Exploring Surigao Del Sur

Surigao Del Sur is becoming popular not only for local travelers but to foreign travelers as well.  Though this area is located in Mindanao, this province is very safe for solo backpacking even for females like me.  Locals are very friendly and helpful and the prices of commodities are very cheap and affordable.  The province is rich in natural resources and has lots of things to offer to travelers and you won't realize it until you experience it yourself.  I would say my solo backpacking experience in Surigao Del Sur is one of the safest and enjoyable one.

Sharing my 3-days 2-nights adventure in Surigao Del Sur to which I was able to explore the city of Bislig, and municipalities of Hinatuan and Tagbina.

BISLIG CITY

Bislig City is very well known for its ecotourism.   Its main tourist attraction is the Tinuy-an Falls, which is also known as the little “Niagara Falls” of the Philippines.  Other than that, there are plenty of tourist attractions that the city offers and local government is continuously making effort in improving the city to attract more tourists from visiting.  Below are the top recommended attractions in Bislig City which I was able to visit:

1)     BISLIG CITY BAYWALK

2)     OCEAN VIEW PARK AND INTERNATIONAL DOLL HOUSE

3)     SIAN FALLS 

4)     WAKAT SEA BREEZE RESORT

5)     HAGONOY ISLAND 

6)    TINUY-AN FALLS

Getting There and Away

There are three recommended points of entry to Bislig if you are flying from Manila.

1)  Via Butuan City - You can take any local airlines that fly to Butuan City, Agusan Del Norte.  Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific has daily flights to this city from Manila.  If you are lucky, you may be able to avail of their promo fare.  Just visit their websites for more info.

From Butuan City, Bancasi Airport you may take a van directly to Bislig.  Just look for a van that will take you to Mangagoy.  Mangagoy is the largest barangay, which is the center of trade, and industry in Bislig.  Fare is around Php 260.00 (approx. USD 5.22).  It’s roughly 4 to 5 hours travel from the airport to Brgy. Mangagoy.  If you will be traveling in a group of 10 or more, I recommend that you hire a van from the airport to take you to Mangagoy.  In that way, you will be able to save travel time as vans usually do frequent stops to load/unload passengers along the way.   Your travel time will then be shortened to approx. 2 and a half to 3 hours.

If you opt to take a Bus, you may ride a multi-cab (resembles a small jeep) from the airport to take you to Butuan City Integrated Bus Terminal.  Fare is Php 10.00 (approx. USD 0.20).  From the bus terminal, take a Bachelor Bus with a Mangagoy signboard.  Fare is around Php 320.00 (approx. USD 6.43) for aircon bus and travel time is around 5 to 6 hours.

2)  Via Davao City – Air Asia, Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines has direct flights everyday from Manila to Davao City.  Visit their website for more info. 

From Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City, take a cab or bus to Davao City Overland Transport Terminal.   Then take a Bachelor bus with Mangagoy signboard.  Fare is around Php 300 (approx. USD 6.02) for aircon bus.  Travel time is roughly 6 hours.

3)  Via Tandag City – Cebu Pacific flies 3 times a week from Manila to Tandag.  From Tandag City Airport, you can take a van directly to Mangagoy.  Fare is around Php 250.00 (approx. USD 5.02).

Final drop-off point for all buses and vans will be the terminal in Brgy. Mangagoy.  From the terminal you can take a habal-habal (single motorcycle) or a tricycle to take you to your accommodation.  Minimum fare is Php 7.00 (approx. USD 0.14).

Places to Stay 

Most convenient accommodation is located in Brgy. Mangagoy since this is the city’s center of trade and industry.  Below are the lists of the most recommended places where you can stay:

1)  Sleep Inn – This hostel is located along R.B. Castillo St., Brgy. Mangagoy.  This is a 2-storey house converted to a hostel with several rooms.  

Room rates starts at Php 150.00 (approx. USD 3.01) for single fan room per overnight stay.  Please refer to room rates below:

Fan Rooms (with common toilet & bathroom) per overnight stay
Single Bed	Php 150.00 (approx. USD 3.01)
Double Beds	Php 300.00 (approx. USD 6.02)
Matrimonial Bed	Php 300.00 (approx. USD 6.02)
Triple Beds	Php 400.00 (approx. USD 8.03)
Quad Beds	Php 500.00 (approx. USD 10.04)
Aircon Room (with common toilet & bathroom) per overnight stay
Double beds	Php 400.00 (approx. USD 8.03)
Aircon Room (with TV, toilet & bathroom) per overnight stay
Matrimonial Bed	Php 700.00 (approx. USD 14.06)
Aircon Room (with toilet & bathroom) per overnight stay
Triple Beds	Php 750.00 (approx. USD 15.06)

This is where I stayed since I preferred the one near the terminal and I only need a room to sleep since I will be mostly out during the day.

Sleep Inn, 2017 May

 For more details you may click on Sleep Inn Facebook account.

2)  Casa De Babano – Located along Abarca St., Brgy. Mangagoy, Bislig City.  This is one of the most popular pension house in Mangagoy wherein most travelers chose to stay.  Room rates starts at Php 275.00 (approx. USD 5.52) for fan room with common bath and toilet.  This price comes with free breakfast.  They also have Budong’s Bar located beside’s it if you wish to hang out during the night.  You may contact them at +63-86-853-1297 | +63-86-311-0940.

