Siargao – paradise for sea lovers

Among the more than 7,000 islands of the Philippines, Siargao is like a paradise for sea lovers. Not only possessing dozens of ideal surfing areas, this teardrop-shaped oasis also has a series of picturesque beaches, many clear blue bays overlooking the bottom, as well as lush mangrove forests, tarpaulin coconut forests. next to the marine ecosystem is preserved intact.

Surfing in Siargao. For surfing enthusiasts Siargao is located in Surigao del Norte province, the easternmost of the Philippines, 805km from the capital Manila, with an area of ​​437km2. This island was “awakened” when American photographer John Seaton Callahan published pictures in Surfer magazine in 1993. Shortly after being discovered, this place quickly attracted a large number of tourists to surf. . Surfing has become a traditional culture in this beautiful island. Siargao deserves to be the “surfing paradise of the Philippines” with 15 world-class surf spots, the most famous of which is Cloud 9. The fault reef to the right gives Cloud 9 fierce waves. , tall, thick and hollow tube, challenging even professional surfers. The waves in Siargao are ideal all year round but are most perfect from mid-August to early November. Siargao Cup is held annually in September-October, attracting thousands of participants and it is a sign of status. of the island in the world of surfers. Even if you’re not a surfer or haven’t reached the skill level needed to deal with the waves at Cloud 9, you should still come and take a stroll along the boardwalk leading to the station. indoor observation – where you can enjoy spectacular surf. This is also a great place to take pictures of the ocean. If you don’t know how to surf, you should sign up for an accelerated course. Most surf centers are run by Australian surfers who consider Siargao their home. Interesting experiences In addition to surfing, clear sea water, diverse marine life and many colorful coral reefs make this a great diving destination, such as Casulian, Pilar Twin Rocks, Shark Point and Seeco Reef. Boating activities on the blue water, between white sand and bright yellow sunshine will definitely bring visitors many unforgettable experiences. Try “slow living” with Siargao by walking on the romantic beaches, under the shade of coconut trees or swinging in a hammock to watch the sun fade over the sea. At the northernmost point of Siargao island is Taktak – the only waterfall on the island with unique value with cool fresh water flowing into a shallow tank. Although the waterfall is not too majestic, in return, it is surrounded by beautiful natural scenery with verdant forests and cool smooth water. If you want, you can immerse yourself in the clear lake at the foot of the waterfall and listen to the melodious birdsong. After exploring the scenery on Siargao Island, visitors can take a boat cruise to the neighboring islands. The nearby island of Guyam is a deserted, uninhabited paradise with white sands dotted with coconut palms. Next to it, there is an impressive Naked Island with a 200m long open-air sandbar that is not obscured from any angle. Daku has more locals, the beach is breathtakingly beautiful, and it’s a place to go freediving or scuba diving. Siargao’s wild beauty captivates people. Priceless wild beauty Dressed in a dreamlike landscape, Siargao is blessed with an extremely diverse flora and fauna, from vegetables to trees, sea turtles, large fish or non-poisonous jellyfish, not to mention a wide range of species. other terrestrial wildlife. The name of the island is derived from “Sha-gow” – the name of a species of mangrove that is abundant on the island. Siargao owns an isolated location, without an international airport, so it still retains the wild, natural beauty that many other islands have lost due to the tourism boom. The number of visitors to Siargao every year is moderate. This helps the island with a population of about 200,000 avoid overcrowding, pollution and commercialization. In addition to the wild natural beauty and impeccable service quality, Siargao also attracts visitors thanks to its unique cuisine. Seafood is a staple in resorts and restaurants. Barracuda at Siargao Inn and Tataki tuna in Sagana top the list of must-try items. The absence of single-use plastic is a big plus for restaurants on the island. In 2019, surpassing famous names such as Tahiti, Hawaii, Bora Bora, Bali…, Siargao was voted the most beautiful island in the world by Conde Nast Traveler magazine. Siargao has just developed tourism, still remaining wild, rustic, peaceful and clean, so it is easy to understand why this is one of the destinations that should not be missed in the journey to visit the country of thousand islands.