Siargao:Sohoton Island Hopping Tour with Jellyfish Sanctuary

The most memorable part of this day is the mix of Sohoton Cove’s limestone caves and the odd, dreamlike chance to swim near jellyfish that do not sting. You move by several boats, walk through caves, climb around rock, and finish with time at a resort and beach stops.

I like two things especially: the tour gathers several hard-to-reach Bucas Grande sights into one day, and the jellyfish stop gives you a rare encounter with marine life in its own setting. The main drawback is the long travel time and uneven value. At $88, the day works best if you want a full adventure, not a quiet Siargao boat ride.

Key points to know

• The journey begins with a long boat ride: Expect more than an hour from Dapa Port toward Bucas Grande before the sightseeing really gets going.
• Sohoton Cove is the visual highlight: Limestone formations, green islets, and a half-submerged cave entrance create the day’s strongest scenery.
• The jellyfish may sit below you: You may need to reach about 2 meters underwater to see them clearly.
• Bring water shoes, goggles, and a dry bag: Goggles may be rented for PHP 150, but your own gear is more convenient.
• Lunch is a buffet with limited supplies: Eat promptly when the meal opens, since popular dishes can run out.
• The schedule can change: Tiktikan Lake or Dagatan Bay may be used, and Club Tara is only visited if time allows.

From Siargao to Bucas Grande by boat

Your day begins with pickup in Surigao del Norte, normally at your resort, followed by a transfer to Dapa Port. Be ready in the lobby 10 to 15 minutes early. The driver is expected to call when arriving, so keep your phone available.

At the port, you board a boat for the trip toward Bucas Grande. The crossing takes a little over an hour according to the available timing, so this is not a quick add-on from General Luna. It is a full-day outing with a substantial amount of time spent on the water.

That matters when you judge the price. You are not simply paying for a short cove visit. Your fee covers pickup and return to your resort, the boat from Dapa, the transfer from Socorro Port to the Sohoton reception area, local boats, docking and permit fees, lunch, guides, and the required Sohoton tourism arrangements. Still, the journey can feel long if your main goal is only to see the jellyfish.

The operator provides an exclusive Bucas Grande Tourism wristband. Once you reach the island, you meet the English-speaking, DOT-accredited guide and tour escorts who organize the local transfers and explain the day’s stops.

Sohoton Cove and its seven green islets

Sohoton Cove is the heart of the excursion. The cove contains seven small islets and a half-submerged cave entrance, giving the area a more enclosed, otherworldly feel than a standard beach-hopping stop.

The scenery comes from the contrast between dark rock, green growth, and still water. You may swim, use a kayak if available, and take part in cliff jumping when conditions and the local schedule permit. These activities are not guaranteed in every visit, so treat them as possible extras rather than fixed promises.

The cove is especially good for people who prefer active sightseeing. You are not just stepping off a boat for photographs. You move between water and rock, follow your guide, and see parts of the area that are difficult to reach without local boats and safety guides.

The trade-off is time. Sohoton is far enough from Siargao that you should not expect a slow, private exploration. The day has several stops, and the local schedule determines how long you stay at each one.

Hagukan Cave and the half-submerged entrance

Hagukan Cave is described locally as a skin-illuminating cave, and it forms part of the cove’s underground experience. The entrance is partly underwater, so you should expect to get wet rather than walk through a dry cavern.

The attraction here is the change in atmosphere. Outside, you have open water and sun. Inside, the rock closes around you, and the guide leads you through a much darker, more confined space. The cave is best appreciated as a short adventure stop rather than a long geological tour.

You should be comfortable in water and on uneven surfaces. The experience is not a good match for people with mobility limitations or serious back problems. Wear footwear that grips wet rock, and keep cameras and phones in a waterproof bag.

Magkukuob Cave, climbing, and a possible jump

Magkukuob Cavern gives the day another active section. It is known as the diving cave, though I would think of it more as a rock-and-water stop with climbing and jumping opportunities. The exact activity depends on local conditions and what the guide permits that day.

