Enchanted River, Surigao Del Sur, Philippines

Enchanted River, Hinatuan Surigao Del Sur

The Enchanted River is such a hidden paradise. This spectacular blue tarn fills the deep crevice of the forest wall. The deepest portion of the river in the middle was measured 24 meters, but, another wondrous feature is the deep hole where the water of the Pacific Sea percolates. This is said to be the channel of the big fishes passing from the sea to the river. During a calm moment of the day, when nobody is swimming or diving around, those big fishes come out and you can gently toss bread crumbs to feed them. With a big awe, it’s been said that no one has ever caught even one of these vast marine fishes, neither by hand nor by net. It more curious why they prohibit anybody to take a swim beyond 6pm. It’s making the place more mysterious, huh. Barangay Cambatong, where the river is found, is steeped in oral tradition. And the lore of how the water body got its mystical tint is not hard to believe. Legend has it that one firefly-lit night, fairies floated above the river while elves watched from cliffs and banks. With their wands, the fairies stirred the water, toyed with sapphire and jade, and made the tones fade and meld to achieve a shade of bluish green that now paints the riverbed. Twelve kilometers from the highway junction, the Enchanted River shapes the boundary of Barangays Talisay and Cambatong in Hinatuan. Though some portions of the well-maintained dirt road are undulating, these don’t make the ride bumpy and dusty as some tourists wrote in their blogs.