to butuan with a backpack (part 1 of 5)

More than a month after I had taken this vacation, I am ready to talk about it. Or what I remember from it.

Mid last year, my travel buddy emailed me with a simple question: "Nakapunta ka na ng Butuan?". I replied with, "Kelan? Magkano?". Turns out, one of his batchmates had over booked a Butuan trip. By mid-September, we had drafted a loose itinerary but the group head count had gone down to around 5. A week before we were set to leave the detailed schedule was finally completed. But there were still no final confirmation from the group. Two days before our flight we had learned that none of the original people set to travel were going. The pair of us decided to go through with it, not being ones who would throw away free plane tickets. Since only 2 of us were going, we didn't pre-book any of our lodging or activities and decided just to wing it once we got there, in true backpacking style.

Butuan is located in the province of Agusan del Norte, part of the CARAGA region. We arrived at Bacasi Airport in Butuan at 1500, without any clue on where to go. Fortunately, there was Tourist Assistance Desk near the entrance and a very helpful man gave us instructions on how to get to the bus terminal and gave us a beautiful Butuan map. We rode a multicab outside the airport which will bring us to the Butuan Bus Terminal. When we got to the terminal, we searched for an airconditioned bus going to Mangagoy which will pass by our destination, Claver. Some locals told us that it would be easier to take a bus going to Surigao and alight at Badas junction, then take a van going to Claver, especially since it was going to be near nightfall. We took their advice and bought some snacks before riding a non-airconditioned (seemed to be the more popular choice) bus bound for Surigao.

Bus bound for Surigao at the Butuan Terminal

As we were exiting Butuan, we passed by a beautiful cable-stayed bridge (which turned out to be the Diosdado Macapagal Bridge) which was such a sight to begin our journey. We arrive at the Badas junction at around 1800 and were a bit shocked when we saw L300 vans and Starex vans would approach at high speed and have their doors slide open as they approached, as if to kidnap us. We soon learned that these vans were public transport and they had intended to pick us up as paying passengers. Since then, we referred to these type of transport as "kidnap vans". It took a while before a non-full van going to Claver came our way. We asked to be dropped off at Revlun Pension (pre-researched) so we could check in for the night. We were checked in by 1930 and had dropped our bags off in our room.

Diosdado Macapagal Bridge and the common sights you will pass by on the way to Surigao

Room at Revlun Pension

We freshened up a little and went out to get some dinner at a nearby restaurant recommended by the receptionist. G-ann's Diner was a very short walk from the pension, and it was a big place, like an event center of sorts. We checked the menu and was bit surprised with the steep price, but later learned that the servings were good for 3 to 4 people. We ordered dinner and even baon for lunch during our island hopping the next day.

Signage of G-Ann's Diner

After eating, we returned to the pension to get cleaned up and have some rest before beginning our adventure the next day.

Day 1 Expenses:

NAIA3 Terminal Fee	Php200.00
Multicab to Bus Station	Php20.00
Bus to Badas Junction	Php120.00
Van from Badas to Claver	Php60.00
Revlun Pension	Php400.00		Room for 2 @ Php800, since there were no more Php600 rooms available
Dinner at G-Ann's	Php150.00		We had a feast sice we were hungry from the travel. This also included Buttered Chicken for baon the next day
Total for Day 01	Php950.00
Total for the trip	Php950.00

Watch out for our adventures at Sohoton National Park and the Bucas Grande Group of Islands! :)

<3, dee

PS, the photos courtesy of my travel buddy. You know who you are. ;)