Caraga: A profusion of exotic culture and tradition

Details

Category: Destination

Published on Monday, 23 January 2012 09:46

Agusan del Norte • Agusan del Sur • Surigao del Norte • Surigao del Sur • Dinagat Islands

About the region

The region is composed of the cities Butuan, Surigao, Bislig, Cabadbaran, Tandag, and Bayugan, and the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Dinagat Islands. Caraga has a rich cultural heritage and vast natural attractions that offer unlimited adventure.

How to get there and go around

By Air. The Caraga Region can be reached through the Bancasi Airport in Butuan City from Manila or Cebu either by Cebu Pacific or Philippine airlines. Visitors can also take a Cebu Pacific flight to Surigao City.

By Sea. The region can be reached through the Port of Nasipit in Agusan del Norte from the ports of Manila, Cebu, and Bohol. There are also bus trips to Surigao from Manila via the Philippines' Roll-on-Roll-off ports. Dinagat Island can be reached by motorboat from Surigao City. Tourists can visit Surigao Islands Transportation for detailed transportation options.

Where to stay

When in Caraga, visitors can choose from various hotels and resorts that offer cozy accommodations for tourist friendly prices. The most popular places to stay in Butuan City include Almont Inland Resort, Goat 2 Geder Hotel and Restaurant, Gloreto Guest House, Dottie's Place, and Balanghai Hotel and Convention Center. Visitors going to Surigao City, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat and Siargao Islands can avail of accommodations from several hotel and resort establishments that dot tourist areas. Visit the Surigao Islands Hotels and Resorts website for detailed accommodation options.

What to eat

For people who like rice-based delicacies, then they will surely love the sayongsong. This local treat is made from a mixture of glutinous rice, ordinary rice, lemon juice, brown sugar, roasted peanut, and coconut milk.

The region's coastal areas are also famous for Kinilaw, a native cuisine that is prepared by mixing deboned raw fish with vinegar, chili peppers, salt, ginger, and onions.

Gigaquit rhum  is a rare but tasty beverage in Surigao. This beverage is preserved or fermented at a tree known in Surigao as sasa.

Tourists can also try the exotic, but delectable tamilok. It is a type of mollusk that grows in barks of mangroves thriving in the region's coastal areas. The locals eat tamilok raw after soaking it in vinegar.

What to buy

Lobsters and seafood abound in Surigao, Siargao, and Dinagat Islands. When visiting Butuan City, tourists can buy fruit wines, carrot soap, oatmeal desserts, and Bibingka ni Nanay (a local rice cake). Agusan del Sur can offer visitors handicrafts made by Manobos, one of the province's indigenous tribes. Hardwood furniture are also available in Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte, and Surigao del Sur.

What to see and do

Surfing
Considered as the surfing capital of the Philippines, Siargao boasts of its waves having the combined features of Hawaii's famous "pipeline" and Indonesia's top-billed wave. Siargao's Cloud Nine Surf, with its huge and powerful "pacific rollers", makes it one of the world's top surfing areas. The towns of Tandag and Lanuza also offer top-class surfing experience for surfers seeking adventure.

Island hopping
The alluring islets and islands of Guyam, Daku, Pansukian, La Janosa, Pig-ot, Dinagat, Bucas Grande, and Britania have pristine white-sand beaches and magnificent coral reefs, making swimming and snorkeling activities extremely memorable. Visitors can also go on boat rides along the naturally-carved water channels against the backdrop of jade-colored mangrove forest in Barangay Manjagao; to the floating village of Barangay Dayasan; to Buenavista Cave; and to the tropical paradise of Sagisi island. The Brittania in San Agustin-Surigao del Sur hosts unspoiled islets of sugary-white sand and clusters of limestones hills.

Mountain biking

Challenging trails run all around the cities of Butuan and Surigao, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte and Siargao. There are regular cross-country and downhill competitions done in these areas, which are participated by local and international bikers. Butuan or Surigao-based bikers regularly tour the rugged terrain of the region and are eager to show their routes to new comers.


Trekking
Mt. Mas-ai and Mt. Hilong-Hilong in Agusan del Norte offer superb scenic views, making them great sites for trekking or mountain climbing. Close to Mt. Mas-ai is Lake Mainit, which is a known habitat for pidjanga, tilapia, kasili, banak, haw-an, gingaw, saguyon and igi fish species. Migratory birds and the pagosi and tabokali flowers are additional trekking attractions. The hills of Jabonga, Tubay, and Santiago in Agusan del Norte also offer hikers the opportunity to explore the scenic beauty of this part of the Caraga Region.

Sea kayaking
Siargao offers kayakers challenging big waves just behind the Pansukian Tropical Resort. Visitors can also paddle their way through del Carmen for a scenic tour of mangrove forest and through Bucas Grande Island for a spectacular view of limestone formations and lagoons. Aside from sea kayaking, Masao and Agusan Rivers, Lake Mainit and the Agusan Marshland have tremendous potential for paddling using wooden-canoes.


Scuba diving
The Butuan Divers Club offers dive safari at Bito Wall in Bolobolo-Jabonga, Lipatan Shoal in Karihatag-Malimono, Punta Diwata Reefs and Balete Wall in Vinapor-Carmen, and artificial reefs in Calibunan-Cabadbaran. For adventurous divers, the coasts of Surigao offer interesting dive sites, while the islands of Sagisi and Corregidor are excellent for snorkeling activities.


Caving

Surigao and Agusan have caves made of limestone karst bedrock, with naturally carved stalagmites, stalactites and columns. Some of the most frequently visited and accessible caves in the region are Buenavista & Silop Caves in Surigao City and Libas Cave in Jabonga-Agusan del Norte.

Events and festivals
Events and festivals of Caraga offer visitors an experience in color and character, giving a good view of the region’s rich culture. Tourists can join the celebrations of the Kahimunan, Balangay, Kaliguan, Lisagan, Bonok-bonok, Maradjao, and Karadjao festivals. Surfers across the globe also converge in Siargao for the annual international surfing competition.

Relevant Contacts:

PH Department of Tourism Region XIII
G/F Grateful Realty Corp. Bldg., 008 Pili Drive, Butuan City
Tel No.: (+6385) 815-6040 / 341-8413
Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website http://www.dotcaraga.ph

Butuan City Tourism Office
Tel. No.: (+6385) 225-4041, 342-5601, 815-6016
Fax. No.: (+6385) 342-7729
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Surigao del Norte Tourism Office
Tel. No.: (+6386) 826-8064 / 231-7228
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Agusan del Sur Tourism Office
8514 Prosperidad, Agusan Del Sur
Tel. No.: (+6385) 343-7146, local 143

Agusan del Norte Tourism Office
Tel. No.: (+6385) 342-2185

Surigao del Sur Tourism Office
Tel. No.: (+6386) 211-3947

Download brochure here.

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