Travel Magazine

Balanghai Kanlunes in Bucas Grande Island

By Mustachio @mustachio2011
One can explore Sohoton Cove in Bucas Grande Island as a day trip from Siargao. Since we intended to stay a night in Bucas Grande, we passed up on the 4500-peso day trip. Instead, we took the passenger boat from Dapa in Siargao at 8AM to Socorro in Bucas Grande. The 1.5-hour boat ride to Socorro costs Php100.
We already had a contact in Bucas Grande who would pick us up at Socorro. Otherwise, we could have just looked for a pumpboat in Socorro that could take us to Sohoton. From Socorro, the father and son team whom we hired to take us to Sohoton Cove first took us to Balanghai Kanlunes where we would be staying in an open cabana for a night.
Balanghai Kanlunes in Bucas Grande IslandSon and father
There are about ten open cabanas for rent (Php1000 a night) at Balanghai Kanlunes. Each cabana has a mattress, pillows, blanket, mosquito net, and tarp (in case of rain). There are also air-conditioned cottages for Php2500 per.
Balanghai Kanlunes in Bucas Grande IslandThe cabanas
Two toilets and showers are shared by ten cabanas. When the toilets/showers in the cottages are in use, the water at the common toilets/showers stops flowing. Our skin would glitter with salt before we get the chance to take a shower.
If you didn't bring food, then the only option is to eat at Balanghai Kanlunes's own restaurant. The food there would cost an arm and a leg: our lunch of two kilos of fish (which looked like it was only a kilo) and rice for three persons cost us Php900. Drinking water though is free.
Balanghai Kanlunes in Bucas Grande IslandWanna wake up to this?
On the upside, the best part about staying at Balanghai Kanlunes is getting lulled to sleep by the crashing waves, the everlasting aircon(tinuous) in the cabana, and then waking up with a view.
So we got robbed by two kilos of fish, grew salt glitters on our skin, and snoozed in the cabana. What else happened to us at Balanghai Kanlunes? We saw the clear blue sea and the islands from the window of an empty wooden cottage on a hill on one side of Balanghai.
Balanghai Kanlunes in Bucas Grande Island
We appreciated the calm and quiet of a smaller beach on the west side.
Balanghai Kanlunes in Bucas Grande Island
And took a photo of the cottages of Club Tara Resort. Guests of Balanghai Kanlunes can go sight-see at Club Tara Resort for free (non-Balanghai-guests have to pay an entrance fee of Php20). A pathway behind Balanghai leads to Club Tara. We did not take this path, instead dropped by during our boat tour.
Balanghai Kanlunes in Bucas Grande IslandCottages at Club Tara Resort
Balanghai Kanlunes in Bucas Grande Island
Balanghai KanlunesFredie Rosillo 0935 418 3244 / 0946 696 3120
* Boat transfers/tour was also arranged by Mr Rosillo
Three Days in Siargao:
In and Around Siargao Island
La Isla Siargao Bar and Grill
Magpupungko Then and Now
Three Little IslandsSkales Greek Restaurant
Siargao's Neighbor, Bucas Grande:
Balanghai Kanlunes in Bucas Grande Island (you're here!)
(more soon)

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