Tag: blog

High School Squad Weekend: 48 Hours In BOHOL

Did you know that my Hong Kong trip with high school friends last March 2018 had a follow up trip? We (a group of 8 people) recently went on another weekend trip, but this time to a nearby domestic destination – Bohol. Yes, we only spent 48 hours in the beautiful island of Bohol. It may be too short, but I think we covered the places we wanted to visit. This barkada trip was more of a rest & relaxation one, so there was no pressure for us to explore everything the island has to offer. Let me share with you the details of this quick weekend trip.

Bohol squad with the Chocolate Hills! Photo credits to Mark 🙂

In case you missed it, I’ve been to 2 other 48-hour weekend trips this year – Hong Kong & Port Barton. Check out these stories to know more about these quick but super fun trips!

Airfare & Accommodation

We didn’t wait for any airline offer or promotion when we booked our tickets. We used Traveloka‘s discount codes instead. Our Tagbilaran return ticket cost us ₱3,264.12 each, after the discounts.

We were a big group of 8 so we had a hard time looking for a place to stay. Good thing we found this newly-opened accommodation called Casa Teofista. This accommodation is located a few meters off the main highway & about 8-10 minutes walk from Alona Beach.

We only stayed in Bohol for 48 hours but we fell in love with the place.

We got 2 spacious family rooms with 2 double beds each for ₱9,856 for 2 nights – that’s ₱1,232 per person already for 2 nights. We didn’t choose a beachfront & luxury accommodation because we were only there for a short time anyway. I forgot to take photos of our accommodation – I’m sorry. If you want to contact Casa Teofista, head over to their Facebook page & shoot them a message.

DIY Countryside Tour

My friends & I opted for a do-it-yourself countryside tour because we wanted to skip a few places (Loboc River, Blood Compact Shrine & Loboc Hanging Bridge) from the usual tour, plus we planned to go to Bohol Bee Farm for lunch (instead of the Loboc River Cruise). We hired a van with driver for ₱2,800 for a full 8 hours including gas & parking fees. We asked the driver to pick us up from the airport & we went straight to our countryside tour. We asked to be dropped off at Casa Teofista at the end of our tour.

This was a DIY tour so we paid the following entrance fees – ₱50 for Chocolate Hills, ₱60 for the Tarsier Conservation Area & ₱45 for the Butterfly Garden. Check out the countryside photos below.

Chocolate Hills

Tarsier Conservation Area

Man-made Forest

Butterfly Garden

Baclayon Church

Bohol Bee Farm Organic Lunch

We had mango pizza for appetizer? Lol so good!

Filipino food for lunch – everything organic!

That’s us having lunch at Bohol Bee Farm!

Also tried Bohol Bee Farm’s famous ice cream. Got Guyabano & liked it.

If you are travelling alone, you can always rent a motorbike & explore Bohol by yourself. You can also join countryside group tours. Rates vary from one agency to another.

Alona Beach Dinner & Night Out

Alona Beach at night

After a few hours of rest & sleep, we headed out to Alona Beach to explore the area. We had dinner at Pyramid Beach Resort & transferred to Outback Bar & Grill for drinks. I also met up with James, another friend of mine who was in Bohol, in Outback Bar & Grill.

Met up with James who was also in Bohol that weekend. Photo c/o James 🙂

Private Island Hopping Tour

We hired a boat for a private island hopping tour for our second & last full day in Bohol. The boat cost ₱2,500 for the whole day including gas & guides. We left Panglao Island at 7:00 am & went dolphin watching. We then went to Balicasag Island for snorkeling & swimming with the turtles. The last stop of the tour was Virgin Island, which is known for its long & beautiful sandbar. We were there during lunch time, so the sand bar was still submerged in water. We were back in Panglao at 1:00 pm.

Given ours was a private tour, we paid ₱650 each in Balicasag Island for entrance fee, environmental fee & snorkeling gear rental. Solo travelers can join group island hopping tours for a certain rate. Again, rates vary from one agency to the other.

