Siargao is well known as “The surfing capital of the Philippines” with Cloud 9 being the designated site for the annual Siargao Surfing Cup. This adventurous island with a laid-back surfer’s vibe is part of the province of Surigao del Norte, located northeast in the Mindanao region. Surfing is not the only activity this place has to offer. Non-surfers can explore the largest mangrove forest reserve in Mindanao, white sand beaches with crystal clear water, enchanting lagoons, natural rock pools, caves, waterfalls, and many more! Get a quick glimpse of this paradise in the video below and start planning for your perfect trip!
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
PHILIPPINES BASIC INFORMATION
Visit Philippines Travel Guide: How to Get Started to review basic essential information covering topics including visa, weather, money exchange, electrical socket types, internet & cell data, language, and more.
WEATHER
While most of Philippines is slowed down from the monsoon season, September – October is the prime time to visit Siargao if you are a surfer due to perfect swell and wind conditions. There is also an annual surfing competition hosted at Cloud 9 every September. Non-surfers should plan on visiting during dry season around May – August.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Did you remember to consider insurance? Travel insurance is not required but highly encouraged when traveling to Siargao. The island is home to many physical activities including extreme surfing, cave exploring, boat outings to islands, and motorbike riding. On top of that, different climate conditions, insect bites, or trying new types of food can cause one to get seriously ill. Unforeseen accidents do happen and expenses can really add up. The most popular for all types of travelers is World Nomads. Their policies are created specifically with travelers in mind. It doesn’t hurt to Get a Free Quote and decide from there.
HOW TO GET TO SIARGAO
SAYAK AIRPORT (SIARGAO AIRPORT)
Traveling from Manila, SkyJet and Cebu Pacific have daily flights to Siargao.
Traveling from Cebu, Philippines Airlines and Cebu Pacific have daily flights to Siargao.
Once you have arrived at the airport, it is a 45 minutes ride into General Luna Town. Your transportation options are:
- Habal-Habal – P400 good for two people
- Tricycle – P500 good for four people
- Van – P300 per person
WHERE TO STAY IN SIARGAO
Travelers visiting Siargao will be welcomed with a wide range of areas to choose from. The most popular area is General Luna along Tourism Road. This charming beach town is central to a variety of popular attractions and contains many great restaurants and bars. Cloud 9 is less than 10 minutes away by bike or tricycle.
RECOMMENDED ACCOMMODATIONS
1. Bravo Beach Resort – This resort with cabana styled rooms offers great Spanish cuisines with an amazing atmosphere all over. There is a plunge pool overlooking the beach for people to relax after a long day of surfing and/or exploring. They host a party every Sunday night with a DJ mixing very chill music. I stayed here with my own money and was not paid to advertise this place. Book Here
2. Buddha’s Surf Resort – Minimalist and no fuss resort that has everything you need to be comfortable for your adventures in Siargao. There are surf boards and motorbike rentals readily available on site for your convenience. They occasionally hold acoustic nights on Thursdays and their Thai restaurant is superb! I also stayed here with my own money and was not paid to advertise this place. Book Here
BEST THINGS TO DO IN SIARGAO
SURFING
There are many surfing spots to choose from and they range from all skill levels. You can find surfboard rentals at many of the resorts and standalone shops around the area. If you’re new to the sport then i’d recommend hiring an instructor to help you get started or to improve your skills. If you’re more experienced then you’re in for a ride of your life! If you don’t want to partake in the action then just relax at the Cloud 9 boardwalk tower and watch the surfers do their thing.
Here are some of the most popular surf spots to help you get started. The conditions will change based on weather and tide conditions. Make sure to check in advance and do ask around for other recommended spots to ride!
Cloud 9 – Home of the annual surfing competition and the break that put’s Siargao on the map. It is known for it’s perfect barreling right hand reef break. It’s challenging and breaks over a shallow reef so it is recommended for advanced surfers.
Quicksilver – Located by Cloud 9 is this quick, big, and heavy right-hander. Recommended for advanced surfers.
Stimpy’s – A long left break located offshore and accessible by a 10 minutes boat ride. Recommended for advanced surfers.
Daku – Slow and long right handed waves located offshore and accessible by a 5 minutes boat ride from General Luna. Good for beginners with instructors to intermediates.
