13 AWESOME THINGS TO DO IN SIARGAO

Quick Guide
How to Get to Siargao Island
How to Get Around Siargao Island
What to do on Siargao Island
Siargao Island Tours
Where to Stay in Siargao

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HOW TO GET TO SIARGAO ISLAND

It is possible to reach Siargao Island by either flying or by ferry. Your mode of transportation will depend on where you are in the Philippines. However, if you are planning a typical Philippines Itinerary, we would recommend you departing from Cebu City. 

There are direct flights from Cebu City to Sayak Airport in Siargao everyday with either Cebu Pacific or Philippines Airlines. This flight only takes 1 hour. However, if you have time to spare and want to save money, then taking a ferry is also possible. 

From Cebu City, you will need to take a 9 hour overnight ferry to Surigao, and then catch another 2 hour ferry to Dapa in Siargao. We have found the overnight ferry options in the Philippines to be very comfortable, so this could definitely be an option for budget travellers. Check out all the transport information here. 

HOW TO GET AROUND SIARGAO ISLAND 

Once you have arrived in Siargao, you can either take a taxi from Dapa Port to your accommodation, or take one of the many share vans from Sayak Airport to General Luna/Cloud 9 area. A share van costs 300 PHP ($12 AUD) per person.

Scooter – The best way to get around the island is by renting a scooter. You can rent a scooter for 300 PHP ($9 AUD) per day. This is the best way to travel at your own pace and plan your own day trips.

Tricycles – If you are not confident in riding a scooter, then taking a tricycle is also a convenient and affordable option for short day trips, and to see the sights. There are drivers with tricycles in General Luna, and they are really cheap.

Jeepneys – Riding in a Jeepney is how the locals travel between municipalities and towns. Jeepneys are an open-air small bus, and are super cheap. A Jeepney ticket is normally anywhere from 7 PHP to 12 PHP (21c-36c AUD) depending on where you need to go. It is best to ask a local about the Jeepney routes, and which one you should take. It’s something you should experience at least once! Book a Jeepney Tour HERE.

13 THINGS TO DO IN SIARGAO 

1. Sunrise on Cloud 9 Pier

We planned to wake up early most mornings to see the sunrise, but we often hustled back to bed as it was always raining. However, we are so glad we spent a couple of weeks in Siargao, so we were bound to get lucky one morning. The General Luna and Cloud 9 area are perfectly situated on the east coast of the island, making it a fantastic spot for sunrise. The Cloud 9 Pier is a common gateway for many surfers, and we couldn’t resist getting the drone up here! After a morning on the beach and the pier, we quickly popped over to Shaka Café for a smoothie bowl and iced coffee.

2. Enjoy a Stopover at “Top of the Road”

If you head from General Luna towards Magpupungko Rock Pools, you will find a sea of coconut palms at the “Top of the Road”. It is hard to miss, and you wont be able to drive past without pulling over. It is quite literally a lookout spot at the “Top of the Road”. This isn’t the official name for the spot, but if you say “Top of the Road”, locals will know where you mean.

3. Scooter Down a Coconut Tree Road  

Siargao isn’t short of coconut palms. In fact, Siargao has the most coconut palms per capita in all of the Philippines! It wont take you long to find a road lined with coconut trees each side. There is a popular road used by photographers only a few hundred metres after “Top of the Road”. However, there are plenty of gorgeous roads around the island and we found a perfect spot just after Pacificio Beach.

4. Swing on the Rope at Maasin Enchanted River

Cost – 20 PHP (60c AUD) entry per person

Only a 5 minute drive further from “Top of the Road” is the Massin Enchanted River – it is located just off the road and hard to miss. In May 2019, the river had just been opened as a tourist spot. Before this, it wasn’t on any map or tour, and was a “secret spot” only enjoyed by locals and few tourists. However, it is now a must-see spot on the island, due to the abundance of photos on Instagram. There is a uniquely formed bent coconut tree along the side of the river, you can choose to swing from the rope that is attached to it, or pay for a boat or raft to float down the river.

5. Spend the Afternoon at Magpupungko Rock Pools

Cost –
5 PHP (15c AUD) for scooter
20 PHP (60c AUD) parking
50 PHP ($1.50 AUD) entry

Magpupungko Rock Pools is a very cool place to hang out and only a 50 minute drive from General Luna. During low tide, the rock pools reveal themselves. There are pools of all different shapes, sizes and depths. You can even jump in from the large rocks or pool edges into the biggest pool. We were lucky enough to visit in the evening at low tide (before closing time at 5pm), and find a rock pool all to ourselves – even though this was the busiest time of the day. Besides the rock pools, we also loved eating food from the street vendors just off the beach. They served heaps of local food from sweet potato on a stick, fried banana and cassava chips.

6. Join a Sugba Lagoon Tour

Cost –
Boat Hire – 2500 PHP ($75AUD) per boat to visit 3 spots, or 2000 PHP ($60 AUD) per boat to visit 2 spots
Environmental Fee – 100 PHP ($3 AUD) per person

Sugba Lagoon is a not-to-miss experience in Siargao Island. We were lucky enough to have 4 friends come with us to split the cost of a boat tour. We chose to arrive at Del Carmen (1 hour from General Luna) at 8am to catch the first tour boats. We visited Kawhagan Island, Pamomoan Beach and Sugba Lagoon. We have written a full guide to a Sugba Lagoon tour here.

