region is located
• San Agustin, Surigao del Sur - where Britannia Group of Islands is located
• Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur - where Enchanted River is located
• Bislig, Surigao del Sur - where Tinuy-an Falls is located
• Butuan, Augsan del Norte - alternate flight if you want to visit Surigao

TRANSPORTATION FROM BUTUAN TO HAYANGGABON

Based from research, from Butuan City, its a 3 hour bus or van ride going to Surigao City where the pick up point going to Bucas Grande or Siargao is nearer.  All the while I thought, you need to ride a ferry (which is only up to 12 noon) going to Bucas Grande or Siargao.  With this schedule, we won't be able to catch the 12 noon last trip as we expect to be in Surigao by that time. Good thing I contacted several boatmen and they've suggested the easier way to go to Bucas Grande, through Badas junction in Placer, Surigao del Norte.

From Butuan airport, you can ride a multicab to take you to Butuan terminal. This is just a 20-minute ride. From the terminal, ride a bus going to Surigao City but tell the driver that you will alight in Badas Junction in Placer.  Travel time is about 2-3 hours.

Alternately, from the airport, you can ride a van going to Surigao City. It will only take you 2 hours to get to Badas junction.

From Badas, ride a van going to Hayanggabon.  Travel time is about 1 hour. Hayanggabon is where the port of pump boats are located going to Bucas Grande.  This is also the pick up point for the Bucas Grande/Sohoton tour.  In case you haven't contacted any boatman for your Bucas Grande tour, you can ask assistance from the Hayanggabon tourism center, which is located at the port. Boatmen can also take you to Socorro from this point.

In case your flight is from Surigao City, you can just ride a van/bus going to Hayanggabon.  Travel time is about 3 hours.


TRANSPORTATION FROM HAYANGGABON TO SOCORRO

We contacted a boatman to tour us in Bucas Grande.  Pick up and drop off point is at Hayanggabon port.  In case we have an accommodation in Socorro, the boatman can pick up us at Bucas Grande and lead us to Socorro.  This can then be the starting point and drop off point for Bucas Grande tour.

Since its already lunch time when we arrived in Claver, we just stayed in one of the known accommodation near to the terminal, Revlun Pension House.

From Revlun Pension House, we rode habal-habal going to Hayanggabon port.  Travel time is 20 minutes.  Fare is 200 pesos for 2.  You can opt to ride a tricycle which is cheaper.  That time it was a Good Friday, so tricycle were scarce.

Boat from Hayanggabon to Bucas Grande is about 45 minutes, where our first stop was at Tiktikan Lake.  More details of our Bucas Grande tour in the next blog post.

Since our Bucas Grande tour was just day trip, we went back to Claver using same transportation and route.

TRANSPORTATION FROM CLAVER TO BISLIG, SURIGAO DEL SUR

We don't know if there's a bus in Claver bound to Bislig or to any province in Surigao del Sur.  We saw buses going to Tandag but from there, we don't know how do we get to Bislig, Hinatuan or San Agustin.  Also, since its holy week, there's not much buses waiting at Claver terminal to travel in Surigao del Sur.

So from Claver, we took the same route and rode the same transportation going to Butuan: van to Badas junction (1 hour), van from Badas junction to Butuan (2 hours).  There are also available buses in Badas junction going to Butuan.

From Butuan Terminal, there are buses going to Bislig but the sign board in the buses is Mangagoy.  This is the bus route to ride going to Tinuy-an Falls. 

TRANSPORTATION FROM BUTUAN, AGUSAN DEL NORTE TO BISLIG, SURIGAO DEL SUR (Tinuy-An Falls)

As mentioned, from Butuan Terminal, there are buses going to Bislig (Tinuy-An Falls) but the sign board that you will see is Mangagoy and not Bislig.  The same bus route will also take you to Hinatuan where Enchanted River is located.

Butuan Terminal also have buses going to CDO and Davao.  Just for additional info.  Within the vicinity of the terminal, there are also van terminals going to CDO, Davao and many others.  I wasn't able to see them all as we were on the road when I saw it.  Also, there are vans that offers direct to Mangagoy trip.  I'm just not sure if its safe to ride there.

From Butuan to Mangagoy, travel time is around 5 hours.  The trip could have been shorten if there will be no bus stops.  It seems that the bus alight at all bus terminals of different municipalities.  Well, maybe because that's a provincial bus and the only available public transport to travel from one location to another.

You will alight at the last bus stop, Mangagoy, if you will be going to Tinuy-An Falls.  If you will be going to Enchanted River, you will alight at Hinatuan, that's about 4th or 3rd to the last bus stop.

TRANSPORTATION GOING TO TINUY-AN FALLS FROM MANGAGOY BUS TERMINAL

From Mangagoy bus terminal, there are habal-habal available that offers ride going to Tinuy-An falls.  Travel time is about 30 minutes.  Roads can be rough going to the falls.

TRANSPORTATION FROM TINUY-AN FALLS (MANGAGOY) TO SAN AGUSTIN (BRITANNIA)

Since its already past 4pm when we finished touring Tinuy-An Falls, we will no longer be able to catch the operating hours of Enchanted River in Hinatuan.  This tourist spot closes at 5pm.  From research, travel from Tinuy-An Falls to Enchanted River is about 1 hour.  So we just decided to go to Britannia and just schedule Enchanted River the next day, as our last stop, before going back to Butuan.

The last trip of the buses going to Butuan at Mangagoy terminal is at 5.30pm.  This is the same bus route that we will ride going to Britannia.  We rode the same bus and alighted at Barobo terminal and wait for bus going to Tandag.  From Mangagoy to Barobo, travel time is 2 hours.

At Barobo terminal, we looked for bus going to Tandag.  We asked the driver to drop us at Barangay Salvacion, San Agustin.  Travel time is 1 hour.  It was already dark when we alighted at Barangay Salvacion.  We have no idea how do we get to our accommodation in Britannia (La Entrada to be specific).  Good thing there are habal-habal waiting at a waiting shed where we alighted in Brgy. Salvacion so we just asked them for instructions.  There are sign boards also about Britannia and some accommodations when we alighted so somehow I knew we were not lost.  The habal-habal took us to La Entrada.  Travel time is only about 5-8 minutes.

TRANSPORTATION FROM SAN AGUSTIN TO HINATUAN

I know we will be taking the same route if we plan to go back to Hinatuan.  That will be to ride a bus going to Barobo terminal then transfer to a bus bound to Butuan and alight at Hinatuan.  Or we can just wait for a bus bound for Butuan in Brgy. Salvacion and ask the driver to drop us off at Hinatuan.  This route will take us about 2.5 to 3 hours travel time.  Since we are after the shortest time to go to Hinatuan, the night before, we conversed with the habal-habal driver and he offered his service to take us at Hinatuan for just 2 hours or less.  We grabbed that offer even if we will to pay a little bit more.

Aside from what I mentioned, route from San Agustin to Hinatuan, when you get to Hinatuan terminal, there are tricycle and habal-habal available to take you to Enchanted River.  Travel time is about an hour or less.  You will encounter rough road going to Enchanted River but this is better than the road going to Tinuy-an Falls.

TRANSPORTATION FROM HINATUAN TO BUTUAN

The habal-habal we hire took us to Hinatuan terminal where we waited for a bus bound to Butuan.  From Hinatuan to Butuan, travel time is about 4 hours.


All the buses we took were non-airconditioned.  Please watch out for my succeeding blog post on our Surigao Adventure :)    For the meantime, you might want to check our itinerary on this Surigao Adventure trip.