Jackson Horse – Long right handed waves located near Cloud 9. A good spot for beginners.
MAGPUPUNGKO ROCK POOLS
Magpupungko rock pools are tide pools that are only exposed during low tide. This was one of the coolest and most beautiful sites i’ve ever seen in my life. Check the daily tide chart and get there about an hour before low tide to get a full grasp of the area. This is a time sensitive attraction so if you are a tad late then you’ll miss the experience. It’s about a 45 minutes drive from General Luna and I highly encourage you to rent a motorbike for the easy ride. Riding through the streets surrounded by coconut palm trees, farms, and animals is a whole adventure in itself!
There are many fascinating areas to explore. You can hold giant rock formations, swim around in the crystal clear pools with many shades of blue and green, explore the natural caves, and even cliff jumping!
I suggest wearing water shoes as the rocks are quite jagged and there are sea urchins laying around the area. Having a Waterproof Dry Bag is a great way to keep your belongings dry and safe. After you are done exploring, head back up to the many food vendor to grab lunch.
TAYANGBAN CAVE POOL
This spunky cave is located on the way to Magpupungko and makes an excellent side trip before or after the rock pools. A small sign stands along the road making this hideout hard to spot. We were joined by another group of travelers along with a guide to venture through this cave. It’s a 15 minutes walk in complete darkness while in chest high waters. The guide will have a torch or flashlight to lead the way and help you swim and climb over obstacles. Bats are paid to constantly yell at us while flying around to add excitement to this daring adventure! Once you are near the end, you are greeted by a huge archway with sunlight. Here you can choose to cliff jump into the 15 ft+ waters to end your journey.
PALM TREES
This amazing island is filled with beautiful coconut palm trees. They are literally everywhere! You’ll pass by my favorite spot to admire the beauty while making your way to Magpupungko. It’s near the top of a hill and makes a great pit-stop if you are exploring by motorbike.
FIND THE PARTY
The nightlife scene is quite unique compared to other cities. The main parties are hosted at different locations every night so you’ll really need to go out and find the party through word of mouth. You can find low key bars to chill out but if you really want to get the full experience and party the night away with surfers, locals, travelers, and expats then you’ll need to go seek it out. The party pictured here is RumBar. We found out about this place by befriending the other travelers at Tayangban Cave. I swear I wasn’t screaming like a school girl and needed their help and support. What I found about the nightlife here is that everybody dances the night away without a care in the world. It’s very easy to meet great people so don’t be shy and join in on the fun! Did I mention drinks are extremely cheap in the Philippines?
Here is a list of other popular bars that regularly hosts parties.
- Buddhas
- Bravo Beach Resort
- Havana
- Kermit
- Jungle Disco
- Viento Del Mar
- White Banana
OTHER THINGS YOU SHOULDN'T MISS
Unfortunately, Siargao was experiencing a lot of rain while we were visiting so we did not get to experience some of the other great activities. This gives us a great reason to travel back here soon!
I’ve included a picture of a map I found on the wall along with a list of other attractions you shouldn’t miss!
- Island Hopping Tour: Naked Island, Daku Island, and Guyan Island
- Sugba Lagoon
- Pacifico Beach
- Alegria Beach
WHERE TO EAT IN SIARGAO
MAMA'S GRILL
Mama’s Grill is an opened air Filipino BBQ joint serving great and cheap food. You place your order at the front and then find a seat in the crowd. Getting a drink is based on the honor system where you grab your own drinks and they’ll trust you to pay in the end. I recommend the BBQ pork. They are the cheapest but tastiest. They come by the stick so make sure to order several.
BRAVO'S BEACH RESORT
You’ll soon find most of the hotels in General Luna also doubles as a popular bar and restaurant. Bravo’s offer a variety of Spanish cuisines and tapas.
BUDDHA'S SURF RESORT
Buddha’s Surf Resort has a Thai restaurant on site. The pad-thai was a bit westernized but it still turned out to be delicious. I have a confession to make. I secretly like my pad-thai extra saucy and sweet.
Today, I went to the beachfront with my children. I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She placed the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is entirely off topic but I had to tell someone!
Haha! That’s so funny! I hope she’s okay!