Feb 11 to 17, 2020
Day 1
- This has always been in my bucket list…
- Manila to Siargao via Cebupac, 12:35 PM to 3:05 PM
- Covid 19 virus was already in the news, but surprisingly, it was never a question for us at that time if we will still go, and we are so glad and grateful that we did.
- It was a propeller plane with around 80 passengers max only. Most ng mga kasabay namin were Europeans, 2 or 3 pairs lang yata kami na Pinoy. A bit bumpy which is normal for a prop plane but overall good and we reached Siargao earlier than scheduled
- Upon arrival, we went straight ahead to the parking area where vans are waiting for passengers going to General Luna. Tranpo was 200 each, for about an hour travel time
- We booked our first night at GMV Apartments, just along the main road in GL, walking distance to the port and market, madami ding food choices, restos and minimarts along the road.
- GMV Apartments. Big room with tv, aircon, strong wifi and complete kitchen. We visited the market but very few choices of seafood
Day 2
- Early breakfast and left like 4:00 AM off to Surigao. We contracted habal driver the previous day para ihatid kami at P300. GMV owner was very kind and allowed us to leave some of our bags dahil babalik uli kami sa kanila the following day
- We reached Dapa port very early, di kasi kami sure where to get ferry schedules. We had second breakfast in the nearby panederia, hot pandesal and coffee ☕
- Ferry left Dapa port at around 6:30 AM, then we reached Socorro Port Surigao after about an hour later. Fare was P120 each plus P5 terminal fee per person. The ferry boat was nice, new and made of fiberglass, roomy, and the view going to Surigao was so relaxing
- Upon arrival sa Surigao, we asked local boats pahatid to Club Tara at 1k one way. It took about an hour and a half to reach Club Tara
- Club Tara. We booked the Water Cottage with Jacuzzi directly thru their website. They had a promo at that time so we got the room for 5k per night, regular price I think was 7.5k
- We arrived early and since the room was not yet ready, we started exploring the place, had lunch na din dito in their restaurant with very nice view of the cove
- Our room. Big room with veranda over the water, aircon, big bathroom with their famous jacuzzi with awesome view. No tv though, but who needs it anyway? 😍
- After settling in, we rested a bit, then enjoyed kayaking for hours. Medyo mabigat lang yung paddles nila 😩
- Kayaking with these views ❤️
- When we returned to the room, the jacuzzi was ready… so relaxing 💕💕💕
Day 3
- Breakfast. They need to improve the meals and get a chef maybe 🤔
- Took lots of pictures uli syempre. We love the view from the hill and we spent the rest of the morning there before checking out
- Club Tara straight to Dapa port, Siargao. This time, we availed of the resort transfers for 1.5k. Nice boat, ang bilis, kami lang passengers, we took the other way, grabe tilamsik ng alon. We were laughing pa about the provided towels and raincoats, kelangan pala talaga hahaha. It was like motorcycling in the rain at 100kph without helmets 😂😂😂
- From Dapa, tric lang going to GL at P20 each
- Back to GMV Apartments. One night uli. We tried to use the owner’s motorbike if kaya namin to DIY land tour but medyo alanganin kaya pass na lng muna. Nakalayo naman kami ng slight and reached Kermit resto
- We also had pizza and pasta sa Avenito’s, sikat daw e
Day 4
- Before retiring the previous night, nakapag-arrange na kami ng habal for our land tour. Gary Ruaya at P1500 whole day na. We started early like 6:00 AM, visited the following and had lotsss of prenup like photos. The best ang guide namin, dami alam 😂😍
- Cloud 9
- Secret Beach
- Maasin’s Thousand Coconuts Mountain View
- Pacifico Surfing Spot
- Secret Spot
- Maasin Road with Palm Trees
- Maasin River
- Secret Lagoon
- There were other places we didn’t get to visit like the Sugba Lagoon and Magpupungko beach which was closed for renovation at that time
- After the tour, we picked up our bags from GMV then off to next 😊
- Surfing Carabao. We love this place. ❤️
- The Villa Amakan two storey unit we got was spacious and we love walking on old hardwood floors. You rarely get those nowadays. The ground floor has the huge sala, vedanda and complete kitchen with lots of free stuff… pancakes and syrup, dozen eggs, fresh milk, oats, coffee. Upstairs we have the bedroom, bathroom and big balcony.
- We love how serious they are in terms of waste segregation. There is a separate basket for different kinds of waste.
- They do not have a restaurant but they have a common kitchen outside with complete cooking pans and all, plus lots of free stuff.
- The honesty store also is soo cool, you just write down whatever you got from the store mostly drinks and will be computed when you check out
- Regular rates are 5k per night, but since the rooms were just reopened after renovations, we got it at half the price. Awesome!
Day 5
- For island hopping, we called a joiner group from one of the flyers we got from the airport. Renting a boat will cost you only 1500 for the whole day, but we still opted for the joiner group at 795 each with free lunch and entrances fees inclusive already. And, we were only 5 in the group, us, Joey – a solo traveller from Manila, and two German guys spending their 3 months vacation across Asia
- Included in the tour are these islands
- Naked – literally bare island
- Daku – lunch spot with lots of coconut trees, strong waves though
- Guyam – this we love the most. Calm and shallow waters, Instagrammable spots, rock formations ala magpupungko. We stayed longer here amongst the islands we visited
- Went back to Surfing Carabao and Bob continued swimming in the shallow and calm waters of Malinao beach just infront of the resort
- Cooked dinner in our room. We bought shrimps and liempo from the market after the tour
Day 6
- Pancakes for breakfast. We woke up with the dogs sleeping at the veranda ❤️
- Bob waded in the waters again, while I just stayed under the trees, relaxing sa duyan with cool breeze 😍
- I’ll say it again, Surfing Carabao is ❤️❤️❤️
- We intend to come back here with the kids. We highly recommend trying the place out on your visit to Siargao 😊
- We called the van na sinakyan namin from the airport to GL to pick us up back to airport. We were allowed late check out also as our flight is in the afternoon pa
- Siargao to Cebu via Cebupac, 3:40 PM to 6:45 PM
- From Cebu airport, we rode P2P going to SM City, just across our Airbnb overnight accommodation, Sunvida Towers
- Went to Taboan market for dried goods.. pusit, dilis, danggit, chicharon. Then, bought CNT lechon for dinner from their branch just 2 blocks near our hotel
Day 7
- Breakfast, left over lechon 😋
- Dropped by CNT lechon again to buy pasalubong. Dami agad customers early in the morning. We got 2 kgs for hand carry lang
- P2P uli from SM to the airport. This is really convenient and cheaper than taxi 👍
- Cebu to Manila via Cebupac, 1:30 PM to 2:55 PM
Siargao is such a wonderful place. I understand those who decided to live there permanently and given the chance, I would love to do the same.