We are sure that taking island hopping tours in Dinagat, one of the best things to do in Dinagat, will in a few years become as well known as those of the increasingly renowned Balabac area, the neighboring Siargao or, if we push it for quite some time, Coron or El Nido. They have plenty of reasons with empty paradisiacal beaches, incredible karst rock walls inhabited by exotic birds and lagoons of turquoise waters as beautiful at ground level as from a drone’s view.
For this reason, we have decided to create this detailed guide to the island hopping tours in Dinagat, where we will tell you about all the existing options, which stops are the most common and the coolest, how to hire them, prices, tips and everything we usually mention on Travel Around the Philippines, always first-hand and in a close way so that you enjoy it as much as we do.
Where Dinagat is and why go
The group of islands of Dinagat, whose largest island is named the same, is located in the south of the Philippines. Specifically, it lies in the CARAGA region within Mindanao.
If you look at the map, Dinagat is to the northeast of Mindanao, east of Leyte and northwest of the very famous Siargao. Although we have already told you in greater detail in How to get to Dinagat, since it does not have an airport, its point of access is the city of Surigao, from where boats depart to San José, the capital of Dinagat, which take just an hour to arrive. From Surigao, you will also have access to Siargao, so combining both destinations on one trip is more than advisable.
Not only that, they have recently opened a route between the port of Del Carmen (Siargao) and that of Cagdianao (Dinagat), so connecting both destinations is easier than ever.
Why visit Dinagat? Because, as you will see throughout this guide, it is a place with fascinating landscapes (on the level of Coron and El Nido, although on a smaller scale) and it offers you the opportunity to discover them almost in complete solitude in the vast majority of cases. On board a bangka, the traditional Filipino boat, you will “island hop” enjoying many of them. Now we will elaborate a little more.
Related to its location and transportation, the climate pattern of Siargao and Dinagat is the same, so visiting both is a real bonus, because on the one hand you will have the huge hotel, restaurant and bar offer of Siargao along with its natural wonders and, on the other, the feeling of a remote place in Dinagat, with its scenes worthy of any island hopping in Palawan.
What to expect from Dinagat
Although we have already told you something above, we always like to make a small summary of the main aspects of a destination so you can see if it fits you. After years of advising travellers, we have realized that we are not all the same and therefore not all of us like the same things. That is why it is particularly important that you read a lot to see what you want to include in your itinerary for the Philippines and to also plan the connections well so you do not feel like you are spending all day in a means of transport.
Having said all this, and taking into account that it captivated us from the first moment and quickly rose to our top island hopping destinations in the Philippines, we think that what best defines Dinagat is the following:
- You come here to do island hopping because the island where San José, the capital, is located, except for a couple of things, is not particularly interesting nor does it offer beautiful beaches, charming accommodations or many tourist attractions.
- Do not expect, by any means, quaint hotels or resorts; everything here is basic guesthouses. For the same reason, you will not find a variety of places to eat nor are they very prepared for tourism.
- It is not yet an easy destination to organise, with many tour agencies to go to on site. In other words, forget about the typical street full of little shops offering excursions like in other places; here you will have to work a little. From our perspective, it is better to do it in advance so as not to waste time, since San José is not particularly pretty.
- As there is hardly any international tourism, if you want to get off the typical Filipino tourism circuit, it will be harder to find other travellers to share with and it is possible that you will have to assume the cost of a private island hopping in Dinagat. The good news is that the prices are not excessive.
- For the same reason as above, the level of service is not comparable to that of the island hopping tours of El Nido, Coron or Port Barton. Lower your expectations in this regard.
- Most importantly: it is a place to do at least 2 days of island hopping and, if possible, staying overnight on an island with huts. You will enjoy landscapes on the level of Palawan (always acknowledging the differences) and deserted beaches. Take a look at the photo below; the little hut among coconut trees is where we slept, what a paradise!
- Although there are a few reefs that are not bad, it is not a snorkelling or diving destination.
- As we know you are concerned about the weather, the good time to enjoy the tours in Dinagat is from March to October, the best of all being from March to May due to the absence of rain and calm waters.
With all of the above in mind, we are going to tell you what it is like to do island hopping in Dinagat and how you can organise it.
