WHY SURIGAO SHOULD BE YOUR NEXT TRAVEL DESTINATION

Surigao may not be the first destination that comes to your mind when looking for beautiful spots around the Philippines. But the islands of Surigao offers a wide variety of tourist attractions that are worth visiting which is why it is dubbed as the City of Island Adventures. This city is known to be shrouded with mysteries that will surely lure you with its unspoiled waters and beaches that are full of wonders.

Here is a list of some vacation spots in Surigao that should definitely be in your bucket list:

1. Mabua Pebble Beach
   
   Ever been on a beach with no sand? Mabua is truly a unique place. It's shores are full of beautiful whitish-gray round rocks stretching one kilometer long. These aren't the ordinary pebbles you see on beaches, they vary ranging from the size of a fist to one that is much larger than your foot. There are also nipa huts lining the beach, a sign that the place is popular for hangouts. This place is usually visited by locals but if you want to have it for yourself, you may want to visit during weekdays. Also, one of the best thing about Mabua is that it is only a 15-20 mins ride away from the city proper. The most common transportation in Surigao is a tricycle. You may ask any tricycle driving around the city and they will take you to Mabua.

And before you leave, don't forget to eat this Surigaonon delicacy, Sayongsong :) It's one of my favorites!
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1. Siargao Islands
   
   It's not a secret in the Philippines that the best place to meet the waves is Siargao Island. Its crystal-like barrel of waves is every surfer's dream. This island is increasingly popular nowadays especially when the Filipino movie, "Siargao" hits the cinemas last December. It's most popular place is Cloud9 where 2 international surfing competitions are held every year.

(Siargao boardwalk during sunset)

Hey, don't feel too bad if you are a non-surfer. There is actually more to Siargao than surfing. It is an all around adventure and eco-tourism destination. For starters, here's Magpupungko Rock Pool. This natural beauty is a tidal pool near the Pacific Ocean shielded by a reef barrier. The name "Magpupungko" literally means a "to sit", which is derived from the huge rock sitting on top of another long the shoreline. Cool, right? The pool itself is very calm and its waters are really clear. For the best experience, visit the pool during low tides.

Apart from Magpupungko, there are also other islands scattered around Siargao and one of them is Naked Island. Don't get me wrong, this island is not for those who want to swim naked Haha. As the name itself suggests, this island is mostly bare, with only white sand and the bluest crystal water around. Be sure to bring loads of sunblock or otherwise, you could get the most impressive tan (or maybe sunburns haha). The island is really really small so there are no huts around.

In contrast to Naked Island is Guyam Island, gifted with lush green vegetation. The only inhabitants of the island are the caretakers. It is a little secluded with a sandy beach on one side and a rocky one on the other. The island is mostly covered with tall coconut trees where you can ask the caretakers to get yourself coconuts for only 50 pesos or $1. The waters are also clear with a huge reef that surrounds the island. Guyam while definitely make you feel like you are stuck on a remote yet peaceful place.

(the rocky side of Guyam)

Note: There are other beautiful islands in Siargao. If you want to check all of them, you may avail island hopping tours but be sure to make your own reasearch to plan your vacation carefully. :)

1. Bucas Grande
   This hidden gem just lurks in the shadows of its more famous neighbor, Siargao. But nowadays, it's slowing carving out its own identity. It's a home for a few lagoons, coves, and lakes, some of it are still undiscovered while others can only be accessed in certain conditions. One of the most popular activity in Bucas Grande is swimming with hundreds of jellyfish. But don't worry, they do not sting :) They come in different sizes and colors. Some say that they only appear during the summer but they are actually there all year round. They might be hiding on the other part of the island. Since there are a lot of places to check out at Bucas Grande, I'll leave you with some picture below.

Sohoton Lagoon

Sohoton Cove (entrance to the lagoon)

Club Tara

Swim with the stingless jellyfish!

These are just some of the popular places in Surigao. They only cover around 30% of the total vacation spots waiting to be discovered. As a proud Surigaonon, I highly recommend you visiting these places. Surely, you would want to stay in Surigao forever. I have been to most of the vacation spots in Surigao and hopefully I'll be able to check them all out and share it with you! If you have questions, just drop a comment below. Thank you!

Til' my next post, Steemers! Don't forget to add Surigao in your travel goals!!! :D

(Photo courtesy to the owners of the pics)