The Tayang Ban Cave, Siargao Island

On the way to Magpupungko beach, from the surfing municipality of General Luna in Siargao Island, we passed by a simple tarpaulin signage which says Tayang Ban cave.  On our way back, we stopped by the signage, went to a small hut which is the reception area for the said cave and paid our entrance fee of around a dollar each. We were assigned a tour guide, which we had to pay separately and the fee was up to us.

The signage to the cave

I saw some pictures of the cave , beautiful with its blue-green waters.  However, we visited right after it rained, so the water was a little brownish. The visit was still good,  though, because of the experience.  

A claustrophobic like myself dislikes caves, specially a cave with small opening and one where I will be submerged in water. But then again, my 72 year old mom is into spelunking, and mothers always prevail.  Together with our driver, a local of Siargao but who hasn’t been inside the cave, we descended.

The entrance to the cave

Upon entry to the cave, we found ourselves submerged in chest-deep water- and this would be the case all throughout the caving experience. There are however some areas which are deeper, so it is best to hold on to either the bamboo rails, or the ropes. 

To the cave!

It was dark, and there were narrow passageways and only our guide has a flash light. I don’t know how to swim, so my feet had to constantly look for stones to step on so that I can walk my way to the other side of the cave. The experience was both scary, and exciting.

After what seemed like forever, for me, but which was actually only after 30 minutes in real life, we emerged in an archway, and a big pool.  We hiked up and passed by a deep diving pool.  We hiked up further, and was surprised that we emerged right at the other side of the road, where the reception area was.  Turned out, the cave was actually just under the highway!  

Light! Finally!

The hike up.

Sugba Lagoon, Siargao Island

Surfing is always the first thing to come to mind when one hears Siargao.  It has been the surfing capital in the country since the 1990s and the municipality of General Luna has hosted international surfing competitions. I was therefore not prepared when I laid my eyes on Sugba, Lagoon.  The pristine, emerald water surrounded by lush, limestone hills was in contrast with the lively, vibrant and full-of-surfers General Luna. 

Sugba, Lagoon is situated in the village of Caub, in the municipality of Del Carmen, where the airport is located.  The tourism office offers other tour packages which include the Kawhagan Sandbar, as well as the mangrove view deck.

The tour to the lagoon is arranged at the Mangrove Protection Information Center, where the tourism office is housed.  All payments are coursed through the tourism staff, who handles the dispatch of the boats.  Visitors pay the following fees : Php1,600 (USD32) for the pump boat , good for 6 persons, Php50 (1USD) warf fee and entrance fee to the lagoon , which is Php50 (1 USD) for locals and Php100 (2USD) for foreign tourists. Tourists may also opt to hire a tour guide for Php300.  In order to manage the number of visitors in the lagoon, the tourism office has set a limit of 4 hours stay in the lagoon, specially during peak season. 

The boat ride is a 30 minute cruise through the dense mangrove forest.  Del Carmen has one of the longest contiguous mangrove forest in the country, which is also home to saltwater crocodile. As we draw nearer to the lagoon, we passed through the hills, through what looked like a gate to this paradise-like place.  

We finally reached the place - and I can’t help but be in awe.  It was a beautiful, beautiful place. And very peaceful (we were there early).   The water is so clear that it reflected the color of the hills surrounding it- thus the emerald color.  

Guests may bring packed lunch, or order food from the restaurant in the lagoon cottage.  They serve seafood, and chicken too!  A diving board is available, free of charge, while kayaks and paddle boards are up for rent at Php200. 

Sugba Lagoon was opened to tourists only in 2015, and is only one of the many beautiful (and new) sights to behold in Siargao Island.   With more direct flights opened up between Manila and Siargao, the island has seen the number of tourists grow and more communities are opening up their beaches, caves, lakes, and waterfalls to visitors.  There is definitely more to see in this beautiful island!