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Surfing:
The waves are more perfect than backdoor, more powerful than Indo and can have a fraction of the crowd. It’s generally feast or famine at Cloud 9. But when it’s on, it’s an intensely hollow right-hander over shallow (but not too sharp) reef. Short board to a step-up. Eighty-degree water and lots of other surf adventure in the vicinity some, only accessible by boat. Keep an eye on typhoons. The season is from May-December, but things really start cooking mid-August through late October. Make sure typhoon activity is hot and heavy before departing (you can be there in less than 2 days).
If the surf is flat:
You should definitely consider doing a few hikes in the island’s hillsides and find tarsiers (small lemurs or bush babies, extinct almost anywhere else), see monitor lizards as long as your surfboard, hornbills, parrots, yellow and black lorikeets and kingfishers. Since the lagoon waters are crystal clear, snorkeling is a favorite past time with plenty to see, fish, corals, sea snakes (the sea snakes are mellow and you can catch them by their tail but if you get bit by one you might as well sit down and prepare to die), but no sharks. |
Do not miss a full day boat trip to Sohoton Lagoon, overhung by jungle cliffs, caves, hanging with stalactites and rock oysters. Anajawan is Wave Cave`s own private island escapade, it epitomizes the South Pacific, beautiful, exotic, white sand beaches with virtually zero crowd factors. Diving; explore reefs around General Luna, La Janosa and Mamon Island with outstanding underwater visibility and topography. Caving at Consuelo, with stalactites, stalagmites, rock crystals, piles of bat guano from a million bats. Fish for coral trout, large snappers and other reef fish anytime. Big game fishing starts early March to late May when sailfish and blue marlin cruise the deep water of GL. The lagoon is also one of the safest, easiest and most pleasurable places to sail anywhere in the Philippines. You can rent a bicycle, or a motor scooter to coast around the island yourself and access other surf spots, but we recommend that you apply reasonable speed, don’t bother with your mirrors and avoid swapping skin with the Philippine pavement. Do nothing or get to know people around town, they are friendly and hospitable. Fishermen often picnic by the beach or on palm fringe-islets like Guyam or Daku, and may invite you for a shot of Tanduay Rhum, Kulafu medicinal wine or pa-oroi (strong nipa wine).
Nightlife:
General Luna really doesn’t have any nightlife, except for nights at the Wave Cave and a couple other local bars, which can draw a number of young partiers. Thanks to a regular influx of happy surfers from Australia, New Zealand, Europe, the U.S. and Canada. When they get together with the equally fun-loving Siargao Islanders, a grand party time is to be had by all, especially after a couple of the Wak-Wak juice (a concoction of local drinks and herbs). Wave Cave is joined by Siargao Inn`s bar, Nine bar, and Whatever! Bar. |
