TRIP TO PANARAGA WHITE SAND BEACH RESORT

ABOUT PANARAGA BEACH RESORT

Panaraga beach is one of the beautiful beaches in the province of Surigao del Sur, Municipality of Barobo. Specifically  located in Barangay Gamut Barobo. The beach is picturesque, with fine sand that gives it the nickname "Little Boracay."Many visitors come solely to see the lovely beaches and enjoy to the soothing sounds of the crashing waves. Panaraga beach has a breathtaking view with a length of turquoise waters and pure white sand and lot of seashells also can be found there. Many coconut palms flank the shoreline, providing even more lovely scenery. It's fun to take a photo beneath the tree, but it's also beneficial because the trees provide a shady spot for travelers to relax, especially those who bring tents. Numerous tourist support services are now being carried out in order to provide satisfaction. 

Panaraga Front Beach

There are many seashells can be found here in Panaraga Shoreline

THINGS TO DO AND THINGS TO SEE:

• This isolated beach is well worth a visit, as well as an overnight holiday.
• They also have air conditioned and non-air conditioned rooms in Ragga-Ragga Resort.
• They have electricity, clean water (gallon refilled), public comfort room for shower with well and a Sari-Sari store (but no luxury of choices). For extra options, you can prepare your own meal.
• They also offer water sports such as surfing, jet skiing, and banana boating.
• Many coconut palms flank the shoreline, providing even more lovely scenery. It's fun to take a photo beneath the tree, but it's also beneficial because the trees provide a shady spot for travelers to relax, especially those who bring tents.

• Camp space is available for rent for those who bring their own.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT PANARAGA BEACH

People from Ponorogo, East Java, have a long history at Panaraga Beach. Ponorogo ship anchored on the beach with a large ship, causing the surrounding community to refer to the beach as Panaraga, resulting in good relations with residents along the coast. Ponorogo people teach farming and self-defense to residents along the coast.

CONTACT US:

For additional information, please visit PANARAGA BEACH "Kanato Ini" Facebook Page or this link https://www.facebook.com/PanaragaBeachGamut/ 

HOW TO GET THERE: 

We traveled to Panaraga Beach from Bayugan City by private car, but there are various options for those who wish to commute.

3 Ways Options

1. Recommended Cheapest

Bus (Bachelor Express)

Destination: Bayugan Bus Terminal - San Francisco

Duration: 1hr5m

Frequency: Once daily

_________

Destination: San Francisco - Barobo Terminal

Duration: 29m

Frequency: 4 times a day

________

Destination: Barobo Terminal - Panagara beach

Ride to Skylab: 22kms from highway

Ride to Taxi/Car rental: 25m/19.6kms from terminal

________

General information: Tickets can be purchased at the station; however, prior to travel, the schedule must be confirmed directly with the bus operators.

Operator details: +63(082)285-6486 

1. Fastest, second cheapest 

Taxi (JL Express Travel & Services)

Destination: Bayugan Busy Terminal - Barobo Bus terminal

Duration: 58m

Operator details: 09612670813

1. Car Rentals

Destination: Bayugan Bus Terminal - Barobo Bus Terminal

Duration: 61kms/58m

Full disclosure: If you prefer to rent a car, go to this website for further informationhttps://www.rome2rio.com/map/Bayugan/Barobo#r/Taxi/s/0

 

PRICE AND BUDGET: 

Accommodation: 

1. Room for rent price start at ₱500.00
2. Cottages estimated price: ₱250.00 -₱500.00 depending on the size and area.
3. Banana boat for rent maximum of 10 persons per 15 minutes estimated price: ₱100.00 per pax.

Transportation: Bayugan Bus Terminal-Barobo Bus Terminal

1. Bus Estimated Price 

      • ₱150.00 - ₱250.00 (one way)

1. Taxi Estimated Price: ₱300.00 - ₱400.00 (one way)
2. Drive (Approximately Fuel Cost): ₱249.00 - ₱358.00 (one way)
3. Barobo Bus Terminal - Panaraga Beach:   •      Skylab estimated price: ₱80.00 per head •Taxi estimated price: ₱330.00 - ₱400.00 •Drive approximately fuel cost: ₱79.00 - ₱115.00

RECOMMENDATION:

1. It is best to book a resort in advance of visiting Panaraga Beach, especially if you plan to stay overnight. There are many nearby resorts that offer air conditioned and non-air conditioned rooms, but don't expect luxury. For further information, go to their Facebook page, which is linked above. They provide holidaymakers with reasonable rates. There are some resorts with electricity and meals offered. It is also good for people who do not book for a reservation area because there are certain cottages which do not require a reservation. 
2. If you want to save money, you can prepare your own meal, but there are also sari-sari stores there, but they are a bit pricey compared to the original price, and the goods aren't complete either, so I highly recommend that if you haven't been able to prepare yet, you simply buy your foods at the nearest Gamut market.
3. Bring plenty of drinking water, because it is far from the town or you may buy at the nearest barangay Gamut.
4. It is preferable if you have your own car, but if you do not, I recommend renting a car/van for a large group travel to save money. Also, depending on the vehicle, expect a turbulent 30-minute or longer ride.

