Dinagat Islands Ultimate Travel Guide
Dinagat Islands had been on my radar for a while and I was just happy when my family decided to go to the island. And just like that, it went from a name on a map to a full-blown family trip. But honestly, you can do it as a solo-traveler and group travel with friends.
Here’s everything you need to know before you go.
Things to Know Before You Go
Best time to visit: Dinagat sits right at the edge of the Pacific, so weather can flip on you fast. We got lucky with mostly clear skies, but I’d still nudge you toward the drier months (roughly March to May) if you can help it, less rain drama, calmer seas for island hopping.
Money: Small province, small-town pricing on a lot of things, but bring enough cash. Boat operators, food stalls, and small resorts mostly run on cash.
Language: Cebuano/Bisaya will get you through almost everywhere. A smile and a “salamat” go a long way too.
Safety: We felt safe the entire trip, even moving around as a big group. Just the usual, watch your things on the boats, don’t wander off during island hopping, and keep sun protection non-negotiable.
Expectation: It is a small province, so please remember that a lot of things that are available in tourist places might not be available here. So manage you expectation and also plan well. Dinagat Islands is a small and less-developed province, so don’t expect the same conveniences and amenities you’d find in more popular tourist destinations. Some restaurants, shops, ATMs, transportation options, and other services may be limited or unavailable, especially once you’re out exploring the islands.
Our advice: Plan ahead, bring the essentials you’ll need, and keep your expectations realistic. Part of the charm of Dinagat Islands is that it’s still relatively untouched—and that’s exactly what makes the experience special.
How to Get to Dinagat Islands
This is the part that made me realize Dinagat is not a spontaneous weekend trip, you have to actually want it.
Our route: Cebu → Surigao City → San Jose, Dinagat Islands.
Ferry: Cebu to Surigao City
We took Cokaliong, departing from Pier 1. Fare was Php1,560, plus a Php150 booking fee (we booked through Wow Travel in Ayala Central Bloc). The trip runs overnight (7pm to 3am) so come prepared. Bring your own dinner and water, because the only food available onboard is instant noodles or chips. Not exactly a feast, so don’t rely on it if you’re traveling with kids or picky eaters.
Nine hours on a boat, overnight, with ten people and everyone’s luggage… yes, it’s a lot. But it’s also part of what makes this trip feel like an actual journey instead of just another destination you flew into.
Ferry: Surigao City to San Jose
From the boulevard in Surigao, you catch the ferry to San Jose. It’s Php240 per head for about 1.5 hours of travel to reach Dinagat.
Bao-bao from the pier
Once you land in San Jose, bao-bao are waiting just outside the pier. It’s Php45 per head to get to your accommodation, though this depends on how far you’re staying, so don’t be surprised if it shifts a bit depending on your drop-off point.
How to Get to Dinagat Islands from Siargao
If you’re coming from Siargao, there are two possible routes to Dinagat Islands: the direct Del Carmen–Cagdianao route or the Dapa–Surigao City–San Jose route.
Option 1: Direct from Del Carmen, Siargao
There is a direct sea route from Del Carmen, Siargao to Cagdianao, Dinagat Islands, which is the most convenient option when operating.
However, ferries operated by Nier Shipping Lines are currently suspended until further notice, so this direct route may not be available at the time of your trip. Be sure to check for the latest updates before planning your itinerary around this route.
Option 2: Via Surigao City
If the direct route is down, take a ferry or fast craft from Dapa, Siargao to Surigao City, then follow the same Surigao-to-San Jose ferry route above. It’s one extra transfer, but it’s the reliable fallback when the direct Siargao–Dinagat service isn’t operating.
Tip: Ferry schedules and routes in this part of the country shift with the weather, maintenance schedules, and operator availability. Whichever route you take, confirm with the shipping line close to your travel date rather than trusting an old schedule online.
Where to Stay?
