Tuesday 31 January 2012

Surigao: Bucas Grande

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
Hagukan Cave Entrance
 Next, we went inside Magkukuob Cave.
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!
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.

Jori and I at the white island beach

5 comments:

Chyng said...

ang sosyal ng Club Tara, pero mahal. good thing you tried the other way, o diba 1000 lang. =)

the water and caves remind me of Guimaras. parang ganyan din pala. looking forward to more of your surigao/siargao trip. plano ko din to puntahan.

ByahengBarok said...

i didn't know there was a resort near bucas grande. we stayed before at siargao. ang layo. hehehe! love your photos :)

Kath said...

@Chyng - yup sulit! :)
Di na kami naka-siargao e, natali na sa bucas grande para masulit yung Club Tara... hopefully soon. :)

@ByahengBarok - thanks! :) ah. malayo nga!

Jen J. said...

Hi, Thanks for the info.
Ask ko na din, naghire pa ba kayo ng tour guide and boat para sa Hagukan Cave, Magkukob Cave? or puro DIY lang? or nakigamit dun sa mga kayak ng Club Tara?
Thanks!

Kath said...

Hi Jen, Sorry for late reply. We avail the small boat with official tourist guide for the Sohoton Cove tour( which includes Hagukan and Magkukob Cave). They requires tourists to be accompanied by a guide. ;)