Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ACCOMMODATION
Siargao
accommodation
ranges from modest lodges aimed at backpackers and low-budget surfers to upmarket tropical
resorts. Most accommodation is a short distance from GL, and can help arrange motorbike rentals, bangka trips and other
forms of transportation.
Cherinicole Beach Resort
Less than 1km from GL
T
0928 609 8963 or
T
0918 244 4407,
W
cherinicole
beachresort.com.
Mid-range, well-run place with seventeen
spacious and substantial wooden a/c cottages on the beach
or in a pleasant garden. Fan cottages with twin beds and
cold showers are good value, while a/c rooms (P1500-2900)
and suites (P3500) offer
more c
omfort. There's a swimming
pool, café and beach bar.
P1000
Island Dream
Midway between GL and Cloud 9
W
islanddreamsiargao.com.
Opened in 2010, with plush,
new cottages near the seafront and a small pool in
the garden. The “Lifestyles Cloud Nine” rooms are good
value, while cottages (P2000-2400) and multiroom villas
(P4400
-6500) have spacious bathrooms and verandas.
P1500
Kalinaw Resort
Midway between GL and Cloud 9
W
kalinawresort.com.
The most luxurious (and expensive)
option on the island, next door to
Island Dream
and
facing a pristine beach. The immaculate wooden villas
have gorgeous minimalist interiors, free wi-fi, balconies
and satellite TV. The pool villas (P16,600) have their own
private infinity spl
ash poo
l. There's also a top-notch French
restaurant on site.
P9900
Ocean 101
Cloud 9
T
0910 848 0893,
W
ocean101
cloud9.com.
Popular with surfers and offering a range
of accommodation from spartan singles with shared bath-
room to a/c doubles (P2000) with enough space for an
extra bed. There's also a cosy rest
aurant
and bar, free
internet and credit cards are accepted.
P750
Patrick's on the Beach Resort
A 10min walk east
of GL
T
0918 481 6483,
W
patrickonthebeach.com.
Basic, local-style beach hut accommodation, with spacious
beachfront cottages, garden cottages and economy
cottages - check before agreeing to a room as some are
better than others. Helpful staff can arrange everything
from boats, air tickets and babysitting to laundry, massage
and manicures. They h
ave kay
aks and wi-fi, and you can
rent tents for just P400.
P1500
★
Sagana Resort
Cloud 9
T
0919 809 5769,
W
cloud9
surf.com.
The best choice at Cloud 9,
Sagana
has six
Laotian-inspired cottages - two a/c and four with fan - in
a landscaped garden with coconut trees and large, leafy
plants. Rates are inclusive of three meals, and the restaurant
is one of the island's best, with seafood such as tuna, marlin,
and Spanish mackerel, as well as mud cr
abs and
prawns
from local fish farms. Free wi-fi. Per person
P3300
8
EATING AND DRINKING
Most of the best places to eat and drink are in the
resorts
, but there are a few good independent places in GL and out at Cloud
9. Everywhere is lively during peak season, particularly during the Surfing Cup, when various places on Cloud 9 put on live music.
Bones Sports Pub
On the seafront, Cloud 9.
A surfer
favourite, run by an Australian expat and serving curries
and ice-cold beer (P35 during happy hour).
Daily
5pm-late.
Jungle Disco Bar (aka Tattoo)
GL.
The only place resem-
bling a club on Siargao plays anything and everything. P10
cover charge.
Thurs-Sat 7pm-4am.
★
amiable Maridyl range from local squid and adobo to
grilled tuna and (a rarity in these parts) fresh vegetables
(P50-75/dish).
Daily 7am-9pm.
Nine Bar
Outside GL on the beach road
T
0912 691
7832.
Just beyond
Patrick's
and
Cherinicole
, this Swedish-
owned place cooks up a host of international dishes
including huge burritos, and gets livelier as the night
progresses.
Daily noon-midnight.
Maridyl's
Main Rd, GL.
Dishes knocked out by the
Dinagat Island
There are several morning bangkas from Surigao to San José (4hr), from where bangkas (about P1000 for half a day) can take you virtually
anywhere along the coast of Dinagat
Just a short bangka hop from Surigao, wild and undeveloped
Dinagat Island
, around
60km from tip to toe, is an adventure paradise-in-waiting. Its rugged coastline has
tantalizing
islets
, beautiful sugary-sand
beaches
and sheer cliffs that are attracting an
increasing number of
rock climbers
. The main drawback is the lack of
accommodation
:
there are basic beach huts on the southwest coast around the town of Dinagat, but not
much else. Only a handful of travellers make it this far.
The best way to get an overview of what Dinagat has to offer is to rent a bangka in
San José, where ferries arrive from Surigao. On the west-coast islet of
Unib
you'll find
