Dinagat
Dinagat Islands itinerary: 5 days, from the order I did it in
Photo: Sanelyn G. Adarne, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Five days on Dinagat Islands gives you an arrival day, two boat days, a day for Lake Bababu and a day in the mountains at the bonsai forest. This is the order I would do it in, built from the more than two weeks I spent on the island. For what each place is like, see my Dinagat Islands travel guide.
The split
Scroll across for the rest of the columns.
| Day | What | How |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive, settle in San Jose | Ferry, then a tricycle |
| 2 | Rock formations and the cove beyond | Boat |
| 3 | White-sand coves | Boat |
| 4 | Lake Bababu | Road, then a short steep hike |
| 5 | The bonsai forest | 4x4 pickup only |
Day 1: arrive and settle in San Jose
Take the ferry across, then a tricycle, here called a bubble, from the port to San Jose; the routes and fares are in how to get to Dinagat Islands. Find a carinderia for dinner and book a boatman for the next two days.
Day 2: the rock formations
The first boat day goes to rock formations carved by the waves, with some of the clearest water I have seen in the country. About 30 minutes further by boat is the stop that made me say it felt like stepping into a film.
Day 3: the white-sand coves
Coves with powder-white sand where the water stays shallow ten metres out. Bring food and water: there are no shops out there. If you want to sleep out, some of these beaches allow a tent; my remote beach camping guide is about the night I did that.
Every day I got surprised by the beautiful nature and the beautiful people on this island.
Day 4: Lake Bababu
Lake Bababu is in Basilisa (Wikipedia). The hike down took about 25 minutes, depending on your pace, and it is steep. The lake is meromictic: fresh water on top, salt water at the bottom. We saw a hornbill there. On our day, the owners of a coffee shop in San Jose first took us out by boat, a friend speared lunch in ten minutes, and we ate a boodle fight before the hike. That was a favour, not a tour, so plan the lake on its own.
Day 5: the bonsai forest
The road up to the bonsai forest is only possible by 4x4 pickup truck, so arrange one in San Jose the day before. At about 900 metres above sea level the trees stay small and there are thousands of pitcher plants.
If you have more days
- A night on a remote beach. Take a boat with a local who knows the outer beaches and camp. See camping on a remote beach in Dinagat.
- A rest day. I took one after the first boat days, to edit and rest.
I was really not planning to stay for this long.
The day trip I would skip
The shark sanctuary. We drove two and a half to three hours and saw two small sharks. In my video I say that by scooter it is close to impossible.
What it costs
A carinderia breakfast for two, vegetables, eggs, fried fish and coffee, cost us 180 pesos in total. Our room with air conditioning, a double bed and a sea view was very cheap. Boatmen and the 4x4 are agreed locally, so ask the price before you leave.
Before you go
- No signal and no Wi-Fi in many places. Download maps.
- Bring cash; there is not much to pay by card.
- Every island is reached by boat, and boats depend on the weather. Keep a spare day.
I am planning a small-group trip to Dinagat. The waitlist is free.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Dinagat Islands: Lake Bababu in Basilisa
- My YouTube video, 17 May 2026: The Philippines’ Most Underrated (and Misunderstood) Island
Questions people ask
How many days do you need in Dinagat?
Five days covers an arrival day, the two boat days, Lake Bababu and the bonsai forest. I planned a short stay and stayed more than two weeks.
Can you do Dinagat as a day trip from Siargao?
Not well. Every sight is reached by boat or a long road, so you need nights on the island. San Jose is the usual base.
What should I skip in Dinagat?
The shark sanctuary, for me: two and a half to three hours of driving for two small sharks.
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