Sugba Lagoon in Del Carmen, Siargao
Guides and Itineraries,  Philippines

Sugba Lagoon and Kawhagan Island & Pamomoan Island in del Carmen, Siargao

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Siargao rose to fame for its surfing breaks, and recently more areas of the island are being open to the public. These include Sugba Lagoon along with Kawhagan Island and Pamomoan Island, which can be found in the municipality of Del Carmen.

Actually, Hali and I had already been here in 2015, for our outreach mission in a local barangay in the area. We stayed in a small island called Isla Verde Resort and explored Sugba Lagoon, which our tour guide referred to only as “a hidden lagoon”, and then island hopped to Kawhagan Island and Midway Island (currently closed to the public).

Our trip was memorable because we had the chance to explore the mangrove forests and islands in Del Carmen undisturbed. Everything was still and peaceful, there was no one else but us.

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Today, Sugba Lagoon and the beaches in Kawhagan Island and Pamomoan Island are one of the major tourist attractions in the island. Here’s our Guide to Sugba Lagoon, Kawhagan Island and Pamomoan Island.

P.S. Don’t forget to read our Complete Travel Guide to Siargao Island!

How to get here

From General Luna, you can rent a motorbike (P350 per day) or ride a habal-habal (motorbike taxi) or tricycle to Del Carmen Port. Travel time is about 1 hour.

From the port, it takes an easy 30-minute ride to get to Sugba Lagoon. On your way, you will pass through a thick mangrove forest which is one of the attractions in Del Carmen.

Mangrove forest in Del Carmen, Siargao
We passed by a thick mangrove forest.

Sugba Lagoon

Sugba Lagoon is composed of massive inlets surrounded by clear deep-green water. It’s gorgeous.

There is a 2-story floating cottage used as a docking port for the boats. Here you can rent life vests, snorkel or paddle boat. There is also a restaurant where you can order BBQ meat or seafood for P100 per person or buy the fresh catch for the day for cooking. Just make sure to get there early since the food may run out immediately after lunch time.

Sugba Lagoon in Del Carmen, Siargao
Sugba Lagoon.
Sugba Lagoon in Del Carmen, Siargao
Lush paradise.

Once we got here, our group divided into different activities. I swam and floated in the beautiful water, Hali jumped from the dive boards and the rest tried stand-up paddle boarding.

Sugba Lagoon in Del Carmen, Siargao
Our second trip to Sugba Lagoon.
Dive board in Sugba Lagoon in Siargao
Hali jumping from the dive board.
Sugba Lagoon in Del Carmen, Siargao
Sugba Lagoon in Del Carmen, Siargao
Hali and me in Sugba Lagoon.

We spent around 1.5-2 hours here, which honestly wasn’t enough. I could spend a whole afternoon here just relaxing and looking at the surrounding islets.

Kawhagan Island

Kawhagan Island is an isolated island in the middle of the sea, about 30 minutes away from Sugba Lagoon. It sits across Pamomoan Island. It has a small beach with fine sand, surrounded by coconut trees.

There are a few cottages in the island. This usually serves as lunch stop for tours, where the tour guides can prepare and cook meals. You can also buy fresh coconut or beer to go along with your food.

Kawhagan Island in Del Carmen, Siargao
Kawhagan Island.
Kawhagan Island in Del Carmen, Siargao
Group shot in Kawhagan Island

We swam here but took care since the waves are strong across all sides.

Pamomoan Island

Pamomoan Island is a recently opened attraction in Del Carmen in 2019. It’s similar to Kawhagan Island, with a dense clump of coconut trees surrounding the beach.

There are tables set up under the trees so you can enjoy meals with a view of the Kawhagan Island.

Here you relax, swim or snorkel around the surrounding reef.

Pamomoan Island in Del Carmen, Siargao
Pamomoan Island.

Where to book tours

Here are the current rates for Sugba Lagoon. Kawhagan Island and Pamomoan Island (updated as of 2020).

DIY tour

This is a cost-effective option if you’re in a group. The Del Carmen Tourism Center (located at Del Carmen Port) offers various packages for boat tours. You can also wait for other joiners.

