Siargao Sugba Lagoon Day Tour

Sugba Lagoon is Siargao's most dramatic natural wonder — a hidden emerald lagoon tucked deep inside a protected mangrove reserve in Del Carmen municipality on the western side of the island. Reached by a 45-minute speedboat ride across the Siargao strait, the lagoon's colour shifts from jade to teal depending on the time of day, surrounded by sheer limestone karst walls draped in tropical vegetation. It is a genuinely jaw-dropping place that feels entirely untouched.

The tour includes kayaking across the glassy surface of the lagoon, a floating bamboo raft for sun-bathing and jumping, and several designated cliff-jumping platforms at heights of 3 to 5 metres for the adventurous. The surrounding mangrove forest is part of the largest mangrove ecosystem in Surigao del Norte — a UNESCO-listed biosphere reserve — so the whole trip has a strong nature-education angle as your guide explains the ecological importance of mangroves.

Departure is from the General Luna area early morning by van to the Del Carmen pier, then speedboat to the lagoon. Return is by mid-afternoon. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a dry bag for electronics, and your appetite — there are a few simple food stalls near the entry point selling noodles, snacks and cold drinks. The experience feels like discovering a secret that the rest of the world hasn't found yet.