AMBUSH SURIGAO ISLAND HOPPING

we used this pump boat

It’s 3am and we’re all up. It took 3hrs to travel by bus from Butuan to the city of island adventure, Surigao. It was such an ambush island hopping for me considering that I didn’t have money for it. It also turned out to be memorable not because I have atlast conquered the country’s longest wooden foot bridge but simply because that was the last trip where my father supported my leisure financially. :-)

We arrived in Surigao at 7am in the morning. To lessen our expenses, without apprehension we had our breakfast in our newly-found friend. Then we immediately went to wet market and bought foods for our lunch such as rice,litson manok, grilled fish, coke, emperador light, and assorted junk foods.

Around 8:30AM, I called the DSWD employee named Jose whom I negotiated about the boat. I have contacted him already 2 days before the trip took place. By the way, Jose is not the owner of the boat but he could help anyone who wishes to tour the nearby islands. With all the haggling, we closed the deal....we agreed to pay P2,000.00 (maximum 10 persons) for the boat in our whole day island activities.

BASUL ISLAND

We arrived in Basul Island around 10 AM and as expected, it took 40 minutes to travel.. We paid boat docking fee worth 100 and then entrance fee is 50.00 per head. Glad to know that the caretaker who asked for the fees in Basul is my colleague’s uncle, we were able to ask for discount. All in all we paid 250 for 10persons including the docking fee.

This is what the entire Basul Island looks like. Nothing much especial in the said island even if it was featured in GMA before. White sand? Yes. It is just an ordinary virgin island. Virgin in a way that it is not yet disturbed. 

This is the actual color of the water there, clear bluish green and quite ordinary for me. Sea urchin is ubiquitous so BEWARE! I was once a victim of the sea urchins’ stings there.

The place was actually 4 hectares and can be roamed in less than an hour but the group decided not to stay there that longer, we found the place quite boring since we were expecting too much from it. 

The place is partly sandy and partly rocky

BUENAVISTA ISLAND / BUENAVISTA CAVE

It took 40 minutes to travel from Basul Island to Buenavista Island. We still had a chance to eat junk foods while on our way to aforesaid island. Buenavista island is popularly known for its huge caves. It was also featured in GMA together with Basul island. 

while holding the starfish :-)

This place doesn’t have cottages. We just sat along the Bermuda grasses and laid our foods and then ate our lunch. After eating lunch, we took pictures, swam and look for starfishes. Unfortunately none of us brought swimming goggles. It could’ve been better if we have our swimming goggles on as we dive and hold starfishes. At first, I was hesitant to touch or hold it, but the moment I saw my colleagues holding it with their bare hands, it eventually gave me the courage to give it a shot. And the picture says it all. Right after knowing that the coconut owner wasn’t around, I joked to the pumpboat operator to get us coconut fruit. And guess what? He quenched our thirst with fresh buko juice. He granted our favor.  

After swimming and picture takings, we went to cave which is just a few walks away from our wharfing area. I knew already that caving was part of our itinerary and as a Girl Scout member, I brought flashlight. But my flashlight was useless because it’s too small for the huge caves and the battery was nearly dying. 

   

After caving, we went to the other side of Buenavista Island so we could completely enjoy the white beach without disturbing the diverse starfish. Nobody can resist in taking pictures of the solemn white beach. Pictures here, pictures there and pictures everywhere as if that was our first time to step on white sand.

Then we were planning if we’re going to pursue our plan to next island which the country’s longest wooden footbridge is located. The boatman warned us about the frequent whirlwind there. Some of the girls were anxious about it. Few insisted to go on to the next target and I’m one of the few. We're already there, so what’s the point in backing out? 

HIKDOP ISLAND / CANTIASAY LONGEST WOODEN FOOT BRIDGE

This is the Cantiasay longest wooden foot bridge, the country’s wooden foot bridge, more or less 30minutes to travel from Buenavista Island. The said bridge connects two Barangays in Hikdop Island. Wondrin’ if the two Barangays are separated by bodies of water? Yes, it might be weird but it’s true according to the boatman! Barangay Cantiasay and I forgot the other one.  I just don’t know if he’s saying the truth…anywayss im a foreigner to that place. Hehehe