Caraga / Surigao del Norte
Surigao City
Surigao City is the capital of Surigao del Norte and the main port for anyone heading to Siargao or the Dinagat Islands. Two main operators, Evaristo and Sons Sea and JP Shipping Lines, run a combined six or more daily departures from the Surigao City port. Departure times span from 5:30 AM to 3:30 PM; morning sailings are more reliable and less weather-dependent. Fast craft takes about one and a half hours to General Luna in Siargao while RoRo ferries take four to five hours. Fares range from ₱420 to ₱520 in economy class. The Surigao City port has been managed by Globalport Terminals Inc. since December 2021. Lipata Port, about 27 kilometers north of the city, is a separate facility with RoRo service to San Ricardo in Southern Leyte via Montenegro and FastCat, taking one and a half hours for ₱464 to ₱560. Typhoon Odette struck in December 2021 and damaged waterfront infrastructure, stilt home communities, and schools. A boulevard and wharf rehabilitation project is ongoing. The city sits on the Surigao Strait, where strong currents make the June through September monsoon the most unpredictable for ferry operations. Morning sailings between 6 AM and 10 AM are roughly 80 percent more reliable than afternoon departures during this period. Surigao City’s port handles nickel ore exports as part of Caraga Region’s mining economy. Caraga produces about 60 percent of the Philippines’ national nickel output, with mining operations in Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte feeding cargo through the port. Mining trucks moving ore concentrates are visible near port-adjacent barangays.
Surigao City at a Glance
- Location:
- Surigao del Norte mainland at Surigao Strait, northeastern Mindanao
- Province:
- Capital of Surigao del Norte province, Caraga Region (Region XIII)
- Mayor:
- Pablo Yves L. Dumlao II
- Population:
- 177,333 (PSA POPCEN 2024)
- Income class:
- 2nd class
- Role:
- Primary gateway to Siargao Island and Dinagat Islands; Surigao Strait port and ferry hub; starting point for island travel in northeastern Mindanao
- Surigao Strait:
- Narrow channel with strong currents separating Mindanao from Leyte. It was the site of the 1944 Battle of Surigao Strait, one of the largest naval engagements in history.
- Ferry to Siargao:
- Evaristo and Sons Sea (4 daily) and JP Shipping Lines (2 daily) depart 5:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Fast craft: 1.5 hours to Dapa/General Luna. RoRo: 4 to 5 hours. Economy fares ₱420 to ₱520.
- Weather note:
- June through September monsoon brings rough seas and ferry cancellations on the Surigao Strait. Morning sailings (6 AM to 10 AM) are most reliable. Confirm with operators the day before.
- Surigao port area
- Surigao Strait
- Mabua pebble beach
Local context
Surigao City's current mayor reference on this page is Pablo Yves L. Dumlao II. Surigao City government lists Pablo Yves L. Dumlao II as city mayor.
Surigao City is linked to local place pages including Surigao port area, Mabua pebble beach. Those pages help separate the city guide from a generic location summary by giving readers concrete markets, parks, transport corridors, civic districts, and visitor routes to compare.
The city profile emphasizes Surigao port area, Surigao Strait, Mabua pebble beach. These points give the page a practical local frame instead of treating the city as only a name on a regional map.
Landmarks and orientation points
- Surigao port area
- Surigao Strait
- Mabua pebble beach
Frequently Asked Questions About Surigao City
Is Surigao City the same as Siargao?
No. Surigao City is a separate city on the Mindanao mainland. Siargao Island is reached by ferry from Surigao City. The journey takes approximately two to three hours by regular RoRo ferry or faster by fast craft. Surigao City is the capital of Surigao del Norte province and the primary port and services hub for both Siargao and Dinagat Islands. Most travelers to Siargao pass through Surigao City as their mainland departure point.
How do you get from Surigao City to Siargao?
