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My visit to Northeastern Mindanao was one of those trips that always gets me excited whenever I get reminded of the places that I’ve visited in the 12 days that I’ve spent in this part of Southern Philippines. I can’t get enough of it! Every time I review my photos or read about it online, it never fails to revive my love for travel. My trip to Northeastern Mindanao was my last major travel for the year (kind of a “last hurrah” thing) and my third time visit to Mindanao. I wanted to see as many places as I can in a relatively short time. I actually think I pushed myself (and budget) a bit too far in this particular trip … I just couldn’t resist the wanderlust. For 12 days, I was able to visit different places (almost all for the first time) spread across the vast northeastern corner of Mindanao Island: from Iligan City, Cagayan de Oro City (Misamis Oriental), Camiguin Island, over to Butuan City, Bislig City (Surigao del Sur), Surigao City, and finally the islands of Bucas Grande and Siargao in Surigao del Norte.
Previous
- Day 0 to Day 2: Bislig (Surigao del Sur) and Butuan 2-Day Itinerary
- Day 3 to Day 5: Camiguin Island 3-Day Itinerary
- Day 5 to Day 6: Malaybalay and Bukidnon 2-Day Itinerary
- Day 6 to Day 7: Iligan Waterfalls and Cagayan de Oro 2-Day Itinerary
Day 8
- 7:00am – ride taxi to Agora (east-bound) terminal, Cagayan de Oro – P52.50
- Ride aircon bus to Butuan – P280
- Buy Camiguin Pastel 6′s – p75
- 11:00am – Arrive in Butuan
- 11:50am – Ride van to Surigao city – P130
- 2:00pm – Arrive in surigao
- Lunch at Islands Restaurant
- Prawn tempura (P165), 2 rice (P30), iced tea (P35) – P230
- Walk to pension house
- Check-in at pension house
- Single fan room (shared TB) – P200
- Walk to City Tourism Office
- Walk to Caltex Gas Station
- Ride tricycle to Surigao del Norte Provincial Capitol – P7
- Internet – P30
- 1l h20 – P15.75
- Dinner at Jollibee – P126
Day 9
- 6:00am - Ride tricycle to Pier
- No service for 6am RORO ferry Dapa port, Siargao
- Walk to boulevard 6am pumpboat already left
- Walked around to find an internet cafe
- 9:00am – Walk back to boulevard
- Waited for “Arjee” ferry bound for Dapa port, Siargao to leave at 10:45am
- 10:45am – Ride ferry to Dapa Port, Siargao – P200
- 1:30pm – Arrival in Dapa
- Lunch at carinderia – p60
- Decided to go to Socorro, Bucas Grande first instead of General Luna/Cloud 9
- Waited for 4pm ferry trip to Socorro port
- 4:00pm – Ride ferry to socorro – P100
- 5:30pm – Arrival in socorro
- Asked around for directions to the training center
- Check-in at municipal training center
- Dorm-type beds with shared TB - P200 per night (per person)
- Slept at the training center
Day 10
- 7:00am – Searched for pumpboat for rent in Socorro port area – P1,200 (whole boat) halfday island hopping tour of Bucas Grande
- 7:30am – Departure from Socorro Port
- 8:30am – Arrival in Sohoton Caves reception area
- Sohoton Cave tour – P1,050 (whole boat)
- No non-sting jellyfish at the time
- Continue tour of Bucas Grande
- Crystal cave
- Buletas cave
- Tiktikan lake
- 12:am – Arrival at Socorro Port
- Check-out at training center
- Lunch at kitchenette at the port
- 3pcs octopus legs (P30), 2 rice, sprite – p70
- 1:00am – Ride ferry to dapa – P100
- 2:30am – Arrival in dapa
- Ride habal-habal to Cloud 9 – P150.
- Driver offered me p500 to take me to include a tour to Magpupungku. Declined offer.
- Power outage still persisted in Cloud 9 and the whole of Siargao Island. All of the cheap accommodations were closed. Everywhere else was fully booked
- Check in at Jungle Reef
- aircon room (private TB) – P1,500 originally but got it for P900 because of the power outage
- Dashed to cloud 9
- P500 rate for surfing instructor + board. Wasn’t able to surf because I had no money left
- Dinner at carinderia
- 2 rice, can of sardines, sprite – P95
- Sleep: Jungle Reef
Day 11
- Ride habal-habal to General Luna town proper – P50
- Lunch at Maribelle’s
- Saang (not sure with the name but it was like shell meat adobo; P40) + 2 rice + coke – P78
- Walking tour of General Luna
- Bought can of tuna and 1.5l h20 – P50
- Ride habal-habal back to jungle reef – P50
- Sunset photo walk in Cloud 9
- Dinner at carineria
- Bought 2 rice, sprite, an had the can of tuna opened – p50 (OMG! P12 service charge for the tuna)
- Walked back to jungle reef
- Sleep: Jungle Reef
Day 12
- Ride habal-habal from Cloud 9 to Dapa Port, Siargao
- Siargao to Surigao City Ferry
- Ride jeep to Surigao Airport
- Surigao City to Cebu Flight
- Cebu day tour
- Cebu to Iloilo flight
Itinerary dated November 2010
In the Philippine Ilonggo dialect, ambot ah literally means "I don't know." After graduating in college, I decided to hold off pursuing my profession and embarked on a free spirited journey of adventure and self-discovery. My travels have led me to many places across the Philippine Islands and South East Asia. I don't know where this path will take me but I'm certain I'll get a lifetime of stories out of it.
