Beaching it at Pebble Beach and Looc Beach, Surigao City

GPS waypoint: N9 48.826 E125 26.291
Location: Brgy. Mabua, Surigao City, Province of Surigao del Norte

Big, Smooth and Roundish
Pebble Beach is one of the more popular destinations in Surigao City for its unique beach. There are many resorts and nipa huts lining up the beach area that extends 2 kilometers south. Fortunately for me, I checked-in at the Mount Bagarabon Beach Resort, which is right smack on Pebble Beach. What makes this beach unique is its stony beach. There are is no sand - just smooth roundish-flattish gray stones ranging from the size of an egg to the size of a bowling ball. Even as you venture into the water, the stones still serve as the floor. These stones are charming and attractive - no wonder there are signs making it illegal to take-home the stones. It's also a challenge to walk on them. These stones are not wedged in place. They will shift and displace other stones as you step on them.

Pebble Beach, Surigao City

Snorkeling Down
I was curious until where the stones carpet the seafloor. I donned my snorkeling gear and headed down the water. I noticed the stones under the water are a bit larger than the ones on the beach. There is a little community of small fishes that call the spaces between the stones, 'home'. I even saw a white sea snake curled nicely in one of those spaces. I was already about 50 feet from the shore when the stones became sparse enough to accommodate sand with some sea urchins. The stones became increasingly sparse until there was just sand...but I was already way out from shore.

300 Steps
Adjacent to Pebble Beach to the north, and separated only by a bluff that is crossable by a series of concrete steps is Looc Beach. The steps are an attraction by themselves. It's about 300 steps uphill which can take the wind out of you. On top, there is a grotto of Mama Mary. Also on that summit, you can view the stretch of Pebble Beach that extends 2 kilometers south until Brgy. Ipil.

Looc Beach
Looc Beach is more private and secluded. Unlike Pebble Beach, there are no resorts here, no eating establishments, no commercial activity - just an empty beach. Its beach area consists of fine wash-out stones to stones similar to that of Pebble Beach. There are some big boulders close to the bluff where you could get some shade. There is a road that takes you to the back of the Looc Beach but it seems quite a walk away. People usually hang at Pebble and walk up the bluff to Looc as part of the 'Pebble Beach experience'.

Ending Thoughts
If you are already in Surigao, Pebble is quite a unique and interesting experience. In all my beach travels, Pebble Beach is only the 3rd beach I've encountered with such interesting big round stones. The first one is on a secluded beach area in Sabang, Palawan. The other one is in Campiri Rocks in Cortes. Both of these 'beaches' are not really that accessible to the public, which makes Pebble Beach more compelling.

--- TheLoneRider

ps - If you want me to objectively cover the features of your city or municipality or barangay for this website (fiesta, waterfall, mountain trail, lake, river, cave, food, islands, beach, etc.), email me.

How to Get to Pebble Beach from Surigao City

• take a tricycle to Palma Supermarket (in front of the Surigao City Public Market)
• take a Mabua Liner tricycle bound for Mabua. It will take you all the way to Mabua Pebble Beach, 20 mins, P20 if you are one of 7 passengers. If you want a special trip, it's P100/trip, one way.

• About Surigao City
• Hotels in Surigao City
• Things to do in Surigao City
• Culinary delicacies of Surigao City

SUGGESTED ITINERARY
(along the Surigao coastline from Surigao City to Surigao del Sur)

Surigao City

• Rite of Passage on Cantrasa Shoal Jul 12, 2013
• Karma Yoga in Surigao City July 5, 2013
• The Wooden Footbridge and Waterfall of Cantiasay, Surigao City July 1, 2013
• Outdoor Adventure Tour in Nonoc Island, Surigao City Jul 1-2, 2013
• The Deadly Bitaugan Whirlpool of Surigao City Jun 26, 2013
• Beaching it at Pebble Beach and Looc Beach, Surigao City Jun 22-24, 2013
• Exploring Silop Cave of Surigao City Jun 22, 2013
• Free-Diving the Coral Reef of Birok Islet, Surigao City June 12, 2013
• Boat Ride through the Floating Village of Day-asan June 12, 2013

Surigao del Norte

• Island Hopping Adventures in Tagana-an, Surigao del Norte July 23-25, 2013
• Exploring Siargao's Cloud 9 July 18-20, 2013
• Judging Del Carmen's Beauty Pagent and Street Dancing July 15-16, 2013
• Diving the Reef of Cagtinae, Surigao del Norte Jul 7, 2013

Cantilan

• Ayoke Island May 27, 2013
• Casarica Island May 27, 2013
• General Island May 27, 2013

Carmen

• Sua Cold Spring - in Brgy Esperanza. From main highway, get off at Madrid terminal and take motorcycle ride for the spring. If coming from Lanuza, get off at crossing of Cangcaban then take habal-habal for the spring
• Hubason River May 18, 2013

Lanuza

• Lanuza Marine Park and Sanctuary May 17, 2013 - coral reef, snorkeling, cafe. Also a short walk to Magkawas Falls.
• Magkawas Falls in Lanuza, Surigao del Sur May 16, 2013
• Silop Spring May 16, 2013
• Campamento Cave May 16, 2013
• Herrera Ancestral Home

Cortes

• Lubcon Falls - from Tandag, take jeep for Cantilan or Cortes and ask the driver to drop you off at Lubcon Falls, P25, 30 mins, 15 kms
• Burgos Togonan Falls
• Laswitan - strong waves crashing against the rocks and spilling over to fill up a rock pool (while you're dipping in it)
• Campiri Rocks - going over huge boulders, dipping in a rock pool, standing on a rock summit as waves hits and splash against it, and to cap all, you rest on the base of the light house perched on top of the rocks in full view of the magnificent Pacific Ocean
• Bakwitan Cave - a refuge by the towns folk during the Japanese occupation and during the typhoon of 2004
• Buybuyan Beach - small beach, almost like a personal beach, fine white sand (there are no commercial establishments on the beach...its undeveloped)
• Sihagan Beach - fine white sand for long walks on a beach (there are no commercial establishments on the beach...its undeveloped)
• Uba Marine Sanctuaries - scuba dive with gear from the LGU. At P250 per dive, you can't beat it!
• Capandan Marine Sanctuaries - scuba dive with gear from the LGU. At P250 per dive, you can't beat it!
• Balibadon Marine Sanctuary
• Mabahin Marine Sanctuary
• Tigao Marine Sanctuary
• Poblacion Marine Sanctuary

Tandag

• Exploring Dayao Cave of Tandag, Surigao del Sur May 12, 2013
• Brgy. Bongtud - Twin Linungao Island, Mancagangi Island & MPA (Marine Protected Area - fish sanctuary)

Cagwait

• white sand beaches

Salvacion

• Britania Islets May 6-8, 2013 - small islets dotting the bay. Island tour, beach, mangrove forest.

Hinatuan

• Enchanted River May 6, 2013
• Sibadan Fish Cage May 5, 2013

Mangagoy

• Tinuy-an Falls

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