View of Balicasag Island from our motor boat

I don’t have photos of the dolphins, turtles & the underwater creatures because I forgot my adventure camera. Let me share with you photos of Balicasag Island & Virgin Island’s (almost) sandbar.

Balicasag Island

A beautiful & sunny day in Balicasag Island 😍

Virgin Island Sandbar

Crowded Virgin Island Sandbar

Last Night In Bohol

Inside St. Augustine Church in Panglao

We started our last night in Bohol by attending Sunday mass in St. Augustine Church in Panglao. We went back to Alona area afterwards to have dinner at Irene’s Restaurant. Majority of the group went back to our hotel after dinner. Marc & I went to Aluna Bar & met up again with James for a few drinks.

Last dinner in Bohol with the whole gang

That sums up our 48 hours in Bohol. The place is very beautiful & relaxing. We may be there for only 2 full days but we surely enjoyed the place with great company. We made memories which we will treasure for the rest of our lives.

Have you been to Bohol? How many days did you spend there? How do you think of the place? Are there other places that are worth-visiting? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. If you want to keep your identity, feel free to send ’em to contact@thewkndtravel.com. You can also drop me a message on Facebook, post a comment on Instagram or send me a tweet on Twitter.

Thanks for the time & see you in the next 48-hour or maybe 24-hour trip?

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Tuesday Tip: How To Survive Low Cost Long Haul Economy Flights

Low cost airlines are starting to infiltrate the long haul flights market. These airlines offer basic & affordable fares to long haul destinations. Imagine paying ₱6,500 for a return flight from Manila to Sydney or paying around ₱2,800 for a return flight from Manila to Dubai. Super cheap, right? Yes, these fares are real. But as they say, you always get what you pay for. These tickets only include carry-on baggage & a pre-assigned seat. It doesn’t include check-in baggage, flight meal/s, insurance & in-flight entertainment. These options are always available for an additional cost; these can be availed up to few hours before the flight.

Recently flew with a low cost airline from Manila to Sydney

Recently, I had my first low cost long haul economy flight to & from Sydney, Australia. I paid ₱6,455.92 for a return flight from Manila (booked 8 months before the flight). I availed a few add-ons such as baggage, a flight meal & a comfortable front seat. I bought a seat because I initially don’t have an idea on how I will survive this close to 8-hour flight to Sydney with the seat assigned to me by the airline. The ticket with add-ons cost me ₱11,455.92. The flights surprisingly went well, even with the absence of in-flight entertainment. Legroom was alright; the service was also good.

Apart from my personal experiences, I also observed the people on the flights how they managed to conquer the 8-hour flight to & from Sydney. Here are some tips on how you can survive low cost long haul economy flights.

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored by a certain brand or company. I just used the photos I took in my recent low cost long haul flight.

Choose a red-eye flight

Flying a low cost long haul flight can be very difficult for first timers. Imagine doing nothing for 7 or 8 hours straight – no inflight entertainment, no food whatsoever. A tip to survive a low cost long haul flight is to choose a red-eye flight. Red-eye flights are those who leave late at night or wee hours in the morning. You won’t have any problems on how to endure the long flight because you will only sleep most of the time. Don’t forget to bring your own neck pillow, eye mask & blanket for a more comfortable sleep.

If the flight is a not full – you can always get the whole row of seats & sleep

Bring Personal Entertainment

What is there to do in the absence of in-flight entertainment? Simple. Bring a book to read throughout the flight. You can also stock up on movies in your personal electronic devices (laptops, tablets & phones). If you’re not into watching movies or reading books, make sure to have enough songs in your music player. Having these forms of distraction will help you kill time during the flight. Next thing you’ll know, you’re already on your final descent towards your destination.

Have Cash On Hand

Always make sure to bring cash when flying. There will be times when you want to buy something like a bottle of water or a cup of hot coffee. These items are always available for purchase during the flight. Also, please note that most airlines only accept cash payments of currencies from the country of origin & the country of destination. For example, the crew from Manila to Sydney flight will only accept Philippine Peso & Australian Dollar as the currencies of payment. Don’t expect the staff to accept Japanese Yen & Malaysian Ringgit.

