Just west of Siargao lies Sugba Lagoon, a place famous for its emerald-green waters surrounded by lush limestone hills. It’s the kind of scene that looks like it’s straight out of a postcard.
Sugba Lagoon is one of the best day trips from Siargao, and getting there isn’t that hard. In fact, you can even get to Sugba Lagoon without a tour—the DIY way. That’s exactly what we did and was an incredible experience since we were able to go at our own pace.
In this guide, we’ll share everything you need to know about visiting Sugba Lagoon from Siargao, including how to get there on your own, and what to expect when you arrive.
How to Get to Sugba Lagoon
Here’s how we visited Sugba Lagoon the DIY way:
First, make your way to the Port of Sugba Lagoon in Del Carmen. This is where all the boats depart for the lagoon. We rode our motorbike there, parked in the port’s parking area, and entered the port.
Once you’re in the port, head to the dock and look for the booth selling Sugba Lagoon tours. These are the official government-operated tours, and you’ll have plenty of options to choose from.
Some tours go directly to Sugba Lagoon, while others include stops at Kawhagan Sand Bar, Pamomoan Beach, the Mangrove View Deck, or a scenic boat ride through the mangroves. With nine different tours available, you’re sure to find one that matches the locations you want to visit.
The biggest expense of the trip is the boat rental fee, which covers the cost of taking you to Sugba Lagoon and back. The good news is that each boat can accommodate up to six people, so you can split the cost with others.
While waiting in line to purchase our tour, we met another group who wanted to visit the same spots we did. We decided to team up, splitting the cost among the four of us. This worked out perfectly since everyone in our group was flexible about how long to spend at each destination, and we had a great time sharing the boat together.
After paying our fees, we were directed to the dock where our boat was waiting. Before boarding, we stopped for a quick photo, which turned out to be a lovely memento. Normally, we skip these types of souvenirs, but this one was too charming to pass up!
The boat ride to Sugba Lagoon took about 25 minutes. Our boat zigzagged through the mangroves, crossed a stretch of ocean, and we soon found ourselves surrounded by the emerald waters of Sugba Lagoon. The journey was quick and smooth and we were ready for an epic day ahead!
Sugba Lagoon DIY Tour Options
There are a bunch of different options for tours at the Port of Del Carmen and it makes sense to visit a few other places in combination with Sugba Lagoon to make the most of your day.
Personally, we went with tour B+ since it was a good balance of visiting Sugba Lagoon and two other spots. Our boat rental cost was split between four people, so in total it cost about 860 pesos per person to visit Sugba Lagoon, Kawhagan Sand Bar, and Pamomoan Beach.
You don’t need to book these tours in advance, you just show up and pay for them right there in the port, hop on a boat, and go off on your tour!
Here are all your DIY tour options:
Tour A:
Sugba Lagoon
- Boat rental: 2150 pesos
Tour B:
Sugba Lagoon + Kawhagan Sand Bar
OR
Sugba Lagoon + Pamomoan Beach
- Boat rental: 2700 pesos
Tour B+:
Sugba Lagoon + Kawhagan Sand Bar + Pamomoan Beach
- Boat rental: 3050 pesos
Tour C:
Sugba Lagoon + Kawhagan Sand Bar + Mangrove View Deck
OR
Sugba Lagoon + Pamomoan Beach + Mangrove View Deck
- Boat rental: 3050 pesos
Tour D:
Sugba Lagoon + Kawhagan Sand Bar + Pamomoan Beach + Mangrove View Deck
- Boat rental: 3650 pesos
Tour E:
Mangrove Forest Guided Tour
- Boat rental: 2150 pesos
- Guide: 300 pesos
Tour F:
Mangrove View Deck
- Boat rental: 600 pesos
NOTES:
- All boat rentals can accommodate up to 6 people.
- All tours require an additional entry fee of 100 pesos per person for foreigners or 50 pesos per person for locals.
- Kawhagan Sand Bar has an additional fee of 30 pesos per person, paid when you arrive there.
What to expect at Sugba Lagoon
Once your boat arrives at Sugba Lagoon, it will dock at the pontoon house located right in the middle of the lagoon. This floating structure serves as the main hub for visitors. Since the lagoon is surrounded by towering cliffs, it’s the only place where you can stand up and walk around.
The pontoon house is essentially your base for exploring the lagoon. Here, you can rent tables, kayaks, life vests, snorkels, and stand-up paddleboards. Pretty much anything you need for a fun day in the water.
On the side of the pontoon house is the famous Sugba Lagoon diving board. The diving board extends 15 feet over the lagoon and makes for an epic jump or photo spot.
In the past, they used to serve food at the pontoon house, but not anymore. These days, food and alcohol consumption are prohibited in Sugba Lagoon. Additionally, there’s also a three-hour time limit for your stay. In my opinion, three hours is more than enough time to spend at Sugba Lagoon.
