6 DAYS 5 NIGHTS BACKPACKING SURIGAO
This itinerary covers Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Siargao Island. We wanted to explore and visit as many destinations as we can with a limited budget and time. Our route started and ended in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte.
DAY 1: BUTUAN CITY
Butuan City was our entry point heading to Surigao del Sur. Travelers sometimes prefer to pick this city since airfare costs less than Surigao or Siargao. Traveling to Surigao del Sur would take a 5 hour long bus ride.
DAY 1 ITINERARY:
🚩Arrival at Butuan Airport: 3PM
🚩Airport to terminal: 30 minutes via R4 Tricycle | 20PHP | There are also vans outside the airport that go straight to Mangagoy worth 250PHP
🚩Butuan to Bislig: 5 hours via bus | 202PHP (with student discount)
↠Dinner: prices ranges from 50-100PHP
🚩Accommodations: 400PHP | St. Francis Pension House | Espiritu St., Mangagoy, Bislig City | Contact Number: +63868532106
DAY 1: 722PHP for Solo; 522PHP/pax for 2
🚩Airport to terminal: 30 minutes via R4 Tricycle | 20PHP | There are also vans outside the airport that go straight to Mangagoy worth 250PHP
🚩Butuan to Bislig: 5 hours via bus | 202PHP (with student discount)
↠Dinner: prices ranges from 50-100PHP
🚩Accommodations: 400PHP | St. Francis Pension House | Espiritu St., Mangagoy, Bislig City | Contact Number: +63868532106
DAY 1: 722PHP for Solo; 522PHP/pax for 2
DAY 2: SURIGAO DEL SUR
There was so much to explore in Surigao del Sur. Some of the famous places were the Hinutuan Enchanted River and Tinuy-an Falls.
Points of Interests:
🚩Hinatuan Enchanted River
🚩Britania Group of Islands.
↠Breakfast: prices ranges from 50-100PHP🚩Britania Group of Islands.
DAY 2 ITINERARY:
🚩Bislig to Enchanted River, Hinatuan: 1 hour via van | 60PHP
🚩Enchanted River Jumpoff to Enchanted River: 40 minutes via habal-habal | 50PHP | There are habal-habal waiting at the drop-off to Enchanted River
🚩Enchanted River entrance fee: 30PHP
🚩Enchanted River to Hinatuan Terminal: 40 minutes via habal-habal | 150PHP
🚩Hinatuan to Barobo Terminal: 40 minutes via van | 50PHP | ride a bus or van with a signage Butuan and have you dropped at Barobo
🚩Barobo to San Agustin: 40 minutes via van | 50PHP | look for a van with a signage 'Tandag.' Tell the conductor to drop you off Britania
🚩San Agustin to Britania Jump-off: 15 minutes via habal-habal | 40PHP | Driver will drop you first at tourism center
🚩Britania Entrance fee: 25PHP
↠Lunch: prices ranges from 50-100PHP
🚩Britania group of islands tour: 2 hours+, via boat | 1500PHP per boat | Try to negotiate to have a discount, we got ours for 1200PHP, Contact Kuya Rudy, boatman, 09105218934
🚩Britania to San Agustin: 15 minutes via habal habal | 40PHP
🚩San Agustin to Barobo | 40 minutes via van | There were vans passing by the highway
🚩Barobo to Mangagoy: 1 hour via van | 90PHP
↠Dinner: prices ranges from 50-100PHP
🚩Accommodations: 400PHP | St. Francis Pension House
DAY 2: 2485PHP for Solo; 1545PHP/pax for 2
DAY 3: TINUY-AN FALLS AND SURIGAO CITY
Points of Interest:🚩Tinuy-An Falls
🚩Tandag City
DAY 3 ITINERARY🚩Mangagoy to Tinuy-an Falls: 1 hour via habal-habal | 500PHP roundtrip, 250PHP per way | I suggest riding a habal-habal coming form Mangagoy to make it hassle-free. It is 7km away from the highway. Tip: Schedule your trip with a Enchanted river-tinuy-an falls, then Britania tour next day. It would be cheaper.
