Sohoton Cove tour from Siargao: the jellyfish lagoon, caves and what to expect

A cave that snores with the tide, a hidden cove you can only slip into at low water and a lagoon full of jellyfish that you swim among in nothing but a life jacket. Is the Sohoton Cove tour worth the long boat ride from Siargao, do the jellyfish really not sting, and when are they actually there? I spent a day on it, and the jellyfish lagoon was the highlight of my time on the island.

Sohoton Cove is a hidden world of limestone islets, sea caves and jade-green lagoons on Bucas Grande Island, a two-hour boat ride south-west of Siargao. A day trip there takes you swimming into a cave that “snores”, through a narrow passage into the cove, and into Tojoman Lagoon, one of the few places in the world where you can swim among thousands of jellyfish that are harmless to humans.

I did the shared Sohoton Cove tour from General Luna the day after my land tour. It was a long, early day with a packed minivan and plenty of crowds, and I’d still 100% recommend it. This guide covers how the day works, what each stop is like, what it costs, who to book with and when to go for the jellyfish.

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Sohoton Cove tour at a glance

• Where: Bucas Grande Island, in the municipality of Socorro, Surigao del Norte, about two hours by boat from Siargao.
• How long: a full day, about 9 hours, with pick-up from 6.15am to 7.45am and back at about 4.30 to 5pm.
• Cost: shared tours from General Luna cost about ₱2,700 to ₱3,000 per person with lunch and fees; private tours from about ₱5,000 per person for a group of four.
• Stops: Hagukan (Snoring) Cave, Sohoton Cove, Magkukuob Cave, Tojoman jellyfish lagoon and a lunch stop.
• Jellyfish season: roughly March to June.
• Not for: anyone prone to seasickness, as the crossing can be rough.

What is Sohoton Cove?

“Sohoton” means “narrow opening” in Visayan, and that’s the point: the cove is a sheltered lagoon ringed by forested limestone, reached through a gap in the rock that’s only passable at the right tide. Around it, on Bucas Grande and the islets of Socorro, are sea caves, hidden lagoons and Tojoman Lagoon, where winds and currents trap huge numbers of jellyfish.

Don’t confuse it with Sohoton Natural Bridge National Park in Samar, which shares the name; you’ll see the two mixed up online.

How the Sohoton Cove tour works

Getting there

Shared tours pick you up from your accommodation in General Luna early in the morning and drive you to the port at Dapa, about 35 minutes away. Mine was one of those minivans packed to the roof, and I wasn’t sure my knees would ever recover. From Dapa, an outrigger boat takes about two hours to cross to Bucas Grande, stopping at Socorro for a compulsory coastguard check, where everyone needs a life jacket. Some tours land at Socorro and take a van to Dagatan Bay instead, then a short boat ride into the cove.

Expect delays: joiner tours wait for every guest and for the boat to fill, and mine started late. Bring a sun hat, which I forgot on my first day on Siargao and was very glad of on this one.

Hagukan (Snoring) Cave

The first stop is usually Hagukan Cave, named from haguk, the local word for snore. When the tide moves in and out, the water lapping against the roof makes a sound like an old man snoring. You swim in from the boat through an entrance that’s underwater at high tide, which is why the whole day is planned around low tide.

It’s very dark inside. Caves are not my favourite place to spend a long time, but it was really cool to see, and I’m glad I went in.

Sohoton Cove

From the cave, small boats slip through the narrow opening into the cove itself, a calm, enclosed lagoon of green water ringed by jungle-covered rock. You can swim around it, and it is incredibly beautiful: this is where it really does feel like you’ve found a deserted island.

Magkukuob Cave

Many tours stop at Magkukuob Cave, where you wade in chest-deep, climb up inside the rock and leave the only way possible: by jumping about 4 to 5 metres back into the sea. It’s optional, but it’s the adrenaline moment of the day.

Tojoman Lagoon: swimming with jellyfish

Tojoman Lagoon is the reason most people make the trip. Wind and currents trap thousands of jellyfish in this sheltered lagoon, mostly spotted jellyfish (Mastigias papua), with moon jellyfish at other times of year. They’re often called “stingless”, but that’s not quite right: they do have a sting, it’s just too weak to get through human skin, so they’re harmless to most people. Anyone with allergies should be careful.

You go in from a paddle boat, as motorboats aren’t allowed inside, and swim in a life jacket among them. Of course there’s a moment when you get in and think: are they actually going to get me? They don’t. I saw lots of white jellyfish, so translucent you can only just see them underwater, and tiny orange ones, and spent a happy 10 to 15 minutes swimming around chasing them. They were just chilling out in the water. It was my highlight of the day.

