Tinuy-an Falls, Bislig City

Where: Tinuy-an Falls, Bislig City, Surigao del Sur, PH
Who: Mr. & Mrs. Wanderlust
When: Sept. 2014
What: Explore Bislig City and see Tinuy-an, the widest falls in the Philippines

It is the eastern most city in the Philippines in terms of geographical location. The first inhabitants of Bislig were believed to have come from the Agusan Valley in the lands of Mindanao beyond the Magdiwata Mountains. These people used spears, bows and arrows and lived a semi-nomadic life and were called Manobos.

How to get there:

The nearest airport is in Butuan and from there, Just have to go to Butuan Integrated Bus Terminal. There are buses that go directly to Bislig but take note that the signs on board is Mangagoy which is the city's commercial district.

From Davao, go to City’s Ecoland terminal, take a bus bound for Mangagoy (Bislig).

From San Franz (Agusan del Sur) there are buses and vans bound to Mangagoy (Bislig).

Where to stay:

Being classified as a city, Bislig has a little bit more choices compared to the town of Hinatuan, the rates below are as of Sept. 2014 to what we have gathered and may depend on what room and how many will stay. While some offer free breakfast and others dont, It is better to give them a call to confirm and reserve. If you want a more comprehensive list of accommodation, you can visit Bislig city's government website.

Paper Country Inn  - 900 PHP - 1,750 PHP / night
Casa de Babano  - 900 PHP - 1,500 PHP / night
Bonsay Riverview Inn  - 500 PHP - 1,250 PHP / night
Pensionne La Salle - 500 PHP - 1,500 PHP / night
Saint Francis Pension House  - 700 PHP - 1,000 PHP / night
Tifanny's Inn - 650 PHP - 1,200 PHP / night
Yolanda Inn - 500 PHP - 1,000 PHP / night

Mr & Mrs Wanderlust's Ratings:

Paper Country Inn

The feeling of the place is like a big house with many rooms. Staff are nice middle aged ladies that are helpful and friendly. As the name suggests, it is an Inn, not a hotel so don't expect much. But in terms of satisfying general and basic needs in a room such as clean bed, bathroom/toilet and hot/cold water, it is good. The room we got doesn't have breakfast (although the 1,750 /night rate gets you free breakfast). The food good but nothing too special however was a bit pricey compared to other local carinderias.

***Rating:

Price:  $$ (around 1,100 - 1,750 PHP)
Service: 4 star
Facilities & Amenities: 3 star
Restaurant (foods): 3 star
Bar: n/a (although they serve beer on their mini resto)
________________________________
Overall: 4 / 5

What to do:

Climb the waterfalls - The main tourist spot in the city is just a 30 minute ride away using habal-habal, you can get to the widest falls in the Philippines. At 95 meters wide and 54 meter drop, it is a three-tiered curtain waterfalls and you can even climb, swim and even rent a bamboo raft to experience the waterfalls up and close.

See the caves - See the magnificence of Hinayagan Cave (formerly called Suhotan Cave) with its stunning cave formations. They are tempting to touch but please resist the urge as they might be ruined over time. Banbow Cave, the sixth longest cave in the Philippines, and Tatol Cave, the ninth longest cave in the Philippines, are both found here.

Doll house - Who would have thought that there is a museum of dolls in Bislig? Visit the International Doll House which showcases tons of dazzling dolls collected from all over the world.

Hagonoy Island - Head to Hagonoy Island, only 30 minutes away from the Bislig mainland. It’s a tropical dream: glimmering waters, powdery white sand, and shorelines lined with coconut trees.

Baywalk area - Enjoy the nice view of the pacific ocean at the city's baywalk area. You can jog or walk, or even have a nice meal on the popular restaurant there named Ocean view park.

Mud Skimboard Chocolate Beach - For the adventure heads that don't mind to get down and dirty, there is a beach just near the city's baywalk area where the locals play skim board through the muddy grounds of chocolate beach (yeah, that is where the beach got it's name).

** If you need contact for Habal-habal around Bislig you can try to contact Noel - 0912-655-4098 which offers "pakyawan" or package tour using his habal habal, advisable if only group of 2,3 or even 4 people, but kinda hard for bigger groups, which is suggested rent a van/multicab instead.

Pricing:

Foods - 500 / day (unless you plan on a seafood binge - crab mean is 600 - 800 PHP and shrimp 300 - 500 PHP but probably good for the whole group.

Transport - multicabs and tricycles are readily available to get you around town for as little as 10 -50 PHP. 

Boat to Hagonoy - 1,500 PHP for a boat to bring you to Hagonoy Island maximum capacity is 10 pax.

Entrance to Tinuy-an Falls - 50 PHP / head

Bamboo raft rental to get closer to the falls - 150 PHP

Habal-habal to Tinuy-an falls - 1,200 PHP (or depending on your package "pakyawan" agreement with driver). From hotel - Tinuy-an falls - Enchanted River back to your hotel.

** There are also volunteers to guide tourists going up the waterfalls, and they only ask for tips. Not only do they guide you so you don't fall to your death, but also can take good pictures of you all. So don't be frugal when giving tips to them.