DO’s 

• Bring your own food if you wish to save money when visiting this destination because the resort's goods prices are twice the average indicated sale price.

• Put your rubbish in the sack/trash

• Five golden rules must be observe.

DON’ts

• The road leading there isn't completely paved. As there are several ups and downs, as well as curves, you must tread cautiously while traveling. Not advised for small vehicles.

• Do not swim that far since it is perilous because the sea level increases quickly, especially as the afternoon comes and thus the sea waves become more intense.

• Do not leave your garbage for they have a clean-up campaign every year.

OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION:

1. Summer days is the best time to visit Panaraga beach to witness the sunrise and sunset scenic view of the place. 
2. If you enjoy surfing, it is best to go at noon because the waves are usually fairly strong in the afternoon.

3. Domestic travel is not restricted, but some conditions may apply

        

   • Wearing face masks and face shield are mandatory
   • Observe COVID-19 safety rules
   • Domestic border crossings may be subject to approval, testing, and quarantine
   • Bring vaccination card or certificate if you have just in case 

PHOTO GALLERY

Water Sport activities in Panagara Beach Resort

Coconut Trees in Panaraga Beach Resort

The waves are fairly strong in the afternoon, and is also high tide.

CAGWAIT WHITE BEACH: The SPACEBAR of the Philippines

OVERVIEW

Cagwait White Beach Resort was originally known as the Philippines' "Waikiki Beach." During his travels, the legendary pilot Charles Lindberg coined the phrase. The beach is located in the Surigao del Sur village of Cagwait. The beach is now known as the "Boracay of Caraga," because of its fine, powdery sand that turns white when the sun shines brightly. The beach is situated on a cove that resembles a letter C but also resembles the shape of a clamshell. Because it faces the Pacific, the long stretch of beach spanned the entire cove, making it a fantastic site for a morning walk while waiting for the sun to rise. The annual Kaliguan Festival is held there every June 24th. During the summer, it attracts a large number of visitors.

Cagwait White Sand Beach is regarded as the Philippines' SPACEBAR beach and has the world's longest slide. The white sand beach is as wide as the spacebar button on the keyboard, hence the name "spacebar." This is an excellent tourist destination for those who simply want to relax and enjoy a less commercialized beach vacation.

Where to Stay in Cagwait White Beach?

There are a several resorts and hotels in the area that are not listed on the internet. If you want to be sure, inquire when you're at Cagwait White Beach. The LGU Cagwait beach resort, which is very affordable, is one of the most popular places to stay. Affordably priced cottages are available for rent in the neighborhood. Locals are in charge of the beach's maintenance. They are incredibly friendly and welcoming.

The beach is bordered by a tropical rainforest. The tall coconut and palm palms provide plenty of shade. The weather is cool, and you can spend your time strolling along the beach's beautiful sand.

When we went to Cagwait, we stayed at the Spacebar Beach Resort. They have rented rooms for ₱1,300 - ₱1,500 pesos per night and ₱20 entrance fee per head. If you wish to stay in the resort, you must rent a cottage for ₱800 for 12hrs. Once you have rented, you are free to visit their beachfront and stroll around their area. They also serve foods from their resort but we brought our own food and it is okay because we pay for our cottage and they have a swimming pool and cottages that are undergoing renovations, but you may still utilize their facilities because they are not completely renovated. If you want to their swimming pool, it costs ₱100 for children and ₱150 for adults and is only optional to customers who desire it.

We didn't rent a room because we had our tents with us; however, if you reserve their beach front for your tent, you would be charged an additional ₱250 fee. We decided to rent the beachfront at the other resort because it was less expensive. Their charge is per head and we got this only for ₱60. We were looking for a cheaper one to rent because we brought a lot of tents, and so far it's working out with the spacebar that we can build a tent on the other side.

HOW TO GET THERE?