Bring Your Own Food

Majority of low cost carriers in the world offer pre-paid in-flight meal. This means that passengers need to pre-order their meals at least 24 hours before the flight. Limited food options are available during the flight. However, the prices of these food are beyond the usual price. A good tip to get away with these expensive airplane food is to bring your own food. You can always bring a sandwich or two for your flight. Other options include chips, nuts & biscuits. Having these food on hand will save you loads of cash, plus you get to eat what you want or prefer.

Airline’s in-flight meal – bought this when I flew from Manila to Sydney; Brought my own food (sandwiches) when I flew from Sydney to Manila 😋

Bring Your Own Amenity Kit

Flying economy & flying low cost airlines give passengers limited facilities & services. Unlike full service airlines, low cost airlines do not provide amenity kits to fliers of low cost long haul routes. One thing you can do is to bring a small pouch with the necessary items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, face wash, small towel, skin moisturizer & hand sanitizer. Nothing beats the refreshed feeling after a long & tiring fight.

Move Around

Sitting for 7-12 hours in a plane can be very difficult. Also, the passengers’ bodies don’t have enough movement for a long time due to limited legroom & space. Passengers are allowed to walk around the plane as long as the other passengers are not disturbed. The simplest exercise one can do is to stand up in the aisle & do some stretching. Remember that the blood in our bodies needs to circulate – a few minutes of movement won’t hurt.

Boarding pass & passport for my recent low cost long haul flight; sorry I had to cover the name & bar code

Be Friendly

The last tip I can give on how to survive a long haul low cost economy flight is to be friendly to your co-passengers. There is a big chance that you will be seated next to a stranger inside the aircraft. You can always start a conversation by saying ‘hi’ or ‘hello.’ The next thing you’ll know, you already have someone to share ideas & experiences throughout the flight. I’ve heard stories of people who talked to their seatmates during the flight & ended up traveling together in a certain place.

This sums up the list of tips on how to conquer a low cost long haul economy flight. It may sound hard at first but I believe that the experience all boils down to how a person prepares for the flight. Regardless of ticket price & flight class, all passengers on board the flight (may it be from a low cost or full service airline) will reach the destination at the same time.

One advantages of flying a red-eye flight – you witness the beautiful sunrise from your airplane seat 🌅

Have you tried flying a low cost long haul economy flight? How was your experience? Are there other tips you can share with the other readers? Feel free to share them in the comments below. You can also send those tips via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. You can also connect with me via my social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.. If you haven’t liked or followed my Facebook page, check this link. You know what to do!

If you want to know about the past Tuesday Tips I posted, check them out here. Thank you for reading & until the next set of Tuesday Tips!

Hostel Of The Day: THE POD SYDNEY – Minimalist & Contemporary Hostel In The Middle Of A Busy City

I recently got back from a week long trip to Australia. I explored Sydney with my college friends for 5 days & spent quality time with my cousins & relatives in Brisbane for 3 days. In my first 3 nights in Sydney, I stayed in a minimalist & a contemporary capsule hostel called The Pod Sydney. Let me share with you some information about this hostel plus I will give you some insights on how my stay went.

Location & Access

The Pod Sydney is located in Level 6, 396 Pitt St Sydney 2000. It is located in the middle of the busy city, in the corner of Goulburn & Pitt Streets. Access to this property is very easy. It is about 7-10 minutes walk from the Central Station. The other 2 nearby stations are Town Hall & Museum Stations, which are both few minutes walk from the hostel. Train fares from the domestic & international airports start from $16.90, depending on which station you board or get off.

The Pod Sydney is located on Level 6 of 396 Pitt St building in Sydney

Another way to go to the hostel is by an airport shuttle bus. It costs around $15 per person & can be availed in the airport arrival halls or online via Klook. You can also take an Uber or a taxi which will cost around $30-$40 per way.

