Boslon Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
Caraga Region

SURIGAO DEL SUR [Britania Group of Islands]

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Hiyor-Hiyoran Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
Surigao never really disappoints. Aside from the famous Enchanted River and Tinuy-an Falls, this group of islands is another destination that backpackers normally include in their Surigao del Sur itinerary.
📍Hiyor-Hiyoran Island

🇵🇭BRITANIA GROUP OF ISLANDS ADVENTURE PRIMER🇵🇭

✈️🛳🚌 How to get to Britania Group of Islands, Surigao del Sur:
⏺ Take a plane from Metro Manila to Butuan City (e.g. Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific).
⏺ Charter a tricycle to get to the bus terminal in Butuan.
⏺ Ride a bus or van bound for Tandag City and alight at Barangay Salvacion (travel time: 3 – 4 hours).
⏺ Hire a tricycle that will take you to Mac Arthur’s Place then charter a boat for island hopping.
 
🏄🏝🚴 Sites to Explore/Activities:
 
Hagonoy Island
Hiyor-Hiyoran Island
Naked Island
Boslon Island
Paglangagan Islets
Boslon Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
I first set foot in these islands back in June 2014 when I joined a DIY travel event organized by members of the group Backpackers of the Philippines.
📍Boslon Island
Hiyor-Hiyoran Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
A weather system had been causing non-stop rainshowers in Eastern Mindanao that month which ruined our supposedly fun island hopping tour here at Barangay Britania. That’s why I promised myself that I would return to Surigao for a revenge trip in this group of islands.
📍Hiyor-Hiyoran Island
Hagonoy Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
Fast forward to June 2018, my adventure in Britania began right after my friends and I got back from Dinagat Islands. It was past 2:00 PM when we reached Surigao from San Jose, Dinagat Islands. We immediately hired a tricycle that took us to the terminal in Surigao City. We were seated in front of the designated stop of buses going to Tandag City while eating our snacks as we waited for our ride. About half an hour passed and not a single Tandag-bound bus appeared. We asked the staff of the terminal and we were just informed that the last trip already left before 3:00 PM. I was really wondering why it was so early. I never researched about this because I’ve been to Mindanao a couple of times and buses here in other provinces operate 24/7. Thank the gods a commuter van was about to leave for Tandag at 5:00 in the afternoon.
📍Hagonoy Island
Boslon Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
It was my second time to ply this route. The first one transpired when I explored Bucas Grande Island via Hayanggabon Port in Claver. But I knew back then that it’s still a long way from Hayanggabon to Tandag City. It was already dark by the time we passed by Claver. I somehow felt a familiar feeling when I saw the flickering lights of Hayanggabon Port while we continued traveling en route to Tandag.
📍Boslon Island
Boslon Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
As we traversed the rough portions and sharp curves of Surigao’s unlit roads, I realized why the last bus trip going to Tandag is scheduled to leave before 3:00 PM. It would be too risky to maneuver a bus by the edge of the mountains in the dark.
📍Boslon Island
Hiyor-Hiyoran Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
By 8:00 PM, all the other passengers already got off and the three of us together with the driver were the only souls inside the van. It was so creepy. We would chance upon maybe one or two motorcycles on the other side of the road but we were virtually the only moving vehicle in these parts of Surigao that evening. The path in front of us was pitch-black. By 9:00 PM, the bright lights of Tandag City welcomed us. We could finally breathe. We immediately hired a tricycle that took us to our accommodation that night.
📍Hiyor-Hiyoran Island
Hagonoy Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
We were already famished but we were so lucky that the small restaurant across our lodge which serves delicious buffalo wings was open. At least we didn’t have to roam around the city proper looking for a restaurant that is still open for our hungry bellies.
📍Hagonoy Island

⏰⏳ SAMPLE ITINERARY (Surigao del Sur):

DAY 1
12:00 PM ETA Butuan Airport
2:00 PM ETD for Barangay Salvacion, San Agustin
6:00 PM Check-in
 
DAY 2
6:00 AM Start of Island Hopping (Britania)
12:00 PM Wash up
1:30 PM ETD for Bislig
5:00 PM Check-in
 
DAY 3
6:30 AM ETD for Enchanted River
8:00 AM Enchanted River
9:00 AM Port Lamon Island Hopping
12:00 PM Lunch
1:00 PM Free time / swimming
4:00 PM Head back to accommodation
 
DAY 4
6:00 AM ETD for Kahusan Spring
7:30 AM Kahusan Spring
9:00 AM Hinayagan Cave
12:00 PM Lunch
2:00 PM Tinuy-an Falls
5:00 PM Head back to accommodation
 
DAY 5
7:00 AM ETD for Butuan
12:00 PM ETD for Butuan Airport
 
💰💶 ESTIMATED BUDGET (for a solo traveler exploring Surigao del Sur): Php 8,000 – 10,000 (exclusive of airfare)
***Expenses may vary depending on the type of accommodation you will avail and personal consumption of food and other necessities. If traveling alone, you will solely shoulder the boat rental fees for island hopping and tricycle/motorcycle transfer and tour rates.
 
