Akkaw Surigao

Surigao del Sur

April 30-May 4, 2016

I've been seeing pictures of the Enchanted River and the Tinuy-an Falls in instagram, and I told myself I have to see them first hand. The pictures were amazing as it is what more if you actually experience being there!

I made my research and I found out that Butuan is the nearest starting point. So I've been checking promo fares often and finally booked!

Arrived Butuan at 7:30am. A shuttle from Almont Hotel fetched us. The hotel was in down town, and very accessible to food, transport, and the church. We had to stay one night in Butuan because I badly needed wifi connection for an exam. 

What I like about going to provinces is I get to visit new churches and have my 3 wishes! Hahaha so we took time to hear the anticipated mass in Saint Joseph Cathedral.

For dinner, we had to try Baron's sinugba! Ordered their liempo and malasugi. They also have kinilaw and sashimi. Trivia about this open area is that it's a car wash place in the morning and this ihaw ihaw place in the evening with live band! 

Located along the JC Aquino ave

Early morning 4am of May 1, prepared and left for Marihatag. We were able to ride the 4:30am Bachelor Express bus  bound to Tandag, a 3-hour trip to Marihatag. We stayed at Tree Park, a government owned resort. 

 

   

We walked around to check the entire place. They have canteen, hall for meetings and other gatherings, wake park, jet ski, island hopping, and surfing! Immediately checked where the waves were of course! Ate Mimi contacted Dizon of Tagmariha Surf for us. He arrived a few minutes later with our long boards. Rental was at 500/hr. We were so excited to try the surf there for the first time! It was reef break but bearable by the feet. Not too sharp. Waves were slide and glassy. Happy happy I got to surf again. Will definitely go back during ber months. Dizon said waves were big on those months. We were supposed to check Brittania but then we just got lazy and slept to rest. And yes there is wake park. So there's really no down time here. If waves are choppy you can go wake instead!  

wake park

going to the wake area

We were off to travel again the next morning to Hinataun. A tricyle driver fetched us 4:30am to take us to the bus terminal. We rode the Bachelor Express bus bound to Butuan, got off at Barobo, and rode another bus bound to Mangagoy, then got off at Hinatuan terminal. Yey! Finally at Hinatuan. Bought our supply of water, some snacks before heading our way to Marky's Hostel.

An hour later we were ready to go see the Enchanted River. Most blog entries suggest habal habal, but we opted to take the tricycle instead. Same price, P300 two-way plus it's more comfortable and a lot safer. The road going there used to be rocky but now it's entirely cemented so tricycle is the best option!:)

a few meters walk

just before the entrance

the turista in me, had to take a photo here

We arrived around 10am and told our driver to fetch us at 4:30pm. Yes we stayed that long! Well when you go there, don't hurry yourself, appreciate the view, enjoy swimming, and wait for the fish feeding at 12nn. The river is just so amazing, very clear and clean. The fishes were so big they swim with you.

   

Don't worry about food, choose to eat at Sibadan, where you catch your own food and ask them to cook for you or simply choose the fresh catch and they will cook it for you :) After the fish feeding, we decided to go island hopping. Boat is at 150/hr and it's up to you where you want to go. We went to Sibadan, Margaret, and Rock Island.

At Sibadan, you can swim with big fishes while waiting for your food to be cooked. You have an option to eat it there or take it home with you. For P280 we got 1/4 kg steamed kuracha, 1/4 kg tanigue (one piece grilled, half piece kinilaw and the other half sinabawan).

Margaret Island was the next stop. Entrance fee of P20 each. We climbed to take photos at the view point. Parang Ermita Hill lang! hahah. Well the view was nice as well.

 

Next stop was at Rock Island. I loved that their resident dog there was friendly. He followed us as soon as we arrived. You can also choose to spend the night here.

Finally headed back to Enchanted River. It was a 3-hour worth of island hopping and swimming. We still had time left to enjoy and swim in Enchanted River :) At 4:30pm the tricycle driver arrived to pick us up.

The next day, we were up 4am. It was drizzling at the terminal, we decided to take whatever comes first bus or van bound to Mangagoy. A somewhat new van arrived and we occupied the front seats. While on the road, we asked the driver to drop us at the crossing going to Tinuy-an falls. The driver asked if we had a habal-habal contact already, we said none. So anyway, we ended up taking the van to Tinuy-an instead of the habal-habal. I would say it was the best decision! The road was rocky, it was raining a bit, and thus might be dangerous. And yes it was a long bumpy ride I think my butt won't be able to handle the habal ride.

We were one of the first to arrive Tinuy-an falls and woah it was so grand and beautiful. We had to experience the falls up close so we took the balsa to take us closer. Wow! Just wow!

Such a a grandeur falls! I can't believe the Philippines has this treasure, really a must see.

  

The same van took us back to Marky's hostel. Pakyawan ba, haha. It was a good deal if you're after time and comfort. We took our early lunch and was ready again to travel back to Butuan. It took us around 4 hours travel time by bus.

Back in the city! I had to try Kat's suggestion to eat in Weegol's. Their tagline was catchy too, "If you haven't eaten at Weegol's, you haven't been to Butuan." It was too early for dinner so we just had their special halo-halo and their chocolate moist cake. Both were delicious!

That long travel in a non-aircon bus deserves a really nice cool shower at Go-Hotel, Butuan. It was the nearest hotel going to the airport, and it was not a bad choice at all. The room was homey and clean, and it was of course just right beside Robinsons mall. To end the day, we decided to watch the last full show, Civil War.

I'm really happy to be ticking these places off my bucket list! I was just reading about them a year ago and seeing photos in instagram. Now I can say, I've been there! Off to a new destination. Where to next? Definitely still in Mindanao!