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Surigao del Norte is a mosaic island in the northeastern tip of Mindanao. A province that has managed to preserve its natural marvel through the years. On the eastern side of the province is Siargao Island, a tropical jewel that hosts one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and home of wave surfing, the latest sport and tourist attraction to take the country by storm. Siargao is a tear-drop shaped island situated 800 kilometers southeast of Manila. It has a land mass of approximately 437 kilometers. The east coast is relatively straight with one deep inlet-Port Pilar with a coastline marked by a succession of reefs, small points and white sandy beaches. There are similar neighboring islands and islets with similar landforms. The reefs and points are excellent for picking up any swell that comes along turning into clean, fast waves.
The best known surfing break with a world reputation of being in the top Surfing Waves in the world, is nick-named "Cloud Nine". But there are literally scores of breaks down this coast, and everytime a surfing expedition is mounted in the area, more new breaks are being discovered.
Offshore, a classic tropical island lay protected within its surrounding coral reef and the dozen coconut palms dressed in the center circle of the island rustled gently in the morning breeze. Off to the right, well within the massive coastal reef, lay a shining white sand bar some 200 meters long, claimed by a flock of some forty black-headed terns that stood chattering among themselves at the waters edge. The tide of Siargao is diurnal with tidal curves typically present especially on the east coast of the island.
There are islets where you’ll find fine white sand beaches and crystal clear waters comparable to Boracay Paradise. The three favorites - Guyam, Daku and Naked Island are close to General Luna and can be visited by renting your own banca for only P1,000.00. Traveling around the town makes easier with habal-habal, a motorcycle that can load up to 7 passengers to that will bring you to different destinations in town. |







Siargao
Islands contain the biggest mangrove forest reserves in Mindanao.
Long stretches of wetlands likewise indicate potentials 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’s
“Cloud Nine”, a powerful hollow right hander, featured
in “Surf Magazine” as one of the ten best
waves in the world. East of Siargao Islands lies the Philippine
Deep that rises from over 34,000 ft to a belt of reefs. This
Oceanic trench is the reason for the excellent surf in Siargao;
because it is so deep and the continental shelf narrow, the
waves break with juice straight out of deep water and focus
the wave energy straight at the beach. This area is set to become
Asia’s next hot surfing destination and is truly
one of the worlds’ last great frontiers for surf exploration.