Blue Lagoon/Pangabangan Tidal Pool in Libjo, Dinagat Islands

Last Updated on May 16, 2023 by Tina

Back in 2018, one of Byahe ni Drew’s episodes featured the Province of Dinagat Islands. One of the tourist destinations featured was the Blue Lagoon in Libjo. We were able to visit this place during our all-girls island hopping trip on Labor Day.

Where is Blue Lagoon?

Blue Lagoon, also known as Pangabangan Tidal Pool, is located on Pangabangan Island, a distance away from the coastal barangay of Magsaysay in Libjo, Dinagat Islands. It is about three hour’s boat ride from Surigao City, the capital of Surigao del Norte.

Blue Lagoon Cost

The entrance fee to the resort in 2018 was Php 10.00 ($ 0.20 USD) per head. Open-air cottages are available and cost Php 50.00 ($ 1 USD). Cottages for an overnight stay are not available but you can camp on the lawn under the coconut trees. Comfort/shower rooms are available but as of our visit, they don’t have running water. But you can order water from the caretakers of the resort and they will fetch it for you at the nearby coastal barangay. A pail of water costs Php 10.00 ($ 0.20 USD). There are 2 huts in the resort selling cold drinks, chips, and biscuits but the vendors leave the place at 5:00 in the afternoon.

The moment I got off the boat and saw the lagoon, I was speechless. The crystal clear blue water was breathtaking. I thought I already saw the best in Dinagat when I saw Bitaog Beach, but Blue Lagoon is also beautiful in a different way. What’s more, it is not crowded.

The View from the Top

There is a big rock formation in the resort which you can climb to see a better view of the lagoon. I was too excited to see to rest of the place so as soon as I finished eating lunch, I climbed the rock. Halfway to the top of the rock formation, there is a viewing deck.

From the viewing deck, I made my way to the top. Getting there requires climbing up jagged rocks, and it was a bit scary, but I wanted to know what it looks like up there so I went on. And I’m glad I did. Look at the pictures below to know why.

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The Lagoon

After our photography session at the top, it was time to enjoy the water. There were some coral fragments in the sand so it is advisable to wear beach shoes though it won’t cause you any harm if you go there barefoot. The water was so clear and clean; I saw some tiny fish swimming with us.

Drone Shots of Blue Lagoon and the Surrounding Areas from Princess Parubrub

How to Get There:

From Manila to Surigao City:

As of the moment, there are no direct flights to Surigao City. You can take a flight from Manila to Cebu then Cebu to Surigao City. Alternatively, you can take a flight from Manila to Butuan City, and from Butuan take a van or bus to Surigao City. Vans bound for Surigao City are available at the airport and near the bus terminal.

For the bus, you need to ride a multicab at the airport to get to the bus terminal. The bus’s name is Bachelor. Look for the one bound for Surigao City. The travel time for the van is around 2.5 to 3 hours while it takes 4 hours for the bus. However, I prefer taking the bus since it is more comfortable and safer (vans are overloaded).

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From Surigao City to Dinagat Islands:

Most of the people visiting Blue Lagoon take a passenger boat from the boulevard in Surigao City (at the back of Hotel Tavern) en route to San Jose, the capital town of Dinagat. The name of the boat bound to San Jose is News MPC. In 2018, the earliest schedule to San Jose was 5:00 AM and the latest boat depart at 2:00 PM. I am not sure if it is still the same until now. Boat fare to San Jose back then was around Php 200.00 ($ 4 USD). The boat ride takes around 1.5 hours, depending on the sea condition. From there, they hire a boat for an island hopping tour.

For our island hopping trip, our starting point was Nonoc Island (all of us were working in Nonoc Island). As usual, we hired Kuya Jimmy for the trip. Our island hopping tour that day includes going to Cabacongan Beach and Miracle Pool. If interested, you can arrange a trip with him and he’ll pick you up at Punta Bilang-bilang in Surigao City. His contact number is +639071178718.