Lunch and the hidden lagoon

Lunch is a Filipino feast, often a boodle fight laid out on banana leaves, at Tiktikan Lagoon Cottages or Dagatan Bay Resort, depending on the day’s rotation. Both have slides, swings and jumping platforms into the water. Mine was a massive Filipino feast, and it was so good.

After lunch, my tour walked round the corner and up a path, with lots of stairs up and then down again, to a quiet hidden lagoon. Which lagoon you visit depends on where your tour stops for lunch.

My verdict

I’d 100% recommend the Sohoton Cove tour. The setting is spectacular: it’s like Robinson Crusoe meets water park, and every time you think you’ve had your once-in-a-lifetime moment, you turn a corner and you’re in another amazing place. My one gripe was the crowds and the non-stop photo-taking. The selfie game is out of control, so be patient and wait for a quieter moment in the lagoon.

How to book the Sohoton Cove tour

Shared (joiner) tours

Most people join a shared tour from General Luna, booked through their accommodation, an agency in town or directly on WhatsApp. Booking locally is cheaper than booking through the big online platforms. Shared tours include the van, the boat, a DOT-accredited guide, lunch, life jackets, and entrance and environmental fees, but check, as some budget tours leave the fees out.

• GL Island Tours (Siargao Island Tour): a long-running General Luna operator with shared and private Sohoton tours. WhatsApp +63 923 348 8333.
• Siargao Island Philippines: a DOT-accredited operator; shared tours about ₱2,800 per person, including lunch and fees. WhatsApp +63 919 647 6677.
• SiargaoIslandHopping.com: shared tours from about ₱3,000 per person. Phone 0917 174 5705.

Private tours

A private tour costs from about ₱5,000 per person for a group of four, or ₱8,000 per person for two, through GL Island Tours. A private tour is worth it if you want to set your own pace in the lagoons, avoid waiting for other guests or time your visit to beat the crowds.

What it costs

Option	Price
Shared tour from General Luna, with lunch and fees	About ₱2,700 to ₱3,000 per person
Private tour, group of four	About ₱5,000 per person
Private tour, two people	About ₱8,000 per person
Mask rental on the boat	About ₱200

If your tour doesn’t include the park fees, budget a few hundred pesos per person in cash for the entrance, environmental and paddle-boat fees; sources quote anything from about ₱300 to ₱800, so ask when you book.

When to go

• For the jellyfish: the spotted jellyfish are most abundant from about March to June. I went in May and saw plenty. Outside those months there may be few, or only moon jellyfish, so ask your operator before booking if they’re the reason you’re going.
• For calm seas: the crossing is roughest from November to February, during the north-east monsoon, and trips are cancelled when the coastguard raises a storm warning. Good operators refund in full if the sailing is cancelled.
• Tides: tours are timed around low tide for Hagukan and the cove entrance, so leave the scheduling to your operator.

Rules

• Life jackets and accredited guides are compulsory throughout.
• Don’t touch, scoop up or splash around the jellyfish, and don’t jump into the jellyfish lagoon. They’re fragile.
• Keep sun cream to a minimum before swimming in the lagoon, and use reef-safe sun cream if you need it.
• Boats into the cove are small, carrying about six visitors and two guides.
• Tours aren’t recommended for people with heart conditions, high blood pressure or asthma, or during pregnancy.

What to bring

• Cash, as there are no ATMs on Bucas Grande.
• A dry bag for your phone and camera, as the boat ride is wet.
• Water shoes, for the rocks and cave entrances.
• A sun hat, sun cream and a windbreaker for the crossing.
• Seasickness tablets if you need them, and sit in the middle of the boat, as the front gets soaked.
• Your own mask, and earplugs or headphones for the loud boat engine.
• A towel and water. Snacks on the island cost more than in General Luna.

Recommended tours

• Siargao: Sohoton Cove day tour with lunch: The shared tour run by GL Island Tours, with lunch and pick-up in General Luna.
• Sohoton Cove: swim with jellyfish and explore hidden lagoons: A full day covering the caves, the cove and Tojoman Lagoon.
• Sohoton Cove and Dagatan Bay private tour: Your own boat and guide, via Dagatan Bay.

Map

Read next

• Siargao land tour: what’s included, prices and tips
• Sugba Lagoon, Siargao: how to visit, prices and tips
• Siargao travel guide
• 3 days in Siargao
• The perfect 3-week Philippines itinerary
• Philippines packing list

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