📜✏ Tips/Reminders:
📌You can finish the island hopping tour in just half a day.
📌Don’t forget to get the contact number of the tricycle driver so he could pick you up and take you back to the national highway at the agreed time.
📌Expect rain and rough sea condition during monsoon season (June-February).
📌Always observe the LNT principles.
Boslon Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
We woke up early the next day then made our way to the terminal. We waited for a while as the van was still waiting for more passengers.
📍Boslon Island
Boslon Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
Our van ride going to the municipality of San Agustin was much shorter than our travel time the night before. The driver pulled over across a waiting shed at Salvacion Junction where we hailed a tricycle that took us to Mac Arthur’s Place.
📍Boslon Island
Boslon Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
A lot has changed since I first visited Mac Arthur’s Place during my first Britania trip in 2014. They now have quite a number of rooms and cottages for their guests.
📍Boslon Island
Boslon Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
We started prepping and had a look at their menu first so that our food for lunch would be ready by the time we’re back from our island hopping tour.
📍Boslon Island
Hagonoy Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
We hopped on our boat and cruised Lianga Bay facing the Pacific en route to our first destination.
📍Hagonoy Island
Hagonoy Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
We docked here at Hagonoy Island and for the second time, I was greeted again by this expanse of sand with a few coconut trees on the other side.
Hagonoy Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
Since we were early and it was a weekday, we were the only tourists at the island. It really felt so good to be back.
Hagonoy Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
The overcast weather didn’t give me the sunrays I needed for our photos but at least it was not raining just like last time during my 2014 trip.
Hagonoy Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
We circled around Hagonoy Island while we captured our shots.
Hagonoy Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
We strolled towards this portion of the beach with elevated sand created by the monsoon waves.
Hagonoy Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
Wouldn’t it be nice to spend the whole day just lying on the sand and savoring the comforting breeze of the sea? I thought so too but our Spartan itinerary (which I was responsible for, my bad) wouldn’t let us chill out and have a leisurely whole day island hopping tour.
Hagonoy Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
We may not be able to afford to spare one whole day for this island hopping trip but we still took our time as we shoot tons of pictures.
Hagonoy Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
We ended our walking tour of Hagonoy Island when we reached this part of its shoreline. Somehow, I was still hoping that the sky would clear up to make way for sunshine that I needed for my photos.
Hagonoy Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
We walked back to our boat and bid farewell to Hagonoy as we took our last batch of pictures of this island.
Naked Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
We sailed for a few minutes and reached this islet which pretty much looks like a sandbar.
📍Naked Island
Naked Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
There’s really not much to see here. This has been named Naked Island because this bare spot in the middle of the sea lacks vegetation.
Naked Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
We didn’t stay that long at this small island. I wonder how extremely challenging it would be to take solo shots at Naked Island during summer vacation and weekends considering its small size.
Boslon Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
We then headed here at our third stop, Boslon Island. A thin layer of clouds was still covering the sky but we were starting to feel the warm sun.
Boslon Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
If you want to try out some water activities such as riding a banana boat or jet ski, you may do so here at Boslon Island.
Boslon Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
The rock formation at this portion of the island is one of its most picturesque spots.
Boslon Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
Those huge rocks across Boslon Island which look as if floating boulders are called Paglangagan Islets. During my first visit, we actually walked from Boslon to get closer to these islets since the tide was low.
Boslon Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
The islands of Britania dotting Lianga Bay actually reminds me of Hundred Islands National Park in Pangasinan, minus the crowd of course. After all, it’s chaotic all year round in Hundred Islands because it’s a mainstream tourist attraction. But its islets and rock formations are pretty much akin to that of Britania because of the similarities in their geological features.
Boslon Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
Compared to my 2014 visit, not much has changed really. Britania has maintained the serene aura and beauty of its islands.
Boslon Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
In case you will be visiting Britania during peak season, you will notice that Boslon Island is usually the most crowded among the islands because the majority of visitors opt to spend their lunch time here.
Boslon Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
One thing I noticed in all my years of exploring the eastern side of Mindanao is the sand quality of the islands in Surigao del Sur which apparently is the same as the creamy fine sand you’ll see in the beaches of Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands.
Boslon Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
My friends and I went to this seemingly secluded area of Boslon Island underneath this huge boulder. The sun may not be as harsh at the moment but the UV rays were still enough to burn our skin.
Boslon Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
We were almost about to finish our tour. That’s because of the short distance of these islands from each other. They are also near the jump-off point and you could finish the tour in just a few hours.
Boslon Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
It was almost lunch time but Boslon Island was still devoid of tourists that day. I wouldn’t be surprised since it was a weekday and summer vacation already ended. We walked back to our boat and off we went to our last island.
Hiyor-Hiyoran Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
I beamed a smile the moment we docked at Hiyor-Hiyoran Island. I just remembered our super-duper quick pictorial here four years ago because the drizzle turned into a downpour by the time we made our stop at this island. It totally ruined my mood that day. Despite the intense rain, I could still tell that the island has that pristine aura it exudes.
Hiyor-Hiyoran Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
I felt disappointed back then but we can’t always get what we want. I was really hoping that the weather would cooperate this time so that I could see the true beauty of Hiyor-Hiyoran on my second visit.
Hiyor-Hiyoran Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
Among the islands in Britania, this one is my most favorite. We maximized our remaining time at this island before going back to Mac Arthur’s Place. Boy was it so calm and peaceful as we savored the soothing breeze while taking our photos. I was so glad that Britania gave me another chance to see its magnificence in this sunny(ish) weather.
Hiyor-Hiyoran Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
The serenity of the beach coupled with the tropical vibes that the island radiates give this place personality and character (the coconut trees are perfect add-ons for your pictorial).
Hiyor-Hiyoran Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
We walked farther to the other side where you will see these rocks by the island’s coastline. We had one last look before finally saying goodbye to Hiyor-Hiyoran Island.
Hiyor-Hiyoran Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
Our lunch was already waiting for us when we got back. It was an awesome picnic while enjoying the view of Lianga Bay with the islands scattered from afar. We really enjoyed eating the home-cooked dishes of fresh produce that the resort prepared for us.
Hiyor-Hiyoran Island, Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines
Our rented tricycle took us back to the national highway. We left the town of San Agustin with our hearts fulfilled from the awesome experience. It was time for the next phase of fun and adventure in the municipality of Hinatuan.

***For other destinations in Surigao del Sur and Caraga Region, you may visit this link.

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