The hostel is strategically located in the city & is very accessible to public transportation. There are also convenience stores & restaurants in the area. The nearest supermarket is a crossing away. I took the train from the airport to Central Station for $16.90 & walked to the property which is less than a kilometer from the train station.

Pricing & Room Options

The Pod Sydney offers both dormitory & private rooms. According to the property’s website, a night in a dormitory room costs $59 while a night stay in a private twin / double room costs $129. Dormitory rooms can be converted to private rooms for 4 or 6; these rooms cost $239-$349 per night. The rates look expensive, but these are the maximum rates. In fact, you can get the dormitory bed for as low as $35 per night. I booked my stay with Agoda & it cost me $105 for 3 nights, that’s $35 a night. Rates vary per website so watch out for those deals & discounts available in your preferred booking website.

My spacious dormitory bed in The Pod Sydney

Staying in these capsule-type dormitory rooms & private rooms includes the following: free Wi-Fi access throughout the property, electronic key card access, air conditioning, fresh linen, bath towel & toiletries, free locker (bring your own padlock), individual reading light & power plug. Guests also have access to some facilities which I will share in the next section.

The room / dormitory prices of The Pod Sydney may not be the cheapest in Sydney, but it is still in the cheap accommodation bracket. For such an affordable rate, guests have access to a clean & comfortable accommodation in an expensive city like Sydney.

Facilities

The Pod Sydney may only be located on one level of the building, but this small space didn’t hinder the management in giving its guests a range of amenities.

Communal Kitchen & Dining Area

Guests have access to a fully-equipped kitchen & a spacious dining area. Guests can store some food in the refrigerator & can also cook their own food. They can also use the dining area to eat food & also to meet fellow travelers. Guests also have access to free tea & coffee. This area has a vending machine which has snacks & drinks.

Television Area

The Pod Sydney has a television area where guests can watch shows & hang out with other guests. It is a good place to meet with other guests & travelers. This area also has a nice view of the city.

Luggage Store Room

Guests can store their luggage for free on the days of check-in & checkout only. The hostel does not accept overnight luggage storage.

Lobby Lounge

The hostel has a lobby lounge which guests can use while waiting for check in or check out. This area has a wide range of tour brochures which guests can get.

Communal Toilet & Shower Areas

All guests have access to communal toilet & shower areas. The male & female amenity area is located between the reception area & the kitchen & dining area. The hostel also has a dedicated disabled toilet & shower for guests who require disable mobility.

Limited Reception Time

Reception is open from 9:00 am to 11:00 pm daily. Check-in is from 2:00 pm to 11:00 pm while checkout is until 11:00 am. The hostel receptionists & staff are very nice & helpful. You can also ask reception for airport shuttle & printing services. Charges may apply.

The Pod Sydney’s reception area

Laundry Facilities

The Pod Sydney has a coin-operated washing machine & dryer which the guests can use. Just ask the reception where the machine is & how to use it.

The Pod Sydney is perfect for those who are looking for a minimalist, modern & cheap accommodation in Sydney. It offers both private & shared rooms for affordable rates. The Pod Sydney may not be as social as the other hostels in the city, but its facilities make up for it. I was not able to fully enjoy the facilities & amenities of the hostel ,but I am happy that I had a comfortable & peaceful stay in The Pod Sydney. I’ll definitely check this out again when I fly back to Sydney in the future.

Feel free to contact The Pod Sydney in the contact details below:

The Pod Sydney
Address: Level 6, 396 Pitt St, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone Numbers: +61 2 8959 1293 / +61 411 476 966
Email Address: thepodsydney@gmail.com / service@thepodsydney.com.au
Website: www.thepodsydney.com.au
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/thepodsydney

Have you been to The Pod Sydney? How was your stay? Are you flying to Sydney soon & looking for a place to stay? Make sure to check out this hostel / capsule hotel. It’s worth every penny. Do you have any questions about my stay? Feel free to post a question in the comments below. You can also contact me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com or contact me via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Watch out for my feature about Bounce Hostel Sydney & my upcoming blogs about Sydney & Brisbane. Thank you for reading! ✌

Tuesday Tips for Filipinos / Philippine Passport Holders: 6 Steps On How To Apply For An Australian Tourist Visa

A few hours from now, I will be flying to Sydney & Brisbane, Australia for a week long trip with my college friends. It will be my first trip to this country & also my first trip outside Asia. Right before I leave, I want to share with everyone how I applied for my Australian Tourist Visa & also to share some tips regarding the visa application process.

