Bucas Grande, Surigao del Norte 2016
We we're a total of 24 pax in the tour. So, we had to book two vans. Each van costs 4,500 per day. Standard rate for the van is Php 3, 500 but because the destination is pretty far from Davao City, it's more expensive. We planned for a 2 day tour which costed both vans Php 8,000 plus crude oil (Budget for crude was Php 6,000 for both vans). We also brought food and water for two days, appliances like heater and butane stove. We brought our own water because we aren't sure of the quality of water in the island (better to be safe than sorry).
Planned jump-off time from Davao City was 1:00 AM but we had to pass by different areas of the city to pick up the others before we finally took off. Approximately, we left Davao City at 2:00 AM. We reached Hayanggabon Port at around 10:00 AM. Our driver quickly went out to find a boat while we stayed inside the van and waited. Others went to a Talipapa in the pier which sold very cheap fishes. The fish in the island is very expensive so if you're on a tight budget, better buy fish from the market at the Hayanggabon Port. The boat costs Php 3,500 good for 15 pax but there were 24 of us so we needed two boats. Fortunately, the driver found a boat which costed Php 6,000 and could fit all of us inside as well as our luggage for an overnight stay at the island. The boat used 3 motors which was very noisy I could hear a tingling sound from my ear after the ride but it was okay.
At around 12:00 NN we were able to reach Tiktikan Lagoon. The island is filled with trees. So much trees unlike what we saw while we were leaving Hayanggabon Port. :p In this area, you can find the Bolitas and Crystal Cave. This is also where we had our lunch. The boatman allowed us to a house where the guides are staying. We cooked our food in there. If we weren't able to find a place to stay for the night, the boatman would allow us to stay there too, which is nice of him. The Lagoon also had plenty of stingless jellyfish, at first we thought they were poops. Hahaha. But they were actually jellyfishes. Plenty of them were there.
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| Some of the jellyfishes! You can swim with them too! :) |
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| View from the island. |
After lunch, we decided to visit the caves. The entrance fee was Php 50.00 per head, inclusive of hard hat and flashlight. The area didn't have access to electricity, so they're using a generator to charge the flashlights.
Each group of tourist will be assigned to a guide. The guides were very attentive and energetic. Very worth giving the tip! :) They are also very industrious in taking photos of their guest. I was able to ask our guide how he was able to know about stalactites and stalagmites and all the facts about the cave. He told us that there were geologists who explored the cave and oriented them about it which they are able to use now as a tourist attraction. Below are some of the photos he took.
After that we went on for our island hopping, it was around 2 PM. The boatman asked us if we wanted to go diving, we said yes. So he brought us to a diving spot. The entrance fee was Php 50.00, we found it expensive so we didn't push through. He just brought us to the main attraction of the island, which is the Sohoton EcoPark.
Before you we reached the park, we were brought to floating house. This is were we paid for the boat, tour guide and entrance fee. Entrance fee was Php 70.00/pax, inclusive of life vest and hardhat. Php 500 for boat. Php 165 per guide. Each boat has two guides. Kids and the drivers were free of charge for the entrance. There were 24 of us, each boat's maximum passenger capacity is 8, so we rented 3 boats. After paying, we were headed to another floating house where we will transfer to another boat and wear hardhats and life vests. It was around 4pm, we were luck the employees haven't left yet.
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| I'm ready! :) |
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| One of our tour guides. |
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| SELFIEEEEEEEEEEEEE :) |
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| Islets. islets. Islets everywhere! |
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| Rock formations :O |
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| On our way inside the sohoton cove. |
The entrance to the cove is through a cave and is only accessible during high tide. While going through the cave you have to dock to avoid hitting your head.
There are plenty of trees and pitcher plants inside. The islets look so identical, you can easily get lost inside the 40 hectare cove!
Thank goodness, God made this landmark! The horseshoe which signifies the entrance and exit to the cove,
We had two activities for the tour. First was the swimming at the Hagukan Cave. There were still guests inside when we arrived. So we had to wait til they got out before we got in.
The only way inside was to swim. You have to be very careful getting inside there are plenty of sharp objects on the walls of the entrance. I was wearing my life vests and it was hard to avoid them on my own. But the tour guides assisted us well.
The water inside the cave is luminous. It looks wonderful. One of the kids kept asking her mom why was the water luminous because she was so amazed. Hahaha, The water was actually luminous because of the reflection of sunlight from the outside of the cave.
We didn't stay long inside the cave but the experience was nice.
After swimming inside the Hagukan Cave. We went to another cave where the only exit was to jump of the cliff. The guides told us that we had to be sure we were going to jump before we get out of the boat. It's crossing the rubicon! A point of no return.
I was hesitant in jumping because I didn't know how to swim and we were not allowed to wear our life vest inside the cave. So I told him I don't know how to swim and they assured us it was not a problem, so I took a go. We weren't allowed to bring our phones inside (my phone served as my camera) so I wasn't able to take pictures. :(
Inside the cave, you can find formations of stalactites and stalagmites, Climbing was also a struggle, it was a bit slippery. It took time before girls such as myself were able to jump. I wasn't afraid of the height, I was more afraid of drowning. Hehehe. The guides are just below with the life vests. So after you jump, they will immediately get to you and give you a life vest. After I jumped, there were still 4-5 people left. Two girls were accompanied by the guides while they jumped because they were scared (like me). Hehehe.
After the two activities, we headed out of the cove, and the rain was pouring down. Perfect to rinse off the saltwater we got from the swimming. :p
The guides were very good. They took good care of us. One of the good points in visiting the area.
Outside was our boat waiting for us. After a tiring and fun filled afternoon, the boatman sent us to a resort for our overnight stay, the Kanlones Resort.
I didn't find plenty of resorts in the area which means that there are not plenty of competition, unlike Samal Island. In Kanlones, we took an open cottage. The cottage is a bit small but you can eat and sleep in there. Each cottage costs Php 1, 200. We took three cottages, so we haggled and they let us have three cottages for the Php 3,000. The cottage had foam and pillows. You can just call the attendants to place a bedsheet over the foam, when you want to sleep. They had electricity in the resort and a restaurant as well. But they didn't have freshwater. Unlike at the Tiktikan lagoon.
There were six of us inside the cottage. Here's one selfie before we slept.
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| My view from the cottage. |
Nice scenery as well..
After breakfast, we continued with our island hopping. We went to another island and went back to Tiktikan Lagoon to swim with the jellyfishes one more time and wash off.
Bucas Grande is a refreshing place to visit. It's filled with beautiful scenery and rich flora and fauna. The people are very welcoming and they love what they are doing. If we had more time and money, I wish we could have stayed longer in the place. It completely detaches you from the stressful city life. :)
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