One available account describes climbing inside the cave and jumping into the water. That makes this stop more physical than a simple walk-through cave. You need to be ready to use your hands, step carefully, and enter the water from a rocky setting.

If you dislike heights or do not swim confidently, you can still enjoy the rock formations, but this part may feel less rewarding. The tour is not built around avoiding water. Bring a swimsuit or clothes that dry fairly quickly, along with a dry bag for anything you want to keep dry.

Swimming with the jellyfish

The jellyfish sanctuary is the tour’s most unusual stop. The jellyfish are non-stinging, allowing you to swim near them in their natural setting. For many people, this is the moment that justifies the long boat ride.

Set your expectations carefully. The jellyfish may not be obvious from the surface. You may need to get about 2 meters underwater to see them, which makes goggles very useful. Goggles can be rented for PHP 150, but I would bring your own if you have a pair that fits well.

This is also where water confidence matters. If you cannot comfortably swim or look underwater, you may see less than someone who can. The stop is described as a jellyfish snorkel point, but the word sanctuary can suggest a more formal wildlife facility than what you actually encounter. Think of it as a natural swimming area where you look for non-stinging jellyfish.

The local boat includes a paddler’s fee for this section. That is helpful because the transfer is handled for you, but it does not remove the need for your own mask, water shoes, or waterproof storage.

Tiktikan Lake or Dagatan Bay

After the cave and jellyfish stops, the schedule may include Tiktikan Lake or Dagatan Bay. The exact choice depends on the day’s timing.

Tiktikan Lake offers a quieter change of pace. You can swim, rest beside the water, and enjoy the greenery after the more demanding cave activities. Dagatan Bay serves a similar purpose as an aquatic stop, though the scenery and pace may differ.

Do not plan your day around one specific version of this stop. The operator identifies both possibilities, so the guide’s choice is part of the running schedule. If you have already spent hours in the water, this may feel like a useful rest rather than another must-see attraction.

Bubon Beach and Marka-A Island

Bubon Beach adds white sand and open sea views to an itinerary otherwise shaped by caves and lagoons. It is the place to slow down, dry off, and take a break from scrambling over rock.

Marka-A Island extends the beach portion of the outing. You may explore its quiet shores, snorkel near coral, and enjoy a less hurried setting away from the main cove. The island helps balance the day: Sohoton supplies the dramatic rock scenery, while Marka-A gives you space for a more familiar island stop.

The amount of time available is important here. With a 10-hour schedule, several boat transfers, and a long return journey, these beach visits may be shorter than you hope. Club Tara is listed as a possible bonus stop only if time remains, so do not count on it.

Lunch and the stop at Bravo Beach Resort

Lunch is served buffet-style during the resort portion of the day. The meal is included, along with the required entrance and boat fees, so you do not need to budget separately for the main food stop.

You should move through the buffet early. The selection may be reduced by the time larger groups have served themselves, leaving mainly rice and fruit. That does not make the meal useless, but it does mean you should not expect a generous restaurant buffet with constant replenishment.

Bravo Beach Resort also gives you roughly an hour and a half to relax in the schedule described for the outing. You may swim or use the resort’s water slide. This break can be welcome after the caves, though the resort itself is more of a practical rest stop than a major attraction.

I would use this time to dry your clothes, recharge your phone, eat, and prepare for the ride back. If you are hoping for a refined resort experience, you may find it ordinary. Its value is in providing food, water access, and a pause between the outward adventure and the return trip.

What the $88 price really covers

At $88 per person, this is not the cheapest island-hopping choice around Siargao. The price becomes easier to understand when you count the number of moving parts.

Included are hotel pickup and drop-off, transport to Dapa Port, the boat to Bucas Grande, local transfers, a DOT-accredited guide, safety guides, entrance fees, docking fees, permits, the jellyfish boat and paddler, lunch, and the Bucas Grande tourism wristband. You also receive access to several places rather than paying for separate cave, beach, and jellyfish trips.

