Siargao:Sohoton Island Hopping Tour with Jellyfish Sanctuary

Sohoton Cove is the star here: a maze of limestone rock, green islets, quiet water, and a half-submerged cave entrance reached by boat from Siargao. The jellyfish sanctuary adds an unusual marine encounter, while Hagukan Cave and Magkukuob Cavern bring some easy adventure to the day.

I like two things right away. First, the price includes the complicated chain of transfers from your resort to Dapa Port, across to Bucas Grande, and onward to the cove. Second, you get a broad mix of caves, beaches, a lake or bay, and Marka-A Island instead of spending the whole day at one resort. The main caution is value: at $88 per person, this is a long day, and one recent visitor felt other tours offered more for the money.

Key points to know before booking

• Sohoton Cove is the main reason to go, with a half-submerged cave entrance and seven small islets inside the cove.
• The jellyfish stop can be magical, but you may need to swim about two meters below the surface to see the jellyfish clearly.
• Hagukan Cave and Magkukuob Cavern involve physical activity, including climbing and possible jumping, so this is not a gentle sightseeing cruise.
• Your day includes several boat rides, beginning with the trip from Dapa Port to Bucas Grande and continuing through the Sohoton area.
• Lunch is buffet-style, but food may run short if you arrive late or the group is large.
• Bring water shoes, a dry bag, and your own goggles if possible. Rental goggles cost 150 Philippine pesos.

A long crossing to Sohoton Cove

Your day begins with pickup in Surigao del Norte. The operator takes you to Dapa Port, and the package includes the boat from Dapa to Bucas Grande, followed by a smaller transfer from Socorro Port to the Sohoton reception area.

The first crossing takes a little over an hour, based on the most detailed account available. That matters because the tour is advertised as 10 hours, but a good share of the day is spent getting to and from the attractions. You should view this as a full-day regional excursion, not a quick island-hopping loop close to General Luna.

The transport chain is one of the tour’s useful features. You do not have to arrange each boat and entrance payment yourself. Pickup and drop-off, docking charges, permits, entrance fees, paddler fees, tour escorts, and the required Sohoton safety guides are covered.

Communication at the port may be brief. One account describes being dropped at the boat with little explanation before the crossing, then receiving a fuller introduction after reaching the island and meeting the guide. I would keep your phone, booking details, and meeting instructions handy, and arrive in your hotel lobby 10 to 15 minutes before pickup.

Entering Sohoton Cove by boat

The cove is the day’s visual highlight. Its defining feature is a partly submerged cave entrance, reached by boat, with seven small islets inside the protected area. Expect still water, limestone walls, and a route that feels more enclosed and intimate than a standard beach stop.

The cove is best appreciated slowly. Look up at the rock shapes, watch how the boat threads between the islets, and listen for instructions from the local guide before entering the caves. The included Sohoton fee covers the boat charge and two safety guides, which is important in a place where the route is controlled and conditions can affect access.

The cove is beautiful, but it is not a private wilderness experience. You may share the water and cave stops with other groups, and the exact order of activities can change. The tour description also lists a bonus side trip to Club Tara if time remains, so do not treat that stop as guaranteed.

Hagukan Cave and Magkukuob Cavern

The cave section gives the trip its physical edge. Hagukan Cave is described as a skin-illuminating cave, while Magkukuob is associated with a cavern and jumping activity. In practical terms, you should expect some climbing, water access, and possibly a short jump rather than a simple walk-through cave.

A previous visitor described one cave as involving climbing and jumping, followed by another smaller cavern. That makes water shoes especially useful. Smooth rock, wet steps, and boat transfers are a poor combination for bare feet or flimsy sandals.

You do not need to force yourself into every activity. If you have back problems, limited mobility, or serious motion sickness, this tour is specifically not recommended. The caves are part of the appeal, but they also make the trip less suitable for anyone who needs flat paths and steady ground.

Swimming with the jellyfish

The jellyfish stop is the most unusual part of the itinerary. You travel by boat to the jellyfish lake area, with the paddler’s fee included, then enter the water to look for non-stinging jellyfish in their natural setting.

The experience depends heavily on your comfort in the water. One account notes that the jellyfish may be around two meters below the surface, so you might not see much if you cannot swim down that far. This is worth knowing before you book. The stop is not simply a case of floating at the edge and watching the surface.

Goggles are available to rent for 150 pesos, but I would bring your own if you have them. A dry bag also earns its space, since you will move between boats, caves, swimming areas, and shore stops throughout the day.

Use care around the jellyfish and follow the guide’s instructions. The attraction is often called a sanctuary, but one visitor felt the name overstated what was available at the site. I would think of it as a jellyfish lake stop within a larger cove tour, not as a stand-alone marine research experience.

Tiktikan Lake or Dagatan Bay

After the cave and jellyfish activities, the itinerary may include Tiktikan Lake or Dagatan Bay, depending on the day’s schedule. This is one of the tour’s flexible points, so you should not assume you will see both.

Tiktikan Lake offers a quieter change of pace. The supplied description presents it as a place to swim or rest beside the water, with trees around the shore. Dagatan Bay serves a similar purpose as a scenic water stop. Either way, this portion gives you time to slow down after the more active cave visits.

The exact stop depends on timing and local operations. If your group spends longer at the caves, weather changes, or boat movements take extra time, the schedule may be adjusted. That is normal for an excursion crossing several islands, but it means the day is not fully fixed minute by minute.

Bubon Beach and Marka-A Island

Bubon Beach adds white sand and open sea views to the itinerary. It is the kind of stop where you can dry off, take photographs, and enjoy a little unstructured time. Compared with the caves, it is simple, but that simplicity helps balance the day.

