Last updated: November 8, 2023
On Mar. 29, 2019, I had an forgettable journey with my friends to Siargao Island, a small island situated on the south east side of the Philippine sea. As a Taiwanese, it was not a destination I would typically consider. Special thanks to my Spanish “amigos,” who invited me to explore this beautiful island with them.
Siargao Island is renowned as the surfing capital of the Philippines, offering a natural landscape with pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and breathtaking lagoons. During our stays, we done several fun activities and here, you will find some highlights you might want to experience yourself in the future.
How to Get There?
Getting to Siargao Island is relatively easy. You can catch a flight or take a ferry from nearby islands. My friends and I chose for a flight from Cebu City’s Mactan–Cebu International Airport (CEB) to Siargao Airport (IAO), which took about one and half hours. With two airline companies offering this route, traveling to the island is quite convenient and reasonably priced, especially if you visit in April.
| Destination | Airline Company | My Price | Average Price |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Siargao Island |
Cebgo |
NTD 1,485 |
NTD 2,000 |
|
Philippines Airline |
NTD 1,200 |
NTD 3,120 |
Upon landing at the airport, we took a shuttle to the center of the island and it took us around 30 to 40 minutes to arrive. This quick transfer allowed us to start exploring the island immediately. You can easily book an airport shuttle through your accommodation or hostel.
Where to Stay?
For our nine-night stay, we chose the I Love Siargao hostel. It was owned by a friend of one of my Spanish friends, offering a warm and cozy atmosphere. We booked six beds in a twelve-people shared room. Each bed was spacious and comfortable. The room was well-maintained and peaceful. Most of our time, however, was spent in the hostel’s large hall, where travelers gathered to chat, relax, and make new friends.
Unfortunately, due to nearly three years of COVID-19 ‘s global spread and a devastating typhoon in 2021, many buildings were damaged. Consequently, I Love Siargao Hostel had to temporarily close its doors.
In 2023, Siargao Island has reopened to travelers, providing excellent and affordable accommodation options. It’s a perfect time to plan your visit to this wonderful island.
What to Do?
Cloud 9 Surfing Area
After settling into our hostel, we decided to rent three motorcycles for our nine-day adventure. I would recommend arranging this through your hostel as it is the easiest way to explore the island.
After a bit of rest and a delivious lunch, we headed to Cloud 9, a world-famous surfing spot renowned for its hollow right-hand reef break. Even though we did not surf ourselves, we enjoyed watching skilled surfers take on the fast and powerful waves while we relaxed on the beach, taking in the breathtaking view.
As the day was getting darker, the sky painted itself in fiery oranges, soft pinks, and gentle purples, creating an unforgettable moment carved in our memories forever.
Coconut Trees Viewing Platform
When we were on our way to Maasin Bridge River Swing, we stopped by an observation platform where you can see a full view of coconut trees. When watching this breathtaking landscape from the hilltop, you will totally feel relieved, especially for those who are living in a hustle and bustle of city life and wanted to escape to this island for its nature.
The place is also great to witness sunrise and sunset, however, my friends and I were just passing by. So, if you plan to visit Siargao Island, it is the perfect spot to take in the nature of this island.
Maasin River Swinging
It took nearly 30 minutes to drive from General Luna to Maasin River. When arrived the destination, we paid 20 PHP a person for entrance fee. Many palm trees surrounding the river caught out attention. I felt like being in a jungle. Well, probably true that we were in a “jungle”.
Walking down the path to the swinging place, we were welcomed by many Filipinos and a group of kids. We could see a rope was tied to one special palm tree and a stick to the rope. My friends and I took turn to swing on the palm tree and we were having so much fun with the kids the locals. When my turn to swing, I felt super nervous because I had never had this outdoor experience before. However, those kids were cheering for me. Though I failed for the first time, it was great to give a second try and I succeeded. Swinging over and over was exciting and when you fell down to the river, you would feel refreshing, especially when in the Philippines.
Siargao Wakepark
We left for Siargao Wakepark in the afternoon after one day staying at a secret beach, a beach that we didn’t know its name so we called it secret beach. Siargao Wakepark is one of the most interesting outdoor activities that you can enjoy. You need to pay around 1000 PHP for the activity. However, my friends and I didn’t go for wakeboarding so we paid 50 PHP per person only for the entrance fee. We sat on the seat next to the bar, taking some drinks and watching people playing the sport. If you are a beginner and would like to learn how to wakeboard, the wakepark also offers lessons for people to take classes. We enjoyed the sunset and the music and had such an unforgettable moment.
Siargao Island Hopping
Island Hopping is one of the best activities that we had done during our vacation. Siargao Island Hopping offered a tour to Naked Island, Daku Island, and Guyam Island. We found local tour randomly and booked a tour for 4,000 PHP for a driver, a boat with 5 people, and lunch included. We split the total cost so 800 PHP per person. Naked Island has literally nothing nor trees but white sand. Taking a picture top from the sky, we were so surprised with the crystal clear blue ocean with tear dropped shape white sand, feeling isolated from the world.
Next, we went to Daku Island. It is home to a small fishing village inhabited by friendly and welcoming locals. We had our lunch there. The island is known for its fresh seafood and we enjoyed a delicious beachside feast prepared by the locals, featuring grilled fish, shrimps, and other seafood delights. After the lunch, we stayed on the island for a while snorkeling and swimming in the sea.
Last, we landed on Guyam Island, an island surrounded by white sand beaches and is decorated by swaying palm trees. There were also locals playing basketball and having fun with us. We chilled and relaxed on the beaches, waiting for time to go back to the town.
Sugba Lagoon
Sugba Lagoon is located in the northeastern part of Siargao Island and is needed to take a 20-minutes boat ride from Del Carmen, the main city of Siargao Island. It is one of the most beautiful places that worth a visit. My friends explored the stunning destination after I left the island for personal reasons. However, their feedback of exploring this remarkable landscape is superb. Sugba Lagoon features jumping platforms of varying heights and gave my friends an excitement to leap into the water.
Siargao Island offers so much for adventure seekers, beach lovers, and those seeking an authentic tropical getaway. This amazing island has still many secret spots to be explored. If you are thinking where to go on vacation, Siargao Island could be one of your options. Come to this wonderland and create your own memories.
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