Just to update this thread based on my experience!
For nice, affordable accommodation, I recommend Kawili. We just came from Kawili few days ago, highly recommended! Nindot kaayo og service nya tag Php1,500 ra ang room for 3 na without free breakfast. I think breakfast is at Php180 per serving if I recalled it right. I booked the room with loft through messaging them at their facebook account, nya enjoy kaayo ko higda2x sa loft. We requested an airport transfer to pick us up at the airport & the charge is Php300 per person by van kay layo raba ang airport from General Luna. They have an honesty bar; lista lang ka unsa imo kwaon from the bar kay wala namay staff if lalom na sa gabii & it will be billed when you checked out. Ilang bar naay duyan, try pud ko, maayo kaayo nako pagkahayang kay wa diay natarong akong lubot but that's a different story, LOL. They're not beachfront kay naay laing resort sa ilang atubangan pero pila ra pud katikang, naay agianan sa kilid, beach na pud. Sayo ang sunrise sa Siargao, 5 A.M., mogawas na si Mr. Sun which I was lucky to see at Kawili. The manager, Pam is the best! She will take good care of you. We requested something, sos nagpaulan gyud siya just to get it, maka-konsensya nuon, heheheheh.... She will also help you unsaon para maka save mo sa activities didto. She is also a surfer herself so she has good connections if you need surf instructors.
I also booked this high-end resort nearby after our stay at Kawili & paid exactly Php12,900 a night for 3. Nindot tuod ang room kay naay private jacuzzi facing the beach pero ay nalang, layo ra kaayo serbisyo sa Kawili. Even though we checked-in at this high-end resort, we still kept on coming back for Kawili's services.
We also ate at Kitya's which is just steps away from Kawili upon the recommendation of Pam. Lami pud, sige mi balik-balik didto. Ila food didto per plate kay price on average is at Php180.
I told Pam that I wanted to eat at Kermit 'coz I read about it from blogs. She told me that I needed a reservation & I didn't know that so she arranged our reservation for us. Makabungog sa kadagko ang serving didto nya lamia gyud pud, affordable pa gyud. Ang pizza nila didto kay DIY meaning pili ka unsa imo gusto ibutang as topping. Pataka ra pud ko og pili, ga bukid ang topping sa pizza pag-abot. We ordered, pizza, tuna, pasta, 2 bottles of beer & 2 shakes & asked the waitress if sakto naba ang amo order for 3. She replied "Oo." Pag-abot sa table, mora man og good for 6. Wa nahurot, to think sobra ka gutom kay gikan gasurfing. Ako isa ka kauban ni comment na nalipong na siya sa kabusog. Naay gipilit ang Kermit didto sa ilang wall, "People in a hurry are still not allowed." - mao need gyud mo og reservation. Price range, naa ra pud sa P180 to P350 per plate. Amo nabayran didto, Php1,200, di mi lagi katuo. Amo nalang gi-take out among food na sobra. Gi-share namo sa mga people didto sa bar sa Kawili kay pwerte kadaghan pa.
Based on Pam's recommendations, mao ni among gibuhat didto:
- We rent a motorbike (honda xrm) - Php500 pesos per 24hrs for us to get to Magpupungko Rock Pool. 1,000 pesos daw ni if we'll hire a habal-habal. Sige ra mi ask sa locals on the way, sige pud mi kasaag, hehehehe... Just make sure it's low-tide when you get to magpupungko. Naay entrance ang Magpupungko, I think it's P50 per head, kalimot pud ko pila gyud to. Layo ang Magpupungko from General Luna. Mga 30+Km pud. Na-flatan pa gani mi gikan Magpupongko, ngitngit na gani but locals are very nice. We were being helped to get to the nearest vulcanizing shop without being asked for money in return. Mokuot na unta ko para bayad, nisutoy lang padagan sa ilang motor og niingon, "Adto nami." Wa napud mi'y nabuhat, nisyaget nalang mi og "Salamat." Ang gipangayo sa nag bulkit, P30. Amo gitagaan og P100, we are just thankful to be entertained nga gabii na.
