Sohoton Cove: Swim with Jellyfish & Explore Hidden Lagoons

Sohoton Cove’s star attraction is a swim among the gentle jellyfish of Tojoman Lagoon, followed by blue-water caves and limestone cliffs. It is the sort of day that gives you stories, wet clothes, and a new respect for remote island travel.

I like the mix of wild scenery and local food, especially the communal boodle fight lunch with grilled seafood. I also like that the price includes the guide, permits, entrance charges, island fees, boats, and pickup. The catch is simple: at $68, you are paying heavily for the long journey, and jellyfish may be scarce outside their season.

Key points to know before booking

• Tojoman Lagoon jellyfish swim: The jellyfish are non-stinging, but numbers are usually best around July.
• Two cave visits: Hagukan Cave is known for blue water, while Magkukuob Cave offers cliff jumping for suitable participants.
• Long transport day: Expect about four hours of combined boat travel, plus road transfers each way.
• Boodle fight lunch: Grilled seafood, meats, and vegetables are served communally on banana leaves at Tikitikan Island.
• All main costs included: Pickup, drop-off, permits, entrance fees, island charges, boat transfers, lunch, and a licensed DOT-accredited guide are covered.
• Bring your own snorkel gear: Snorkeling equipment is not included, so pack it if you want to use it.

Why Sohoton Cove is worth the long ride

Sohoton Cove sits on Bucas Grande Island in Surigao del Norte, reached from the Siargao area by a chain of local transfers. The setting is the reason to go: limestone walls rise around calm lagoons, caves open into clear water, and green vegetation fills every gap between rock and sea.

This is not a quick boat trip with one photo stop. The day takes about eight hours, and the route includes a local tricycle, road transport, and around two hours on the water in each direction. You need to be comfortable with travel time before booking.

I like that the tour brings several kinds of activity into one day. You can swim, see marine life, enter caves, try a cliff jump, eat a Filipino lunch, and spend time among quiet island scenery. You are not locked into one demanding sport, although you should be in good health and able to swim.

The value depends on what you want. At $68 per person, this is not the cheapest outing around Siargao. One direct assessment put the fair price closer to $30 because the transport takes up so much of the day. That criticism is worth taking seriously. Still, the price includes the major fees and lunch, so you are not constantly opening your wallet once the tour begins.

The morning starts with several local transfers

Pickup begins at your accommodation or the stated meeting point in Surigao del Norte. A local tricycle collects you first, and it may wait only briefly, so be ready at least 10 to 15 minutes early.

The tricycle takes about 15 minutes to the registration office. There, the group checks in before continuing by multicab or tuk-tuk toward Dapa Port. This part is practical rather than scenic, but it is also part of the local travel rhythm. You are using the same small-scale transport that connects island communities, not moving through a polished resort operation.

Ask the driver to confirm that they are working with the operator you booked. That small check can prevent confusion at pickup. Keep your confirmation details handy, especially if your accommodation is not in an obvious location.

From Dapa Port, the group boards a boat for roughly two hours. Sea conditions can affect the route and timing. Rough water may lead to changes for safety, so bring motion sickness medicine if you are prone to discomfort.

The boat ride is a major part of the day. If you want a short activity with maximum time in the water, this is not it. If you enjoy seeing the coast open up and do not mind a long transfer for a special setting, the journey feels more reasonable.

Tojoman Lagoon and the seasonal jellyfish question

Tojoman Lagoon is the tour’s main draw. Here, you may swim with non-stinging jellyfish as they move through the lagoon. Their slow, graceful motion makes this a calm nature encounter rather than a thrill ride.

The important word is may. The booking information says jellyfish are currently out of season, with peak numbers around July. You might still spot a few, but you should not pay $68 solely for a guaranteed jellyfish swim.

That seasonal detail changes the value of the tour. If your visit falls near the stronger July season, the lagoon could provide the unusual experience you came for. Outside that period, the wider Sohoton setting needs to carry the day: the cliffs, caves, water, and boat journey.

Follow the guide’s instructions and do not touch marine life. Pack swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, a hat, water shoes, and a waterproof bag. A change of clothes will be especially useful after the lagoon and boat rides.

