the traveller & her thoughts: BUCAS GRANDE ISLAND

HOW TO GET THERE (Siargao --> Bucas Grande) travel time from General Luna to Socorro Port approx. 2 hrs.

From your hotel/accommodation take a tricycle/motorcab from General Luna to Dapa Port (200php/person) then board a boat to Socorro, Bucas Grande (100php/person) then from Socorro port, hire a cab or a boat to take you to Sohoton (in our case, we contacted Kuya Fredie weeks before our adventure, saving time and energy. see contact number below)

A two-hour boat ride to the south of Siargao, lies Bucas Grande island, known for its lagoons, caves luscious trees and serene resorts.

We were picked up at the Socorro port by Kuya Fredie's boat, stopped over Balanghai Kanlunes Resort to leave our bags and off we went to our journey..

we were welcomed by little stingless jellyfish along the way..

finding jellyfish

Our first stop was the station where 3 caves are situated.

Here is a very nice view from the station:

BOLITAS CAVE, bolitas in Bisaya means "small balls", and this was named so because of small pebbles seemingly embedded in the rock formations. The exciting part of the journey to the cave is the narrow opening -- yes, you have to squeeze yourself into it!

CRYSTAL CAVE, the twin of Bolitas cave because of their proximity, was so named because the stalactites and stalagmites shimmer as if they were crystals. Unlike the Bolitas cave, Crystal Cave was huge making it very effortless to be navigated.

Crystal Cave stalactites

TUNDAN CAVE, named by ancestors because it lies at the foot of a Tundan, a variety of a banana shrub. Unfortunately, we didn't enter this much further due to time constraints. And we were excited to our next stop...

-----------------------------------------

Then off we go to our next stop, the highlight of our adventure...

SOHOTON COVE

This is the station where we have to register, pay bills and transfer to a smaller pumpboat.

Why a smaller pumpboat? Because you have to navigate all the way to the nature park through a small cave opening. This is where the beautiful cove got its name as "sohoton", which in Bisaya means to stoop or get down. See a glimpse of our experience here.

HAGUKAN CAVE

Hagukan comes from the root word "Haguk" which in Bisaya means snore. The underwater cave on an islet is named so because as the sea level falls down below the cave's entrance creating a "mouth", the cave produces a snoring sound as the breeze enters and goes out the cave.

Entering the cave depends on the tide. That time, it just started to get low so the guide just let us float as we sailed through the cave's entrance. (Caution: be wary of the rough surface of the entrance due to oyster shells embedded on it).

Once inside, be dazzled by the rock formations high above, that look like clouds as you tirelessly just let yourself float on the cool water. We stayed there for about 20 minutes to enjoy the cool water (because we never had to worry about being sunburned!)

MAGKUKUOB CAVE

What's unique of this cave? You swim, rock climb and then jump to get out.

Once you decide to enter and climb, you have no other option but to let yourself fall 15m from sea level. Sometimes in life, there is really no turning back --- you just let yourself fall. :)