  • Sugba Lagoon
    P1600 (good up to 6 people)
  • Mangrove View Deck, Sugba Lagoon, Kawhagan Island and Pamomoan Island
    P2800 (good up to 6 people)
    Docking fee for Kawhagan and Pamomoan: P150 per boat

You must also pay the environmental fee: local tourist – P50 / foreign tourist – P100.

Notes:

  • For big groups (maximum of 9), excess is P200 per person.
  • Eco-guides if requested is P300 per tour.
  • Children below 7 years old are free. Maximum of 3 kids per group.

Other rates:

  • Sugba Lagoon: table & chairs – P100 / paddleboard rent – P200 per hour or P500 unlimited use / kayak rent – P200 per hour
  • Kawhagan and Pamomoan: cottage rent – P150
Stand-up paddleboarding in Sugba Lagoon
Stand-up paddleboarding.

Packaged tours

Local travel agencies offer tours for Sugba Lagoon, Kawhagan Island and Pamomoan Island. Rate is around P1500-2000 per person.

You can also book this tour via Klook. Rate is P2000 per person including lunch.

You can also find tours for Sugba Lagoon + land attractions in Siargao. Rate is around P1500-1600 per person.

Where to stay

The best places to stay in Siargao are in General Luna and Pacifico. These are close to the Cloud 9 for surfing and transportation is easily available for exploring the rest of the island.

Budget options:

Mid-range to luxury options:

Here’s our pick of the Best Resorts in Siargao.

Reminders and Tips

  • This tour can be done in half a day, depending on your pace.
  • Start your tour early at around 6 or 7AM so you can get there before everyone else.
  • These places can get crowded especially during peak season (summer or the months of March to May). There are less people during off-peak season in the ber-months but depending on the sea condition, island hopping tours may get cancelled.
  • If you want to eat seafood, you can buy fresh catch in a market near Del Carmen Port and have it cooked in the restaurant in Sugba Lagoon for a fee. You can also buy seafood in this restaurant but it’s more expensive.
  • Bring your own water bottle and snacks.

Contacts

Here are some useful links for your trip to Sugba Lagoon, Kawhagan Island and Pamomoan Island in Del Carmen:

Municipality of Del Carmen: Website | Facebook

Has this Guide to Sugba Lagoon, Kawhagan Island and Pamomoan Island been helpful to you? Let us know in the comment section below!

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12 Comments

  • Anj Fntln

    Hi! How did you get to these other parts of Del Carmen. I’ve only been to Sugba Lagoon vis tour packages from General Luna. I want to visit these other beaches in Del Carmen too but couldn’t find enough info how to get there. Hope you could help. Thanks!

    • Katherine

      Hi Anj. We talked to a local who agreed to tour us in his boat. 🙂 I don’t have his contact number though, but you can always ask around.

  • Dominic Barrios

    That mangrove forest shot looks really awesome. The feels of that shot brought me to Anaconda movie setting. I was just waiting for the big snake to jump in on your next photos. But seriously, Del Carmen looks like a fun getaway spot for people who loves to have a quiet beach vacation.

  • Miguel&Alaine (@migsandalaine)

    OMG!!! I have been forcing my husband to visit Siargo. Too bad, he got sick but I am still going to let him read your blog.

  • The Jerny

    I saw this too at KMJS 🙂 Siargao sure has a lot to offer. I hope the tourism department will be able to promote more of the island.

  • Rowena Rose Conde

    Was planing to go here when I was in Butuan. Locals there are telling us that Siargao is beautiful and indeed based on your pictures the place is majestic. And thank you for sharing this because all along I thought that surfing is what I can just do in Siargao.

  • thevisualtravelerblog

    When I think of Siargao, I always associate it with surfing. There’s a lot more to discover about it. Thanks for writing this article and sharing your experiences. I would like to visit it one of these days. And by the sound of it, it’s still affordable travel because it’s not yet overcrowded.

    • Kat

      Siargao actually has beaches, caves and falls for non-surfers to explore. 🙂 We haven’t got the time to do island hopping but from the photos online it’s a must-do experience.

  • Mirriam (Mirriam Dictionary)

    I have seen a lot of mangroves. I even helped plant some in Quezon but they are not as thick as this! Although thick mangroves give me chills because they look scary, I am pleased to see them. Del Carmen is really stunning <3

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