Children need adult supervision, and the tour is not suitable for pregnant women, people with vertigo, those with pre-existing medical conditions, babies under one year, or people over 95. The requirement to swim and manage wet, moving conditions makes a reasonable level of fitness important.

Limestone lagoons framed by cliffs

After the jellyfish stop, the tour continues into the lagoons around Sohoton Cove. Tall limestone cliffs surround the water, and thick plant life covers the edges. You may swim, kayak, or simply take in the setting, depending on the conditions and the guide’s plan.

The appeal here is quiet and visual. These lagoons feel enclosed and separate from the open sea. The water and cliffs create strong views for photography, and a drone can produce especially striking images where permitted and where local rules allow it.

Do not expect every lagoon to feel radically different. The scenery is impressive, but some stops may seem less remarkable after the main cove and caves. One candid assessment found the additional spots pleasant but not quite special enough to justify the high price on their own.

That is a useful way to view the lagoon stops: they add texture to the day, but they are not separate headline attractions. The more you appreciate natural scenery and unhurried boat travel, the more value you will find in them.

Hagukan Cave and its blue-water glow

Hagukan Cave is one of the most atmospheric stops. Sunlight reaches the water through the cave opening, creating shifting shades of blue. The effect depends on the light, weather, and water conditions, so the exact color may vary.

You enter by boat or water access with the guide directing the group. Inside, the cave feels cooler and darker than the open lagoon. That change gives the stop a little drama without requiring a strenuous walk.

Bring a waterproof bag for phones and cameras. Cave water and boat transfers are not a good place to trust an unprotected device. Water shoes can also make wet surfaces easier to manage.

Hagukan is best appreciated slowly. Look up at the rock, watch how the light changes on the water, and let the guide set the pace. If you rush in for one photo and rush out, you will miss much of what makes the cave memorable.

Magkukuob Cave for a supervised cliff jump

Magkukuob Cave adds the day’s clearest adventure element. The stop includes a chance to leap from a cliff into the water below, but this is optional and should only be attempted if you are comfortable with the height and conditions.

You do not need to jump to enjoy the cave. The guide can direct you through the visit, and you can stay with the group without taking part in the leap. People with vertigo should avoid this stop’s more demanding activity, which is one reason the tour lists vertigo as a restriction.

The cliff jump can be a highlight for confident swimmers. It gives the cave visit a physical edge after the slower jellyfish and lagoon stops. Still, do not treat it like an unsupervised stunt. Wait for the guide’s instructions, check where you are expected to enter the water, and skip it if you feel uncertain.

The combination of Hagukan and Magkukuob works well because the caves offer different moods. One centers on light and color. The other gives you a choice between a quiet visit and a short burst of excitement.

A boodle fight lunch on Tikitikan Island

Lunch takes place on Tikitikan Island and follows the Filipino boodle fight tradition. Food is spread over banana leaves, and the group eats together rather than receiving separate plated meals.

Expect grilled seafood, meats, and fresh vegetables. The communal format suits a day spent in a group. It is informal, social, and tied to Filipino dining culture in a way that a standard packed lunch would not be.

The meal has received strong praise for flavor, but quantity may depend on the group and the day. On one outing with 23 people, the lunch was considered tasty but a little small. If you eat a large breakfast or need substantial meals, it is sensible to carry a permitted snack and extra water.

Tell the operator about food allergies or dietary needs when booking. Do not wait until lunch, since a shared spread can make last-minute changes difficult.

Tikitikan Island also gives you a break from the boat and water activities. After a morning of transfers, swimming, and cave visits, sitting down for food matters. It is one of the tour’s more human moments, not just another scenic stop.

Wildlife, plants, and the value of slowing down

Sohoton Cove supports marine life, birds, tropical fish, and unusual plant life. You may see fish below the surface or birds along the cliffs, but wildlife sightings are not guaranteed and should not be treated as a scheduled show.

The best approach is to keep your eyes open between the major stops. A waterproof camera, patience, and a willingness to look beyond the main attraction will help. The cove is valuable not only because of the jellyfish, but because several small ecosystems meet in one protected setting.

You also have a responsibility here. Avoid litter, follow local instructions, and do not touch marine animals. The same clear water and healthy habitat that make the day appealing can be damaged quickly by careless behavior.