Sugba Lagoon Tour
If you don’t have a motorbike or aren’t comfortable traveling to Sugba Lagoon the DIY way, the only tour I’d recommend is the Siargao Land Tour.
This tour includes transportation to and from your accommodation in General Luna and you’ll visit not only Sugba Lagoon but also other popular spots in Siargao.
Sugba Lagoon: Our Experience
As our boat glided over the water into Sugba Lagoon, the tall green cliffs began to surround us. I was surprised at how quick the boat ride was, and didn’t realize that we were already pulling into the lagoon.
Our boat docked at the floating pontoon house in the center of the lagoon, and we headed straight to claim one of the rental tables. We used the table as a spot to keep our things while we explored the lagoon.
First on our list was the iconic Sugba Lagoon diving board. This 15-foot-high platform rises above the lagoon and serves as the focal point of the lagoon, in that it’s a place to take photos and jump into the clear water below. Being one of the first groups there that morning meant we had it all to ourselves.
We climbed, jumped, swam, and repeated the cycle countless times, getting a full dose of the diving board while nobody else was there. By the time other groups started to arrive, we were ready to explore more of the lagoon.
Next, we rented a kayak to explore other areas around Sugba. We paddled away from the main docking area around the lagoon, and then went around the corner into a completely different lagoon.
I brought my snorkel and dove down hoping to find a good snorkeling area, but I didn’t find much reef or fish. Oddly enough the most interesting snorkeling I found in Sugba Lagoon was right under the pontoon house. Some neat looking fish were hanging out there under the dock. I’d probably leave the snorkel behind next time.
After paddling around for quite a while, we returned to the pontoon house to meet up with the rest of our group. We wrapped up our visit with a final swim before hopping back on the boat to go to our next destination: Pamomoan Beach!
Where to Stay in Siargao
Choosing where to stay in Siargao is pretty straightforward. General Luna is the island’s main tourism hub. Most of the accommodations, restaurants, and shops are located in General Luna, and it’s also where all the tours and activities depart from. If you want to be close to everything, General Luna is the place to be.
Here are our recommendations on where to stay in Siargao:
- Luxury: If you’re looking for the best place to stay in Siargao, Las Palmas Villas is hard to beat. It has everything you would expect from a resort, including a swimming pool, a garden, and a full-service restaurant and bar.
- Mid-range: Camanolo Homestay is located right in the heart of General Luna, but down a quiet side street. The rooms are clean and all have their own private bathrooms and AC.
- Budget: We enjoyed our stay at Hostel Bajala so much that we ended up extending it a few times. The place is clean, cozy, and comfortable. We couldn’t ask for more.
If you prefer to find your own place to stay, you can visit Booking.com to explore all your accommodation options in Siargao.
What to Pack for Siargao
Here are some of our must-have items you might not have thought of when packing for a trip to Siargao.
- Crocs: During our time in Siargao, I was so glad to have Crocs to protect my feet when exploring caves and islands. They are the ultimate shoe in the Philippines for a reason – many Filipinos wear them too!
- Earplugs: If you’re planning to do any island hopping while in Siargao, I recommend bringing a set of earplugs for the boat rides. Most boats in Siargao have super loud diesel engines that will make your ears ring!
- Sunscreen: For some reason, sunscreen is expensive in the Philippines and I’ve even encountered places selling fake sunscreen that doesn’t work! So I recommend bringing your own sunscreen to Siargao.
- Dry Bag: With all the sand, salt, and water flying everywhere during our adventures out to Siargao’s islands, I was so glad to have a dry bag to keep all my things safe from the elements!
- Travel Towel: In my opinion, a travel towel like this one is super necessary for a trip to Siargao! It packs down nicely and was there for me anytime I went swimming, or just needed to brush sand or dirt off.
Our Siargao Google Maps Locations
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Are You Following Our Siargao Blog Series?
We spent 16 days in Siargao and found so many things to do there—from caves to beaches, mangroves, and lagoons. To help fellow adventurers, we’ve put together guides to the best places we found. You can check them out by clicking the links below.
- Start planning your trip here: Siargao Travel Guide
- Our ultimate guide to Siargao: 26 Awesome Things to Do in Siargao
- Our Siargao accomodation/area guide: Where to Stay in Siargao
- How to plan your Siargao vacation: Siargao 3 Day Itinerary
- Our Siargao Beach Guide: 15 Best Beaches in Siargao
- Our favorite place to swim in Siargao: Beto Cold Spring
- Our most intense adventure in Siargao: Exploring the Marvelous Somyot Cave
- Our favorite day tour in Siargao: Sohoton Cove
- Our favorite beach in Siargao: Pacifico Beach
- How to rent a motorbike in the Philippines
I hope you enjoyed our guide to Sugba Lagoon in Siargao. Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions! 🐸
