© K A L O Y I M P E R I A L

Here’s a visual summary of my short adventure in the town of Hinatuan (Enchanted River, Pacific View, Sarsoza Ponta Cave, and Sibadan) and in the city of Bislig (Tinuy-an Falls).

At 7 AM, I was one of the first few persons to reach the Enchanted River. I left Davao City at 1:30 AM and rode a van going to Mangagoy in Bislig. Armed with a bunch of online travel guides and blog articles, I hired a habal-habal owned by a Mangagoy local named Elbert (yes, Elbert with an E; I asked him twice to make sure it’s not Albert).

I first learned about the Enchanted River three years ago. Since then, it took a spot on my mental bucket list. The River did not disappoint. 

The fish-feeding activity commenced at exactly 12 NN. Because I had so much time to kill, I took the chance to go island hopping. 

I first visited the Pacific View Beach Resort (with almost a kilometer-long wooden bridge across mangrove trees).

The  Sarsoza Ponta Cave was just a few-minute boat ride away from the Pacific View. According to my guide, Jake, it takes him three to five minutes to cross the cave from end to end. Sporting my blue boots (which I borrowed from him because I was on foot), I crossed the cave and the little forest above it for 25 minutes. 

Next we visited Brenda, the infamous stingray in Sibadan Fish Cage—a floating restaurant and guest house in Port Lamon, Hinatuan.

Then I went back to the Enchanted River for the fish-feeding.

By 12:30 PM, we were on our way back to Bislig to visit Tinuy-an Falls. It took Kuya Elbert and I an hour and a half of habal-habal ride to reach Borboanan. The rough road and the jaw-numbing Surigao breeze were all worth it. 

Last note: I wouldn’t change a thing.