In March 2007 my wife and I were in transit to Surigao island on a search to find some perfect waves and a piece of paradise. We had done our research on the web and through word of mouth had gleaned that Cloud 9 and the resorts nearby were certainly worth a visit but were by no means the only spots worth checking out. Purely by chance we bumped into Chas Wagner in the chaos that is Manilla airport. What a welcome relief to meet someone who knew the system through experience and his confidence and calm helped us loosen up about the journey that lay ahead. Thankfully he also told us about his little village and the life that he was building for himself and invited us to come and stay if the opportunity arose. After 2 weeks of exploring the beautiful and relaxing Surigao we contacted Chas who came and picked us up in his boat, literally from our doorstep and took us back to Tarzans resort.

My wife and I spent 4 classic days with Chas, his wife Jennifer, their baby boy Tarzan and his boatman and family. Staying on an island that truly feels untouched by the modern world with no cars, and no motorbikes was just the tonic we had left Australia to find. Chas took us into the local villages and nearby islands to experience the Philippino culture first hand with the Sunday Cock Fight being something I won’t easily forget. It often felt like we were the first European faces to visit these villages such was the reaction from the locals. We also went exploring looking for new surf locations and never once had to share the spoils with any other surfers.

My wife and I have travelled extensively for the past 20 years and would rate our stay at Tarzans as one of the best places we have visited, so if you are looking to really get away from the rest of the world but still feel secure in your surrounds get in touch with Chas and his extended family. You won’t be disappointed.