We stayed at Vine’s Bed & Breakfast. Simple, comfortable, and honestly exactly what you need after a full day of bao-bao rides and island hopping, a place to just collapse and recharge before doing it all again the next day.
Breakfast is included, and they also have Wi-Fi, which is always a plus. But what I really liked was how convenient it was for island hopping: their docking area is right there, so you can easily head out for your island adventure without having to travel somewhere else first.
You can message them on Facebook to book your accommodation.
Other options:
Places to Visit in Dinagat Islands by Land
Once you’re in San Jose, your main way of getting around is the bao-bao, the local tricycle, basically. We were a group of ten, so one bao-bao was never going to cut it. We ended up renting two bao-bao at Php1,000 each to get everyone around for our land tour.
Tip: If you’re traveling with a big group like we did: split early, agree on the route together, and just accept that you will be squeezed in more than once. (Hahaha.) Nobody in our group complained though, it’s part of the charm.
With our two bao-bao rented for the day, we made our way through Dinagat’s land attractions:
PBMA Shrine
A peaceful stop, worth the visit if you want a quieter moment before the busier parts of the trip. The shrine is connected to the history and culture of the province, making it an interesting place to learn more about Dinagat beyond its beaches and islands. Take your time walking around and appreciating the surroundings before heading to your next stop.
Admission Fee: Free
Islander’s Castle
Yes, an actual castle-like structure. It photographs beautifully, and the kids in our group loved it. The unique architecture definitely makes it stand out from the usual tourist attractions you would expect to find on an island. It’s a fun and quick stop to add to your Dinagat land tour, especially if you enjoy taking photos.
Admission Fee: Php150/each
IJN Yamashiro, People’s Hall
A place that adds a bit of history to your Dinagat itinerary. If you’re into historical stories and local culture, this stop gives you a glimpse of another side of the province beyond just the beaches. It’s worth including in your land tour if you want to better understand the places and stories that have shaped Dinagat Islands.
Admission Fee: Free
Dinagat Islands Island Hopping
This is the part everyone in the family was most excited about, and it did not disappoint. We booked our island hopping through Mctrinz Cruizer Travel and Tours, and honestly, having someone handle the boats and the route for a group of ten was worth every peso.
Other options to book your island hopping tour:
If you’re planning a trip to Dinagat Islands, you’ll often hear that 2 full days of island hopping is ideal if you want to explore most of the beautiful spots the province has to offer.
DAY 1 – BASILISA TOUR
Since we only had one full day in Dinagat, we decided to make the most of it and squeeze in as much as we could into one day of island hopping.
And let me tell you… it was definitely worth it! Here are the places we visited:
Pagkawasan Garden Beach Resort
Tucked in Basilisa, this one gets its name from a local word that roughly translates to “liberty,” and it feels exactly like that once you arrive. Like most beaches in Dinagat, the sand is fine and the water is impressively clear. What made it memorable for us was the walk in a shaded, tree-lined path locals call a “fairy walk” that leads you to the shore before you even see the water. Once you’re there, expect small rock formations and a calm, unhurried vibe, the kind of stop where the kids wade around and the adults just sit and stare at the water for a while.
Bitaog Beach
If you ask locals which beach to prioritize on Unib Island, this is usually the one they point to first. Fine white sand, towering rock cliffs, and some of the clearest water we saw on the whole trip, it’s easy to see why tour operators consistently put this on the list. The water here is shallow and gentle enough for non-swimmers in our group, and there are rock formations and small caves worth exploring along the edges.
Duyos Beach Resort
On the southwestern side of the same island cluster, Duyos gave us a wide, breathing-room kind of beach. Think a broad white sand shoreline, a stretch of coconut palms, turquoise water, and a lovely sandbar, plus a scattering of cottages if you want to post up for a while. It tends to be one of the livelier stops on the island-hopping route, especially around lunchtime.