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7. Surf the Many Breaks Around the Island

Compared to the other popular islands in the Philppines, Siargao is known for the many on and offshore surf breaks around the island. There is a variety of options for different skill levels. You can either rent a scooter with a board rack to reach the onshore breaks, hire a local outrigger boat to take you to some of the offshore locations, or take up surf lessons. Some of the popular spots include Cloud 9, Quicksilver, Stimpy’s, Pacifico, Jacking Horse, Rock Island, Daku Reef. Check out Fat Lips for surf information and tours.

8. Beach Hop the East Coast

We took the scooter out for the day and headed up the East Coast. Siargao isn’t a huge island, so it won’t take you too long to drive around the whole island in a day. We stopped in at Pacifico and Alegria Beaches. There are a few surf spots out from here, or you can spend the day relaxing under a palm tree. You can even choose to stay in some accommodation on this side of the island for a more secluded getaway.

9. Visit Tak Tak Falls

Cost –
25 PHP (75c AUD) entrance
15 PHP (45c AUD) parking

Tak Tak Falls is located in the northern part of Siargao Island, a 1.5hr drive from General Luna. We visited during the dry season so there wasn’t much water flowing, and therefore the water was a little dirty. This is definitely a local hangout. Unlike most waterfalls, you do not need to walk very far – only 100m from the carpark – to reach the waterfall.

10. Find Secret Beach

If you are keen to relax on a quiet beach, then head 15 minutes to the west of General Luna and try to find secret beach! Secret Beach also goes by the name of Guiwan Beach. It can be hard to find, but keep your eyes peeled for a tiny sign on the left side of the road. You can either drive your scooter down the bumpy road, or park it on the main road and walk 10 minutes along the dirt track. You can then walk through the gate, through some coconut tress and on to the beach.

11. Island Hop to the Nearby Islands 

Our favourite thing to do in Siargao is to island hop to the nearby islands from General Luna. The most popular island tour is the 3 Island tour to Daku, Naked and Guyam Islands. We skipped this tour and instead decided to visit some lesser known islands nearby. Check out our full island hopping guide to Siargao here.

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12. Shop the Many Boutiques

Besides the amazing food on the main road, there are also plenty of cute boutiques. We would often stop to have a peak at the clothes in the store. We bought a sarong and reef-safe sunscreen while we were in Siargao. Most of the boutiques showcase local products, so make sure to support local.

13. Eat all the Delicious Food!

Siargao was full of variety when it came to deciding where to eat. We attempted to try all the restaurants and cafes in the area, and every place offered something different. There were tonnes of vegetarian options and even a restaurant for every cuisine! Our favourites were Miguel’s, Shaka and Cafe Honest. Check out our Full Foodie’s Guide to Siargao here.

SIARGAO ISLAND TOURS

Siargao Seven Island Hopping – Get off the tourist path and head to some of the lesser known islands around Siargao. With this tour you have the option of 7 islands to combine into a day tour. FIND OUT MORE HERE

Siargao Jeepney Land Tour – Explore Siargao like a local. Join this Jeepney tour and see all the best sights around the island, including the famous Sugba Lagoon. FIND OUT MORE HERE.

Bathala Land Tours – Support a tour company doing good. Bathala Land Tours offer unique cultural experiences around the island of Siargao in a Jeepney. Not only will you experience local culture, but also help to support local NGOs and social enterprises, whilst supporting sustainable practices along the way. Check out their Facebook Page HERE.

Siargao Essential Land Private Tour – Experience the best of Siargao on land with this tour. See the Maasin Enchanted River, Magpupungko Rock pools, Cloud 9 Pier and more. FIND OUT MORE HERE.

Sohotan Cove and Corregidor Island – Go island hopping and experience some of the best breathtaking views around Siargao with this tour. Sohoton Cove and Corregidor Island offer some of the best landscapes. FIND OUT MORE HERE.

WHERE TO STAY IN SIARGAO

General Luna and the Cloud 9 area is the most popular spot to stay on the island. There is a huge selection of restaurants and cafes, tour providers and shoreline accommodation to choose from. However, for a more private location try staying near Pacifico Beach, this will definitely be a new and upcoming spot in the future!

Find accommodation here, search the map, or check out our sustainable hotel recommendations below.

SUSTAINABLE HOTEL RECOMMENDATIONS

Sinag Hostel – Our favourite hostel of all time! We loved our stay at Sinag in Siargao. Newly opened in 2019, Sinag Hostel offer private and shared rooms. We loved the welcoming and friendly feel to this place and we made some really great friends. They have their own “honesty” store with eco-friendly products, a kitchen and you might even be lucky to join in on a Boodle Fight for dinner one night! Book your night HERE.

Green House – Waste reduction, energy reduction, awareness, minimal chemical use and water conservation are the practices and initiatives embedded into Green House Siargao. The authentic villa style rooms make it a real eco experience. Book your night HERE.

Diwa Eco House – A two-story eco-house with air-conditioned rooms. Mid-budget but with modern decor, and eco values. Book your night HERE.

NAY PALAD Hideaway – An exclusive luxury resort, NAY PALAD is perfect for couples and an exquisite honeymoon location. Book your night HERE.

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