HINATUAN ENCHANTED RIVER TRAVEL GUIDE: Accommodation, How To Get There, Things To Do

With its crystal clear deep blue waters and unfathomable depth, the Hinatuan River, otherwise known as the Enchanted River, continues to attract locals as well as international tourists and is considered by many as a must see tourist destination in Surigao Del Sur.

HINATUAN ENCHANTED RIVER TRAVEL GUIDE: Accommodation, How To Get There, Things To Do

HOW TO GET TO HINATUAN ENCHANTED RIVER

FROM BUTUAN (Bancasi Airport.) Travel Time: Approximately 4-5 hours

OPTION 1. Walk to the airport’s parking lot and look for a multi-van that goes directly to Mangagoy (Bislig City.) Alight at Hinatuan Bus Terminal. (Fare: Php200+)

OPTION 2. If you intend to stay in Butuan City first, get out of the airport and ride a multi-van with an R4 signboard. This will take you directly to the city center. (Travel time 15-20 minutes. Fare: Php20)
From Butuan City, head to the Butuan City Integrated Bus Terminal and ride a non- air-conditioned bus (Fare: About Php200) or a public van (Fare: About Php180) going to Mangagoy (Bislig) Please note that buses and public vans usually use MANGAGOY signboard instead of Bislig. You can either tell the bus conductor to drop you off at eskina (crossing, going to Enchanted River) then hire a motorcycle to take you to Hinatuan River, or alight at Hinatuan Bus Terminal.

You may also ride an air-conditioned bus going to Davao and alight at San Francisco (San Franz) Bus Terminal in Agusan Del Sur (Fare: Php125 | Travel time: 2 hours.) From there, look for a van or a bus (Fare: Php110|Travel Time: Approximately 2 hours) going to Hinatuan.

FROM DAVAO (Francisco Bangoy International Airport) Travel Time: Approximately 7 hours

An easier but more expensive way to get out of the airport is to simply hire a cab (Fare: Approximately Php200) that will take you to the bus terminal. Travel time is about 45 minutes to 1 hour. A cheaper option is to walk for about 500 meters towards the Diversion Road. From there, ride a jeep (Fare: About Php30) with a Tibunggo – Landmark signboard and get off at NCCC Uyanguren. Then ride a Route 2 jeep (Fare: About Php30) with Ecoland signboard. (Note: it is always best to confirm with the driver if they’re headed or will pass by Ecoland Bus Terminal.

From the bus terminal, ride a Bachelor bus going to Mangagoy (Bislig City). Buses leave as early as 2:30AM. Last trip leaves at 6PM. (Travel time: About 6 hours Fare: Php265) From Mangagoy (Bislig City) ride a bus going to Butuan City and alight at Hinatuan Bus Terminal (Fare Php60, Travel Time: 1 hour)

From Davao, you may also choose to take a bus going to Butuan, and ask the bus conductor to drop you off at Trento town. From there, wait for the buses or public vans going to Hinatuan which would also pass by Mangagoy (Bislig)

FROM SURIGAO Airport. Travel Time: Approximately 6-7 hours

To get out of the airport, just walk to the national highway and ride a jeepney/multicab/tricycle going to the bus terminal. (Fare Php10 | Travel time: 10-15 minutes) From there, ride a bus going to Butuan City (Travel time: 2 hours more or less |Fare: Php200. From Butuan City, please refer to the information mentioned earlier.

FROM MANGAGOY/BISLIG, hire a habal-habal (motorcycle) to take you to directly Hinatuan River (Fare: 200 for 2 persons one way| Travel time: 1 hour) You may also go to the bus terminal and ride a bus or a van going either to Butuan , Agusan Del Sur or Surigao and alight at Hinatuan Bus Terminal. (Fare Php55, Travel Time: 1 hour)

FROM HINATUAN CENTER, hire a motorcycle to take you to Hinatuan River for Php300 two- way, good for a maximum of 3 persons. The ride takes about 45 minutes. Tell the driver to wait for you. He may also ask for additional Php100 for the waiting time.

