Emman 
Siargao, a tear-shaped island in the South West of the Philippines, gains attraction as the rising tourism destination of the country. In fact, the island made it to Top 10 for the Top Islands in Asia by Condé Nast Traveler for 2024.
This surfing paradise rose to the scene when an American took a photo of the “perfect wave” 40 years ago. From a surfer’s wonderland, the island transformed to welcome all types of travelers. Slowly, Siargao have became a tourism powerhouse.
But why did Siargao make it to the top? You’ll get mixed answers from people who have experienced the Siargao life. As a matter of fact, a term “Siargao curse“ was coined. It’s used when one intends to stay on a certain number of days but ends up extending until forever, if opportunity allows. It could also be that feeling of dread, heaviness or longing that’s hard to wear off when you’re already back home.
Siargao’s landscape, nature, convenience, better roads, food options, night parties, secluded beaches, friendly locals and especially the vibe that makes it truly majestic and laid-back.
Immersing yourself on the island gets you that feeling that you want to be a part of Siargao. The easygoing culture of the people and the province feels and the rural setting while the island has it all for you is what Siargao makes it to irresistible- feeling like you can never have enough of Siargao.
Table of Contents
Where to go and what to do
Tourism Road
Out of its 153,000 acres of Siargao, you’ll probably step foot first here. It’s because Tourism Road is the most popular area on the island. Along this road lines up hundreds of restaurants, souvenir shops, bars and hotels. From day till night, thousands of tourists pack the streets looking for something to eat, stay or party. This area offers most of the nighttime activity. It has options depending on your taste of the night. It could be game night, disco, acoustics, and even retro music.
Cloud 9
📍 Cloud 9
Siargao won’t be Siargao if not with its surfable waves. Although there are dozens of surf spots, Cloud 9 stood out. It’s near the center of happenings, convenient and easy to go. It also caters to all kinds of surfers, from trying out to professional. In fact, pro surfers from around the world gather here every year for different surfing competitions. Also, the iconic surfing tower is also a must-go. The surfing tower in Siargao is an onshore structure that’s placed close to the wave break where spectators can go watch surfers ride the waves.
Secret Beach
Avoid Siargao’s crowded spots and escape to Secret Beach, a beach that’s a 10-minute drive from General Luna. This beach is perfect for people who prefer the calm scene. The beach is in an estuary-like location. On the left goes out to the open sea, while on the right is a lagoon that mazes through mangroves. Paddle boarding and kayaking are also the popular activities here. Secret Beach is covered in grass and the water is nothing but sand. Palm trees are everywhere and because of its location, the water is still. Property owner does not allow outside food. Bring your mat and that book you want to finish reading!
Catangnan Bridge
What’s make Catangnan Bridge a must-go is its beautiful sunset. Catangnan Bridge (aka the Sunset Bridge) is one of the newest bridge developed by the Philippine Government on the island of Siargao. The bridge is in such a way that it faces a picturesque sunset – a shower of orange and blue scattered across the sky. To catch this, hundreds of tourists flock onto the bridge in the afternoon. While waiting for the sunset, food stalls are lined up on the street that you can enjoy. Options range from snacks to full meal, and then alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are also available. Be sure to be their early to save a nice spot.
Siargao Wakepark
Siargao Wakepark is Siargao’s only wake boarding center. If you’re a thrill-seeker, this adventure sport surely fires you! Ride the water on your wakeboard powered by a zipline. Wake boarding lessons run throughout the week. If you’re not a fan of wake boarding, that’s not a problem. There’s a bar and restaurant and watch wake boarders do their routine. The best time to go there is on Sunday as afternoon parties is a thing – a complete sound system with DJ. Also, Sundays are try-out days. An order of drink gets you a free ride. This is your chance to see if wake boarding is for you or not.
Coconut Plantation View Point
📍 Coconut Plantation View Point
Driving the roads of Siargao, there’s a particular place where the road lies on a hillside. When you arrive there, you can see nothing but a vast expanse of coconut trees, leaving people in awe. Acres of acres of coco palms meet your eyes as long as the horizon runs. As this is an established tourist icon, Coconut Plantation View Point is famous for picture-taking and for what they call “human drone“ – video-takers who copy the camera movement of a drone. Coconut View Deck is an example of how rich in coconut the island is. Another tourist serendipity of this island.
Maasin River
Another hot tourist spot is the Maasin River. A short drive from Coconut View Deck, this river is famous for its boat-paddled cruise. A 15-minute cruise will get you to a small cold spring. People who are interested in picture-taking should queue and wait for their turn. A group of picture-takers will also takes turn in taking photos of tourists. This picture-takers make an extra effort to take Instagrammable photos of you, so tip nicely. It’s also worth to note that Maasin river’s water is cold. Have some ways to make yourself warm.
Tayangban Cave Pool
Along the way going to Magpupungko Rock Pool, you’ll pass by Tayangban Cave Pool. This unique cave starts at one end of the road, and then crosses beneath at the other end. The cave is half-submerged in water and passing through might be challenging to the not-so-adventurous spirit. Going out, it leads to a small pool-like lagoon. You can do a cliff or rope jump there. After that, wooden stairs will take you to the roadside. When going inside the cave, be sure to take careful steps, and a nice sport sandals would also help.