How many days for Dinagat
From our experience, we recommend that, at the very least, you spend 2 full days to do 2 island hopping tours. If you can do 3 days, you will enjoy it much more.
Since boats depart from Surigao very early and also return from San José relatively late, you could consider spending only one night in Dinagat. Even so, it is better to discuss all this with the agency to see if all the schedules fit well with the tours.
Island hopping in Dinagat: stops and route
Below, we tell you about the usual stops on the Dinagat island hopping tours and a little information about each of them. As we did a private tour (which we highly recommend you to do as well), we were lucky to be able to stop at other spots that caught our eye because they looked beautiful and to enjoy them without much rush. So, if you find a nice captain/guide, do not hesitate to ask, since, being still a little exploited destination, you have the margin to modify it to your liking.
On the other hand, although we tell you about the traditional corners of the Dinagat tours, part of its charm is simply enjoying the landscapes, which, thanks to the karst rock formations, are incredible.
We are going to put asterisks right in front of the names of the places that we loved so you make sure to include them in your island hopping tours in Dinagat.
***1. Pangabangan Blue Lagoon (Tidal Pool)
On many island hopping tours in Dinagat the furthest point visited is the island of Pangabangan, located almost 2 hours’ sailing from San José and home to one of the crown jewels: the Blue Lagoon or Tidal Pool. If you have seen photos of Coron, surely this place looks familiar to you instantly because, like those there, it is surrounded by incredible walls of dark black karst rock speckled with vegetation.
The landscape from the small beach is already beautiful, but we recommend that you make a little effort and go up to a viewpoint they have set up on the right-hand side of it (bring water shoes; it will be more comfortable for you). Also, do not miss the opportunity to take a dip to feel embraced by an almost mystical landscape.
Access to the Blue Lagoon is through what is known as a “resort”, which is essentially a set of huts that Filipino families rent out to spend the day, so it is necessary to pay 20 pesos per person. Since we arrived around 8:00 in the morning, we found the place empty and it was a luxury. If you can, copy us because it has much more charm.
From this resort you can also walk to Paganbangan Beach, a beautiful beach with views to Libjo. Unfortunately, when we visited it was closed because they were still rebuilding after the typhoon that destroyed most of its huts in December 2021. Today, you can already visit it, although the huts are still not ready for sleeping. A small docking fee for the boat is requested.
2. Kisses Islets
If you have left early or want to continue further north of Dinagat, the furthest point is the Kisses Islets or the Kisses Islets. These are a group of islands also made of closely packed karst rock that form a beautiful landscape and also give you the opportunity to snorkel.
Personally, we did not see much in them and they involve a bit more sailing time that you could spend on something else; we preferred the islets that can be seen in front of the Blue Lagoon, which are the ones we show you in the photo.
3. Jelmars Resort
Also next to the Blue Lagoon is this curious floating “resort” which we were told is usually full of families and friends spending the day. It is a succession of bridges and larger areas where you will find the typical cottages with a table, some rooms, a kitchen and a sari-sari (shop), so it is often recommended as a place to spend the night if you do not want to return to San José. In addition, there are plenty of different spots to take photos and even a karaoke!
If you feel like it, they also have a viewpoint on the mountain set up, already on the island of Dinagat itself (notice the photo with the bridge on the left-hand side and the small yellow house). Going up will take you 10-15 minutes and remember to wear suitable footwear. You can also snorkel from the resort, as by moving a little away from it you will find a bit of reef.
Although we do not consider it a must of the Dinagat island hopping, the entrance is 20 pesos per person and it is just 3 minutes of sailing from the Blue Lagoon, so we think it does not hurt to visit it.
4. RSG Munting Paraiso
Given its geography, in Dinagat you have several interesting caves to visit, the best known being the one located in another “resort” called RSG Munting Paraiso. As soon as you get off the boat and register, you will walk to the left and enter through a narrow opening in the mountain. After a few steps you will have to swim to access the most interesting part of the cave, full of stalactites and stalagmites that you will be able to see thanks to the electrical installation.
That said, it is better to reconfirm with your guide that it can be accessed, since there have recently been some landslides and sometimes they close it for safety.