🚩Tinuy-an Falls entrance fee: 50PHP
🚩Raft: 150PHP | must try
🚩Light jacket: 35PHP
🚩Guide fee: 10 minutes to the top | required, no definite price, we gave 100PHP
↠Lunch: prices ranges from 50-100PHP
🚩Tinuy-an falls to Mangagoy: 1 hour via habal-habal | 500PHP roundtrip, 250PHP per way
🚩Mangagoy terminal to San Franz: 3 hours via bus | 110PHP | either bus or van to San Franz
🚩San Franz to Tandag: 2 hours via van | 150PHP | either bus or van to Tandag
🚩Tandag terminal to Accommodation: 10 minutes via tricycle | 20PHP
↠Dinner: prices ranges from 50-100PHP
🚩Accommodations: 400PHP | Shacene by the Sea Pension House and Hotel, Tandag City, Surigao del Sur, +6378830772
DAY 3: 1815PHP for Solo; 1230.50PHP/pax for 2
DAY 4: Bucas Grande and Sohoton Cove (TANDAG-CLAVER-SOCORRO-SURIGAO CITY)
Points of Interest:🚩Bucas Grande Island Hopping
🚩Sohoton Cove
🚩Caves
DAY 4 ITINERARY
🚩Accommodation to Tandag Terminal: 10 minutes via tricycle | 20PHP
🚩Tandag, Surigao del Sur to Claver, Surigao del Norte: 3-4 hours via van | 200PHP | Earliest van leaves at 1AM and the last one leaves at 4PM
🚩Claver terminal to Hayanggabon Port: 40 minutes via tricycle | 80PHP | We overslept. Tell the conductor to drop you off near Hayanggabon port, not Claver terminal.
🚩Bucas Grande Island Hopping and Sohoton Cove: Times may vary depending on your pacing, via boat | 4000PHP | The island hopping costs 3500PHP, if you schedule a Sohoton Cove tour, you need to pay an additional 1000PHP going to Sohoton Cove, we got ours for 500PHP only. Tip: Get the island hopping tour from Siargao. It is much cheaper, and the island hopping (Daku, Naked Island, etc.) are worth your money. 09469898985 - Kuya Max, Boatmant, offeres Socorro/Bucas Grande tours.
🚩Cave entrances: 50PHP | good for three caves.
🚩Hayanggabon Port to Surigao city: 2-3 hours via van | 120PHP | There were vans waiting outsite the port heading to Surigao City.
🚩Surigao Terminal to Accommodations: 20 minutes via multicab | 20PHP | there were multicabs going from terminal to the city proper, we booked a room near the port. Ride one with a signage 'Terminal' or you can hire a tricycle for 50PHP.
↠Dinner: prices ranges from 50-100PHP
🚩Accommodation: ranges from 700-1500PHP | we booked a room at RXY Pension House for 725PHP
DAY 4: 5415PHP for Solo; 2992.50PHP/pax for 2
DAY 5: SURIGAO CITY-SIARGAO ISLAND
Points of Interest:🚩Cloud 9
🚩Mapupungko
DAY 5 ITINERARY
↠Breakfast: prices ranges from 50-100PHP
🚩Accommodation to Surigao Port: 5 minutes via tricycle | 20PHP
🚩Surigao Port to Dapa Port: 4 hours via roro | 220PHP
🚩Dapa Port to Accommodations: 30-40 minutes via habal-habal | 200PHP | We booked our hotel at Kawili Resort in General Luna
↠Lunch: prices ranges from 100-200PHP
🚩Accommodations: ranges from 1000PHP-2000PHP | got ours for 1500PHP good for 3 pax
🚩Motorbike rental: 400PHP
🚩Motorbike gas: 120PHP (40PHP per liter)
🚩Mapupungko entrance fee: 1 hour via motor-bike or habal-habal | 50PHP
↠Dinner: prices ranges from 100-200PHP
DAY 5: 3010PHP for Solo; 1890PHP/pax for 2
🚩Cloud 9
🚩Surfing
↠Breakfast: prices ranges from 100-200PHP
DAY 6: SIARGAO-SURIGAO-BUTUAN
Points of Interest:🚩Cloud 9
🚩Surfing
↠Breakfast: prices ranges from 100-200PHP
🚩Surfing: 1 hour tutorial and board rental for the day | 500PHP | Since we wont use it for the day we asked our instructor if we can both use the board. We both payed 250PHP.
🚩General Luna to Dapa Port: 30-40 minutes via habal-habal | 300PHP
🚩Dapa Port to Surigao Port: 2 hours via roro | 220PHP | Please note that the first trip is at 12NN and the last is at 1PM
↠Lunch: prices ranges from 50-100PHP
🚩Surigao Port to Surigao Bus Terminal: 20 minutes via tricycle | 50PHP
🚩Surigao to Butuan: 2 hours via Van | 200PHP
🚩Butuan terminal to Airport: 30 minutes via habal-habal | 200PHP | the van didn't drop us at the airport, which was what we've paid for. So to not miss our flight, we hailed a habal-habal to the airport which costs us a lot.