Magpupungko Tidal Pool
Another natural wonder you need to see in Siargao is the Magpupungko Tidal Pool. The pool is on a reef just by the beach in Pilar, Siargao. In the reef, you can find a large gap or hole that when the tide turns low, the reef reveals itself and the gap traps water inside, creating a natural pool. In the middle of it, a large rock protrudes where people climb over and jump from it. This pool is also great for snorkeling. So, bring your mask and snorkel and see the marine creatures that’s trapped in the pool. The key to catch this disappearing pool is to check what time will the low tide be. See the Magpupungko Tidal Pool tides.
Canijugan Peak Retreat and Campsite
📍 Canijugan Peak Retreat and Campsite
On the mountains outside the borders of General Luna lies Canijugan Peak. From the roadside, a 15-minute uphill hike will take you to the most amazing mountain view Siargao can offer. A sea of coco palms welcomes you. Peeking at the coco palms is a river that twisted and turned like a snake, and on the horizon was the sea. If tent camping interests you, they offer spots where you can have this view by yourself. They have a restaurant that offers wide food options. If you’re a digital nomad, they have a digital nomad space that has a strong Wi-Fi connection (although it’s time-limited). Canijugan is a place best to meditate and catch up with your work. Another popular thing to do here is get a massage.
Pacifico Beach
An hour away up north would get you to Pacifico Beach, another hot spot for surfing. The beach attracts tourists and surfers who prefer lesser crowd. The long coastline and stretch of waves give more space between surfers. In this way, wave-sharing is less common here. Pacifico beach is also an escape from crowd tourist spots. A peaceful atmosphere that offers that chill vibe. What’s better is that the beach is free. An hour of surfing lesson costs less than in more established surfing schools like in Cloud 9.
Alegria Beach
On the northernmost part of Siargao lies another beach that’s a hidden gem. You can truly say that Alegria Beach is the most peaceful and serene beach in all of Siargao. Little to no surfers ply along the beach. The blue waters of the beach is so pure and clear that before you could enter the water, you can see schools of fish swimming near the coastline. The sand on the beach is undisturbed by the waves because waves break far out from the beach. Because of this, the sea in front of the beach creates like a pool effect where you can enjoy snorkeling. Don’t forget your mask and snorkel!
Sugba Lagoon
From the port of Carmen, northwest of Siargao, a 20-minute boat ride gets you to Sugba Lagoon. Before reaching the lagoon, you’ll cruise along the maze of mangroves. Upon approaching, you’ll see a large cottage with a boardwalk. Ushers will greet you once you land. The still, blue-green waters make the lagoon a relax getaway. The most popular activity is the wooden jump board. If jumping scares you, kayaking and paddleboard will be the best option. Enjoy this secluded lagoon and be close to nature as you paddle around.
Sohoton Cove
A long journey that involves both road and boat trip will get you to Sohoton Cove – a 30-minute ride going to Dapa, an hour and a half on a small boat, and another 15-minute road trip. Upon arriving, another boat trip will finally take you to the cove. During low tide, the opening of the cove gives a low clearance just enough for the boat to enter. Inside, there are three destinations: the Jellyfish Sanctuary, Magkukuob Cave and Hagukan Cave. Before heading back to Siargao, they will serve a sumptuous lunch at the jumpoff point.
Budget
The price points of Siargao comparing to other islands in the Philippines is comparatively higher. This is because of the constant influx of tourist demand. By using excellent research and persistence, added by connecting with locals, you can avail cheaper options. Tourist fees are regulated, so there is no point in haggling. This goes from $1 to $5. Food can cost from $7 to $20 per meal. Hotels have budget to expensive options, ranging from $25 to $160 per night. Hostels, on the other hand, are the more popular options among tourists. The price goes from $10 to $30 per night.
How to go around
Unless you have a private transport arranged, there’s a van that takes you from Sayak Airport to General Luna. Upon arrival in General Luna, the best way to move around is to rent a motorbike. Everything is reachable with it. Rent costs from $6 to $10, depending on the type of motorbike. If you don’t drive motorbike, tuk-tuk are readily available everywhere. Another entry to Siargao is via ferry from Surigao City. You’ll arrive at a place called Dapa. From there, you can ride a coaster jeep that takes you to General Luna that will only cost you half a dollar.
Travel Tips
Waterproof bag. Most activities involve water and expect to go around being wet. Other times, weather could be unpredictable. So, a waterproof bag is a must.
Quick-dry towels. Going around with a motorbike while wet from swimming or surfing can be cold. So a quick-dry towel is a nice thing to add to your things to bring.
Helmet. Although it’s a normal norm on Siargao to drive around without a helmet, it’s still a safe practice to have one. In addition, Philippine road regulation requires you to wear one.
Gas up. Finding a gas station on the island is challenging. General Luna has most of the gas stations, so fill up your tank before a long journey.
Cash. Most small businesses and establishments don’t accept card payments. Bring cold cash everywhere you go. Also, bringing smaller bills is a huge plus.
Offline Maps. Mobile data may not always be available in some parts of the island. Don’t get lost and use the download maps feature of Google Maps.
Best time to go
Siargao welcomes all types of travellers, especially surfers. If your main reason is to surf, the peak swells happen from September to November. Along with that, comes with rain and occasional bad weather. In shoulder season (meaning the weather transitions from peak to off), waves may not be so high but are still surfable. This is from December to February. Off-season of surfing means dry/summer season. This runs from March to early June. Pre-peak surfing season is from July to August.