Biray Biray Paradise Island
Our last stop, and honestly, a fitting way to close out the day. It’s a quieter island with limited tourist traffic, which means the beach still feels untouched. Powdery sand, coconut trees swaying overhead, and calm, clear water made it the easiest place in our whole itinerary to just sit down and do nothing for a while, which, after a full day of hopping between islands, was exactly what the group needed.
Cabacungan Cove
We weren’t able to fit this one into our itinerary, but it’s worth flagging because several tour operators in the area include it on their island-hopping lists. It’s known for its striking limestone cliffs and a quiet forested backdrop, home to sea eagles and hornbills — so if it’s offered as part of your package, it might be worth the add-on.
DAY 2 – LIBJO TOUR
Blue Lagoon
This is the postcard shot everyone shows you before you even book your trip, and it earns it. Tucked inside Pangabangan Island and enclosed by towering limestone walls, the water shifts from deep blue to brilliant turquoise as you approach. Floating bamboo cottages rest on top of it, and you can rent a small bamboo raft to paddle around and take in the whole lagoon at your own pace. It’s calm, it’s sheltered, and it’s easily one of the most photographed spots in the whole province.
AO Beach View Deck
Just a short walk from the Blue Lagoon, this viewing deck rewards a bit of a climb with a sweeping panorama over the lagoon and the surrounding islets. If your legs still have it in them after a day of island hopping, it’s worth the extra few minutes up.
Hagakhak Rock Formation
Sharp, dramatic limestone cliffs rising straight out of the sea. This one is less about swimming (the currents here can be strong) and more about the view, your boat weaves right up to the rock walls so you can take in just how massive and weathered they are up close. Great for photos, and a genuinely striking stop even if you never touch the water.
Jelmars Resort
After the rawness of Hagakhak, Jelmars felt like a breather. It’s a sheltered lagoon ringed by limestone hills, with floating cottages and wooden boardwalks that make it an easy, relaxed lunch stop. The water here is calm enough that nobody in our group needed convincing to jump in.
Miracle Pool (Cave) / Pangabangan Beach
A subterranean pool tucked inside a shallow cave, with cool freshwater and rock formations that catch the light in a way that genuinely earns the name “miracle.” Keep an eye out for the calcite deposits scattered around, locals call them “white diamond.” Right next to it is Pangabangan Beach, a stretch of white sand where you can dry off and unwind after the cave.
Bababu Beach
A quiet, natural cove with a calm coastline that barely sees any crowds, the kind of beach where it genuinely feels like you have the whole place to yourselves. It also happens to be the jump-off point for the trek to Lake Bababu.
Lake Bababu
This was the adventure part of the day. A steep, sometimes muddy trail leads up from Bababu Beach, and depending on your pace it’s anywhere from a 30 to 45-minute trek. The reward at the top is worth every step: a meromictic lake, meaning its freshwater and saltwater layers never mix, ringed by limestone walls and thick forest. Underneath it all runs a 650-meter underwater cave connecting the lake to the open sea, reportedly the longest fully submerged cave in the country. Bring proper shoes, not slippers, and take your time on the way down too.
We didn’t get to squeeze in every single one with a group our size and our timeline, but each of these came up enough times from locals and other travelers that they’re worth building into your own itinerary.
Where to Eat
You cannot island hop all day and not talk about food. Here’s where we ate around Dinagat:
Somewhere between the second bao-bao ride and our third island stop, it hit me, this wasn’t really about ticking off another province on some personal list. It was about doing it with everyone.
If you’ve got a family that’s up for a little chaos and a lot of boat rides, Dinagat Islands is worth the layover-heavy trip to get there. It’s not the easiest province to reach from Cebu. But if I can wrangle ten people through bao-bao rentals and island hopping and come out the other side with everyone still smiling in the group photo, you can figure out your own version of this trip too.
Another province, ticked. See you at the next one.
Have you been to Dinagat Islands? Drop a comment below or tag us, we’d love to see your own bao-bao squad photos.
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