🚩Terminal fee: 150PHP
DAY 6: 1920PHP for Solo; 1520PHP/pax for 2
🚩Butuan terminal to Airport: 30 minutes via habal-habal | 200PHP | the van didn't drop us at the airport, which was what we've paid for. So to not miss our flight, we hailed a habal-habal to the airport which costs us a lot.
🚩Terminal fee: 150PHP
DAY 6: 1920PHP for Solo; 1520PHP/pax for 2
TOTAL EXPENSES: 14645PHP for solo-travelers; 9700PHP for 2pax travelers
A. Pre-travel essentials:
↠ Book your airfare with Cebu Pacific Air.
Book your flights going to Butuan (cheapest fares), Surigao (ideal airport) or Siargao.
↠ Book your hotel with Agoda in Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, and Siargao. Agoda gives low rates and discounts when booking through this website.
↠ Always bring extra cash. ATMs are available in the city centers.
B. Getting around:
↠ Surigao del Norte & Surigao del Sur: I familiarized myself with routes of Bachelor bus. If you're not sure where youre heading, hail a habal-habal.
↠ Siargao: rent a motor-bike or hail a habal-habal. Motor-bike rental are cheap as well as petrol.
C. Tipid Tips:
↠ Places to eat: most of them are karinderia and these are the cheapest choices!
↠ Book cheap hotels near city centers and transport terminals for accessibility.
↠ Know the places where you want to go and build your itinerary around it. Then cross off places that are too far away (unless you really want to go)
D. Other Contact numbers:
+63-9078926375 - Kuya Tata, Habal-habal driver, offered Enchanted River-Tinuy-an Falls-Britania Tour, he was our driver going to Enchanted River, he referred us to Kuya Rudy.
+63-9105218934 - Kuya Rudy, Boatman, offered Britania Island Hopping tour
+63-9488356053 - Kuya Warren, Habal-habal driver, offered Enchanted River-Tinuy-an Falls-Britania tour (1500PHP without entrances)
09469898985 - Kuya Max, Boatman, He offers Socorro/Bucas Grande tours.
PIN IT!
FOOTNOTES:
Credits to Rae Argallon and Cheloi Marasigan | Surigao | June 2016 | Updated August 2018
RAESCAPE contains affiliate links in the website. By clicking and purchasing through this links, I get to earn a small commission to help me run this website without extra cost to you. Thank you for helping a fellow traveler and say yes to adventures!
Read about the Disclosure and Disclaimer here.
09469898985 - Kuya Max, Boatman, He offers Socorro/Bucas Grande tours.
PIN IT!
FOOTNOTES:
Credits to Rae Argallon and Cheloi Marasigan | Surigao | June 2016 | Updated August 2018
RAESCAPE contains affiliate links in the website. By clicking and purchasing through this links, I get to earn a small commission to help me run this website without extra cost to you. Thank you for helping a fellow traveler and say yes to adventures!
Read about the Disclosure and Disclaimer here.
Thanks Fairuz. These three provinces are located in Mindanao and most of the untouched islands there are wonderful. If ever you are in the Philippines, I hope you can visit it.
ReplyDeleteGreat write-up. Wonderful pics showing me a new place to visit. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThanks Karletta! I hope you can visit the Philippines soon! :)
DeleteThanks for the plan and it looks like a great itinerary, from scenery, ocean and nature. ~ Didn't hear about Siargao Island but now I know it's in the Philippines. @ knycx.journeying
ReplyDeleteSiargao is one of the best surf spots in the Philippines and when I went there, foreigners flock every hotels! It's slowly becoming a haven for them! Visit it to experience Siargao's beauty as well.
DeleteGanda sa Surigao. Pangarap ko to puntahan Sana makabyahe na ulit kami ng wife ko.
ReplyDeleteGood luck Ivan! To more travels this 2019 for both of you. :)
DeleteDream destination ko din ang Surigao at Siargao :) thanks for this very detailed ITinerary
ReplyDeleteAgree with eating in eateries para makatipid. Though, at least once in a while I want to eat the food specialty of the place to experience it fully.
Tama! Pero compared to Manila food, mahal parin pagkain sa Siargao. :( Hopefully makavisit ka this 2019!
DeleteSuper ganda ng Surigao! Di na talaga kailangan pumunta sa ibang bansa to see beautiful places. I hope I can add this to my itinerary this year. Will definitely take note of the contact persons!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Karla! Philippines itself super ganda na! <3
DeleteThis is an awesome backpacking itinerary, thanks for your generousity in sharing this. I'll keep this in mind.
ReplyDeleteThanks Blair! Let me know if you're in Surigao/Siargao!
Delete