Our next 3 days in Surigao were spent in Club Tara. It's a resort in Socorro, Surigao del Norte near Sohoton National Park.
Club Tara provides van and boat ride services for 3000PHP per way for two. It was so expensive so we tried our luck to go on our own. We rode a 6:00AM van going to Hayangabon Pier which took us around 2 hours to arrive. Fare costs 120PHP per person. At the pier, we found a boat with group of passengers going to Sohoton. We joined the group and paid the boatman 1000PHP. That includes the trip to Sohoton National Park then drop off to Club Tara. It was a great deal considering that Club Tara offers separate fees for the Sohoton tour and pick up service.
After our 30 minute boat ride, we arrived at Club Tara Resort. We were not able to check in immediately because they were fully booked. We just left our baggage and brought only the items necessary for the tour.
Next stop was at Tiktikan Lake. We paid 20PHP for the entrance then we headed our way uphill then down to go to the lake.
There was a cottage near the lake to rest.
Mini boat to go around the lake
Another resting place.
Uphill, there is a viewing deck to take a glimpse of the whole area or to take a top view shot of the cottage below.
Then we arrived at the main attraction of the tour – the Sohoton Cove. The cove’s entrance is half submerged in water, allowing the tourists to enter only during low tide. A smaller boat is also needed to pass through the cove. The tourism office also requires an official guide when going on tour.
Registration and payment for the guide is at the Sohoton Tourist Center. Total costs of the whole group was around 1900PHP including the boat, guide, and entrance fee as well as life vests rental.
At the cove, we stopped by Hagukan Cave.
It has a small entrance, half-submerged cave with shells at the ceiling. You have to swim under the entrance in order to avoid scratches from the shells. For non-swimmers, you can float and the guide can assist you to enter the cave. It was a bit dark inside the cave, so we relied from the light outside to guide us.
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| Hagukan Cave Entrance |
Next, we went inside Magkukuob Cave.
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| Need to walk in the waist-deep water to get inside the cave |
Guided by the flashlight, we climbed up until we reached the 5-meter jump off point to the sea.
No chance to back out, it's much harder to go back down the rocky steps. So jump it is!
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| Jump shot! |
What an exciting way to end the Sohoton Cove tour! Before going back, we stopped by a small, white beach island to take a quick dip.
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| Jori and I at the white island beach |
