Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(daily 6am-10pm; free wi-fi).
P2500
Leomondee Hotel
Borromeo St
T
086 232 7334.
A block inland from the sea, this is a good budget place to
try if you get stuck, with
small
if but clean and comfortable
a/c rooms and free wi-fi.
P650
Tavern Hotel
Borromeo St
T
086 231 7300,
W
hotel
tavern.com.
Not far from the ferry terminal, this place has
smart modern rooms in the newer west wing (P2200) and
slightly cheaper rooms in the older east building. Sea views
and balconies are also avai
lable fo
r a little more. Breakfast
and free pick-up included.
P1900
EATING AND DRINKING
4As Barbecue
Navarro St at Borromeo St
T
086 231
8898.
No-frills canteen offering tasty barbecue chicken
and pork.
Daily 9.30am-11.30pm.
City Garden Restaurant
Tavern Hotel, Borromeo St
T
086 231 7300,
W
hoteltavern.com.
The city's best
restaurant has a huge menu offering everything from local
seafood (P160-250) to imported steaks (P125-400/100g)
and a host of Asian dishes. Also on site,
Dominic's Sport
Tavern
(daily 5pm-1am) is a decent spot for a drink, with a
large screen showing live sports
. Daily 6am-midnight.
Siargao Island
Off the northeastern tip of Mindanao lies the teardrop-shaped island of
SIARGAO
,
a largely undeveloped backwater with languid beaches, dramatic coves and lagoons
battered by the Pacific Ocean and a verdant hinterland of rustic little barangays and
coconut groves. Some of the first tourists here were
surfers
, who discovered a break
at Tuason Point that was so good they called it
Cloud 9
. The annual
Surfing Cup
,
held in late September or early October, has risen in profile over the past few years
and attracts competitors from Australia, the US and Europe, as well as from around
the Philippines.
8
Cloud 9
Most visitors arrive by ferry at
Dapa
, 16km from the modest but comfortable
resorts around the island's friendly little capital of General Luna, known as
GL
,
on the east coast. Resorts line the coast north of GL, and though there isn't really
a beach, it's a lush, laidback strip, with swathes of coconut palms linked by a
sand road. The whole area is generally referred to as
Cloud 9
, though the world-
renowned break is actually at Tuason Point, 2km north of GL, towards the end of
the hotel strip.
he peak
surf season
is September and October, while things tend to slow down
at the end of the year; beginners will find the weaker surf in June and July more
manageable. Even if you don't surf, wander out to the viewpoint at the end of the
Cloud 9
boardwalk
, a rickety wooden pier that cuts across the lagoon to the edge of
the biggest waves.
SIARGAO ISLAND
HOPPING
The seas around Siargao are littered with unspoiled and rarely visited
islands
. The easiest to
visit are the three islands just off the coast of GL (around 30min by bangka): half-day trips to all
three cost from P2500 depending on the size of the boat. Most resorts can fix you up with
local bangka operators.
Naked Island
is little more than a giant sand bar and perfect for lounging in the sun.
Dako
Island
is the largest of the three, smothered in coconut palms and home to a small fishing
community. The villagers will happily serve you fresh coconut (P20) or barbecue chicken
(P150) and you can even rent out the basic beach cottages overnight (P700). Tiny
Guyam
Island
comes closest to the stereotype of a classic desert island, a circular clump of sand and
palm trees ideal for picnics, swimming or sunbathing. The island caretaker usually charges a
fee of P10 per person.
Snorkelling
isn't much good from any of these islands - the best reefs
lie in between them, so ask your boat to make an extra stop.
FROM TOP
MARKET, CAGAYAN DE ORO
P.403
;
PEARL FARM RESORT
, SAMAL
P.429
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