Roadtrip to Bucas Grande group of Islands

Summer officially starts now and we are going on a road trip.

My husband and I decided to spend our summer in Carage Region, tagging along my sister and her family. We planned on visiting Bucas Grande group of Islands in Socorro, Surigao del Sur, Enchanted River in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur and Tinuy-an Falls in Bislig, Surigao del Sur.

Day 1:

March 22, 2016

Tuesday

We left Malaybalay City at 4:00 AM. Making sure we had everything ready and in place. These should be included in your checklist; gallons of water, candies, chocolates, junk foods and packed meals. And since this trip is about sea exploration, these essentials should also be in your checklist:

Aqua Shoes and Swimming goggles

5L Dry Bag for your important stuffs

At 6:00 am, we arrived at Cagayan de Oro and gas up. Had our lunch @ Kambingan Grill along Medina Highway, Misamis Oriental. The place allow travelers to have their “baon”  eaten there without any corkage.  Their food was really fresh and great. Price is okay.

1st pit-stop: Breakfast

2nd pit stop: Stopped by Gingoog City’s famous landmark and visited their cathedral.

Gingoog's famous landmark

Gingoog City's Cathedral

3rd pit stop: We arrived in Butuan City by 12:00 noon and had our lunch in this small eatery. What's nice about these byahero eateries is that they allow tavellers to eat their packed meals without any additional cost.

4th pit-stop is Lake Mainit. It is the 4th largest lake in the Philippines and is also the deepest.

Lake Mainit

When you reach the town of Placer, turn right along Surigao-Davao coastal road. 

Our first major stop for the night the town of Claver, Surigao del Sur. It’s where we stayed  because it's the nearest  hotel to Hayanggabon port.

And finally, we arrived at Revlun Pension House. We booked the hotel in advance and contacted them through this number 09072445467. It took us 12 hours to get to this hotel and spend 2500 gas.

Standard room for 600.00

Double standard room for 800.00 (extra mattress for 200.00)

Revlun pension house located at the 2/f

We went to check on the port and decided to have dinner there. This is the only  restaurant in  Hayanggabon port. Food was just average. Price is okay.

Berxyl Restaurant

Day 2:

March 23, 2016

Wednesday

We left the hotel at 5:00 am. Travel time from the hotel to the port is 20 minutes. More if you will commute. It is expensive to buy meals in the Island so we bought fish in the market and had Nestor cook our rice. Look for Nestor in the market and he can help you prepare your meals for a minimal fee. Don't forget to bring water and snacks to the Island.

Our boatman is Vincent. We contacted and booked him a week before our trip. The rental for the  whole boat that could accommodate up t 15 people is fixed for 3500.00. So, regardless of the number of people, you have to rent the whole boat. Vincent's contact number is 09308028704 and 09056742070. 

We were the first to depart the at 6:00 AM. As the saying goes, "Early Bird catches the Worm". Travel  time from the port to Bucas Grande is 30 minutes.  First stop is Crystal and Bolitas Cave. Entrance fee is 20 pesos each and 100 for the tour guide.

Inside Crystal Cave

For a claustrophobic like me, I didn't quite enjoy the trek. That's why we didn't bother to enter Bolitas Cave. But the trek to crystal cave is easy though. Just make sure you wear your aqua shoes or trekking shoes.

Second stop is Tiktikan Lake, also known as Sohoton Gamay. Entrance fee is 20 pesos per head.You cannot really take a dip in the lake but you can swim and snorkel in the  oceanfront. You can also book them for accommodations.

Tiktikan Lake

Snorkeling and swimming

Third stop and the most exciting of all, is Sohoton Cove and the Jellyfish Sanctuary. You have to register first at the tourism office, pay the entrance fees and wait for your name to be called. Sohoton Cove, otherwise known as "sooton cove" literally means you have to pass by the tiny entrance of the cove in a small motorized boat. Entry to the cove can only be done during low tide. Motorized boats cannot get in the cove during high tide and it's the only in and out of the cove.

The motorized boat that would take you inside the cove

Entrance to Sohoton Cove

The Horse Shoe Rock Formation

*** This is also the boatmen's guide to the entrance and exit of the cove.

Daungdong Wall

*** They say that this wall is enchanted. People in the place hear voices chanting and singing during Christmas season.

Entrance to Hagukan Cave

*** It can  only be entered during low tide. So called Hagukan because it produces a snoring sound.

Inside Hagukan Cave. A stalactite formation of snakes. 

Luminous water inside Hagukan cave.

Sharp oysters shells that could cut your hands.

Magkukuob cave. Otherwise known as "The Dive Cave"

Wondering why it's so called "The Dive Cave"? You have to enter the cave, climb up and the only exit, is to dive. It's a 4 meter high dive and my 5 year old is braving it. When entering the cave, you have to decide right then and there whether you're gonna take the challenge or not. Because the only way out, is down.

 

Arki braving the dive.

It's the only decent photo I got. No pictures of any of us jumping off the water.

I'm no adrenaline junkie, but you gotta do what you gotta do to fully experience this once in a lifetime adventure. And guess what, my son took off and decided not to jump anymore. So, hubby and him went back down the steep cave.

Fourth stop, the jellyfish sanctuary. Your boatmen will send you back in the tourism office and transfer you in a much smaller boat to take you to the jellyfish sanctuary.

Stingless jellyish

White colored jellyfish

Catching some jellyfish.

You can swim inside the sanctuary only if you didn't put sunblock on. Because sunblock will kill the jellyfish. They are all so fragile that if you try to take them out of the water, they would fall into pieces. So be very careful in touching and holding them. And they're also a little slimy.

After the sanctuary, we headed down to Marka-a Island. Our boatmen prepared our lunch there while waiting for us. 

The Island is just a tiny Island but it has a boracay-like sand and crystal clear water. You can go swimming and snorkeling here. Because of its limited space, only 5 boats can dock at the same time. And of all places, look who we bumped into.

Mayor Inday Sarah Duterte in Marka-a Island

Last stop: Bubon group of Islets. You can literally cross one islet from the other. You can also buy some fresh buko in the other islet for 50.00.

Bubon group of Islets

 A whole day tour in Bucas Grande is enough to cover all the picturesque destinations of the Island. It is less expensive than staying in the Island with accommodations ranging from 1,500 to 10,000 a night. And since we started early, we were also the first to end our trip at 3:00 PM.

We hopped into the car without changing into dry clothes. At the hotel, we took a shower and nap for a little while before getting the chance to check the town. Claver is a laid back town. There's only one bank and one ATM, few gasoline stations, convenient stores and this restaurant.

Dinner @ G-Ann's restaurant

All in all, it was an awesome day. Bucas Grande has got to be in your travel plans a.s.a.p. In  here lies the true beauty of nature. This trip sets the bar really high. But it's not over yet, tomorrow is another day. Ready for Enchanted River and Tinuy-an falls.

Tips: If you are just going on a day tour, better book Revlun pension house for there’s no  other hotel near the port. But if you’re in for a more rugged adventure, the Gymnasiums and Brangay Halls in Hayanggabon allow tourists to stay for the night, maybe for a minimal fee. These are some of the resorts in Bucas Grande; Club Tara, Hidden Island Resort, Cinnamon Island and Tikitikan Lake. Start your day tour early so you can visit all the tourist spots. Oh, and I almost forgot, don't ever, ever forget your under water camera and power banks.