Sugba Lagoon is an incredible blue lagoon located on nearby Coab Island. Visiting this epic lagoon is one of the best things you can do from Siargao, find out how!
You’ve probably seen photos circulating online from the epic blue lagoons with tropical green hills on Siargao. In fact, seeing these turquoise water lagoons is what really got me interested in visiting the island in the first place!
Below I’ll detail everything you need to know about visiting the Sugba Lagoon (with a side trip to Kawhagan Island), including the best options to get here and what to expect once you arrive!
Sugba Lagoon Location
Sugba Lagoon is located on Coab Island (Barangay Coab), which is about 20 minutes northwest of Del Carmen, the main town on Siargao Island. Del Carmen is the port where you'll be getting a boat out to the blue lagoon. It's close to the airport and about a 35-minute drive from General Luna.
Location: 9°54'28.7"N 125°54'04.1"E
How to Get to Sugba Lagoon From Siargao
The lagoon takes roughly one hour to reach from Del Carmen, or if you take a boat from the popular tourist area of General Luna, it'll take 1.5 hours.
Uniquely, all the tours in Siargao are organized by letter. The most popular tour to get to Sugba Lagoon from General Luna "Tour B", which also visits the Magpupungko Rock Pools.
Alternatively, you can also visit Subga Lagoon on "Tour E", which is what we did. This includes more time at the lagoon with a stop at Kawhagan Island & Pamomoan Island on the way back.
Sugba Lagoon DIY Method
If you want to explore Sugba Lagoon independently (DIY) then you can kind of do this.
Of course, you'll still need to jump on a boat tour as you won't. be swimming! But, you can get a cheaper rate if you ride a motorbike to Del Carmen and head down to the wharf. Here, there are locals who are usually willing to offer you a trip.
This costs approximately 3,000 PHP for the entire boat currently. However, you will need to negotiate and you're leaving this to luck slightly, since there's no guarantee that there'll be departures (they're just local guys with boats).
Location: Port in Del Carmen - approximately 1 hour by motorbike from General Luna.
My Experience on the "Tour E" Sugba Lagoon Trip From Siargao
So, now that you know all the methods available for getting to Sugba Lagoon on Siargao, let's dive into what to expect!
From the get-go, we were guided through dense mangrove forests and river systems of the Del Carmen Mangrove Reserve in a traditional Filipino longtail outrigger motorboat. These are known as Bankas and are super loud– but it's just part of the experience!
After about 20 minutes, we pulled up at the Lagoon House, which is smack-bang in the middle of the blue lagoon. My first impression was that this was giving out major Palawan vibes. Turquoise & emerald waters, lush hills, and a laid back atmosphere!
Swimming in the Sugba Blue Lagoon
The Sugba Blue Lagoon is the main attraction here! The crystal clear, deep blue water rests between twisting, mounded hills of green. It's definitely a sight to behold– just check out the photos from the drone!
There are plenty of things to do at the Blue Lagoon including:
- Rent Kayaks or Stand Up Paddle Boards (200 PHP)
- Cliff jump from the wooden diving board
- Swim around and explore the lagoon
We spent about 2 hours exploring the blue lagoon and burning through drone batteries after some of the best drone flights of my life!
The Lagoon House
The Lagoon House is a floating pontoon-style house with an attached diving board. It provides shelter and a stop for food and snacks. If you've selected the Sugba Lagoon tour, then you'll likely be offered a hearty lunch here.
However, for those who want to use one of the tables, you'll have to "rent" one by paying the owner 50 pesos.
If you head to the top of the lagoon house, you can watch people jump off the diving board.
Next Stop: Kawhagan Island
The next stop on the Sugba Lagoon tour on Siargao is Kawhagan Island. This awesome little sandbar island has a reaching sand spit and a dense interior of coconut palms.
You'll also find some small huts on the island where locals sell coconuts, snacks, and drinks. We spent about an hour and a half here before returning back to our accommodation in General Luna.
Common Questions and Things to Know
Are there crocodiles in Sugba Lagoon?
There actually are endangered Philippine crocodiles living in the Del Carmen Mangrove Reserve near Sugba Lagoon. These guys are freshwater crocodiles and are harmless. While I was assured by locals that there are no large saltwater crocodiles at the lagoon, they have been known to frequent the estuarine mangrove waters near Del Carmen.
What is Sugba Lagoon known for?
Sugba Lagoon is known for its incredible emerald waters beneath rolling tropical-green hills. You'll visit this place for awesome cliff jumping and to admire this unique and utterly beautiful region.
What are some more things to know?
Bring reef-safe sunscreen as you'll be in the sun all day
Bring snacks if you are visiting DIY from Siargao
A drone is made for spots like this
The best time to visit is in the morning when the light is less harsh on the emerald waters
The best time to v and Siargao is between
You can rent a kayak or SUP for 200 from the lagoon house and a lifejacket for 50 pesos, a table is 50 pesos.
Where to Stay in Siargao
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.
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.
I hope it's been useful for planning your visit! Check out my guides below for more Philippines Islands travel inspiration.
- 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