The value is strongest for you if you have only one day available and want the logistics handled. Organizing this combination yourself would require coordinating ports, boats, local guides, permits, and timing.

The value is weaker if you want a small, leisurely outing or if jellyfish are your only priority. The long boat ride, shared schedule, ordinary resort stop, and possible buffet shortage make the cost feel less attractive for people seeking a polished or exclusive experience.

There is also a PHP 100 tourism fee for Tri-Island hopping guests, paid at the pier before disembarking for island hopping. Add that to your budget because it is not included.

Practical advice for a smoother day

Wear a swimsuit or comfortable clothes that can handle repeated swimming. Water shoes are one of the best purchases for this outing because the caves involve wet, uneven surfaces.

Bring your own goggles if possible. The rental option costs PHP 150, and a familiar mask is usually easier to use when you are trying to spot jellyfish underwater.

A dry bag is very useful. You will move between several boats, caves, beaches, and resort areas, so keeping your phone, wallet, towel, and spare clothes dry saves trouble.

Take motion sickness seriously. The tour includes a long open-water boat journey and several smaller transfers. The experience is not suitable for people with motion sickness, back problems, or mobility impairments.

Alcohol, drugs, fireworks, and explosive substances are not allowed. The tour is conducted in English, and you should stay close to the guide during cave and water activities.

The cancellation policy is flexible: you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Check the available start time before booking because the full day depends on the scheduled departure.

Who should book this Sohoton day

I would choose this tour if you want to pack a lot into one outing and do not mind spending hours in transit. It suits active visitors who enjoy caves, swimming, short climbs, beach stops, and changing boats.

It is also a good choice if you are staying on Siargao and want to see Bucas Grande without arranging the complicated transport yourself. The guide, permits, boat fees, and lunch remove much of the planning work.

I would hesitate if you want a calm beach day, have limited water confidence, or dislike long boat rides. The jellyfish may be hard to see without going underwater, and the cave stops require more physical effort than the word island hopping might suggest.

Should you book it?

Book it if Sohoton Cove and the jellyfish encounter are high on your Siargao wish list, and you value having transport and permits bundled together. Bring water shoes, goggles, and a dry bag, then eat early at the buffet.

Skip it if you want a short, luxurious, or highly relaxed trip. The day is long, the schedule can shift, and the $88 price is fair only when you make good use of the caves, beaches, jellyfish stop, and included transport.

FAQ

How long does the Sohoton island-hopping tour last?

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

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup and drop-off are included from your resort in Surigao del Norte. You should provide the pickup location and wait in the lobby 10 to 15 minutes before departure.

Is transportation from Siargao included?

Yes. The package includes transport from the resort to Dapa Port, a boat from Dapa Port to Bucas Grande, a boat from Socorro Port to the Sohoton reception area, and local boat transfers.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included and is served buffet-style. The available selection may be limited if popular food runs out, so it is wise to serve yourself early.

Can I really swim with the jellyfish?

The tour includes a visit to a jellyfish sanctuary where you can swim near non-stinging jellyfish. You may need to go about 2 meters underwater to see them clearly.

Are goggles provided?

Goggles may be available to rent for PHP 150. Bringing your own goggles is recommended, especially for the jellyfish stop.

Which places are included?

The included stops are Sohoton Cove, Hagukan Cave, Magkukuob Cavern, the Jellyfish Sanctuary, Tiktikan Lake or Dagatan Bay, Bubon Beach, and Marka-A Island. Club Tara may be added if time allows.

Is the PHP 100 tourism fee included?

No. Tri-Island hopping guests must pay a PHP 100 tourism fee at the pier before disembarking for island hopping.

Who should avoid this activity?

The tour is not suitable for people with back problems, mobility impairments, or motion sickness. It also includes swimming, wet caves, boat transfers, and possible climbing or jumping, so comfortable water activity is important.