We just booked a van to get to Cagwait because there are so many of us and that way we can do less. I think it will take 3h to drive from Butuan to Cagwait since we have several stops over on the way, however the actual time of the trip if you do not commute is only 2h 38m for 142.5 km road distance. If you want to travel from Butuan to Cagwait, there are buses in the terminal of Butuan that cost around ₱290 - ₱450 pesos, there is no direct bus from Butuan to Cagwait. However, services are departing from Butuan and arriving at Cagwait via San Francisco. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 4h 58m. The quickest way to get from Butuan to Cagwait is by taxi which costs ₱2,100 - ₱2,600 and takes 2h 13m.

Am I allowed to travel from Butuan to Cagwait?

Domestic travel is not restricted, but some conditions may apply

     

• There is a social distancing requirement of 1 meter
• Face masks are mandatory
• Observe COVID-19 safety rules
• Domestic border crossings may be subject to approval, testing, and quarantine

SPACEBAR BEACH RESORT COTTAGES 

ENTRANCE WAY TO SPACEBAR BEACH RESORT

SPACEBAR FRONTBEACH

LIANGA, SURIGAO DEL SUR: Gerome’s Beach Resort Escapade

BRIEF HISTORY OF LIANGA, SURIGAO DEL SUR

A photo from
http://www.wowsurigao.com/about-surigao/surigao-del-sur/lianga

Lianga is one of the oldest towns of Surigao del Sur created on October 17,1919 by virtue of Executive Order No. 27,much earlier than the creation of the Province of Surigao del Sur. At first Lianga was a big municipality of, which extends from Cagwait to Barobo.

Folk tale has it that this town derived its name of Liangan and Go, two lovers with different norms of life. Liangan was a lovely daughter of a Manobo Chieftain that ruled a peaceful settlement along the river (now Lianga River) while Go was a Chinese pirate captured by the manobo warriors in a bloody battle in the beach of Pananag-an. Go and his comrades ship drifted in the ensuing fight , he was the lone survivor held captive by the victors.

As the story goes, just like some love tales, Liangan and Go got married after the Chieftain's death and established their own settlement and called it " Leanga ", which later become LIANGA.

When is the best time to visit in Lianga?

The best time to visit in Lianga in the Philippines is from January until December, when you will have a warm or hot temperature and limited till mediocre rainfall. The highest average temperature in in Lianga is 33°C in May and the lowest is 29°C in January.

Lianga has the tropical rainforest climate prevailing. If you want to know what the average temperature is in in Lianga or when most precipitation (rain or snow) falls, you can find a quick overview below. This way, you are well prepared. Our average monthly climate data is based on data from the past 30 years.

BIRTHDAY GATHERINGS IN GEROME’S BEACH RESORT

Celebrating her 21st birthday in caravan style before the trip in Lianga

Gerome’s Beach Resort

ABOUT GEROME’S BEACH RESORT

Gerome's Beach Resort is a full-service hotel facility with a swimming pool in Barangay Baucawe, Lianga, Surigao del Sur, along the cream sand beachfront. This is the place to go if you enjoy karaoke. It's a rough beach, so swimming isn't recommended, but there is a pool. There are accommodations to suit any budget.

There is a dining room in Gerome's beach resort. Here's something for tourists who enjoy seafood and other cuisines. They also have a tiny but well-stocked shop where they sell and prepare fish, poultry, beef, and other basics. At their resort, they also provide service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They also have a live band every Saturday night from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm with a 30 pesos entrance fee. 

“A good friend is like a four-leaf clover; hard to find and lucky to have.” — Irish Proverb

This is a photo from a trip to Lianga to celebrate one of my friends' 21st birthday. We had a wonderful day on vacation even though we only get together as often as there are great gatherings like this when we may travel to any beaches and resorts. 

We arrange a delicious meal and surprise our celebrant. We also had a good time decorating the cottage we rented and singing karaoke there. For an overnight visit, we rented the room above the cottage. We also held a camp on their wonderful white sand beach, where we shared our deepest thoughts and life experiences. It's fantastic to have them together.

 This is Gerome's resort's shoreline, which is covered with rocks. The seafloor at Lianga resembles concrete; portions of the rock is jagged, while others are smooth, enormous flat surface.

“Growing apart doesn’t change the fact that for a long time we grew side by side; our roots will always be tangled. I’m glad for that.” — Ally Condie

“Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together.” — Woodrow T. Wilson

We had planned to have a campfire here, but tourists are not permitted to do this at their beach resort. Instead, we formed a circle with table sand and enjoyed the gathering with my pals. Some of us set up camp and spent the morning on the beach. It was really cold with the fresh ocean breeze, but it was magnificent to watch the sun rise.

