Hinatuan Enchanted River, Surigao Del Sur | The Unfathomable Rio Encantado

November 15, 2022November 17, 2022 Rex Lim Lim 2022, ADVENTURE, BLOG, BUDGET, GUIDE, HOW TO, ITINERARY, TOURIST SPOTS, TRANSIT PINAS

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Hinatuan, Surigao Del Sur: A natural wonder like no other, Hinatuan Enchanted River seems to just have popped up from the ground to send its deep sapphire-like waters back into the Hinatuan Bay.

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Rio Encantado

Long been considered sacred by the locals, the Hinatuan Enchanted River is still an enigma that piques the curiosity of tourists all around the country.

Barely long enough to be considered a river, the Hinatuan Enchanted River is about 300 meters long and opens up to an estuary where salt water from the Philippine sea mixes with the spring water from the river.

The river’s unusual colors and unexplored depths have inspired various local legends. From fairies granting it its unusual bewitching sapphire to jade color, fishes that are impossible to catch, down to elementals protecting the place.

Moreover, the moniker “enchanted river” was coined from the poem Rio Encantado written by the diplomat Modesto Farolan (1900-1979).

Expectation versus Reality

Upon arrival at the famed river, I felt mixed emotions because of my expectations versus what I had seen there in reality. I have long been misled that it was the deepest in the country all throughout, but with the same angled shots I saw on social media – it was actually just a small portion.

Nonetheless, I was in for a treat as the mystical river is surrounded by thick jungle vines, orchids, and ferns. Fishes of different shapes and sizes seem to pop out of nowhere and then magically vanish in this small area of the river.

Also, swimming in the deepest part of the Hinatuan Enchanted River was prohibited last 2017, and you can only swim 10 meters away from it – at the shallower parts to conserve the integrity of the bluish waters.

Transit Pinas suggests adding other destinations aside from the Hinatuan Enchanted River to maximize your trip. Consider visiting on a weekday, since this tourist trap gets really crowded during the weekend.

Unfathomable

There are a lot of stories about the origins of the water of the Hinatuan Enchanted River and how it got its color. Because of this, the first diving exploration was done in 1999 then the next one was carried out in 2010 and so on.

Apparently, the said unfathomable depth in the deepest portion is estimated to be around 82 meters deep or more. In addition, a subterranean cave with a large chamber at approximately 30 meters below was also discovered where the fish might be coming from.

How to Get There

Hinatuan Enchanted River is located in Brgy. Talisay, Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur

From Hinatuan town proper, you can charter a motorbike (habal-habal) or tuktuk to take you to the enchanted river

Travel time is around 30 minutes and 15.2 kilometers from the town proper. Rates start at 400-600php round trip
Fees at Hinatuan Enchanted River are as follows (as of September 2022):
- Entrance Fee – 50php/head
- Life vest Rental – 15php/head/hour (If you are going to swim)
- Picnic Table – 100php/group
Transit Pinas suggests availing of Kuya Edchie Robles services to maximize your trip in Surigao Del Sur. His day tour rate starts at 1500php per day for 1-2 pax aboard his tuktuk service with the following destinations on a 2D1N trip:
- DAY 01
  - Tinuy-an Falls
  - Enchanted River
  - Sibadan Fish Cage
  - I Love Bislig Signage
  - Doll House Museum
  - Sian Falls
- DAY 02
  - Britania Group of Islands (Hagonoy, Naked, Boslon, and Hiyor-Hiyoran)
  - Libuacan Cold Spings
  - Bogac Cold Springs
  - Wakat Cave
  - Bao-Bao Falls
- Contact Details:
  - Mobile: 0926 552 9636 / 0938 199 5953
  - Facebook: Edchie D Robles
- The best time to visit is during noon time, where the fish are fed at exactly 12:00nn
- Signal and data reception is not available for all networks
- Stores selling meals and souvenirs are present in the area