Philippine passport holders are required to secure a visa before flying to Australia. The country’s Department of Home Affairs offers a wide range of visas a visitor can apply for. For this specific post, I will talk about how I applied for the Visitor Visa Subclass 600. Filipinos need this visa to visit Australia as a tourist, to visit relatives living in the country & to engage in business visitor activities. This visa allows visitors to stay up to 3, 6 or even 12 months.

More details about the Visitor Visa Subclass 600 from the AU Gov’t website

If you are unsure of what visa you need for your visit to Australia, head over to this page to see the list of visas one can apply for.

Unlike any other usual visa, Australian visas are applied online via the Department of Home Affairs website. This means that you don’t need to go to a travel agency to submit your requirements or go to the embassy to line up & lodge your documents. Everything is done online. Let me now tell you what I did & what you need to do to get your Australian tourist visa.

Step 1 – Create An Immi Account

The first step is to create an Immi Account. This is your account in the Australian government’s immigration portal. The visa application process will be through this portal. All you need is a working email address & a password (must include an upper case & a lower case letter, a number & a symbol). You will receive an email notifying that you have successfully created your account plus you need to verify it with the link provided in your email.

First step – create an Immi Account

Step 2 – Start The Application & Fill Out The Form

After creating your Immi Account, you should now start your application. The website will ask you to fill out about 20 pages of questions – mainly asking for personal details, travel plans, family & travel background. Not that you can stop & save your details at any time. Please do not submit your application until all questions are answered & all documents are uploaded. Take note of your visa reference number throughout the application process.

Step 3 – Prepare & Gather Documents

Before uploading your documents in the immigration portal. You first need to gather the documents you need to submit. The portal divides the documents into 2 parts – the required documents (passport details, passport photo, travel history & financial documents) & the recommended documents (ticket & hostel bookings, evidence of family composition). You can submit the following ‘usual’ visa application requirements:

⦁ Philippine Passport – Your passport must be valid for more than 6 months during your trip.
⦁  Passport-Size Photo (Front & Back – with Full Name at the back)
⦁  Travel History (Old & Current Passports)
⦁  Personal Bank Certificate
⦁  Personal Bank Statement (3 months recommended)
⦁  Certificate of Employment & Income Tax Return Form
⦁  Payslips & Company ID Details
⦁  NSO Birth Certificate
⦁  Confirmed Airline Ticket
⦁  Itinerary in Australia (Day to day plans when in Australia)

You can add more documents such as evidence of leave from work, marriage certificate (for those who are married), cover letter, title deeds, credit card statements & anything that will prove your financial capabilities & your strong ties here in the Philippines.

The Department of Home Affairs doesn’t specify any requirement (amount balance, average daily balance, etc.) on bank statements & bank certificates. Make sure to have enough money in your accounts before having your papers printed.

Step 4 – Scan & Upload Documents

You always start by logging in to your Immi Account

After gathering all the requirements & documents, you need to scan & upload them in the application portal. As per the Home Affairs website, only files with these extensions are accepted: bmp, dcm, doc, docx, dot, gif, jpg, pdf, png, ppt, pptx, rtf, txt, xls & xlsx. Each file should not exceed 5 MB & should not be compressed & encrypted. Documents which are not in English need to be translated into the English Language. Each applicant can upload up to 60 documents.

You can upload your documents by batch; just don’t forget to save your application before you close the page. An application is stored in the portal for 30 days. All incomplete applications & uploaded documents will be deleted after the prescribed time.