The entrance is 50 pesos if you swim and 20 if you only stop at the resort, which is really not very attractive, as the beach ceases to exist when the tide is high.
5. Miracle Cave
Do you want to visit another cave? A lesser known one, but very close to the previous one, is Miracle Cave. Access to this one is simpler and you could say it is a little less scary. The only thing is that they have put a green lighting on it that, rather than granting you health or, according to the locals, fertility, makes it look like you have entered a “rave”. Judge for yourself with the photo…
The entrance is 50 pesos per person.
6. “Travel Around the Philippines Lagoon”
Be aware that this point does not appear in any kind of guide nor will any agency offer it to you, but it is one of those little gems of the Dinagat tours, which are still so little known that they give you that feeling of being something of an explorer.
The thing is that, going from Miracle Cave to our next stop, we saw a completely empty beach (like almost all of those in the area) that looked wonderful. Looking at Google Maps, we saw a sea inlet that looked suspiciously interesting, so we asked our captain to stop at the beach and there we started talking with the only inhabitant of it, who confirmed that, indeed, a few minutes of walking along the shore would bring us to an unnamed lagoon that we decided to christen “Travel Around the Philippines”. What do you think?
Entrance is totally free, including the feeling of Indiana Jones. Do not worry, we have marked it on the map of the Dinagat island hopping tours that you have below.
7. Hagakhak Rock Formation
The next spot to visit in Dinagat is the Hagakhak Rock Formation, which is all the rage on the social networks of all Filipinos who decide to do these tours. Although we did not think they were much, these pancake-style rock formations constitute a curious site and sometimes the neighbouring Sondayo Beach is usually included.
For us, the best thing about this part of the island hopping was appreciating from the coast the island of Dinagat itself, which is full of small beaches in the style of El Nido.
***8. Bababu Lake
As you can see, the Dinagat island hopping is quite varied, but in addition, you can also do a trail to reach Bababu Lake or Lago Bababu, one of the best-known places in the Caraga region. The name is derived from the Cebuano words “baba sa buwaya,” which means crocodile’s mouth, due to its shape.
We are looking at a meromictic lake, that is, a lake in which the deep layers do not mix with the superficial ones due to density gradients. In addition, due to a system of underground caves, it is composed of both freshwater and saltwater. Interestingly, this underwater cave measures about 650 meters long and is at an average depth of 14 meters, making it one of the longest in the Philippines and some experienced divers have been encouraged to explore it.
To reach Bababu Lake you will first have to dock at Bababu Beach, inhabited by Ricardo, who lives here during practically all year. From there a steep trail begins up to the top of the mountain and then descends toward the lake. The path is not complicated, but given the gradient and humidity, it will easily take you about 45 minutes. Do not forget to wear good footwear to avoid unnecessary slips.
If you feel like it, you can take a dip and admire from the heart of the lake the lush landscape surrounding it.
The entrance fee to Bababu Beach is 20 pesos. If you want to visit Bababu Lake it is 50 pesos extra and 300 pesos for the guide (split among the entire group).
9. Banuyo Beach
Now we get fully into the southern part of the Dinagat island hopping, focused mainly on Lalaking Bukid, which is how Unib Island is locally known because the inhabitants of Dinagat say the island has the shape of a man. Around this island you can find several paradisiacal beaches which, in our opinion, easily rank among the best beaches in the Philippines.
A very small one, especially if you visit it at high tide, is Banuyo Beach, which is usually a meeting point for families and groups of friends from San José, since it is the closest to the capital. Here you will find several huts to spend the day, kayaks and a volleyball net.
In our case, this was the first stop of the second day of island hopping in Dinagat, but usually it is not included in the common itineraries since it is not the most spectacular. The entrance is 50 pesos per person.
***10. Cabacongan Beach
We have been visiting beaches in this country since 2010, but we set foot on Cabacongan Beach and were smitten and, above all, surprised that this place is not popular at all yet. Seriously, this beach is on par with any top ones in Palawan, with impressive limestone mountains, lush vegetation and, moreover, empty! It is true that the sand is not super fine, but it is white and the water looks like a real pool, ideal for swimming even when the tide is low.
