Fly Direct To Siargao In 2009
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Photo courtesy Martyn Willes |
An alternative tropical destination to Boracay in January? Cebu Pacific Air announces a thrice-weekly fly direct to Siargao service between Mactan Cebu International Airport and Siargao Island, with a year-round ‘Go Lite’ one way fare of Php 888 (plus fuel surcharges and tax). This is great news for the international surfing community and great news for tourism development in Siargao.
Most people know about Cloud 9 – the top ten in the world surfing break on the East coast of Siargao Island, near the town of General Luna. However, most people don’t know about the opportunities for scuba diving on Siargao Island’s almost virgin coral reefs ("almost virgin" insomuch as few have been scuba diving there before); and, few know that you can get a chance to photograph salt-water crocodiles while kayaking amongst the unspoilt mangrove forests and swamps on the West coast of Siargao Island. Still fewer know that Siargao Island is blessed with: both luxuriant golden and brilliant white sand beaches, that are definitely less travelled; and, a people who are genuinely interested to cater for the passion of the global tourist seeking fresh, new tropical destinations for exploration or relaxation.
On our last trip to Siargao Island, for the international surfing championships in September 2007, we identified that the two kilometres of pristine white sand beach between Cloud 9 and General Luna were very similar to Bulabog Beach on Boracay Island. This Siargao Island beach (see photograph) enjoys steady onshore breezes, and the water within the enormous lagoon is warm, well flushed, relatively shallow and largely free from rocks and stag horn coral. No doubt, the best beach destination on Siargao Island for windsurfing and kiteboarding.
On Siargao Island there are sparingly distributed accommodations from luxury beach resorts to native nipa huts, and almost everything in between, but perhaps the island’s most endearing feature is the simple island-lifestyle that can foster genuine cross-cultural friendships, found in few other places around the World today – it’s a bit like Boracay was in 1980, before it was "discovered".
Surfing, scuba diving, windsurfing, kiteboarding, kayaking and exotic wildlife photography are just some of the reasons to support Cebu Pacific Air as they open up these tropical destinations with routes to the smaller islands. Maybe Siargao will be your alternative destination, in place of the Funboard Cup in Boracay.
P.S. While waiting for your Cebu Pacific Air flight to Siargao Island, don’t miss the opportunity to record your visit to Mactan Island, Cebu, by taking the five minute taxi ride from the airport to visit the nearby Cebu Yacht Club and to wave to the recently installed webcam; if you have longer than five minutes then there is good pub grub available there too.