Step 5 – Submit Application & Pay Application Fee

After completing the 20-page application form & uploading the necessary requirements & documents, you can now formally submit your visa application. After submission, you will be directed to the payment page where you need to pay the visa application fee of AUD 140 per person [2024 update – visa application fee has increased to AUD 195 per person]. Only PayPal, credit & debit card form of payments are accepted. These modes of payments also have surcharges. You can refer to this page for the updated surcharges for all types of payments.

After payment, you will receive an acknowledgement email confirming that your visa application has been submitted and that your biometrics need to be collected in the visa collection center.

[2024 Update] Step 5.5 – Biometrics Collection

Since the pandemic, the Department of Home Affairs has required all visa applicants to have their biometrics collected within two weeks of online visa application submission.

The VFS Global Australian Visa Collection Centre in Manila is located at 6th Floor, Tower Two, Makati Circuit Corporate Center, AP Reyes Street and Theater Drive, Circuit Makati, Barangay Carmona, Makati City, Philippines 1630.

Biometrics collection appointments can be scheduled here. Applicants need to bring the documents mentioned in the biometrics email request and the biometrics collection service fee of PHP 557. The center only accepts cash payments as of this writing.

The waiting game begins after biometrics collection.

Step 6 – Wait For Your Visa

Visa application processing times vary per person. As per the Australian government website & as of 30 June 2018, 75% of all the tourist visa applications are processed after 19 days while 90% of tourist visa applications are decided after 24 days. Take note that your visa application can be decided sometime between 48 hours from application to more than 20 days depending on internal factors.

I got my Australian Tourist Visa after 8 calendar days. I can very well remember I was on the boat back to Siargao Island when I got my Visa Grant Notification via email. The Australian government granted me a 1-year multiple entry tourist visa. This visa allows me to stay in Australia for 3 months from the date of each arrival.

Bear in mind that Australian Visas are not glued to your passports. It’s simply a grant letter which you will show upon check-in & in the immigration counter. How does the grant letter look like? Check out my grant letter below:

Have you applied for an Australian Tourist Visa in the past? Are there other tips you can share to your fellow readers? Feel free to post these tips below. If you want to be anonymous, you can send it via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com for suggestions. Feel free to also contact me via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

That’s it for now. I need to go & pack my things for my Australia trip. Thank you for reading & until the next Tuesday Tip! 😊

4-Day Siargao Weekend: It’s All About Epic Tour Days & Crazy Party Nights

Siargao is a small island in Philippine Sea, located in the province of Surigao del Norte. This island is widely known for its big surfing waves & stunning nature views. It used to be popular only to foreign & local surfers & adventure seekers until the island was featured in a local film last December 2017. Boracay’s closure also led to more people diverting their planned vacations to this island. The increasing accessibility of Siargao these days is slowly transforming the island into a popular tourist destination. Hubs like Cebu, Manila & Clark are now connected to Siargao via a growing number of daily flights to the island.

My friend Geof at Sugba Lagoon

3 weeks ago, my friend Shiela & I flew to Siargao check out what this island has to offer. Friends told us that this island is beautiful & one of a kind. We didn’t put our hopes up & let the island surprise us. Let me share with you what happened in our 4 days in Siargao.

Beautiful view from Cloud 9’s Boardwalk

Plane Ticket

I’ve always wanted to go to Siargao but I can’t due to very expensive airfare. Last February 14, Cebu Pacific Air had a ₱143-base fare sale. Promo seats on the direct flights from Manila ran out fast. We had no choice but to get the tickets with a layover in Cebu.

Shiela & I paid ₱2,837.64 each for a return ticket from Manila to Siargao via Cebu. That’s 4 flights in total for less than ₱3,000. What a bargain! Check out the flight details below.

Shiela & I paid ₱5,675.28 for 2 people – that’s ₱2,837.64 each! Bargain.

Cebu Layover

Lechon Cebu for lunch ~ yum! 

