Siargao is a tear-drop formed island in the Philippine Sea positioned 800 kilometers southeast of Manila in the area of Surigao del Norte. It has a land area of roughly 437 square kilometers.
The east coast is somewhat straight with one profound inlet, Port Pilar. The shoreline is significant by a series of ridges, tiny points and white, grainy beaches.
The bordering islands and islets have same landforms. Siargao is known as the “Surfing Capital of the Philippines”, but you don’t need to be a surfer to enjoy the beautiful scenery and natural attractions on the island.
The island is composed of municipalities of Burgos, Dapa, Del Carmen, General Luna, San Benito, Pilar, San Isidro, Santa Monica and Socorro.
HISTORY
It all started way back in 1980 when two foreigners, namely Tony Arruza and Steve Jones, who were surfers looking for the “perfect wave.” They apparently found it within the municipality of General Luna, which they called the Jacking Horse.” It is actually what most people today know as Cloud 9. Until now, the place is well known for its waves that couldn’t be compared elsewhere.
First documented glimpse by Europeans of Siargao Island was by Spanish skipper Bernardo de la Torreon board of the carrack San Juan de Letrán in 1543, when trying to go back from Sarangani to New Spain. It was mapped as Isla de las Palmas (Palm Island in Spanish).
But Siargao didn’t turn out to be a famous tourist destination yet. For a the meantime it was still underneath the radar, only identified to some surfers who peeked for it. Among them was a surfer named Max Walker, who was proven to have iniatiated a lot of surfing camps around Southeast Asia before he disappeared. But this paved way to more and more people knowing and discovering about Siargao.
GEOGRAPHY AND LOCATION
Siargao is situated 800 kilometers southeast of Philippines’ capital Manila. It belongs to the area of Surigao del Norte, set at the northeastern tip of Mindanao. Siargao Island has the biggest mangrove forest resources in Mindanao, at Del Carmen.
Long tracts of swamps signifies a possiblity for marketing seaweed breeding. Siargao Island is very much shaped by the winds and currents coming continuously from the Pacific Ocean, aggravated by the Mindanao stream flowing westward across the Siargao Strait.
According to wikipedia “Siargao Island contains the largest mangrove forest reserves in Mindanao, at Del Carmen. Long stretches of wetlands indicate a potential for commercial seaweed propagation.
Siargao Island is greatly influenced by the winds and currents coming uninterrupted from the Pacific Ocean, intensified by the Mindanao current running westward through the Siargao Strait.
Siargao Island is situated at a coordinate of 9°52′N 126°03′E. It is composed of municipalities of Burgos, Dapa, Del Carmen, General Luna, San Benito, Pilar, San Isidro, Socorro and Santa Monica.”
THINGS TO DO IN SIARGAO ISLAND – FOR NON-SURFERS
1. Go Diving – although Siargao is known for surfers and surfing enthusiast, there are also diving spots around the island that have amazing coral deposits.
2. Island Hopping – you can lease a boat and ask for the trip of Naked Island and Guyam Islet. Naked Island is an island with not much on it, serves a resting place for the birds and has discarded shells. Calm waters sorrounds the island and you can do snorkeling. Guyam Islet has white sand and a little small island that is perfect for a good picnic siesta.
3. Suhoton Cove – Employ a boat going to Suhoton Cove in Bucas Grande Island. This odd cove which we think is a residence of goddess, mermaids, and sylphs can only be accessed in certain conditions., home to hundreds of stingless jellyfish.
4. Taktak Waterfalls – Hire a motorbike going to Santa Monica’s Taktak Waterfalls, keep your eyes open for a variety of seagoing birds that frequent the area.
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