Discover Sohoton Cove National Park on Bucas Grande Island near Siargao, the Philippines. Learn everything you need to know before an unforgettable Sohoton cave, lagoon, and cliff jumping trip in the Philippines.
Sohoton Cove National Park is one of the most incredible regions in the Philippines. It reminds me a lot of El Nido on Palawan, with crystal clear, blue, and emerald lagoons surrounded by lush jungle-covered hills.
Visiting this hidden gem was one of the best things I did in Siargao and below I’ll help you make a day trip to this epic location yourself.
Where is Sohoton Cove Located?
There are many island hopping trips on Siargao, but the trip to Sohoton Cove is probably the furthest.
That's because Sohoton National Park is located on nearby Bucas Grande Island, Surigao del Norte. In saying that, boats departing for Sohoton Cove from either General Luna or Dapa on Siargao will get you there in just over an hour.
Tip: If you're looking for a closer option to Siargao with beautiful lagoons, check out Sugba Lagoon.
How to Get to Sohoton Cove From Siargao
There are two options for getting to Sohoton Cove from Siargao. These are currently:
- Booking a Sohoton Cove Full-Day Tour from General Luna
- Book the ferry to get you to Socorro for 200 pesos.
Of course, both will require a boat and a driver. I recommend booking a day trip as it's the easiest. But, let me break down both options regardless.
1. Sohoton Cove Full-Day Tour from General Luna (Tour C)
The most hassle-free and easiest way to get to Sohoton Cove is to simply book a full-day tour departing the tourist hub of General Luna.
There's a strange naming convention in Siargao but what you want is Tour C.
The price is really affordable, and will likely end up cheaper than if you were to rent a motorbike, ride to Del Carmen and try to hire a private boat at the terminal.
This trip also includes a visit to the very popular Daku and Naked Islands. This is great if you were looking to check those out too! I've included photos below of these so you know what to expect.
2. Semi-Independent Option
I kind of alluded to this option above. If you're a couple or traveling solo, then this option doesn't make much sense. However, if you are in a large group, you could save money by riding a motorbike to the town of Dapa. From here, you can book the ferry to get you to Socorro for 200 pesos.
Once at Socorro, you can pay a boat driver 1,200-1,500 pesos to take you around Sohoton Cove to visit the caves and other highlights.
My Experience Visiting Sohoton Cove
With the logistics out of the way, let's dive into what to expect on your trip. Below I'll break down what I learned on my visit and share some must-visit spots and hidden gems that you'll want to check out when you get here.
Arriving Sohoton National Park
Sohoton Cove at Sohoton National Park has long been a well-kept secret. I made my first trip here in 2018 and was honestly blown away! The term Sohoton means narrow opening in Filipino (Visayan), which alludes to the array of labyrinth-esque lagoons and secret coves.
Sohoton National Park is also filled with limestone caves and unique rock formations.
Just check out this video that I captured with my drone. If you've got one, definitely bring it!
Sohoton Blue Lagoon (Titikan Lagoon)
There are many blue lagoons in Sohoton Cove Siargao but one of the most popular is the Titikan Lagoon. This is one of the most fluorescent-blue lagoons I've ever visited.
There's a dock here where you'll likely pull up in your Bangka (Filipino outrigger boat). Here, you can swim or rent a kayak or SUP to explore. I took the time to fly my drone here to get a better view of the amazing Sohoton Coves and lagoons! Below are some shots.
Exploring The Sohoton Caves
After visiting the Blue Lagoon, our driver took us to explore some caves at Sohoton National Park. We visited Hagukan Cave, Magkukuob Cave, and the famous Crystal Cave.
The first two were only a brief stop for us as we found it was very crowded with people. We still took the time to swim in the cove and cliff jumped off the small 5-meter rock face at Hagukan Cave.
Crystal Cave Sohoton Cove
One of the highlights for our trip to Sohoton Cove from Siargao was a stop by the Crystal Cave. Unlike Hagukan and Magkukuob, we had this cave all to ourselves.
For this one, we needed to pay a guide who lives next to the cave 50 pesos for a guided tour. She explained to us the intricacies of this unique geological phenomenon and pointed out some awesome stalagmites and stalactites.
Our guide also showed us through her village and was very eager to show off her roosters. She also showed us a 1.5 metre reef shark that she had been keeping as a "pet" in a small fenced-off cove.
Sohoton Resorts, Diving Board, & Slide
Before the day was up, our boat driver took us to two different resorts that featured diving boards into deep, emerald lagoons.
The first was the Sohoton Gamay Resort. This one has an epic 5-meter diving board where you can practice your backflips.
It's also got an awesome water slide! We spent a good 45 minutes here sending flips and enjoying this lagoon all to ourselves. We also took the short trail up over the hill to check out the lagoon behind it.
The second stop was at the popular Club Tara Island Resort. I was blown away by just how awesome this resort was. If I was going to spend the night in Sohoton Cove or anywhere in the National Park near Socorro, I'd pick this one. In true Bucas Grande fashion, there was also a diving board here where we jumped off a few more times.
Where to Stay in Siargao Before the Sohoton Trip
When planning accommodation on Siargao, you'll want to know that the main tourist hub is called General Luna. Here, there is solid tourism infrastructure like hotels, resorts, guest houses, restaurants, clubs, bars, and tour offices. Below are my favorite picks for where to stay.
1. Las Palmas Villas & Casitas Luxury
Very popular luxury villas located within 100 m from the beach in General Luna. Includes swimming pool, bar, and tropical gardens.
2. Soultribe Beach Retreat Mid-Range
The best tropical retreat in Siargao. Located in an excellent location on Malinao Beach which offers a unique glamping style accommodation with BBQ dinners and free bicycle rental!
3. Sinag Hostel Budget
The best hostel in General Luna with impressive reviews on popular booking sites. Great for those looking to save money and meet other like-minded travelers.
More Drone Photos From Sohoton National Park
I hope you enjoyed this quick guide to visiting Sohoton Cove in Sohoton National Park from Siargao Island. Here are some more photos that I hope you will enjoy!
For more travel guides and adventure inspiration from Siargao and other islands of the Philippines, make sure to check out some of my other guides.
I've spent a great deal of time photographing and documenting my own adventures in the Philippines and I bet you'll find something you didn't know existed!
- Epic Things to do in Siargao - complete travel guide with hidden gems and top places to visit
- Siargao Tourist Spots - discover the main points of interest on this surfing and adventure island
- Where to stay in Siargao - complete guide to the best areas and hotel picks on the island
- Siquijor Island Guide - off-beat adventures in Siquijor
- Cebu Island Travel Guide - my ultimate adventure travel guide to Cebu
