There’s always something new to visit and look forward to in Surigao, the surfing capital of the Philippines. The unspoiled teardrop-shaped island, 800 kilometers southeast of Manila, is the Shangri-La of adventure and nature lovers.
The
mid-morning Asian Spirit flight to Surigao from Manila onboard the
nifty looking 80-seater aircraft was fast and smooth. We landed in
Surigao City with the sun shining even brighter as it did in Manila.
Our host was the governor of Surigao del Norte, Robert Ace Barbers and
his efficient tourism staff, along with Mayor Alfonso Casurra and
Siargao Mayor Ping Escosura.
Surigao City is the capital of the province of Surigao del Norte, the gateway to northern Mindanao. It is a crowded, busy and developing city, with interesting “island barangays” that effortlessly show the way to the well-known Suriganon hospitality.
There is a group of islands within easy day-tour reach of the city. One can start off with Basul Island close to the Maharlika National Road, just a brief boat ride from the Maharlika Pier. A vacationista can also opt to discover Hikdop Island, 45 minutes away from the city by pump boat. The island has unspoilt beaches and it also serves as a jump-off point to Nonoc Island where one can find the longest wooden bridge in the country. This extraordinary 391-meter footbridge called the Cantiasay-San Pedro Foot Bridge serves as a connection to the neighboring island of Sibale.
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