Surigao City travel info, things to do in Surigao City, places to see in Surigao City

Surigao City has always been relegated as a mining town and serves only as a gateway to the surfing grounds of Siargao, or a transit point to the rest of Mindanao. It has been dismissed as, "there's nothing there". The truth of the matter is, Surigao City, given all its islands and natural wonders can rival the top tourist destinations of the country. With a little scratching on the surface, the traveler can discover the many beaches surrounding its numerous islands - from the smooth bowling ball-sized stones of Pebble Beach to the fine white sands of Sagisi Beach and everything in between. A spelunker can explore the caves of Buenavista and Silop...just to name a few. The massive coral reefs of nearly all the islands is a snorkeling paradise and haven to scuba divers. Surigao City has unique offerings too - the floating village of Day-asan, the deadly whirlpool of Bitaugan and the coutry's longest wooden footbridge at 472 meters in Cantiasay.

Fruits and vegetables are shipped from other places, so relative to Davao prices, expect to pay a little more. Additionally, lodging in the entire Caraga region (to which Surigao City is a part of), is priced higher than the national average.

Seafood is where Surigao City whips a mileage. As a coastal city, fish is always fresh in the public market. They pride themselves eating fish that never went through ice. Their Kinilaw (cubed raw fish marinated in vinegar and spices) is probably one of the best in the country - every self-respecting Surigaonon prides himself/herself for his/her style of Kinilaw. It's nearly impossible to come across bad Kinilaw in Surigao City.

As of this writing (Aug 2013), Surigao City has a pro-active and accommodating tourism office. The officers and staff are efficient and will go the distance to assist the traveler. They have first hand knowledge and experience in all of the city's tourism offerings. Don't hesitate to visit their office in Luneta Park.

In a Nutshell:

Peace and Order - peaceful cities in Mindanao have always suffered from the stigma of being 'in Mindanao' where travel advisories are raised. Surigao City is one such. It is safe in Surigao City and crime rate is low compared to cities of the same size. You can safely walk the streets at night.
Transportation - Surigao can be reached by air, land or sea. Paved highway from Butuan to the west and 'under construction' (as of June 2013) highway from Tandag to the south. Inter island vessels coming from major cities in Luzon and Visayas ply into Surigao
Climate - rainy season is from October to December with average annual rainfall of 3,673.8 millimeters a year. Temperature ranges from 23 to 31 degress centigrade
Economy - Surigao is a mining city with abundant mineral reserves - gold, iron, manganese, silica, cobalt, copper, chromite and among the world's largest nickel deposits in Nonoc Island
Land area - 245.34 sq km.
Geography - coastal city on the northeastern tip of Mindano, flanked by mountains, hills and the Pacific Ocean. Elevation is 65.5 feet above sea level
Religion - 98% are either Roman Catholics or Protestant. The Muslim presence is not felt here.
Language - English and Tagalog are universally understood and can be spoken, but 90% speak the native tongue, Surigaonon and about 2% speaking Cebuano
Population - 175,378 people live in the city with an annual growth rate of 1.52% (2013 estimate)
Airport - Surigao Airport classified as a minor domestic airport with carriers Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines and SkyJet (to operate Aug 2013)

Surigao City travel info and tips, things to do in Surigao City, places to see in Surigao City