Not only that, what ended up making us fall in love is that Cabacongan is a sanctuary of kalaws or large Philippine hornbills, an endemic bird of the Philippines with a huge reddish beak. They nest in the huge rock wall and we had the great fortune to see more than 5 specimens flying, which left us amazed because we had never seen so many and with such ease on any other island. If you see them, listen carefully because the sound they make is spectacular!
This beach is usually not in many tours around Dinagat because it does not have any kind of hut or facilities to accommodate tourists (hopefully it will stay that way for a long time), but please do not fail to include it because we think it is one of the fundamental reasons to come to this part of the country. Also, the caretaker is a charming elderly man who gave us a couple of papayas freshly picked from his trees.
The entrance fee is not fixed; it is by donation.
11. Duyos Beach
Very close to the previous one is Duyos Beach, much more commercial and full of large cottages for groups, but with a wide strip of white sand perfect for taking a dip. We only advise you not to get too far from the shore, since due to its location the current can be quite strong and it is a passage point for boats.
Duyos is also a good place to spend the night in a tent in case you want to do a couple of island hopping tours in Dinagat without overnighting in San José.
The entrance is 50 pesos per person.
**12. Bitaog Beach
Within the tours of Dinagat, the most famous beach of all is Bitaog. The reason? Its extremely fine white sand (similar to that of White Beach in Boracay) and its walls of karst rock, which, again, have little to envy of those of the most famous islands of the Philippines.
In reality, the beach is small, but it also has a couple of adjacent areas where you can rest quietly. Personally, we did not love it because it was the only place in all of Dinagat where we found a large concentration of boats, possibly because it was Saturday and we went at peak time. Therefore, we strongly advise you to make it clear to your guide that you want to avoid this and that he should try to arrange to see it at another time.
In Bitaog there are also some huts to spend the day and even a couple of rooms. Therefore, agencies usually offer it for sleeping. We do not think it is a bad option because waking up in such a paradise is surely wonderful.
As in the previous ones, the entrance is 50 pesos per person.
***13. Pagkawasan Garden
We are finishing our island hopping in Dinagat and we remain on Unib Island and we tell you about another of the beaches that most captivated us: Pagkawasan. In reality, this is divided into 3 (from east to west): Pagkawasan Getaway, Pagkawasan Cove and Pagkawasan Garden. The most beautiful of all is, without a moment’s doubt, the last one, so we recommend you include it without fail in your route through Dinagat.
This is divided into two portions, separated by a beautiful karst rock, but in both you have fine and very clear sand, as well as palm trees that give you shade. The depth at the shore will allow you to swim both at high tide and low tide, so you can spend hours there.
Both from the sea, where you can appreciate the enormous rock walls, and from the shore itself, with its slender coconut trees, it seems to us an absolute fantasy.
The entrance is 50 pesos per person.
14. Pagkawasan Beach (Getaway)
The most eastern little beach of Pagkawasan is not as picturesque as the previous one, but we include it because this is where we spent the night, in a basic but beautiful hut with wonderful sea views. They have a generator, so it is possible to have electricity, but consider that they charge quite expensively for how simple everything is: 1,500 pesos per night.
They also have some cottages perfect for stopping to eat, as there is usually few people and you can enjoy the tranquility of Dinagat that we fell in love with.
They charge 50 pesos per person for entrance.
Typical itinerary of the tours to do in Dinagat
You already know all the stops, but how are they usually distributed? Well, more or less like this:
- Day 1, Libjo island hopping: Hagakhak Rock Formation, Pangabangan Tidal Pool (Blue Lagoon), Jelmars Islet Resort and RSG Muting Paraiso. Depending on the operator, Punta Buena Suerte (not much to look at) and Kisses Islets may or may not be added. If the sea is very rough, for this day one usually leaves from Libjo, a port that is further north (you will have to pay the cost of the transport).
- Day 2, Basilisa island hopping: Bababu Lake and Beach, Duyos Beach, Cabacongan Beach, Bitaog Beach and Pagkawasan Beach.
If you have 3 days, the most interesting would be to divide day 1 into 2 parts, spend one night in the northern area, then another on Bababu Beach or in Duyos or Pagkawasan and on the last day tour the beautiful beaches of Unib Island that we have mentioned to you.
