A Trip to Surigao: Adventures in the Rainforest

I never knew that a three-hour, bumpy van ride would take me from my ancestral home in Cabadbaran to the most beautiful rainforest scenes I’ve ever seen.

First, we stopped at Tinuy-an Falls in Surigao. This breathtaking landmark requires a quick ferry across the river and a 10-minute van or motorcycle ride. But the journey was worth it.

The falls have a lot of neat places to photograph, including a second tier of waterfalls located above the one visible from the ground.

Afterward, we went to a place called the Enchanted River. This river is supposedly enchanted because the water is a deep, almost artificial blue. This phenomenon is caused by minerals in the water that color it blue. The water is crystal clear and very refreshing to swim in. Also, there are large fish that swim there alongside the humans, which are fed every day.

We also took a boat out to see some of the island’s caves. This particular cave is one of the largest and has a statue of St. Mary guarding the entrance.

We also saw some fruit bats in the process!

We also went to a sandbar in the bay area. It was pretty cool!

The next day, we went to see the largest crocodile captured by humans, named Lolong. We first watched a video about how he was caught — he killed two people and it took trappers five tries to catch him. And now he’s located in this eco-park.

My adventures in Surigao were definitely one-of-a-kind. From the wildlife here to the scenic beauty, this place is unmatched. I only wish I’d had more time to explore the area!

25 comments

  1. Very beautiful waterfall!

    1. Thank you Alex! It was definitely a wonderful sight.

      ~Kay

      1. You are very welcome!

  2. Oh now I need to add somewhere else to my Bucket List!!!! that river looks amazing!

  3. Ang ganda! Nasa list ko ng pupuntahan to, sayang Bucas Grande pa lng muna pupuntahan ko.

  4. Wow… I would love to visit one day! The waterfall looks beautiful, Enchanted River particularly mesmerizing, and I have a fondness for fruit bats. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!!

    1. Yeah it was truly a fantastic place! Thank YOU for your comment and for stopping by! I really really appreciate your support.

      ~Kay

  5. Fantastic photos – I’d love to see that enchanted river.
    Although I think the last photo (particularly with that t-shirt) is my favourite of them all!

  6. Hang on, can you swim in the river without being eaten by crocs?? As an Australian, I was brought up to be hyper-aware of this concern.

    1. Haha, luckily the threat of crocs in this particular river is low because it’s not too far from the sea. However in some of the marshy areas there are man-eating crocs to watch out for! Terrifying, but kinda cool too!

      And with regards to the t-shirt…I love it too because it’s from my university and it reminds me of home 🙂

      ~Kay

  7. Lovely photographs. The blue of the water is unbelievable. We heard about the croc – saw it all trussed up, glad to hear it made it to safety (for him and the humans).

    1. Yeah, me too. The story was pretty sad but he seems content where he is and no one is in danger anymore! Thanks so much for following and stopping by. Your support really means a lot to me!

      ~Kay

    1. Thanks for stopping by! Glad you liked my post! 🙂

      ~Kay

  8. The blue river is just… enchanting, for a lack of a better word! Ethereal. I’m definitely going to put that on my list to go to in the Philippines when I get the chance. 🙂

    1. Haha thanks Mimi! 🙂 you would love it there, I know that for sure

  9. SSKenny · · Reply

    KAY!! Incredible photos – take me with you next time?! 🙂 Also… lovin’ the shirt – MBYM!!!

    1. Ah SSK 🙂 hope to chat with you soon!

      ~Kay

  10. wew! ang ganda talaga sa surigao! 🙂

  11. neatly captured , not even a shake ! , Such a steady hand : )

    keep clicking .

    1. Thank you so much for stopping by and for your kind words 🙂

      ~Kay

  12. Great shot of the waterfalls. I feel like I’ve seen this falls in movies.

  13. So you are also from cabadbaran? My grandmother is from there. I went to the enchanted river last year and it was uhmaaazing.. So nice to know that we both share that in common.

    1. My ancestors are from there as well! Maybe we’re related, hehe, I kid, I kid. It’s awesome to hear from someone else who has been here! It’s truly a magical place.

      ~Kay

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