Interesting Places in Agusan del Sur

*AUTHOR’S NOTE – Many of us Americans did not save enough for retirement. It’s time for a reality check. If we did not save for retirement, it’s time to make a plan. It’s better to start looking for a retirement place that we can afford AND enjoy. The longer we put off finding the right retirement place for us, the more difficult it will be to retire comfortably…soon.

My husband and I will be retiring in a couple of years. We are doing this research in advance for our own benefit. We are unsure if we will be able to afford a quality retirement life here in the U.S. when the right time comes, so we searched overseas.

We were looking for a country where the cost of living is affordable, where the climate is mild (not too hot/not too cold), where living is safe and secure, where people will welcome us, and where there is no language barrier. Many of the best options for enjoying an enormously enriched retirement lifestyle on even a very modest budget can be found overseas, especially in Asia.

Well, what do you know? We’ve found the country that’s exactly just that – with affordable cost of living, a tropical climate, relatively peaceful, American-friendly, and English-speaking people! We have agreed – our choice for our retirement is the Philippines! This little country seemed to be the best place for American retirement!

Knowing that there are other retirees on the same boat as we are, I am sharing this research with you. With the help of a native, I am presenting the Philippines to you, so you can pick your own location. I am sure anywhere we choose, we will enjoy a quality retirement life that we so deserve!

My posts will help you decide exactly where in the Philippines you would like to retire. We have different outlooks in life – some prefer to retire near the beach, some in the farm, some in the city, some couldn’t care less! You can view my posts about the different places in the Philippines, and find an area that you feel has a certain connection to you. Have a tour of the Philippines and visit that place, and find the connection, before you retire there permanently. I hope I can be of help.

INTERESTING PLACES

Agusan Marsh

Photo from: skyscrapercity.com

Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in the Philippines declared by the former President Fidel V. Ramos. The marshland acts like a sponge, as it is nestled in the midwaters of the Agusan River drainage basin. Within its lakes, several floating communities can be found. The sanctuary is home to the 21-foot, 6.4 meter saltwater crocodile Lolong, currently the world’s largest captive crocodile. – wikipedia.org See Photo Gallery…

Mount Magdiwata

Photo from: youtube.com

Witness the 7 Falls, 53 cascade and Nature at its best plus the biggest Bagrass Tree in the Philippines

The municipality of San Francisco is located along the Northeastern part of the province of Agusan del Sur, embraced with the God-gift Mt. Magdiwata that serves as a shield during catastrophic typhoons, the landmark of the province of Agusan del Sur and also the main source of potable water in the municipality. San Franciscans are fortunate enough to have this legendary mountain and its ranges, because aside from the abundance of its flora and fauna, Mt. Magdiwata recently was discovered to be rich in natural wonders that make it more interesting both in eco-tourism and scientific research. Several mountain trails had been established and each trail has its corresponding natural captivating beauty.

Mount Magdiwata has an area of 1,658 hectares and a height of 633 meters above sea level. In the base of the Mt. Magdiwata you will see the biggest Toog tree in the Philippines -(Family Name-lycythidaceae/Scientific Name-combretodenton quadrialutom) and measures365 meters in diameter & 65 meters in height. – sfads.net

Puting Buhangin Cave

Photo from: flickr.com/photos/raycielbeto/6281996128

Los Arcos Hot Springs

Camponay Waterfalls

Tagubay Falls

The Cave City

To the Lumads, this is known as Aningaw Cave, from Manobo term “Aningaw” which means echo because when somebody talks, the voice will echo due to the high-rise rocks that surround the cave. The external view of this cave is characterized by big and high-rise rocks of gothic design, while the inside is characterized by big chambers reinforced by century-old adjoining stalactites and stalagmites. These chambers are so spacious that can be developed into function rooms. One chamber portrayed the image of Virgin Mary and the other is the chamber of thousands of Bats while the ground is carpeted with thick guano (Bats manure) and a good natural fertilizer. The ceiling of the cave is a solid rock that can be compared to a special panel due to its artistic holes that serves as incubator of baby Bats and imaginative view of the cave. Few meters away from this cave is the giant and mysterious rock, sinking cave (Beto) and numerous unexplored caves. The area of the cave is about 5,000 square meters and generally a dry cave. – sfads.net

Lake Himbang

Photo from: viewphotos.org

Located in Talacogon,Agusan del Sur. It just more than an hour’s drive from the Philippine-Japan Friendship highway to Talacogon. The lake is an alternative destination to Agusan Marsh. The thrill of riding a motorized small boat or a wooden boat (made out of log) while admiring the tranquility and view of the lake added with a relaxing meal at he floating cottage are some of its attraction. – olivefil77.multiply.com

Bega Falls

Photo from: lovemindanao.blogspot.com

This is the Bega Falls. It is a 3 tiered falls. It is located in Mabuhay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, Philippines. It is an unexplored falls. From Poblacion it is 7 kilometers to Mabuhay and from Mabuhay it is 5 kilometers. – brickfish.com

Datu Anawa Kalipay Cave

This cave is also known as Inepan Cave, came from a manobo term “Inepan” which means subterranean cave where creek submerge inside the cave. Located at Brgy. Lucac, this cave is generally a wet cave.

