Siargao is a tear-drop shaped island in the Philippine Sea situated 800 kilometers southeast of Manila in the province of Surigao del Norte. It has a land area of approximately 437 square kilometers. The east coast is relatively straight with one deep inlet, Port Pilar. The coastline is marked by a succession of reefs, small points and white, sandy beaches. The neighboring islands and islets have similar landforms.
SURFING - CLOUD 9
One of the best known surfing waves on Siargao and the Philippines, with a worldwide reputation for thick, hollow tubes is "Cloud 9". This right-breaking reef wave is the site of the annual Siargao Cup, a domestic and international surfing competition sponsored by the provincial government of Surigao del Norte. The wave was discovered by travelling surfers in the late 1980s. It was named and made famous by American photographer John S. Callahan, who published the first major feature on Siargao Island in the United States- based Surfer magazine in March 1993, and hundreds of his photos in many other books and magazines since his first visit in 1992. Callahan has put the island on the international map and has drawn thousands of surfers and tourists to Siargao.
Cloud 9 also has a reputation for being a relatively cheap destination for surfers with many cheap accommodations and restaurants and bars to choose from. There are several other quality waves on Siargao and nearby islands, but Cloud 9 has received more publicity than any other, indeed in the Philippines as a whole. It is the only wave easily accessible without a boat, leading to overcrowding and the nickname of "Crowd 9" among surfers. Eager foreign and locally owned accommodation and tourist facilities have profited from the magazine publicity and the influx of visitors drawn by the annual Siargao Cup competition in September.
Siargao is well known as "The Surfing Capital of the Philippines" with a reputation among surfers within the Philippines and the International scene.
SWIMMING, SNORKELLING & SCUBA DIVING
The city is known for the 27-mile long white sugar-fine sand strip of Gen. Luna, the Basul Island and Sagisi Beach in Brgy. San Jose which has cream collared coarse sand. The colorful seashells and coral bits of the shores of Danawan Island are richly adorned.
Part of the fun is island-hopping using any of the available modes of sea transport: motor launches or bancas fitted with sack-cloth sails. A handful of habitués who like to stay for months have their own sailboats built here. Yachts usually operated by Australians are not an unusual sight in Siargao either.
There are also a few catamarans and kayaks for rent.
During summer the waters off General Luna is colourfully dotted with sailboats and sailbancas, especially during its fiesta celebration when the General Luna Annual Siargao Regatta or Siargao Sailboat race is held.
Siargao Coast is conveniently fenced in by several miles of reefs. This natural barrier keeps the inlet waters placid even during bad weather. At high tide only the giant waves from the Pacific can be heard and seen. At low tide, when the reefs are exposed, people can leisurely wade amidst its shallow waters.
SPELUNKING
Some Surrounding Islands have several caves and tunnels in its islands. Some are submerged in water most of the time. Such is the Suhoton Cave at Bucas Grande Island. Others, like the Silop Cave in the mainland are cathedral-like caverns glowing with luminescent spires of stalactites and stalagmites. The Buenavista Cave in Hikdop Island has three tunnels leading to a cavernous tunnel three kilometres long. It has a knee-deep pool inside and a palatial chamber replete with a "king's throne." The Suy-ang Cave in Quezon, in Dinagat with its high Gothic interior is another must-see for cave explorers. The mainland caves of Mapawa are actually a labyrinth of several caves interconnected by tunnels and hallways.
GETTING THERE
From Cebu City, it can be reached by a 45-minute flight via Philippine Airlines five days weekly; by a 12-hour overnight boat trip which departs every evening on weekdays.
From the mainland there are motor launches playing the major island barangays daily or SeAir Now Flies 3 times a week to SIARGAO from Cebu.
