Anchorage· Siargao· Philippines
Port Pilar Anchorage
9° 51.7′ N · 126° 6.4′ E · approximate
The one deep inlet on Siargao's otherwise straight Pacific coast, with the fishing town of Pilar at its head - the natural harbour for the island's game-fishing scene and the closest anchorage to Magpupungko's rock pools.
Practical
Approx position: in the inlet about 650 m east of Pilar town centre (Wikipedia 9.8639N 126.1008E), checked to be in water about 260 m off the nearest OSM coastline. Wikipedia describes Port Pilar as a natural harbour through a small inlet and the only deep inlet on the east coast; no cruiser report, depth, holding or entrance marks were found (Noonsite, Hacking Family and the OCC Philippines thread do not cover it), so enter only in good light on a rising tide and in settled conditions - the entrance faces the Pacific and NE swell. Pilar's surf breaks are best in NE swells (Wikipedia), which is when the entrance will be roughest. Ashore: Pilar Public Market and a Petron fuel station a few hundred metres from the waterfront (see entries); Magpupungko Rock Pools are about 2.5 km NE by road (entrance PHP 50, Lakwatsero). Siargao is a protected area - no anchoring on coral.
Best for
Game fishing base and Magpupungko by land
Season
Settled inter-monsoon days (roughly Apr-Jun); avoid in NE swell
Nearby
- Pilar Public Market0.4 NM away
- Siargao Game Fishing (Pilar)0.4 NM away
- Petron Fuel Station (Pilar)0.5 NM away
- Pilar Reef Break0.8 NM away
- Magpupungko Rock Pools1.2 NM away
- Philippine Crocodile Habitat Viewpoint (Pilar)2.5 NM away
- Typhoon Season (Siargao and Surigao)2.8 NM away
- Coast Guard Station Siargao3.1 NM away