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TIP. It gets really crowded by 10AM onwards especially during weekends and holidays so it is best to go there early.

FEES. Entrance fee: Php25.00 per person | Life Jacket Rental: Php15.00 per hour (optional) | Picnic huts and tables: P100 | Island hopping: Php160 per hour

ISLAND HOPPING. The Enchanted River is connected to the open sea and you may hire a boat for island hopping for Php160 per hour . This will take you to some islands, a cave, and a fish cage

BEWARE: Habal habal drivers may offer you a package tour to Hinatuan River and Britania Group of Islands for P1,500. Sounds like a good deal, right? Nope! This is a scam! In reality, this does not include the boat rental for island hopping. It happened to us. We refused to pay more, of course, and suggested that we go to the tourism office to settle the issue. The habal habal driver did not want to go to the tourism office and he simply let us go.

WHERE TO STAY: There are no luxury hotels in Hinatuan. In case you intend to stay for night, here are some accommodation you may want to consider:

MARKY’S HOSTEL
MARKY’S HOSTELRate starts at Php150 per person per night (Note: Rates may change without prior notice. Please contact them to find out the latest rate) | Address: Brgy. Maharlika, Hinatuan | Contact Number: +639284397785| Email: markyshostel@yahoo.com| Facebook | Reviews: A home away from home. My family had a great stay in this place. You can cook or let them cook for you. The owner/manager and staff were accommodating. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ MORE >>>>Don’t Miss Out! See Today’s Top Hotel Deals at TripAdvisor

MARYLAND LODGING HOUSE
MARYLAND LODGING HOUSERate starts at Php300 per night (Note: Rates may change without prior notice. Please contact them to find out the latest rate) | Address: Espana St., Hinatuan| Contact Number: +639078689808 | Email: maryland_lodge@yahoo.com| Facebook | Reviews: The accommodation was perfectly adequate and very, very clean and for 300 pesos per night and fast wi-fi I thought it was a real bargain. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ MORE >>>> Don’t Miss Out! See Today’s Top Hotel Deals at TripAdvisor

KOA AND BEA’S HOMETEL
KOA AND BEA’S HOMETELRate starts at Php225 per person per night (Note: Rates may change without prior notice. Please contact them to find out the latest rate) | Address: Brgy. Sto Niño, Hinatuan | Contact Number: +639066698088, +639239709428, +639299798248| Facebook Don’t Miss Out! See Today’s Top Hotel Deals at TripAdvisor

HINATUAN HOMESTAY. Hinatuan has a homestay organization which intends to help visitors find a place to stay in Hinatuan. You may contact Mrs. Victoria B. Nazareno , Hinatuan Homestay President at +639491352783Don’t Miss Out! See Today’s Top Hotel Deals at TripAdvisor

JAMES PENSION. Rate starts at Php250 per night (Note: Rates may change without prior notice. Please contact them to find out the latest rate) | Address: Sullano Compound, Brgy Aquino, Hinatuan| Contact Number: +639106195112| Reviews: PLEASE CLICK >>>> Don’t Miss Out! See Today’s Top Hotel Deals at TripAdvisor

SIBADAN FISH CAGE
SIBADAN FISH CAGERate starts at Php300 per night (Note: Rates may change without prior notice. Please contact them to find out the latest rate) | Address: Portlamon, Hinatuan| Contact Number: +639169291305, +639273936207, +639465634927| Facebook | Reviews: If you are visiting the Enchanted River this is a good place to stay. It is P100 for a boat to take you there and another P100 for the return. The staff is friendly and the rooms are simple and clean PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ MORE >>>> Don’t Miss Out! See Today’s Top Hotel Deals at TripAdvisor

C FISH CAGE & SAND BARS RESORT
C FISH CAGE & SAND BARS RESORTRate starts at Php300 per night (Note: Rates may change without prior notice. Please contact them to find out the latest rate) | Address: Barangay Talisay| Contact Number: +639154184550, +639104303724| Email: | Website | Facebook
| Reviews: PLEASE CLICK HERE >>>> Don’t Miss Out! See Today’s Top Hotel Deals at TripAdvisor

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