The licensed English-speaking guide is important throughout the day. The guide manages the sequence of stops, explains what you are seeing, and helps the group handle the water activities safely. The staff have been described as friendly and helpful, and the operation has also been praised for being well organized.

How the $68 price measures up

The $68 fee covers the guide, lunch, pickup and drop-off, boat transfers, island fees, entrance charges, permits, and other listed costs. That all-in structure is convenient, especially for a remote full-day outing where separate fees could otherwise pile up.

The weak point is the ratio between transport and activity time. The schedule includes about two hours by boat in each direction, plus a tricycle and road transfer on both ends. A large part of your eight-hour day is spent getting to Bucas Grande Island and back.

For me, the price makes more sense when three conditions line up:

• You strongly want to see Sohoton Cove.
• You are visiting during a period when jellyfish are likely to be present.
• You value having transport, permits, lunch, and a guide arranged in one package.

It makes less sense if you mainly want a cheap swim day or a short island trip. The added cost is paying for access to a remote place and the work of coordinating the route, not for eight full hours of active sightseeing.

Snorkeling gear is not included. Bring your own if you want it, and confirm that the day’s conditions and stops make it useful.

Who should book this Sohoton Cove day

I would recommend this tour to active families with adult supervision, groups of friends, and solo visitors who enjoy joining a shared outing. The range of activities means you can enjoy the day even if you do not cliff jump, provided you are comfortable swimming and traveling by boat.

It is a good match for photographers, nature lovers, and anyone who wants more than a standard beach stop. The cliffs, caves, lagoon water, and communal meal create a fuller picture of the area.

I would think twice if you get seasick, dislike long transfers, have vertigo, or need a tightly timed itinerary. Weather can alter the route, and rough seas may make the boat ride tiring.

Also check the jellyfish season before you commit. If swimming with jellyfish is your main reason for booking, ask about current conditions. The lagoon remains part of the tour, but sightings may be limited outside the peak period around July.

Practical preparation for the boat and caves

Wear swimwear under easy-to-change clothes. Pack a towel, a full change of clothes, sunscreen, a hat, water shoes, cash, and a waterproof bag.

Motion sickness prevention is worth considering because of the long boat ride. Arrive early at pickup, keep your phone protected, and bring any personal medication you need for the full day.

The tour runs in English and includes a live guide. Weather controls much of the schedule, so severe conditions can cause rescheduling or cancellation. If you need to reschedule, contact the operator before 5 PM at least one day ahead. Same-day changes are not accepted.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund under the stated terms, and you can reserve now and pay later. Check the exact policy at booking, since weather and timing still matter.

Should you book Sohoton Cove?

Book it if you want a full day of remote island scenery, caves, boat travel, and a distinctly Filipino lunch, and if the jellyfish season lines up with your visit. The friendly staff, organized transport, and all-inclusive price remove much of the practical hassle.

Skip it if $68 feels high for a day with several hours of transport, or if you need the jellyfish encounter to be certain. The best decision is to treat Tojoman Lagoon as a seasonal bonus, not a guarantee. Sohoton Cove is still a memorable setting without abundant jellyfish, but the price is easiest to justify when the water is calm, the conditions are good, and the lagoon delivers its main spectacle.

FAQ

How long does the Sohoton Cove tour take?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours, including pickup, road transfers, boat travel, guided stops, lunch, and the return journey.

Does the tour include pickup and drop-off?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off from designated accommodations or pickup points in the Surigao del Norte and Siargao area are included. You should be ready at least 10 to 15 minutes before the scheduled pickup time.

Are the jellyfish always present in Tojoman Lagoon?

No. Jellyfish are seasonal, and the largest numbers are usually found around July. You may see a few outside peak season, but an abundant jellyfish swim is not guaranteed.

Is lunch included?

Yes. The tour includes a boodle fight lunch on Tikitikan Island with grilled seafood, meats, and vegetables. Tell the operator about food allergies or dietary needs when booking.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

No. Snorkeling gear is not included, so bring your own if you plan to snorkel.

Who should avoid this tour?

The tour is not suitable for pregnant women, people with vertigo, people with pre-existing medical conditions, babies under one year, or people over 95. Participants should be in good health and able to swim, and children require adult supervision.