ADVENTURE TIME: Barobo Island Hopping

Surigao del Sur is one of the Philippines' most recognized provinces for its enigmatic yet spectacular tourist attractions. It is part of Mindanao's CARAGA Region, with Tandag City as its capital. 

You may have heard of some of Surigao go del Sur's well-known tourist attractions, such as the Barobo or the breathtaking white sand beaches. Surigao del Sur is indeed blessed with great places to visit. Its beautiful islands, which face the Pacific Ocean, beckon visitors to go island hopping. 

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT SURIGAO DEL SUR

The best times to visit Surigao for ideal weather are May 21st to June 10th based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).

The Most and Least Crowded Months

The month of April is the busiest for tourism in Surigao, Philippines, followed by February and March. During these months, hotel and flight prices will be at their highest, though you can save if you book ahead of time. Surigao is unlikely to attract tourists in October. Those willing to go during these dates will likely find it to be the most affordable month.

Some are a list of tourist attractions that I visited during my journey in Surigao Del Sur.

A TRIP TO BAROBO, SURIGAO DEL SUR 

(Island Hopping)

Vanishing Island

“Sometimes all you need is a great friend and thirst for adventure”
 - TheWanderlustWithin

Travel is my way to life. It gives me countless memories to cherished and irreplaceble learnings. I have gone so many memorable trips with my friends and family until I discovered this island of Barobo a hidden paradise of Surigao Del Sur. Traveling for hours to get to this island is exhausting, but when I’m with my friends, I lose track of time and have a better time on the way. Locals in Barabo are hospitable and welcoming. After you reach the fishport of Barobo you will see many pumpboats lined up and fishermen are also waiting for vacationers who like island hopping. 

Did you know the hidden paradise in Barobo? Here such genuine beauty of islets, neighboring island of Barobo and its three main tourist attraction we’ve visited; Cabgan, Turtle and Vanishing Island.

Cabgan Island

Cabgan Island is a long, slender visible from a far. Every area of this island offers breathtaking views. We set sail on the island around 2’oclock in the afternoon where the sea is calm and I watched the massive white clouds formation in contrast to the greenish tone of rock formation and dark blue hue of the sea. I was constantly drawn to the magnificent view of the horizon. Read more:https://travelandjourneysite.wordpress.com/2016/10/22/islands-worth-to-visit-cabgan-and-turtle-islands-of-barobo-surigao-del-sur/

The West Life Cliff at the back of Cabgan Island

Turtle Island, Surigao Del Sur

The island named “Turtle Island” because of its overall shape with a little island at its back that likewise resembles a small turtle. This is the first island to which we traveled by pumpboat. The sea waves were heavy around 12’oclock in the afternoon that it was impossible for us to get off the pumpboat. We had our lunch there as well, eating the foods we prepared together. It was difficult for us to eat there because there was no cottage can be seen so we just sit tightly on the rock while eating our lunch. Read more:https://mindanaoescapades.wordpress.com/2010/06/19/barobo-surigao-del-sur-splendid-cabgan-island/

Here is the photo of Turtle Island emblem. We took this while we’re on the pumpboat.

Another photo of mine in Turtle Island where we had our lunch time.

Vanishing Island

This is the last island we hop. With its breathtaking fine white sand that could be mistaken for powder, this island could be a potential contender against the scenery of Maldives beaches. It has a special beauty that unfolds in an open sea surrounded by turquoise water and a perfect fine white sand beach while gazing out to crashing waves and blue sky. Once the low tide came in, Vanishing Island dazzled visitors. The white sand shone brightly during low tide, revealing its magnificent white beach as its stretched out far. Read more: https://www.taraletanywhere.com/travel-guide-barobo-surigao-del-sur/

HOW TO GET THERE?

Are you planning to take a trip in Barobo? Here are some of the tips and guides travelling there. Your drop-off location will be on Barabo fishport or there public market where you may buy foods there and other necessities you may need, as well as renting pumpboat that cost for about ₱1,000.00 - ₱1,500.00 good for 10-15 persons to bring you on every islets. It will take 20-30 minutes of travel by the sea to get there. If you want to stay at night on the islands, it is free to camp there. Just keep in mind that such island are uninhabited and far from civilization, there is no houses and stores there, only some cottages on Cabgan Island if you want to rent, so do not leave rubbish on the island to preserve the cleanliness and protect the environment and living species there.

DISCLAIMER: The excursion took place before the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic. But if you wish to travel now you may visit their facebook page https://m.facebook.com/BaroboSurigaoDelSur27/ for further updates