Backpacking Landscapes: An Overnight in the Dinagat Islands

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

An Overnight in the Dinagat Islands

It has been a long journey to getting to this part of thecountry; The whole town was also busy with conferences and sports events at my arrival.

The first task of a visit is of course, accomodation. There is a P100 fan room I am seeing online, but could not find it exactly as it said it is near the port. The closest one to that I have been reading about was a P250 room but is fully booked. The caretaker smartly advised me to book whatever I could find right on as the guests of the event are starting to arrive and I might end up not having anything at all if I keep delaying. Hence, i decided to get the P200/night room at 3RJ&S Pension House.

I don’t have much time left for the day, but certainly not too late to settle in the room, so after getting a bath, I went out. I thought of going to the Sta Cruz beach, but was afraid that it might be too late by the time I get back. There might not be any more transpo. I thought about just walking around town.

The next day, i walked early onto the market to scout for a cheap boat that can get me around.

Dinagat is a huge island with plenty of smaller islands under it’s coverage. The blogs I have read are all about bababu lake and the Bitaog beach. And being fairly unexplored, I thought about getting elsewhere to at least help in uncovering what this destination has.

From google, I was seeing this part with some great beaches. A part where most names where taken from the tourist popularized Palawan.

We first went to Hagakhak Island.

There were a number of islands around this area, with small ones privately occupied by some households, including one that is said to be of the vice governor, and another of an american.

hagakhak island in Dinagat

some islands in Basilica, Dinagat

After a tour of this semi palawan area near Basilica, we moved onto bababu. Before heading to the jump off of bababu lake, my boatman brought me to a quiet cove next to it. The cliff’s on the side of the rock islands, below the water are so visible, it is so enticing to jump. However, i could feel that my boat man is not so keen of me jumping to such point that my hesitation could not decide early enough while we are still there.

We moved next to Bababu Lake. I was with the 3 kids, kins of my boatman, and it will be too costly to climb. P300 for a guide fee plus P25 entrance. I was ok paying the entrance charge, but not about the P300 guide fee for a 45 minute trek. I asked the caretakers if it was ok to join the other groups, but he refused. I decided not to go... it’s not like I have a lot to miss. I have seen a lot of lakes, and have a lot more lined up.

a cove near the island where bababu lake is in Dinagat Islands

beach in Bababu Lake in Dinagat

my boatman in dinagat islands

Then, inasmuch as i’d like to see the other islands, my boatman is looking forward to seeing the triathlon event. We agreed to go back to the mainland. Good thing is, this will let me get back to surigao through the last trip.

Contact Sir Pedro for Boat service; 0909 636 5963. He asked only for P500 for this 3hour trip. He don’t speak tagalog though.

3RJ&S contact number is 0920 679 7503. Rate for single fan room is P200. See here for a picture of the fan room.