stay wild stay free
Philippines
Southeast Asia
Philippines Pesos (PHP)
Tropical and humid
Christian
GMT + 8
Filipino
Philippines is the second largest archipelago in the world with more the 7.000 islands, i wish i could visit all of them. unfortunately my time in the Philippines was really short, about a week, and i've been in this amazing island named Siargao, 50 min. flight from Cebu.
Siargao: The surfer's paradise
Couple of friends moved in Siargao, after we met and work together in Australia, and as all friendship you made while you travelling there's always the fateful phrase "let's catch again somewhere in the world " .
Well, here where i went to catch them, Siargao. I even didn't know this island existed before.
God bless them to invite me there!
Siargao is a well known island in the Philippines as a surfer's paradise. Premise that i'm not a surfer.
So, if you don't surf like me, you can still enjoy what the island has to offer like swimming in a natural
swimming pool that mother nature created, or discover the beaches around the island, or why not take a surf lesson, it's a funny experience!
How to move in Siargao
As mentioned before in Phuket's article, on islands is really hard moving with public transport.
Siargao is not a large island and streets are not paved,
that's actually what it makes me love this island as it still has that wild appearance, so, the best option
to discover the area around, again, is the scooter,
for 200 PHP ( 5$) per day more or less.
Where to stay in Siargao
If you're in Siargao to surf, better you stay near Cloud 9, for beginner or advanced surfer, as the surf scene is over there.
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If surf is not your porous of visit, but you are more interested in food and night scene, you would stay in General Luna,
where i stayed, along the Tourism road.
Luna in italian means moon, how cool is it !?
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If a nice beachfront is what you looking for, Malinao is
the place where to stay. Have to say not all the hotels has a nice wiew as it might be covered from trees.
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For a quiet stay in Siargao far from the crowds Pacifico is the right place, i mean just the name itself give you an idea.
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Mamon island: A night in the Jungle
This is something i do really want to share with you, one of the best experience i had in my life. One night in the Jungle.
We are in Mamon island, about 1.5 hours by boat from Siargao, a completely wild, far away from civilization island, where aboriginal living in they're simple daily life. The island is surrounded by a crystal clear water, that make this spot perfect for snorkeling or just for enjoy a swim.
As i mentioned i went in Siargao to visit couple of friends, by them i met other bunch of guys that they were
organiziong this trip: One night in the jungle.
To reach Mamon island we had our own boat but ask in General Luna where you will find all the boats for the daily islands hopping tour.
The price will be around 1500 or 2000 PHP ($50) for a back and forth trip plus food at the island from
locals aboriginal.
Remember to bring some water and snacks with you.
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Mamon island changed my life and i keep saying it. Everybody should do this kind of experience once in they're life
to really appreciate what we have. I was shocked to see how this people were live in poverty but with a smile
on they're faces, ready to help each other or share a coconut with us! Once we arrived that was the scenario:
Kids were playing or climbing trees to get the water from coconut, meantime adults were fishing.
So here we are, we started discover the island around and visiting the local village where the houses are made by bamboo and straw, people are friendly and happy to say "hello". As i mentioned before, they surviving by fishing,
or cooking for tourist coming visiting the island by the island hopping tours.
So we bought some fish at the village and they cooked for us and prepare everything for dinner, the most delicious, freshest and taste fish i ever eat in my life. A funny thing: We runned out of sigarette's so we tried to get back at the village at night time to check if they may have it, and we found all the community together eating and kids were dancing, they invite us to dance with them, it was amazing and well.. yes, they do had sigarette's and alcohol, surprise ah ah ah.
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Night came, stars and the moon were up there in the sky, the sound of the ocean, an hammock tied between the trees. Good night!
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Sun was up. The time to leave that paradise came for the way back to Siargao.
The all trip will cost you around $50/60. The smile you will have on your face has no price.
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Naked island
On the way to Mamon island there's Naked Island. The name itself fit perfectly the description, fine white sand
crystal clear water, and this little piece of land in the middle of the ocean has no shade or almost anything on the island, actually there's a bench in the middle of it. Is nice to stop there for some sun and a swim. Remember to bring with you water and some food.
Corregiodor island
Another island, included in the Island hopping tour in Siargao, is Corregidor. Same as for Naked island and Mamon island, boats are leaving from General Luna, with prices around 1000 and 1500 PHP, it will take 30 min. to reach the island.
Corregidor also has local aboriginal villages, but i had the feeling of a much more touristic island as it closer to Siargao.
Still far away from civilization, indeed, but locals seems not really surprised to see foreigner around.
Corregidor is an amazing island, especially if you don't want just relax and swim, as you can hike the hills for a breathless view.
Fun fact, we were on th top of the hill enjoying the view and the sunset, suddenly it came dark pretty quick.
We didn't expect the sun were going down that quick.
We were in the middle of the island completely in the dark.
Scary right?
Phone on hands trying to find directions. After a while, suddenly, we saw a bonfire in the middle of palms and trees.
We fond out it was a guy living alone in the middle of the jungle in a little handmade bambu house with a dog and a cat.
He brought us until the beach, at the boat. I was shocked, again after Mamon.
We offered few money we had. He didn't accept it. He preferred one of our beer's can.
