Siargao: The Ultimate Surfing Experience (Part 1)

My first visit in Siargao was a grand experience to remember. Given that I am just a six hour bus ride away from Surigao City, I never had a chance to visit the famous island until a collaborative plan with a friend Mervin or Pinoy Adventurista was placed into reality. I was anxious to go there but good thing we met some local residence and active surfers Janice and Kyong that gave us an idea on things we could expect from  the island.

Day 1: From Abode to Surigao City

Coming from San Miguel, Surigao del Sur, I jumped into an eight hour bus ride bound for Surigao City. We arrived almost noon and it was an unfortunate day that we missed t the last boat bound for Dapa, Siargao. Janice tried to negotiate with other private boat operators for a special trip but with no luck, we just postponed our trip first thing in the morning and made an advance purchase of tickets at BritPhils for the ferry that leaves  at 5:00am

Stranded in Surigao City

For the mean time, we scouted the small city of Surigao also known as the gateway to the islands of Visayas due to its proximity coming from Northern Mindanao. We look into various pasalubong shops, restaurants and stop over for a coffee break at Island Restaurant adjacent to city’s grandstand.

After an hour of wandering, we went to my favorite part of the city- the foot reflexology at the heart of the park. The local reflexologists in the heart of the city plaza are known to be the devotee  of the now installed second Filipino Saint Pedro Calungsod. 

For first timer to experience foot reflex, the pain is really excruciating and unbearable. But after the 30 minute session, the pain will be replaced with a full relief as if you were rejuvenated from a very stressful day. There is no fix amount for the service, you just have to donate any amount you feel that fits the service provided by the reflexologist.

At night, we had a gut fulfilling dinner in one of the best barbeque houses in the City- Same Place Grill House together with Surigao based  fellow blogger Nathalie of My Wandering Soles. 

Coincidently, it was also Mervin's Birthday so we went to  Alcatraz Bar to celebrate together with a few friends of Nathalie where we met also another fellow blogger Jeffrey Rilles. After a couple of beers , we decided to retire in one of the affordable “okay” hotel near the port-Aden Hotel for only Php680.00 good for two occupants.

Day 2: Surigao City to Siargao Island

We woke up at 4:00am and went to  BritPhil Ferry scheduled  first trip bound for Siargao. The fare  was Php 250.00.

Together with new found friends Janice and Kyong, we arrived in Dapa port at 8:00am. We took a habal habal for Php 300.00 to transport us to Gen. Luna and checked in at Ocean Pacific Inn for Php 500.00 a night. The inn was only 50 meters away from the boardwalk leading to the surfing area.

The surfing sites in Siargao are at the front of boardwalk approximately 100 meters from the shore. The waves are of different characters with names like Jack Horse, Quick Silver and the famous Cloud 9.

The 15 foot-giant wave of Siargao in Brgy Gen. Luna appears at the start of the ‘ber’ months but you can still enjoy surfing all year round. 

Surfing is Love

As a newbie in surfing, I requested for an instructor to teach me the means and ways of surfing. It was a trial and error at first but I got lucky on my second attempt. I felt the rush of adrenalin as I kept my balance standing on top of  the surf board over the raging waves.

According to my instructor I did an amazing job for a beginner. That comment inspired  me to try more, and more and more, and this time the nervousness was completely gone and what has remained was the addiction of multiple attempts of successful surf. Though I have fell on most of my attempts the joy and lesson from the activity was incomparable.

At dinner, we enjoyed our delicious prepared crabs. It was so tasty that even a smallest fiber of it did not escape my taste bud. Tired and delighted with our food we slept early while s summer rain poured down so heavily. Chilling.

Day 3: Unfortunate Events at the End of the Trip

We left the Inn the next morning and tried to catch the first ferry bound for Surigao City. Along the way, one of the wheels of the habal habal we were riding on have gone flat, then followed by  heavy rain  .What a series of unfortunate event that was. We hurried walking towards the direction of the port. Luckily a pickup truck passed by and we requested  the  driver (a foreigner)  if we could hitch going to the port. He never hesitated saying YES. We made it to the port, soaking wet together with dozens of passengers that have not anticipated the heavy rain . It may look like a series of unfortunate events but the true essence of adventures was there. The ferry left at 5:00am and arrived in Surigao City at 7:00am.

Personal Itinerary

Time Schedule	Activity/Destinations	Travel Cost
Day 1(Saturday)
600	Breakfast	PHP       88.00
800	BXU to Surigao City	200.00
1100	Terminal to Pier	11.00
1200nn	Lunch @ lola’s canteen	80.00
100p	Check in @ Aden Pension/Inn	680/2=340
200	Coffee @Island Resto	200/2=100
600	Dinner @Same Place Grill	200.00
700	Gimik @ Alcatraz bar	500/2=250.00
Day 2 (Sunday)
500a	Surigao to Siargao Island  ( BritPhil)	250.00
800	Dapa to Luna  (Habal habal)	300/2=150.00
1000	Check in @ Ocean Pacific Inn (Accommodation and  Lunch	965/2=483.00
1200nn	Rest
400p	Surfing lesson with instructor and board rental	500.00
700	Dinner	300.00
Day 3 (Monday)
400a	Gen.Luna to Dapa Port Habal Habal	200.00
500	Dapa to Surigao City (Dapa Express)	250.00
	Total	PHP  3,402.00

 

Tweet

Pin It