Mindanao
Enchanted River, Hinatuan: how to visit and what to check
Photo: Colneri001, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The Enchanted River is a bright blue, spring-fed river about 15 km from the centre of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur: get to Hinatuan town by van or bus from Butuan, Surigao City or Davao, then it is about 30 minutes by habal-habal, according to a May 2025 blog. It is on the Pacific side of Mindanao. People told me to go there more than anywhere else when I asked on TikTok and Instagram, so I went. The water is so clear it looks like an illusion, and it does not feel real until you are standing next to it. Everyone swimming was happy.
The practical details below come from travel guides and news reports, with the source for each.
Getting there
The river is about 15 km from Hinatuan town, so first get to Hinatuan.
Scroll across for the rest of the columns.
| From | By | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butuan | Van or bus | 5 to 6 hours | ₱350 to 450 |
| Surigao City | Bus via Tandag and Bislig | 4 to 5 hours | ₱400 to 500 |
| Davao | Bus to Bislig, then van or jeepney | 6 to 8 hours, then 1 to 1.5 hours | ₱600 to 700, then ₱100 to 150 |
These figures are from Lakbay Pinas, May 2025.
From Hinatuan town, a habal-habal to the river takes about 30 minutes and cost ₱300 to 600 round trip in 2022 (Transit Pinas, 2022). Confirm your ride back before you go in, and plan to be back in Hinatuan before dusk.
How the route connects
- ButuanVan or bus · 5–6 hr
- HinatuantownHabal-habal · about 30 min
- Enchanted Riverabout 15 km from town
Butuan route and times from Lakbay Pinas, May 2025; the habal-habal time is from Transit Pinas, 2022 and others. Surigao City and Davao routes are in the table above.
Fees, hours and rules
Fees. Entrance is ₱50 for locals and ₱100 for foreigners, plus a ₱10 environmental fee. A life vest costs ₱15 to 50 an hour and a cottage ₱100 to 300 (Lakbay Pinas, May 2025). Budget ₱100 to 150 per person for entrance and a vest.
Hours. Lakbay Pinas lists 8:00 to 17:00, with the last entry at 16:00.
Rules. Life jackets are required. The deep blue lagoon has been closed to swimming since 5 March 2017, after visitors broke limestone and blocked the spring mouth, which let seawater in (Filipino Cave Divers, March 2017). People swim in a shallower area downstream. A December 2023 report lists more rules: no clinging to the limestone, no cliff jumping near the cave entrance and no fishing along the route (Asia News Network).
The river was closed on 4 December 2023 after a magnitude 7.2 earthquake and landslide check, and again on 19 December after a storm. It reopened on 30 December 2023. Check for a current closure before you travel.
About the water
The pool is deep. Strong currents and sudden drop-offs are the reason people swim only in the designated areas. After the spring was blocked, the fresh water came back once the lagoon was closed to swimmers.
Where to stay and what else is near
Hinatuan has several resorts and hostels. The Surigao del Sur tourism page lists Lodestone Shores Resort, Sibadan Fish Cage and Resort, Rock Island Resort and Hinatuan Adventure Park. A 2025 blog quotes ₱300 to 800 for hostels and ₱1,000 to 2,000 for resort rooms. Other places to see nearby are Tinuy-an Falls in Bislig, Harip Beach and the Britania islands.
The official Provincial Tourist Assistance Center in Aquino, Hinatuan is listed at 0930 370 3781 on the provincial page.
Questions people ask
Where is the Enchanted River?
In Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, about 15 km from the town centre. The river flows out to Hinatuan Bay, facing the Pacific.
How do you get to the Enchanted River?
Get to Hinatuan town first: 5 to 6 hours by van or bus from Butuan, 4 to 5 hours from Surigao City or from Davao 6 to 8 hours by bus to Bislig and then 1 to 1.5 hours by van or jeepney, according to a May 2025 blog. From town it is about 30 minutes by habal-habal.
How much does the Enchanted River cost?
Entrance is ₱50 for locals and ₱100 for foreigners, plus a ₱10 environmental fee, and a life vest costs ₱15 to ₱50 an hour (Lakbay Pinas, May 2025).
Can you swim in the Enchanted River?
Yes, in the shallower part. Life jackets are required, and swimmers have not been allowed in the deep blue lagoon since March 2017.
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