Island Hopping Tour in Siargao

Today I went on the three island tour that I booked, sightseeing the last time I could in Siargao, I didn’t do much here so it was nice to do that my last day. It reminded me of the type of travel I’ve done thus this far, it was a sweet tour being able to see some highlights around the island and checking off more and more islands. I got there pretty early so I waited at a nearby coffee shop. I ended up eating a really hearty smoothie with nuts, peanut butter, and granola. One nice thing about how it worked out was I was able to call Sydney and my mom to catch up as I wasn't on my phone much being with my friends so much.

I walked back to the port, found my tour guide, but then I had to wait another thirty minutes before we got on the boat and left. I was hoping that I would met a fellow solo traveler, I just had to put myself out there and be social. That is one thing I feel like I have gotten so much better at, learning it’s not that big of a deal to just open your mouth, but the importance of starting conversations. When we got on the boat, I scoped out a potential solo traveler but selfishly didn’t sit by her and grabbed the one with the best view and would be good for photos. I positioned myself between two spanish couples, I was eavesdropping on their conversations and when they asked a question that the other couldn’t answer, I did in spanish. Of course they were surprised that I could understand them, but I used english to explain that I studied in Madrid last year but not really good at speaking but can listen. Another time I wish I could just respond in spanish, I wonder if I can find a conversation partner to work on it with.

The boat out was beautiful. The water got bluer the farther out we got from Siargao. Our first stop was Naked Island because it was literally a pile of sand in the middle of the ocean. It had no vegetation, hence how it got its name. I really didn’t have anyone to talk to because we just got dropped off at the island and were let loose. I had been entertained more than I could imagine all this time in Siargao, a little me time on this secluded island was something I think I could handle and be happy about. But, of course I was met with good company and I have no complaints for that either.

While doing a lap of the miniature island (it would probably take you five minutes to walk the whole perimeter of the island), I ran into my tour guide with the other girl I suspected to be solo. I introduced myself to them and charmed up a conversation. I found my friend on this island and the rest of the day. And she was so plug about photos, us helping each other so we could get the best shot and save the beautiful views from the day. So, we took some photos and then went swimming until we had to meet back up at the boat to head to the next stop. Because we talked to the tour guide for a while, we were pretty chill about swimming and the timing of returning to the boat because there was no way she would leave without us. And just as my internal clock suspected, we were called back to the boat after the hour they gave us here at the first island.

Our next stop was to a snorkel spot in the ocean. I am not the biggest snorkeler, I like if for a bit but not too long. I spent the first half of our time at this spot looking out and and admiring the crazy blue water, then I snorkeled for 10 minutes, and then I chilled and talked to the others on the boat for the rest of the time. Once I saw what I needed to see in the water, some purple coral and fishies, that was task complete and I went back to my happy place and favorite view, which is from above the water and not below. 

Our next stop was a long one at a famous island. It was breathtaking here and our group got our own cabana. I had been in the strong sun a ton today already, so this island I would try to stay in the shade as much as I could. I sat in the cabana with my new tour group friends, but then I was hoping to journal a little bit so I grabbed my book and sat under a palm tree and got scripting. 

I was interrupted quite quickly in the journal session because someone with a drone offered free videos, and with water like the Philippines, you can’t pass up a momento of you next to the water. So, he took my video, and then it was time to eat. I was still pretty full from the smoothie bowl and I didn’t want to overeat, but they made a whole table of food for us to dive into. They had all sorts of options, I was able to eat the fruit, rice, veggies, and noodles. I limited myself to just two plates. I played the game smartly and grabbed all my mango on my first round, because by the second it was all gone. Mango has become my favorite fruit and they are ten times better here than back in the states. I try to treat myself and get all the mango in before I have to leave, this being another time I would achieve that goal. 

The food was great, we all sat together and ate, I was getting to know more people in my tour group, meeting a cool french couple. Also, getting to know the spanish couple better as we ate together family style. I sat there for a while to let the food digest, but I was so drawn by the ocean. I couldn’t resist. Even though it was in the full sun, I went to the water and swam for a bit. I also just sat in the sand and the waveless water and flat as glass around me, making it a peaceful place to park myself for the afternoon. I could have stayed in the water forever but my skin was getting rubbery and for the sake of saving myself the pain of a burn, I retreated back for the cabana. 

It wasn’t much longer until I was back in the sun because I saw some people playing volleyball, an odd number as well, so my ask to join I knew would be well received. Because the sand was so hot from the sun, we really only played in the shady areas, but the spotty protection from the palm trees made me nervous that I would return with red stripes down my back. I didn’t play for super long, maybe thirty minutes, because I wanted to make sure my tour group didn’t leave without me and it was really time for the to get out of the sun. 

When I got back to the cabana I was just waiting for someone to comment on how red I was. But, by great luck, I wasn’t burnt, only a little pink in the face that I could easily resolve with my strong zinc sunscreen. Bless that I wasn’t burnt, but my skin was tired from all the sun that now I would try to avoid it. 

Our next stop was to a sandbar, a swimming area in the middle of the ocean in which the floor rose a bit higher, enough for us to stand on and enjoy the 360 view of bright blue water. I did swim for a while here because the water was irresistible, so more sun again haha. We didn’t stay here too long, and I spent half the time in the boat until the shade just looking out at the view and chatting with my tour mates. 

To then go to our final stop, Guyam island. I planted myself in another cabana and genuinely stayed there for my whole time on this small island. I was staring at the water for a while, but also got antsy so I did do a lap around the island. It was such a wholesome stop, the island had a ton of trees, a basketball hop, a restaurant, and people enjoying the place. It was smaller than you’d imagine, I think after a few minutes of walking around I saw the whole place.

That was the end of the tour. It was a long day that consisted totally of island and beach time to the point that it really was starting to feel like a long day and I was ready to go back. When I got back to the hostel, which was done so in a tuk tuk that half the tour group crammed into and barely fit and I was the last one to get dropped off, I showered immediately. I wanted to see if I could fit a few more activities in my night, for sure watch the surfers and sunset at Cloud 9.

I had made plans to go with Emelie, a girl I met at in my hostel room, to watch the sunset and go to dinner. So, to the Cloud 9 boardwalk we went. I could come here every day to not only watch the sunset but also the surfers.

She was so happy I showed her the spot because we had the best luck with the waves and surf along with the most beautiful sunset. Although we had our backs to the sun, the most beautiful glow and lightly shaded pinks appeared in our line of sight and that made the night all the more magical to be able to watch both at once. We stayed so late that we saw the full moon, it was low and super orange and really bright. We also watched these little local kids go for a night surf, jumping in from the farthest edge of boardwalk and Emelie and I were in disbelief with their wild spirit and courage to just go for it.

We then went to dinner with some other girls from the hostel that Emelie knew. It was five of us at this fully vegan place. Funny enough, two girls from my tour went to the same restaurant and they were planning on inviting me to join but because I said I already had plans they didn’t bring it up. Crazy it ended up being the same place. The vegan food at this place was absolutely amazing. I tried this one grilled cheese sandwich from one of the girls and it was one of the best meals I’ve had with vegan cheese. I got a smokey tempeh bagel and inhaled it because we ate dinner so late and after a long tour and day in the sun. They also gave us tortilla chips with a nacho cheese like dip that was really tasty as well. 

After dinner, I just packed up and went to bed early after many many nights of going out.

It felt nice to go to sleep, I did set an early alarm so that I could go to Shaka once more and get my free coffee and try one more new smoothie bowl before leaving the island and the steady breakfast place.