In our case, we slept on Pagkawasan Beach, but remember that most shared tours return each day to San José to sleep in one of its accommodations. If you want to do it differently, it is better to agree it in advance.
Map of the destinations of the Dinagat island hopping tours
So that you understand it a little more graphically, we have made this map with the main points of interest of the Dinagat island hopping tours.
How to organise your island hopping in Dinagat
Most of the travellers who visit Dinagat are Filipino tourists travelling in groups. They go to agencies that have packages to do 2 or 3-day tours around the islands and we would say that 99% of them stay overnight in San José between excursions. In addition, Dinagat is far from having the volume of tourism of other places in the Philippines, so you will not find many agencies to organise your island hopping, so almost everyone contacts an operator in advance who prepares everything at quite competitive prices for them.
That said, although you will not see many people at the different stops of the Dinagat island hopping tours so that you have to do private excursions for that reason, we got the feeling that the shared tours are very oriented toward a Filipino audience that prefers beaches with little huts, curious rock formations or “photo spots” that, personally, do not say much to us. From our experience, Dinagat has wonderful virgin beaches and much more to discover at your own pace, so we strongly advise you to hire a private tour for several days.
How to organise private tours in Dinagat? Well, since the prices are not excessive, our recommendation is that you negotiate it beforehand so that you arrive with everything ready. Set in advance the stops you want to make, what is included and what is not (do not forget to ask about the food) and the schedules. Remember, always with patience, since they are still not used to offering services to international travellers. Another idea is to go to the port and try to look for a boatman, but bear in mind that many do not speak good English, so you will also need to hire a guide to mediate and who also takes care of preparing the meals.
If you leave us a comment below, we can send you the contact of the guide who became our friend, whom we are sure will help you in every possible way and, moreover, will give you the tour at a much better price than any agency in Dinagat when you go on behalf of Travel Around the Philippines. Also, after his experience with us, he knows what foreign visitors usually like (we gave him lots of advice in this regard) and we think you will have a much better time. Do not hesitate to ask him for whatever you most want, as he even knows cool spots for snorkelling.
Prices of the tours in Dinagat
Unlike the island hopping tours of Coron or the island hopping tours of Siargao, we cannot speak of prices officially established. It really depends a lot on whether you share tours with other people and on the type of tour, but, to give you an idea, a private boat for 2 days of tours with capacity for 4 people costs around 12,000 Philippine pesos (for the entire boat, to be divided among those who are). To this cost you will have to add the food, which you will have to buy in advance in San José in most cases, the salary of the guide/cook (they are usually 2,000-2,500 pesos for 2 days), the fees for the places you visit and, in case of sleeping in a hut on an island, that cost, which is variable (estimate 1,500-3,500 per night for the group).
In the case of wanting to do public island hopping in Dinagat, that is, with an agency sharing with other travellers, you can estimate about 3,500 pesos for the 2-day one with everything included. Just bear in mind that the groups are 15-20 people.
Bear in mind that in case of rough seas, for the island hopping in the Libjo area, you will have to go to Magsaysay by land and pay for that transport yourself. The prices are around 2,000-2,500 pesos for the round trip for the group of 3-4 people (the number that fits in a tuk tuk). Bear in mind that this is only advisable in case of rough seas, as you see fewer things.
What to do in Dinagat beyond island hopping
In summary, coming to Dinagat and not doing island hopping would be absurd because the most beautiful part of the area you are going to see is by doing boat trips. However, there are also some other things you can see in Dinagat on the main island itself and that we want you to know about.
- Islander’s Castle: you will see it as soon as you arrive because it is a castle on the mountain, in San José. It cannot be visited inside because it belongs to the Ecleo family, but it can be seen from outside by taking a bao bao (20 pesos per person). There is also a sanctuary of the same congregation that you can access for free; the most interesting thing is the views.
- Yamashiro Boat: one of the battleships of the Japanese fleet in World War II sank during the Battle of Surigao Strait off the coast of Dinagat. The wreck remains in Philippine waters and cannot be dived, but you can see a replica of it in the government offices area. It is a building that will house government offices. It is not that much, but if you rent a motorbike, you can stop by there.
