Thursday, July 19, 2012

Hinatuan, Surigao Del Sur


Hinatuan is a town located in the province of Surigao Del Sur, CARAGA Region. This town is famous for the Enchanted River, a river with crystal blue water.  Tourists are now flocking to this town to see the river with the bluest water in the Philippines.  The Enchanted River is located in Barangay Talisay, which is about an hour ride from the town center. There are also other tourist destinations near the Enchanted River. You can rent a boat for an island hopping trip to nearby islands.


Hinatuan's Enchanted River, Barangay Talisay

Hinatuan, Surigao Del Sur


The Enchanted River of Hinatuan


How to get to Hinatuan:

By Plane:

There is an airport in Bislig City but there's only one airline flying to Bislig City. The route for the airline is Cebu to Bislig City and then Bislig City to Cebu. This is being serviced by Mid-SEA Express Airline. From Bislig City, ride a van or a bus bound for Hinatuan. The travel time is 1 to 1.5 hours.
Cebu Pacific and Air Philippines has a daily flight to Butuan City from Manila. It’s an hour and 20 minutes flight from Manila. From Butuan City, you can ride a bus or a van bound for Mangagoy, Bislig City and then tell the driver or the conductor to drop you off at Hinatuan town. The travel time is 5 to 6 hours. You can also ride a bus bound for Davao City, just be sure to get off at San Franz town. From San Franz, also known as San Francisco, ride a van or a bus bound for Hinatuan. The travel time from San Franz to Hinatuan is 1 to 1.5 hours.
  
Cebu Pacific and Air Philippines also has a daily flight to Davao City from Manila. It’s about an hour and 30 minutes flight from Manila. From Davao City, you can ride a bus or a van bound for Mangagoy, Bislig City and tell the driver or the conductor to drop you off at Hinatuan town.  The travel time is 6 to 7 hours. From Davao City, you can also ride a bus bound for Butuan City or Surigao City. Just inform the driver or the conductor to drop you off at San Franz. From San Franz, also known as San Francisco, ride a van or a bus bound for Hinatuan. The travel time from San Franz to Hinatuan is 1 to 1.5 hours.

By Bus:

From Manila, you can ride a bus bound for Davao City. Tell the conductor or driver that you’re going to Hinatuan and tell them to drop you off at San Francisco or locally known as San Franz, Agusan Del Sur province. From San Franz, you can ride a bus or a van bound for Hinatuan or Mangagoy, Bislig City. The travel time from Manila to San Franz is about 27 to 37 hours. The travel time from San Franz to Hinatuan is 1 to 1.5 hours.

From Davao City, go to Ecoland Terminal and from there you can ride a bus bound for Mangagoy, Bislig City. Be sure to get off at Hinatuan. That’s the town before Bislig City. The travel time is 5 to 6 hours.

From Butuan City, you can ride a bus or van bound for Mangagoy, Bislig City. Get off at Hinatuan town. The travel time is 5 to 6 hours.

By Ship:

From Manila, you can ride a ship bound for Surigao City. The travel time is 24 to 32 hours. From Surigao City, ride a bus bound for Davao City and get off at San Franz, Agusan Del Sur. That’s about 5 to 6 hours of travel. From San Franz, ride a bus or a van bound for Hinatuan. The travel time is about 1 to 1.5 hours.

Additional Link:

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Bislig City, Surigao Del Sur


Bislig City is located in the province of Surigao Del Sur, CARAGA Region. This city is also known as the City By the Bay. Bislig City was once home to largest paper mill in Asia. The city got its name from a vine of a rattan family called Bislig. The major industry in Bislig is agriculture but the city has a potential of becoming the major tourist destination in the province of Surigao Del Sur.

Blessed with natural beauty, Bislig City is slowly becoming a tourist hot spot. The Tinuy-an Falls is one of its natural wonder. This waterfalls is the widest waterfalls in the Philippines.  There are also caves for spelunking in Bislig and you can also do an island hopping in Bislig Bay.

Tinuy-an Falls

Tinuy-an Falls

Tinuy-an Falls

Tinuy-an Falls

How to get to Bislig City:

By Plane:

There is an airport in Bislig City but there's only one airline flying to Bislig City. The route for the airline is Cebu to Bislig City and then Bislig City to Cebu. This is being serviced by Mid-SEA Express Airline.
Cebu Pacific and Air Philippines has a daily flight to Butuan City from Manila. It’s an hour and 20 minutes flight from Manila. From Butuan City, you can ride a bus or van bound for Mangagoy, Bislig City. The travel time is 5 to 6 hours.

Cebu Pacific and Air Philippines also has a daily flight to Davao City from Manila. It’s about an hour and 30 minutes flight from Manila. From Davao City, you can ride a bus or van bound for Mangagoy, Bislig City. The travel time is 6 to 7 hours.

By Bus:

From Manila, you can ride a bus bound for Davao City. Tell the conductor or driver that you’re going to Bislig City and tell them to drop you off at San Francisco or locally known as San Franz, Agusan Del Sur province. From San Franz, you can ride a bus or a van bound for Bislig City. The travel time from Manila to San Franz is about 27 to 37 hours. The travel time from San Franz to Mangagoy, Bislig City is 2 hours by van and 3 hours by bus.

From Davao City, go to Ecoland Terminal and from there you can ride a bus bound for Mangagoy, Bislig City. The travel time is 6 to 7 hours.

From Butuan City, you can ride a bus or van bound for Mangagoy, Bislig City. The travel time is 5 to 6 hours.

