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Surigao City is the capital of the province
of Surigao del Norte, the gateway to northern Mindanao. It is a crowded, busy
and developing city, with interesting “island barangays” that effortlessly
show the way to the well-known Suriganon hospitality
There is a group of islands
within easy day-tour reach of the city. One can start off with Basul Island
close to the Maharlika National Road, just a brief boat ride from the Maharlika
Pier. A vacationista can also opt to discover Hikdop Island, 45 minutes away
from the city by pump boat. The island has unspoilt beaches and it also serves
as a jump-off point to Nonoc Island where one can find the longest wooden bridge
in the country. This extraordinary 391-meter footbridge called the Cantiasay-San
Pedro Foot Bridge serves as a connection to the neighboring island of Sibale.
Siargao and Pansukian are
almost always associated with surfing. For nonsurfers like this writer, the
question is: is there more to Surigao than just surfing? While the international
surfing community adored Siargao for its amazing beaches ideal for surfing, the
place had much more to offer.
Siargao’s proximity to the
Philippine Deep, and the naturally huge swells of the Pacific that comes to its
shores, are what makes Siargao a haven for aqua sports enthusiasts. Tourism has
seeped its way into the area (thanks mostly to surfing), but from the looks of
it, modish restaurants, and spas are still a long way coming. The developments
on the island are mostly of the small-town variety and have not made a dent on
Siargao’s natural charm and rustic appeal.
Mangrove swamps, caves, coral
reefs and lagoons can truly be fascinating. And the island also impressed our
group with stretches of rice fields, exotic flora and fauna and interesting
marine resources.
The cottages at the
Traveller’s Beach Resort in General Luna come with neat Spartan amenities.
More luxurious accommodations can be had at the neighboring Pansukian Beach
Resort, hailed by an international design magazine as one of the best resorts in
Asia. Each of the resort’s 10 cottages showcases the best in modern-Asian
design. The standard cottages are roomy, with big comfortable beds and spacious
bathrooms. The bigger rooms have a relaxing veranda that frames an exhilarating
view of the postcard-pretty islands nearby.
Our group also took much
interest on the twin islands Mamon and La Janoza. Also fascinating is Bucas
Grande, a beautiful lagoon about an hour by motorized banca from the Pansukian
jetty and which can only be accessed by kayak through the Sohoton Cave. Here,
one may find limestone rocks covered with foliage that spring from shimmering
clear blue green waters as well as stingless jellyfish similar to those that can
be found in the Palau Islands. An underground lagoon, where the sun’s rays
shimmer through domed walls of leaves, would leave even the most jaded beach bum
breathless.
Still another favorite is Dacu
Island, half an hour from Pansukian where one encounters more of the same fine
white sand beaches and an artist’s beach house. If visitors want more
activities on the island, the resort staff can arrange special trips for
deep-sea fishing, shell collecting and snorkeling. Scuba diving facilities are
now available since dive sites around the island are slowly being discovered.
Fresh seafood can be found
everywhere. We had grilled squid, fish kinilaw and the fattest of crabs—all
prepared by the island folks, who are in essence, the reasons why the sun shines
brighter and the general atmosphere is warmer in Surigao.
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