We had a 4-hour layover in Cebu on our way to Siargao. Since there isn’t something to do in the airport plus my friends working there don’t have work, Shiela & I went to nearby Rico’s Lechon to have lunch. We had their famous Lechon Cebu (of course!) with rice, vegetables & a bottle of Tsingtao beer. Yes, that’s a bottle of beer for lunch! We headed back to the airport after eating to catch our connecting flight to Siargao.

Lunch at Rico’s Lechon near Mactan Cebu International Airport 

Accommodation

Had a nice stay in Bravo Beach Resort Siargao!

Accommodation choices in Siargao range from the most basic & simple dormitory beds to luxurious & spacious hotel rooms. We opted for the mixed one – simple & shared dormitory beds, but with a touch of luxury. We stayed for 4 days & 3 nights in Bravo Beach Resort Siargao. I made a separate post about our stay at the resort, head over to this link for more details.

Bravo’s surf bunk room – our room for 3 nights!

Getting Around Siargao

Another photo of the Cloud 9 Boardwalk – only ₱20 pesos to go here from GL

Getting around Siargao is very easy. The most popular way is by motorcycle. Daily rental rates range from ₱350 to ₱500. I will recommend this to people who will really go around the island for the whole day or for those who will explore the island by themselves. If you’ll only use the motorcycle for a few times, then best not to rent one. You can hop on a tricycle or motorcycle (locally known habal-habal) for ₱20 per person (during the day until around 10:00 pm; rates go higher from late night to after midnight – could go as high as up to ₱60 per person) to anywhere in General Luna. These tricycles & motorcycles are also available for rent; make sure to inquire how much the daily rental costs.

Inland & Island Tours

Just like any other place in the Philippines, Siargao also has island & inland tours offered to visitors. We only had limited days in the island so we opted for the locals say the best tour provider – Siargao’s Best – Tour Organizer. The company is owned & managed by Mr. Nicholas “Kuya Bebot” Salgado.

Sohoton Cove – the highlight of Package A

Kuya Bebot offers 2 group tours – Sohoton (Bucas Grande) & Tri-Island Tour (Package A) which costs ₱1,550 per person & Sugba Lagoon & Magpupungko Tour (Package B) which costs ₱1,500 per person. The tours are open both to private groups (minimum of 8) or to joiners. Rates include all transportation & boat fees, lunch, entrance & environmental fees, group cottages & paddle board or kayak rental in Sugba Lagoon. Call time in the morning is at 6:00 am at General Luna Public Market. Tour groups leave at exactly 7:00 am until 5:30 pm for Package A & around 4:00 pm for Package B.

Shiela & I took both group tours. We took the Sugba Lagoon & Magpupungko Tour on our 2nd day with my friend, Geof (plus his friends, now also our friends) who was also in Siargao that time. We took the Sohoton Cove & Tri-Island Tour on our 3rd day with some of the people we met on the 1st tour.

Sugba Lagoon & Magpupungko Tour

Sugba Lagoon 😍

Our group left the public market at 7:00 am & headed to the Port of Del Carmen by land. The land trip took about an hour. We then transferred to a small motor boat (small groups of 6 to 7 people) & took an hour trip to Sugba Lagoon. We spent 2.5 hours in Sugba Lagoon swimming, jumping from the diving board, paddling our boards & kayaking.

About to jump from the lagoon diving board

After a few hours in the lagoon, we took the boat back to the port, transferred to our van & drove by land to Magpupunko Tidal & Rock Pool. We had our lunch then enjoyed the rock pool afterwards. We left the place at 3:30 pm & got back in General Luna a few minutes past 4:00 pm. Check out the photos we took during the tour.

Magpupungko during low tide

Magpupungko Tidal & Rock Pool from my friend’s drone 😍

Another Magpupungko Rock Pool drone shot from our friend Wilson 😍

We were so happy we were one of the first ones to arrive at Sugba Lagoon, we had the place to ourselves. The tour was just right – not rushed & everything was provided. They served a lot of food for lunch plus they gave us enough time to enjoy both places.