- Php1,500 para sa island hopping for boat rental with Kuya Rudy, no meals included (3 islands nana; Naked Island, Isla Daku, Guyam. Ang Guyam og Isla Daku naay entrance I think P10 or P20 ba to per head, nakalimot ko) & Php150/pc for the snorkeling gear as rent. I checked on the neighbor resort later, Php1,000 per head but I didn't ask what are the inclusions 'coz we were already finished island hopping by then. We haven't gone to Sohoton 'coz it needs a full day daw. If gutomon mo sa island hopping, pwede mo mokaon sa Isla Daku, naa ray food baligya didto og cottage for rent for your picnic. In our case, wala rami ni kaon sa island. Paspas raman to among island hopping. mga 2 hours kapin ra guro kay gadali man mi ato. Picture & hop ra gyud mi ato kay past 2 P.M. nato kay gikan ga surfing nya ga ulan-ulan pud. Hadlok mi magabhi-an.
- For surfing: Php200 surfboard rental and Php200 for the surf instructor per hour. We only tried surfing for the sake of picture2x but in the end, 3 days mi ga surfing kay maka adik man diay. Rebook ang plane ticket oi sa akong isa kakauban kay he was suppose to fly ahead of us, 7k+ ang damage for the plane rebooking pero utong nalang, worth it raman pud daw ingon niya for the sake of surfing. I had Junrey, Raffy & Tata as my instructors. They're all good & we're laughing all the time but Tata is the best 'coz he's young, very patient & would really explain; mora'g ga-tudlo og grade 1 which I like. I'm just good in listening but suck on actual implementation. LOL. On first day, I was given a long board for beginners for you to really stand on your surf board. As each day passed by, nagkagamay na akong board, nagkadagko nasad ang waves. Sa 3rd day kay didto nami sa surf spot nga mo barrel na gyud ang wave sa Cloud 9 ra pud dapit. If sobra na sa kadagko gyud, syagetan nako to hold my board & dive underneath the wave kay elagpot gyud ka sa wave sa kakusog. Kabalo naka aning novice, di magtan-aw kay kampanti ra naay instructor. Kapila pud ko gilagpot kay gadanghag ang agi, hehehhe...
Overall, I had the time of my life in Siargao. Hapit na nako hurot ang Pilipinas og adto tungod sa promo fare sa airline but Siargao is just simply different. Na awahi ang Siargao sa lista kay abi man nako Siargao wala'y ayo, pang surf ra nga di man ko surfer. I was completely wrong, maka adik man diay ang surfing. I think I'll be coming back for more. If God wills it, I hope I would be able to own a property there maski gamay lang para tukuran og payag. Maka adik gyud ang surfing nya the locals & the foreigners there are super cool & are just the best. The island vibe is just super awesome too. I met a lot of people who were very successful in their carriers in urban centers & left it all behind for Siargao. Now, I completely understand why after experiencing Siargao. A local said that if you leave Siargao, you'll have a separation anxiety & I think she is right.
Go experience Siargao. But I just hope it will remain the same as it is today in the future & will not be like as commercialized as Boracay today. I completely saw the transformation of Boracay since 2002 & was priviledge to be there every year. 16-seater pa ang mga plane atong panahona na kusog kaayo motabyog if naay turbulence na morag matagak imong tiyan, di pa gyud mo advise ang pilot og fasten your seatbelt, LOL. I stopped going there beginning 2015 'coz it's no longer for me. I miss the old Boracay na payag pa ang naa sa beach, dili dagko na hotels & I found it in Siargao.
Before I forgot, they'll have an international surfing competition this Sept 25th. The Philippines daw will select a representative for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics 'coz surfing is now an olympic sport. My trainer daw si Tata as he said, he'll compete. I wish him well. I think we'll get an olympic medal for surfing if that's the case kay maayo man daw atong surfers competing internationally.
Originally Posted by zvike005
Just to update this thread based on my experience!
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