By Ship:

From Manila, you can ride a ship bound for Surigao City. The travel time is 24 to 32 hours. From Surigao City, ride a bus bound for Davao City and get off at San Franz, Agusan Del Sur. That’s about 5 to 6 hours of travel. From San Franz, ride a bus or a van bound for Mangagoy, Bislig City. The travel time is about 2 to 3 hours.


Addtional Links:

Monday, July 16, 2012

Iriga City, Camarines Sur


Iriga City is a landlocked city located in the province of Camarines Sur, Bicol Region. Iriga was formerly known as I-raga, which means “there is land”. Iriga was formerly part of Nabua town.  Iriga City is also one of the oldest settlements in the Bicol Region. This city is also known as the City of Crystal Clear Springs, thanks to the abundance of more than 30 natural springs scattered all over the city. Because of the abundance of natural spring, there are a lot of spring resorts in Iriga City and it’s one of the tourist destinations in the city.

Mt. Asog

Asog County Hotel, Brgy. San Isidro

Bersabaren Resort, Barangay San Isidro

Gilkrissa Resort, Brgy. San Nicolas

Gilkrissa Resort, Brgy. San Nicolas

Iriga City bus terminal

Iriga City jeepney terminal

La Consolacion College, Iriga City Campus

Masosu Spring Resort, Brgy. San Isidro

Saint Anthony De Padua Parish Church

Ybalon Resort, Brgy. San Juan

Ybalon Resort, Brgy. San Juan


How to get to Iriga City:

By Plane:

Cebu Pacific and Air Philippines have several daily flights to Naga Airport, which is locally known in Bicol as Pili Airport. From Naga Airport, located in the town of Pili, you can ride a bus or a taxi bound for Iriga City. The city is about 45 minutes to 1 hour ride from the airport. The bus fare from Pili to Iriga City is 30 pesos. If you’re coming from Naga or Pili, you will be passing the forked road in Baao town going to downtown Baao and Iriga City. Just after the railroad crossing, turn left going to Iriga City, because if you turn right, that’s the road going to Nabua and Legazpi City.


By Bus:

From Manila, there are several buses bound to Bicol region. Ride a bus that is bound for Iriga City or Legazpi City and then get off at Iriga City.  If you’ll be riding a bus bound for Legazpi City or Tabaco City, be sure to ask the driver or the conductor if the bus will pass by the city of Iriga because some buses will not pass Iriga City and will just use the diversion road at Nabua town. The usual travel time from Metro Manila to Iriga City is 8 to 10 hours. There are a number of bus terminals in Cubao, Quezon City, that have buses bound for Iriga City, Legazpi City and Tabaco City. There are also bus terminals in Pasay City, near Pasay Rotonda.

By Train:

The PNR has a regular train schedule for the Manila-Ligao City route. The train departs at Tutuban Station in Manila every 6pm and 8:30pm and arrives at Ligao City at around 6am the next day. Ride the train and get off at PNR Iriga City Station. The last station is Ligao City station which is 45 minutes away from Iriga City so be sure to get off at Iriga City. The usual travel time is 10 to 12 hours.


Additional Links:

Friday, July 13, 2012

Surigao City, Surigao Del Norte


Surigao City is located at the northeasternmost tip of Mindanao. This city is located in Surigao Del Norte province, CARAGA Region. Surigao City is popularly known as the City of Island Adventures for the reason that there are about 17 panoramic islands to choose from for your island adventure.

The City of Surigao is also the jump off point for tourists going to Dinagat Island province, Siargao, Bucas Grande and other parts of Leyte Island. The city is also one of the ports of entry in Mindanao. Those who travel by public or private transportation from Luzon and Visayas can continue their land travel to Mindanao via Lipata Port in Surigao City.

basul island

city hall of surigao city

fiesta resort, brgy ipil, surigao city

mabua pebble beach, brgy mabua

mabua pebble beach

city park



How to get to Surigao City:

By Plane:

Cebu Pacific Airline and Air Philippineas has a daily flight to Surigao City from Manila or from Cebu. The travel time is 1.5 hours. The Surigao City Airport is located within the city and it's just a 15 minutes tricycle ride from the city proper or from the downtown.

By Bus:

From Metro Manila, Philtranco Bus has a daily trip to Davao City and the bus will be passing through Lipata Port in Surigao City. You can find their terminal at Pasay City near the MRT Taft Station. The travel time from Metro Manila to Surigao City is about 25 hours to 35 hours and it depends on the travel speed of the bus and the ferry schedule in Matnog Port, Sorsogon and Benit Port in San Ricardo. The port of Matnog connects Luzon to Visayas and then the Benit Port connects the Visayas to Mindanao. You can visit Philtranco Bus website at philtranco.com.ph

If you're coming from Leyte or Samar, you need to go to Benit Port in San Ricardo, Southern Leyte province or Liloan Port in Liloan and then ride a ferry to Lipata Port in Surigao City. From Tacloban City, the port of Liloan is about 4 to 5 hours of travel by bus or van. Benit Port in San Ricardo is about 5.5 to 7 hours of land travel from Tacloban. The ferry in Liloan port takes about 3 hours to reach Lipata Port in Surigao while the ferry trip in Benit Port only takes 1 hour to reach Lipata Port. Bachelor Bus has a daily trip from Tacloban to Surigao City or Ormoc to Surigao.

By Ship:
From Manila, there are ships bound for Surigao City. As of this writing, the ship bound for Surigao departs at Manila port every Sunday at 9pm and the estimated time of arrival in Surigao City is Tuesday, 1pm. You can visit 2go.com.ph for more information.

From Cebu, you can also catch a ferry bound for Surigao City. There are several ferry companies plying the Surigao-Cebu route.


Additional Links:
http://www.surigaocity.gov.ph
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surigao