Sohoton Cove & Tri-Island Tour

Inside Sohoton Cove – beautiful place! 😍

We left the public market at 7:00 am & took a 3-hour boat ride to Bucas Grande Island, Surigao del Norte. We first went to the jelly fish sanctuary in Blue Lagoon by paddle boat, then to Sohoton Cove by motorboat. We went inside Hagukan Cave, or also known as luminescent cave. We splashed the water inside the cave & it turned into electric blue / green color. Surreal. We headed to Magkuku-ob Cave next; hiked up a few meters & jump from a 5 meter cliff back to the lagoon! We went back to Sohoton’s small port / tour office & had lunch.

View from the paddle boat to Blue Lagoon 🤩

Hello Mr. Jellyfish!

We left Bucas Grande Island around 1:30 in the afternoon & took another 3-hour boat ride back to General Luna. We dropped by Naked Island (no nice photo of Naked Island – sorry), Guyam Island & Daku Island along the way. If I remember it right, we spent around 30 minutes on each island. The tour ended around 6:00 pm.

That’s me & Shiela at Blue Lagoon / Jellyfish Sanctuary

A normal 6-hour 3-island tour costs ₱1,000 per person. For paying a few hundreds more, we were able to visit Sohoton Cove which is undeniably beautiful. The 3-hour boat trip to & from Bucas Grande may be too long, but the trip was worth it.

Not so good weather when we were in Guyam Island

Guyam Island – the smallest of the 3 islands!

I strongly recommend Kuya Bebot’s island & inland tours. The activities are worth the price plus you’re well taken care of. Feel free to contact him in the numbers below:

Tour Company: Siargao’s Best
Contact Name: Mr. Nicholas “Kuya Bebot” Salgado
Contact Numbers: 09064595679 / 09309749974
Facebook Page: Siargao’s Best

Surfing at Cloud 9 Area

The famous Cloud 9 Boardwalk

A trip to Siargao will never be complete without surfing. The island has long been a destination for local & foreign surfers. Cloud 9 is the most famous wave in the Philippines & this surfing area is one, or if not the most visited areas in Siargao. An hour-long surfing lesson with a guide costs ₱500. I didn’t have the chance to surf due to hangover, but I promise to try it when I go back.

Look at those big waves!

Siargao Party Nights

Party people, make sure to read this. One of the many good things about Siargao is that parties are concentrated in only 1 or 2 bars per night. That means other bars do not have the crazy party on days where the party is held in another bar. We were there for 3 nights & we partied 3 straight nights – that’s for sure. The Saturday night party happened in Harana Surf Resort, the Sunday night party was in Bravo Beach Resort (our accommodation) & the Monday night parties were held at Loose Keys & Rum Bar.

Party night at Harana Surf Resort – one of the 3 crazy nights we had!

Don’t forget to ask your hotel / hostel reception where the party will be during your stay. Visitors should go party in Siargao at least for a night.

Siargao is a paradise – can’t wait to go back!

This sums up our 4 days & 3 nights in Siargao. Our schedule was full; we didn’t have time to “relax,” if you know what I mean. We were able to visit the popular places to go to plus we met a bunch of new & crazy people. I don’t have regrets spending a lot on the day tours & alcohol. It was a memorable trip. Every peso spent was worth it, super worth it. I look forward to going back to this paradise island, to finally try surfing in the big waves & to relax.

Meet the Siargao Squad – no complete photo so I added 2 group photos! 😉

Are you flying to Siargao in the coming weeks or months? I suggest you take the tours offered by Kuya Bebot. You’ll definitely have a great time. Don’t drink too much at night so that you’ll have enough energy the following day. Do you still have questions about our trip or about Siargao? Feel free to post them in the comments below. Alternatively, you can shoot me an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com for suggestions. Feel free to also contact me via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

One last photo of Siargao! 🤩

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank my friend Wilson for allowing me to use his Magpupungko Tidal & Rock Pool drone shots & one of our group photos above.

Thank you for reading & until the next post. ✌️ Safe travels wherever you’re going. 🙂

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC Re & HTC U11.