To cross to Siargao, you can catch a ferry from the Surigao City Port, where Evaristo and Sons Sea provides four daily departures and JP Shipping Lines runs two. Scheduled departures span from 5:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Fast crafts complete the journey to Dapa in roughly 1.5 hours, while larger RoRo vessels take 4 to 5 hours. Standard ticket prices for economy seating are between ₱420 and ₱520. Traveling in the morning (6 AM to 10 AM) is recommended for calmer waters; afternoon crossings are frequently cancelled during the June-September monsoon due to high swells in the Surigao Strait. Always verify sailings with operators a day in advance during rough weather.
What region is Surigao City in?
Surigao City is the capital of Surigao del Norte province and belongs to Caraga Region (Region XIII) in northeastern Mindanao. It is a component city of Surigao del Norte, not a highly urbanized city. The Caraga region includes Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Dinagat Islands.
What is the Surigao Strait?
The Surigao Strait is a narrow body of water separating Mindanao from Leyte and the Visayas, with some of the strongest ocean currents in the Philippines. It was the site of the Battle of Surigao Strait in October 1944 during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, one of the largest naval battles in history, in which Allied forces decisively defeated Japanese battleships attempting to break through to Leyte. Today the strait is a ferry crossing, fishing ground, and mining logistics corridor.
What is the Bonok-Bonok Festival?
The Bonok-Bonok Maradjao Karadjao Festival is Surigao City’s major annual cultural celebration, held each August. It is a street dancing competition featuring elaborate costumes and choreography rooted in local coastal traditions. Bonok-bonok refers to small silver fish found in the Surigao Strait waters, reflecting the city’s fishing and sea identity. The festival draws performers and spectators from across Surigao del Norte.
What are the ferry options from Surigao to Dinagat Islands?
Ferries and RoRo vessels from Surigao City reach Dinagat Islands at Magsaysay (Loreto) or the provincial capital. Montenegro Shipping runs RoRo and fast craft departures twice daily, taking about two and a half hours for ₱170 to ₱255. Evaristo and Sons also covers Dinagat with trips taking about one and a half hours for ₱150 to ₱200. Smaller pumpboats depart around 5:30 AM for about ₱200 and take one and a half to two hours. There is no direct Butuan-to-Dinagat route; travelers route through Surigao City first by bus (three hours, ₱210 to ₱303 from Butuan) then take a Dinagat ferry.
What is Mabua Pebble Beach and how do you get there?
Mabua Pebble Beach is in Barangay Mabua, Surigao City, about 30 minutes from the city center. The beach has a distinctive pebble shoreline rather than sand, which is unusual for the Surigao coast. Entrance is free. Cottage rentals are available for ₱300 to ₱400 per day. A tricycle from the city center costs ₱50 to ₱100 one way. It is the most accessible natural site for travelers staying in Surigao before or after a Siargao ferry.
How do travelers use Surigao City as a stopover for Siargao?
Most travelers arriving by air fly into Cebu or Butuan, then take a bus to Surigao City. Bachelor Express operates buses from Butuan to Surigao, taking about three hours for ₱210 to ₱303. From Cagayan de Oro, Bachelor Express buses leave at 7:30 PM and 8:30 PM, reaching Surigao in about five hours for ₱640. Staying one night in Surigao before the Siargao ferry is the standard plan. Budget accommodation near the port starts around ₱1,000 to ₱1,500 per night in guesthouses. Taking the morning ferry (6 AM to 10 AM) avoids afternoon sea state uncertainty. Siargao also has a domestic airport with flights from Manila and Cebu when ferries are canceled by weather.
What happened to Surigao City after Typhoon Odette?
When Typhoon Odette hit in December 2021, it battered schools, coastal housing, and the city's port-side facilities. Reconstruction began in 2022, with the Boulevard and Wharf Rehabilitation Project focusing on restoring the damaged shoreline walkway. Additionally, a dedicated WASH campaign from late 2024 to August 2025 implemented climate-resilient water and sanitation systems in seaside neighborhoods. While urban and commercial spots have largely recovered, agricultural communities inland have been slower to bounce back.
Source note
Surigao City government lists Pablo Yves L. Dumlao II as city mayor.