Casa De Babano, 2017 May

    For more details you may click on Casa De Babano Facebook account.

3)   Paper Country Inn – with address at Osmeña St., Brgy. Mangagoy, Bislig City.  This is considered as the most luxurious accommodation in Bislig.   Most local celebrities who visited Bislig stayed here. Rate starts at Php 900.00 (approx. USD 18.07) per overnight stay with free breakfast.  You may contact them at +63-923-937-6828 | +63-86-628-2313 | +63-86-853-3079.

Paper Country Inn, 2017 May

For more details you may click on Paper Country Inn Facebook account.

HINATUAN 

Hinatuan is a second-class municipality in the province of Surigao Del Sur.  Recently, this municipality is gaining popularity because of the now famous Enchanted River.  Also, they are pretty well known for producing delicious crabs and other seafood.

Hinatuan, Surigao Del Sur, Philippines, 2017 May

When visiting Bislig, it is a must to add this to your itinerary, as this is just about a 30-40 min. ride.  You may take a van, bus or jeep/multi-cab from the terminal in Brgy. Mangagoy or a habal-habal if you wish to experience a more exciting trip.

TAGBINA

Another second-class municipality in Surigao Del Sur, is Tagbina.  This sleepy town may not have much to offer compared to Bislig and Hinatuan, but if you want to experience swimming in a cold spring you may want to add this to your itinerary.  This is just about a 40 to 50 min. ride from Bislig.  Here you will find the Libuacan Cold Spring which is very famous among locals.

Where to Dine

After exploring the beautiful city of Bislig and its nearby municipalities, you may want to try some of the delicious restaurants/food stalls found here.  I’ve listed below some places where you can satisfy your cravings:

1)    Bislig Baywalk food stalls

Located along Bislig highway in Brgy. Poblacion.  The food stalls starts to open during afternoon until late night.  Here you can enjoy the cool breeze of the sea while eating your favorite barbeque and drinking your favorite beer.

2)    Budong’s Bar

Located besides Casa De Babano along Abarca St. in Brgy. Mangagoy.  This is a place where you can hangout with friends while enjoying some of your favorite meals and drinks.

3)    Ocean View Park

Located along the highway of Brgy. Cumawas, this restaurant serves an affordable yet variety of delicious meals.   They are open from 10 AM to 7 PM, Tuesdays to Sundays.

Ocean View Park Restaurant, 2017 May

4)    Papa Yok’s Garden Resto

Located along the highway of Brgy. Talisay in Hinatuan, going to the Enchanted River.  This newly opened place serves fresh crabs.  A meal for two with drinks will cost you around Php 240.00 (approx. USD 4.82).

Papa Yok's Garden Resto in Hinatuan, 2017 May

5)    Sea Tiger Cove

Located in Brgy. San Fernando in Bislig, this restaurant is famous for their seafood.   This place is a bit pricey which starts from Php 300 (approx. USD 6.02) per order but you will be able to enjoy the scenery and some karaoke if you love singing while waiting for your food to be served.

Sea Tiger Cove, 2017 May

6)    Wakat Sea Breeze Resort

Located in Brgy. Caguyao, Bislig City, this resort has a restaurant in the middle of the sea and resembles a mini-Maldives.   You need to ride a boat in order to get there.   They serve a variety of freshly caught seafood.

7)    Gaisano Capital

Located along Surigao-Davao Coastal Road in Brgy. Mangagoy, Bislig City, this mall has some restaurant wherein you can dine.  If you are craving for fast food, then this is the right place for you.  Mall hours is from 8 AM to 7 PM, Mondays to Sundays.

Gaisano Capital mall in Bislig City, 2017 May

Best Time to Visit

Since the Philippines is a tropical country, expect typhoons to be a frequent visitor too. Best time to visit Surigao De Sur is during summer time, which normally starts from March and ends around May. Yet, it is best to check the weather first before traveling into this area since rainy season often starts in most part of Mindanao around October and ends around mid February.    

What I Recommend 

In order to explore all the places I have mentioned here, I recommend that you hire a habal-habal (single motorcycle) since each tourist spots are a bit far from each other and there is no other more convenient mode of transportation (taxi don’t exists here).  So when I was planning to come to this place, I was researching on the possible mode of transportation until I stumbled upon a blog where the author hired a habal-habal.  There, I was able to get the habal-habal driver's contact number.  So now it is my turn to  share his number as a sign of appreciation, just incase you would want to try hiring him as he is a very nice, trustworthy person and will not take advantage of his clients.

with Kuya Alan, habal-habal driver in Mangagoy, 2017 May
Mobile Nos. +63-909-067-4937 | +63-948-208-4785

If you won’t be able to contact him, there are other habal-habal drivers in the terminal of Mangagoy whom you can hire.  

Also, if you are a first time traveler to this place, make sure to bring with you some insect repellant (though this city is clean) if you have sensitive skin and sun block to protect you from sunburn.  Make sure to wear sunglasses, rash guard, sneakers or any footwear that is not slippery and a dry bag to secure your belongings from getting wet, as you will be mostly exposed to the sun and water for the entire day.   Lastly, bring extra cash as credit cards are not widely use in most hostels/pension houses, resorts and commercial establishments here though there are banks and ATM machines in Brgy. Mangagoy.