For the Lumads, this is a ritual place of the “Baylan” (priest) and only a “Baylan” can enter this cave. This cave was claimed by Faustino Espana Sr., known as Datu Anawa Kalipay who was married to a Maguinda Clan. Datu Anawa died sometime in 1999 but his dead body did not decomposed up to the present. His dead body can be found at Sitio Durian, Lucac inside a nipa hut, a kilometer away from the cave. Upon request of the Espana family, the cave was named Datu Anawa Kalipay in honor of Faustino Espana Sr.

The cave is about 800 meters from the main entrance to the exit however the main chamber of the cave was partially explored. It was sealed by water and equipment is needed to pursue its explorations. It has two (2) story chambers full of fresh stalactites and stalagmites of different formations. The only Elephant Speleothem (cave rock formation) in the world can be found in this cave, a spaceship formation, different kinds of horn, an Altar like structure can be found inside the cave, albino bats in the innermost part of the cave and possibly the longest erosion cave in the Philippines if not in the entire world. – sfads.net

Kalingayan Hot Spring

Located along the national Highway of Sition Kalingayan, Barangay Consuelo, Bunawan, Agusan Del Sur. Local residents believe that the hot water can cure illness such as arthritis. There’s a wide presence of vegetative covering at the back of the spring which is predominantly covered with terminalia species and algae in water. – agusandelsur.gov.ph

Tugonon Falls

Photo from: skyscrapercity.com

The name is derived from the word “tugon” meaning “remind”. The falls located in Sna Lorenzo, Prosperidad with a towering trees and rare orchids, tempts the promise of a return. – agusandelsur.gov.ph

Binaba Falls

Photo from: skyscrapercity.com

It is one of the most attractive waterfalls in Agusan del Sur. It is located at the middle of the jungle with fresh waters coming from the natural springs. Right now, it is being developed to appear like a suitable swimming pool. Through this, peoples from the nearby towns started flocking and enjoy the clear cold water emitting from the deep of the earth flowing onto a rock of limestone. – skyscrapercity.com

Gibong River

Photo from: caraganon.com

It is an opening to the Binaba Falls that also provide as the water irrigation to several rice fields. River banks are rich of untouched vegetation as you make the journey the flowing river. – caraganon.com

Pagat Cave

Photo from: jimanna.com

It is a 30 minutes ride from the Municipality of San Francisco to Barangay Lucac proper then an hour’s hike to the cave entrance. A solution type cave bests for expert exploration and research activities. Presence of stalagmites and stalactites inside the cave; wherein “sayaw” bird nests can also be found. – agusandelsur.gov.ph

Bird Sanctuary at Lake Mambagongon

Photo from: flickr.com/photos/29344392@N02/2788771866

It can be found at the Municipality of La Paz, Agusan Del Sur. Recorded over 200 migratory birds from Northern Asia and Siberia, making the Philippines an important ecologically significant site. – agusandelsur.gov.ph

Lake Panlabuhan

Photo from: flickr.com/photos/dotcaraga/2332092335

A floodplain lake of Loreto, Agusan Del Sur. A swamp area found habitat for freshwater crocodiles and home of floating houses for indigenous people. – agusandelsur.gov.ph

Lake Ginhalinan & Lake Tugno

An hours drive from the wharf of Talacogon, Agusan Del Sur. A magnificent view of a climax wetland forests and wide presence of small shrimp subject for fish biology research. The lake is a major source of potable water for the community. It is best for boating and outdoor recreation for visitors and environmental research. – agusandelsur.gov.ph

Biggest To-og Tree

The oldest and tallest tree in the Philippines is found at the entrance gate of Magallanes town, east of Butuan City in Agusan del Norte province. This “Bita-og” tree (Calophyllum inophyllum), which was declared as the country’s official tree in 1998 by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), is said to be five centuries old. The tree, which was first recognized on December 7, 1980, measures 305.585 centimeters in bole diameter. – yousaytoo.com

The Philippines became the first Asian country to win FIVE major international beauty pageant crowns — two for Miss Universe, in 1969 and 1973, and three for Miss International, in 1965, 1970, and 1979.

Read More on Special Events and Festivals in Surigao del Sur

Read More on There’s Lots of Fun in Surigao del Sur