Are you tired of the Urban Jungle? Try Siargao, a more than the usual island in the south with a different flavor. Dancing with gigantic waves is the main attraction in this part of Surigao del Norte. If you're ready to get wet, this island promises you to get "Wild over Water". Who would believe that one of the world's most admired surfing spot is part of our 7,107 islands?
Some says it takes you forever to reach this jewel island but its worth for an adventure lover like me. Almost seven hours to be exact, counted from the time I left my house in Manila. If you are coming from Manila, it will take you one and a half hour flight to reach Butuan City then a two hours bus ride to Surigao City, the jump-off point to the island of Siargao. In Surigao, you will take a 15-minute jeepney ride to the pier to take a two-hour ferry ride to Dapa (Siargao's main port town). If you miss the the 5:30 am ferry schedule, then you'll have no choice but to wait for the 2pm one. Once in Siargao, you'll have another 45-minute jeepney ride to reach the town of General Luna, where the famous Cloud 9 is. If you thought Siargao was only for surfers, think again. During the off season there's still plenty to do like island hopping, diving, kayaking and more. Are you ready to get Wet?
Siargao: A Surfing Paradise
The unspoiled teardrop shaped island called Siargao is a Shangri-la for adventurers and nature lovers. It is the surfing capital of the Philippines. This surfing haven is located 800 kilometers Southeast of Manila. Siargao is now one of the world's great frontiers for surf exploration. Its most popular break is "Cloud Nine." Surfing is best from July to November when strong waves are in constant motion. The powerful wave-off "Cloud 9" has been hailed as one of the world's five toughest breaks and has been frequently compared to the famous surf of Hawaii and Australia.
Siargao's "Cloud Nine", a powerful hollow right hander, featured in "Surf Magazine" as one of the ten best waves in the world. East of Siargao Islands lies the Philippine Deep that rises from over 34,000 ft to a belt of reefs. This Oceanic trench is the reason for the excellent surf in Siargao; because it is so deep and the continental shelf narrow, the waves break with juice straight out of deep water and focus the wave energy straight at the beach. This area is set to become Asia's next hot surfing destination and is truly one of the worlds' last great frontiers for surf exploration.
Siargao Island is Surigao Del Norte's "last frontier" facing the Pacific Ocean. The island boasts of quite a number of untapped natural resources that tourists marvel. Aside from the white beaches that abound, the seas of Siargao are the fishermen's choice to catch fish and other marine products. This year, under the administration of Gov. Robert Lyndon Barbers, Siargao's infrastructure development got the much needed "shot in the arm" with its people seeing and feeling the improvements where during the previous provincial leaderships, "it was only but a dream," so they said.
Are you ready for Island Hopping? There are islets where you'll find fine white sand beaches and crystal clear waters comparable to Boracay Paradise. The three favorites - Guyam, Daku and Naked Island are close to General Luna and can be visited by renting your own banca for only P1,000.00. Traveling around the town makes easier with habal-habal, a motorcycle that can load up to 7 passengers to that will bring you to different destinations in town.
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