- Bonsai Forest: in the town of Loreto is Mount Redondo, the highest mountain in Dinagat, which is home to 100 hectares of vegetation that does not exceed 60 centimetres and is estimated to be over 100 years old. Due to the weather, we could not visit it, but we have put it on the list for next time. Bear in mind that from San José it is 2.5 hours or more and that you need to arrange a permit, as it is a mining area. If you are interested, it is best to contact the Dinagat tourism office in advance.
- US Landing Marker on Black Beach: if you head north and you are interested in history, you have a memorial of the arrival of the US forces (17 October 1944) to liberate from Japanese oppression. There is a small museum with objects from the period.
- Santa Cruz Beach: the beach next to San José, which is not bad at all, as it has blonde sand.
- Hinabyan Beach: located on the opposite coast of the island, north of Cagdianao, it is a spectacular one-kilometre beach of fine white sand. The downside is that it is only accessible by boat from Cagdianao (you can get there by tricycle for 300 pesos and by habal habal for 200 and then negotiate the boat) and the swell is strong between the months of September and December, so it is only accessible between May and August.
In short, if you have time to visit Dinagat and you want to do something more than island hopping, we would opt to go to Hinabyan Beach. However, bear in mind that you can do it only between the months of May and August, when the easterly winds are calmer. Once in Cagdianao, you can also go to Tagbirayan Beach, Cagdianao Red Mountain (you can go up to the viewpoint, it is about 1,200 steps) and to the Daku Falls.
For the rest (except for Santa Cruz Beach, which is next to San José and you can walk or take a bao bao), you will need to rent a motorbike and this can be somewhat complicated in Dinagat, since they are not used to this type of tourism. We recommend that you ask at your accommodation.
The Dinagat tourism office is quite active on Facebook and usually responds quickly. We recommend that you write to them if you have questions about these places; it is possible that they will help you without any problem.
Practical information about Dinagat
In order for you to better plan your island hopping in Dinagat, below we give you practical data about this Filipino destination.
Where to sleep in Dinagat
Although you may overnight on some island during your days of excursion in Dinagat, it is quite likely that you will have to stay in San José at some point. As tourism has not quite taken off, the selection of hotels in Dinagat is extremely limited:
- Island View Suites: this was our choice and, without a doubt, it is the best hotel in San José. They have double and quadruple rooms with all the comforts: air conditioning, water heater, internet, etc. Some of them with sea views and located on the main street, with a nice restaurant nearby. It is, moreover, the only one that can be booked from Booking. We leave you some photos right below.
- Along D Road Homestay: a clean and comfortable family accommodation with double and family rooms starting from 600 pesos. You can contact them via Facebook or book through Airbnb. Right below they have a laundry.
- Camagong Suites: near the port and with quite decent rooms starting at 1,000 pesos. It can only be booked through Facebook.
The offer of accommodations in Dinagat is still very limited and of low quality, so our advice is that you try to book in advance, especially if you are going to travel on the weekend. Filipinos usually visit Dinagat in groups during weekends, filling up the little there is.
As we indicated above, if you can spend a night on the islands, you will be grateful. Many agencies offer to do so at Jelmars or Munting Paraíso. We slept in Pagkawasan, which seemed more idyllic to us, but any option outside of San José will surely appeal to you. If you can try to stay at Cabagungan, Duyos or Bitaog, we believe you will appreciate it.
Bear in mind that if the sea is very rough, the guides will recommend not staying overnight on islands for your own safety, especially when the habagat wind blows (May-September). At this time of year the only one that is usually recommendable is Biray Biray Island, due to its location. Here you even have rooms with air conditioning. In any case, you can ask your guide. If it is not possible to overnight, the best thing is to sleep in San José, in one of the accommodations we have mentioned.
How to get to Dinagat
The main access to this wonderful corner of the Philippines is Surigao, being able to reach it by plane (search for flights here), by boat from destinations like Cebu or Siargao or by land transport. You will find all the information about it in our article How to get to Dinagat.
