Hidden surfing towns: Best places to avoid the crowd

SOAR IN SIARGAO!

Famous for it’s “CLOUD NINE” to surfing enthusiast who have discovered this rare jewel in Southeast Asia. It has been tauted as one of the ten best waves in the world by SURF MAGAZINE. Siargao’s Cloud 9 is likewise hailed as one of the five toughest breaks in the world. A teardrop shaped island about 800 km Southeast of Manila, which placed host to both local and international surfing cups. But unlike other surfing destinations, Siargao is quite young and only those who are in the “know” in the surfing circuits are aware of its existence.

Siargao is one of the Philippines’ island paradises. Teeming with unspoilt natural resources, miles of white sand beaches and lots of breaks for surfers. A surfing paradise that would make you “Wild Over Water’! After hitting a few breaks, you can go island hopping, kayaking, diving or just relax and enjoy nature at its best.

Siargao was first discovered by Steve Jones an Australian and Tony Arroza, a Hispanic-American, who are both surfers. After them, came who they called “MAD MAX”, because he had been behaving strangely. Story has it that he fasted and died on the 44th day of his fast which also happened to be his birthday. He refered to himself as Max Walker. Mad Max settled in a hut around Tuason Point a place close to the perfect break reef now popularly called Cloud Nine. Later on, the people found out that Mad Max was actually the legendary Hawaiian surfer John Michael Boyum.

Going to this rare jewel is an adventure in itself. It is a scenic ride unlike no other! One needs to take an hour and a half flight from Manila to Butuan City, a two hour bus ride to Surigao City, a fifteen minute jeepney ride to the ferry which would take you on a two hour ferry ride goin to Dapa (main port of Siargao). Once in Siargao, you need to take a forty-five minute jeepney ride to General Luna, where Cloud 9 is located.

If you find this too much, you can take a Super Cat which would take you faster to Surigao. I believe you can catch one in Butuan City or Cebu, in which case from Manila you have to go to Cebu instead of Butuan.

So if you are looking for surf fun sans the hassle of overcrowded beaches, hop on your board and come to this island paradise called Siargao! Be one of the privileged few!