ARE YOU OKAY? AYOKE! OK!
Amazing is an understatement to describe this island I thought can only be seen on paintings or dream. If I would compared Ayoke Island to a lady, she would be the most beautiful of all, stunning, sexy and offers a different kind of charm, the kind that you would like to spend your whole life with. But then, it is only an island. 🙂
The most virgin beach i ever seen in the Philippines
It is not part of my planned #isangdaan itinerary but just like Adams in Ilocos Norte, I changed my travel plans and join the trip to Ayoke island.
Surf spot, white sand, rockies and coconut trees. What more can you ask for?
I’m kinda surprised that Surigao del Sur offers lots of white sand island beaches. Three days ago on my way to Cantilan from Socorro, Surigao del Norte, I have seen lots of beautiful islands with patches of white sand beaches. This is what I love when traveling to unknown areas. I bet you can’t finger-point Cantilan in your Philippine map. 😉
So here’s some facts I can share about Ayoke Island, Cantilan, Surigao del Sur
1. It’s about 30-45 minutes boat ride from Cantilan port. It’s best to visit the island from Late March to early June or be prepared for bug waves. (Boat rental cost Php1000-1500, good for 8pax)
2. Ayoke Island is a marine protected area. Bring your snorkling gears and be amazed on what’s under the sea.
ayoke island
3. There is a resort in the island, managed by a Filipina married to a foriegner. I’m not sure of the rates. You can camp in the island though, just look for the Bgry. Captain. It is very safe and people are friendly.
Me having a photo souvenir with local kids
4. They have the sweetest buko juice ever! There is also a water supply, so don’t worry of potable water.
5. A natural seawall protects the island from the big waves. It was the first time I saw a seawall like that, nature is so amazing here.
natural seawall, like it was engineered to stop the waves
Cathe, walking on some portion of the natural seawall. Ayoke Cathe?
6. The island has incredible rock formations too.
Che Ravelo (on top of some rock formations), one of the few who spearheads marine protection in the island
7. During rainy season, the waves are dangerous for fishermen to go out, so there are times wherein the locals are stuck in the island. Good thing they have bread fruit tree. Its a good substitute for rice. It tastes like kamoteng kahoy.
coconut trees and bread fruit trees
8. Since there is a surf spot in eastern side the island, kids here know how to ride the waves. Where do they get there surfboard? They make their own using the bread fruit tree.
9. Livelihood here are fishing and copra-farming.
A copra farmer doing waiting for the copra to be cooked
10. There is no electricity on the island. But some houses have solar-panels. Coolness!
You can check out more photos on my Facebook page: JOURNEYINGJAMESFB- Ayoke Island
Where in the map is Ayoke island?
Ayoke Island in Mindanao map
Update: Wish Ko Lang visited this island too after IÂ referred it to them. Glad they were able to help the community and bring the surfer Paolo Soler too.
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I visited Ayoke Island in Cantilan, Surigao del Sur during Day 54 of ISANG DAAN Journey. Thank you so much Cathe for tagging me along to this trip.
#ISANGDAAN is a personal journey and challenge to backpack around the Philippines the cheapest way possible for 100 days.
If you want real time updates, you can check my facebook page: www.facebook.com/journeyingjames or follow me on twitter: @journeyingjames
If you want to follow my steps, I have an interactive map- ISANGDAAN Journey map.
you missed to post the photo of the kids riding on their colo surf boards! hehehe 🙂
yes kate, i dont have a nice photo of kids using the colo surf boards
Wow!
another virgin island to explore!! :)) at sumosolar panel ang mga bahay!
cool! Parang nice yung natural seawall!
This place is featured in “Wish ko lang” GMA last saturday the new “surfing destination” as per Paolo Soler …. Super ganda nga talaga ng island..nakakatuwa yung nga bata yung surf board nila gawa lang sa kahoy astig…! i envy u james…hehehe =)
Nice find, James. Very beautiful lady. Oh wait, it’s an island. 😉
OK na OK ang Ayoke bai!
You’re right about amazing being an understatement. this is a great place to go to just to escape from all the busy life of the City! I’m definitely placing this on my travel list. The sand looks very inviting 😀
OMG.. this place is a sure heaven… i hope i get to go there this year too… nainlove na naman ako… hai… im so happy that i get to see your blogs and it serves as my immediate portkey to the place… i will make sure to make time to see those places too…
just really gratitude and big sighs for this post.. 🙂 thanks james and enjoy the rest of your trip… 🙂 how bout a welcome treat when you get back here.. 🙂
ok na ok to ah! 🙂 No electricity.. pero solar power ung iba… interesting. 🙂
yep, so astig!
good find james! pwede ka magstay jan kahit isang linggo!
thanks pre! hope yoiu can visit this place, take photos and document the local life. pwedeng-pwede isang linggo
uy, eto pala ang cantillan! im currently here in surigao! 🙂
wow…hope to visit ayoke this month of May, i’m lived before in cantilan but sad to say that i never visit this place…hope this vacation of mine i can explore this virgin island name ayoke!…hope to see u guys outhere…thanks james for this beautiful shots of ayoke it really challenge me to visit ayoke! marajaw karajaw ang AYOKE tara na….!!!
yep, marajaw ang ayoke. most of the locals in cantilan haven’t been to ayoke din.
Thx a lot sir for putting our simple place in your itinerary
I’m from Ayoke but right now dito ako sa Manila driving a taxi for a living but then I want and i would retire on that Lovely Island.
hi sir, that’s good to know. i hope i can visit you when yoiu are back in ayoke. really love that island
Tama, to nga yung na feature sa Wish Ko lang Bro. We’re planning to visit Surigao del Sur on oct. 19. Sana mapuntahan nmin to.
i hope you can add this to your list jeff!
that’s a nice place………thanks na naka visit ka sa lugar namin
Good day Sir James, you know just the other day I had 3 Beautiful lady passenger, mga working ladies and they too went to the places na pinuntahan mo ( mga followers mo yata sa twitter) but sad to say di nila napuntahan an amo lugar ( our place kasi malapit na dumating ang bagyo (Paul just behind them for less than a day) pinauwi na sila. Nag island hoping lang sila sa Siargao particularly sa Cloud 9
hmmmm… sayang noh? im glad they are safe
a friend brought me here last October 2014 and i was glad he really insisted that we’ll go there (well he knows i’m kinda adrenaline junkie, not to mention how i am very much fascinated with waves :))!!! the ride there was scary though but it was all worth the fun and wavy boat-ride!!!! 🙂 😉