Since April 2024 there are boats several days a week from the port of Del Carmen in Siargao, which go to Cagdianao. As of today, only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 13:00, returning the same days at 14:30. The trip lasts about 1 hour. Once there, you can take a bao bao (tuk tuk) or a habal habal (motorbike with driver) to San José, the starting point of the island hopping in Dinagat.
Where to eat in Dinagat
The gastronomic offer in San José, despite being the capital of the island, is not very large and you will not find any restaurant oriented to tourism. However, you will not lack local food options in the typical carenderias or barbecue or fried chicken places around the market.
We, due to schedule and convenience, went a couple of times to Boss Fons Grill and Restaurant. This restaurant seems to be “the place” when it comes to family celebrations or dates, as it is decorated with little lights and offers, besides Filipino dishes at a very good price, pizzas and pasta. It is not that these are anything special, but they get you out of a bind. If you are vegetarian or vegan, they also have options for you.
Tips for visiting Dinagat
To close this guide about the island hopping in Dinagat, here are some tips that we believe can serve you:
- The best time to visit Dinagat is from March to May, although it is also feasible between June and October (in this case it is always better to look at the weather forecast to see if a low pressure area is coming). The rainiest season is from November to January. Even so, being the rainy season does not imply that it will rain for sure. In our case, we did the tour at the end of October/beginning of November and the weather was, as you can see, wonderful. Our guide did tell us that at certain times of the year the sea can be choppier and the journeys can be more difficult. That said, like Siargao, it is a great destination if you are looking to travel to the Philippines in July, travel to the Philippines in August or travel to the Philippines in September.
- We are not talking about a famous destination and, outside of weekends, when you do find groups of Filipinos who come mainly from Surigao, you will hardly see people doing tours. Unlike what happens in almost any tourist destination in the Philippines, you will not have a large offer of agencies with which to manage your tours as soon as you arrive. Therefore, from our experience and so as not to waste time in a city that is not particularly touristy, we recommend that you contact some agencies in advance.
- It will be difficult because it is not included in the usual itineraries through the Philippines, but you can look for other travellers to share and save costs in our calendar.
- Although you should not expect a very high speed internet connection either, you will have 4G in San José and on the islands closest to the coasts of the main island during your island hopping in Dinagat. We were carrying a SIM card from the Smart company and we had an almost perfect connection. You can read more in Internet in the Philippines.
- Do not expect to be able to pay for your island hopping in Dinagat, accommodations or restaurants with a card. In San José there is an ATM, but you never know if it will work or if it will have cash left, so we recommend bringing enough money and not relying on being able to withdraw from ATMs or exchange.
- Just in case, leave some margin between flights and ferries because the boats to/from Surigao can be cancelled due to rough seas.
- Remember to bring plenty of sun protection, your snorkelling gear and mosquito repellent. In San José you will find it hard to find the first two. Read The Philippines Packing List: What to bring for more information on this.
- Since you are in the area, we recommend combining the island hopping in Dinagat with a few days in Siargao and, in season, with the incredible experience of swimming with the whale shark in Pintuyan.
- If you have food intolerances or are vegetarian or vegan, let the agency know in advance so that you do not get any surprises. In our case, we went with the guide to shop in San José, but do not expect great variety of things.
- In the municipality of San José they do not sell alcohol, so, in case you want to buy some to take with you for island hopping, you will have to bring them from Surigao/Siargao or otherwise ask your guide to see if you can go to buy them in Santa Cruz.
- If your accommodation is far from the port or you do not feel like walking (in San José there are many slopes), you can resort to the bao bao, the tricycles of Dinagat. Within the municipality they cost 10 pesos per person. Avoid the ones at the port, as they will want to charge you more.
- As you can imagine, the health infrastructures in Dinagat are basic and the most decent hospital is in Surigao (or, at a push, in Cebu). Therefore, it is very important that you travel with good travel insurance for the Philippines, which responds quickly if you have to be treated urgently and which includes transfer to a good health centre. Take out from this link the one we have been using for more than a decade and get a 5% discount.
We hope that this guide to the island hopping in Dinagat has been helpful in planning your route through one of the most interesting less-touristy destinations in the Philippines. Having said that, we are open to any questions you may have in the comments section below.
