Siargao, the surfing capital of the Philippines, is a must-go place among local surfers and has been gaining huge popularity even among international surfers. It is a good thing that Siargao, a teardrop-shaped island found in the southern part of the Philippines, is now easily accessible to surfers, nature lovers or simply adventure seekers by plane or by ferry.
GETTING TO SIARGAO ISLAND BY PLANE
Cebu Pacific flies from Manila via Cebu to Siargao daily. You can purchase Cebu Pacific tickets online
www.cebupacificair.com. Flying is by far the most convenient option. Sayak Airport, also known as Siargao Airport, is a 45-minute ride away from Cloud 9, General Luna, where the big waves and the fun are.
GETTING TO SIARGAO ISLAND BY FERRY
Alternatively, Cebu Pacific, Airphil Express
www.airphilexpress.com, and Philippine Airlines
www.philippineairlines.com flies daily from Manila or Cebu to Surigao City.
From Surigao City, a ferry will then bring you to Siargao Island. It is a two- to three-hour ferry ride from Surigao City to Dapa port in Siargao Island. The following are ferry schedules to catch from Surigao City to Siargao:
Britphil Express (leaves 6:00 a.m. daily)
Dapa Express or Arjie 2 (leaves 10:45 a.m. daily)
Montenegro Shipping Lines (leaves 12:00 noon daily)
A one-way trip ranges between 250 pesos and 350 pesos, depending on the ferry of your choice. It is important to be mindful of the ferry schedule. Missing the 12 noon schedule means having to stay overnight in Surigao City and try to catch the ferry the following day, unless you don't mind hiring a private boat, which of course is more costly.
Britphil Express (shown above) Dapa Express and Arjie 2 are much, much smaller, thus less convenient ride, than Montenegro Lines, which can transport vehicles from Surigao City to Siargao. But if you are willing to forego convenience for a faster ride, hardly a space to extend your legs, try the small ferries, which sails for approximately 2.5 hours from Surigao City to Siargao and vice versa instead of 4 hours for Montenegro Lines.
FROM THE AIRPORT OR SEAPORT TO GENERAL LUNA
Cloud 9 surf break in the town of General Luna is where the surf scene really is. At Siargao Airport or Dapa port, there are tricycles or motorbikes for hire to Cloud 9. The trip costs between 150 pesos to 200 pesos.
The guard at Dapa port was kind enough to give us a tip, though, for a cheaper alternative. If we can find the tricycle line, each tricycle waiting to be filled with passengers, we can get to General Luna for only 30 pesos per person. True enough. Thanks, Manong, for the tip! :)
Magnificent sunset at Cloud 9, General Luna. This breath-taking sunset view, apart from the most-sought-after waves at Cloud 9, makes Siargao, the surfing capital of the Philippines, truly a dream destination.