Marka-A Island extends the island-hopping portion. The advertised plan includes time for secluded beaches, snorkeling, and a quieter atmosphere away from the main flow of visitors. The information does not promise specific snorkeling conditions or equipment, so treat it as a scenic island stop rather than booking solely for a major reef encounter.

A bonus visit to Club Tara may be possible if time remains. The schedule also includes time at Bravo Beach Resort Siargao, where lunch and relaxation form part of the day. These resort stops are practical, giving you a place to eat and regroup, but they may feel less special than Sohoton’s caves and natural areas.

Lunch and the resort break

Lunch is included and served buffet-style. This is useful on a 10-hour outing because you do not need to arrange a meal while moving between islands.

There is one practical warning: food may not be replenished quickly enough for a large group. One recent account described finding mostly rice and fruit after other dishes had been taken. I would eat when the buffet opens rather than waiting, and carry a small snack if your hotel and tour rules allow it.

The resort break can last around an hour and a half, depending on the day. The resort has a water slide and swimming facilities, but do not book this tour mainly for the resort. The cove, caves, and jellyfish stop are the stronger reasons to come; the resort is more of a staging and rest point.

What the $88 price really covers

At $88 per person, this is not a cheap local boat ride. The value comes from the number of moving parts included: land pickup, port transfer, the long boat trip from Dapa, onward boats around Bucas Grande, local guides, safety guides, permits, docking fees, entrance charges, lunch, and the jellyfish paddler fee.

If you tried to arrange every transfer and admission separately, the planning would be more complicated. The package also reduces the chance of reaching the port without the right local connection. That convenience matters most if you have limited time in Siargao or prefer one coordinated booking.

The price is harder to justify if you want a slow, private day or dislike long crossings. One detailed account rated the cove highly but felt the overall package did not offer exceptional value compared with other tours. The public score is 3.7 from five ratings, which suggests a mixed rather than universally glowing experience.

I would compare the price with other Sohoton packages before booking. Check whether they include Dapa transfers, lunch, entrance fees, jellyfish transport, and the same cave stops. A lower headline price may leave you paying extra at the port.

Who will enjoy this day most

I would recommend this tour to you if you want to see several of Siargao’s major nature attractions in one outing and do not mind a long transport day. It suits confident swimmers, active couples, small groups of friends, and nature-focused visitors who would rather explore caves than spend all day on a resort beach.

It is less suitable if you suffer from motion sickness. The trip includes several boat rides, including a crossing of more than an hour, followed by smaller boats in the Sohoton area. People with back problems or mobility impairments should also think carefully before booking because of boat transfers, wet cave areas, climbing, and possible jumping.

The tour is guided in English, and a DOT-accredited guide is included. Guide names are not provided, so you cannot request a particular escort in advance from the available information.

Pack for boats, caves, and wet landings

Wear comfortable clothes that can handle spray and repeated changes between water and shore. Water shoes are the most useful item for the caves and wet rock.

I would also pack:

• Your own goggles, if you have them
• A dry bag for phones, wallets, and spare clothes
• Sun protection for the open boat rides
• A small snack in case the buffet is short on food
• Motion-sickness medication if you already use it

Alcohol, drugs, fireworks, and explosive substances are not allowed. You must also pay a separate 100 peso tourism fee at the pier before disembarking for island hopping. That charge is not included in the advertised package.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Starting times depend on availability, so check the date carefully before making other plans in Siargao.

Should you book the Sohoton and jellyfish tour?

Book it if Sohoton Cove and the jellyfish lake are high on your Siargao wish list, and you want transfers, permits, guides, lunch, and boat connections handled in one package. The mix of caves, water, beach, and lake scenery gives you a fuller day than a basic island-hopping trip.

Skip it if $88 feels high for a shared excursion, if you dislike long boat rides, or if your main goal is a quiet beach day. Go prepared for a busy schedule, uncertain stop order, limited buffet portions, and wet, physical cave activities. With water shoes, goggles, a dry bag, and realistic expectations, this can be a worthwhile way to reach Sohoton without piecing the journey together yourself.

FAQ

How long does the Sohoton tour last?

The tour lasts 10 hours, including pickup, boat transfers, sightseeing, lunch, and the return to Surigao del Norte.

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup and drop-off are provided in Surigao del Norte. You need to tell the operator your pickup location and wait in your accommodation lobby 10 to 15 minutes before pickup.

Is transportation from Siargao included?

Yes. The package includes pickup and drop-off from your resort to Dapa Port, a boat from Dapa Port to Bucas Grande, a boat from Socorro Port to the Sohoton reception area, and boat transfers within Sohoton.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included and served buffet-style. The amount of food available may depend on the size and timing of the group.

Can I swim with the jellyfish?

The tour includes a visit to the Jellyfish Sanctuary, where you can swim near non-stinging jellyfish. They may be about two meters below the surface, so you might not see them clearly if you cannot swim down that far.

Are goggles provided?

Goggles can be rented for 150 Philippine pesos. Bringing your own goggles is recommended if you have them.

What should I wear?

Wear comfortable clothes suitable for boat rides, swimming, and wet cave areas. Water shoes are strongly useful for the climbing and cave stops.

Are entrance fees included?

Yes. Entrance fees, permits, docking fees, Sohoton boat fees, safety guides, tour escorts, and the jellyfish boat transfer with paddler’s fee are included.

Is the 100 peso tourism fee included?

No. Tri-Island hopping visitors must pay a separate 100 peso tourism fee at the pier before disembarking for island hopping.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The tour also allows you to reserve now and pay later.