Our comprehensive Siargao Travel Guide featuring the island’s top tourist spots, must-try restaurants, hotels to stay, plus a sample itinerary.
Popularized for its “tear-like” geometric shape as a landmass 800 kilometers from Manila, Siargao is also known for its verdant vegetation, particularly the waving palm trees, as well as sea waves which essentially makes it the “surfing capital” of the country. But while it is fascinating to have both land and sea send waves to its mesmerized audiences, there are specific locations that are indeed a spectacle within the island.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT SIARGAO
The best time to visit Siargao depends on what you actually want to do on the island. If you want to enjoy the beach and if you plan to do island hopping, the best time to visit Siargao is during the dry season between March to June.
For those who want to go surfing, the best time to go to Siargao is between August to November. This is when the wind conditions and the waves are at their best, so you’ll find really great time to surf.
HOW TO GET TO SIARGAO
From Manila: Cebu Pacific flies daily between Manila and Siargao. Travel time is around 2 hours.
From Clark: Philippine Airlines flies daily between Clark and Siargao. Travel time is around 2 hours.
From Cebu: Cebu Pacific flies between Cebu and Siargao up to four times daily. Travel time is around an hour. You may also take a boat to Surigao and take another boat from there to Siargao. See full schedule below.
From Davao: Philippine Airlines flies 4x weekly between Davao and Siargao. Travel time is less than an hour. You may also take a bus to Surigao for about 10 hours and take a boat from there to Siargao. See full details below.
From Surigao: Take a boat / ferry from Surigao City to Dapa in Siargao. This is the updated schedule of boat trips from Surigao to Siargao.
HOW TO GO TO YOUR HOTEL FROM SIARGAO AIRPORT
There are a number of options you can take to get out of the airport to your hotel in General Luna. Sayak Airport located in the town of Del Carmen is about 40 minutes away to General Luna where most of the actions happen. You can take a shared van outside of the airport for Php300 per person or you may also hire a habal-habal (motorcycle) for about Php500. If you are in a group of more than five, you can also charter a multicab to save some money.
HOW TO GET AROUND SIARGAO
The most common mode of transporation in the island is tricycle. The fare for a shared tricycle is between Php10-20 depending on the distance during day time and Php20-30 during night time. You may also take a habal-habal (motorcycle) especially if you are going to other towns.
You may also rent a motorbike and drive your way to any points in the island. Cars may also be rented for Php2,500 a day.
To make your holiday in Siargao memorable, make sure you bring your travel gears with you and capture those great moments. You can check out the good gears now and see what travel gears work best for you.
HOTELS IN SIARGAO: WHERE TO STAY IN SIARGAO ISLAND
Budget Hotels in Siargao
Kokai Resort – rates start at around Php500 / USD10 for a shared dormitory room. Book now.
Mid-range Hotels in Siargao
Apsaras Tribe – Close to Cloud 9. Rates start at around Php5,000 / USD100 per night for a double/twin room. Book now.
TOP TOURIST SPOTS IN SIARGAO
Cloud 9
Although there are plenty of spots where sea waves make for a significant highlight, Cloud 9 makes for arguably the best surfing area in all of Siargao. Highlighting some of the best elements which make ideal surfing conditions, Cloud 9 easily establishes Siargao as the best than anywhere else in the country.
Magpupungko Tidal Pool
When we think of a swimming pool, we often think of a man-made crevice that is filled with chlorinated water in it meant for commercial purposes. But Magpupungko Tidal Pool is different—although itself commercialized, it’s an all-natural curvature carved by Mother Nature herself alongside a bigger body of water that is the ocean.
Tayangban Cave Pool
The path across the Tayangban Cave Pool can be scary as you would have to cross a distance that is dark—with an unsurprising habitation of bats—lit only by torches. But luckily, there is nothing more to it than just a slight induce of paranoia if you are not yet used to such elements. But, much like there is light at the end of the tunnel, the end of the short ordeal is rewarded with something fun as you finally reach the final destination, that is, the cave pool.
Guyam Island
If you feel like your world is getting crowded and loved the idea of being by yourself, the tiny island of Guyam just across the main atoll of Siargao is an uninhabited island waiting to be visited. For the most part, it is just that, essentially as part of a group of landmasses popular among island-hopping tourists.
Taktak Falls
For an island set in the middle of the ocean, water defines Siargao. But while the sea conspicuously makes a great portion of it, inland there are also bodies of water, too. Taktak Falls is special in Siargao, however, in that it makes for the one and only running water coming from a high elevation.
Daku Island
Jumping from one island to the next is never ever complete when in Siargao when not including Daku Island which is arguably one of the best beaches in the area and also the largest among island sites. Aside from its relatively preserved natural appearance, part of the aesthetics of this island comes from its relative cleanliness which reflects the people’s concern about the island.
Naked Island
Do not let its name fool you into thinking that this atoll is a place filled with liberal people who hated the idea of clothing. Instead, it speaks of the very makeup of the outward appearance of the island itself which is described as having nothing more than bushes. For an island that is either dotted or abundant with palm trees, the relative absence of vegetation on Naked Island may indeed make it fit the label perfectly fine.
MUST-TRY RESTAURANTS IN SIARGAO
Kermit Siargao Restaurant
Address: Purok 5, General Luna, Siargao Island Philippines
Opening Hours: 7am-11pm
Contact number: +639778563321
Website: https://www.kermitsiargao.com/restaurant/
Must-try: Pizza and pasta
Check out this list of the best restaurants in Siargao you should visit when you go to Siargao.
SIARGAO ITINERARY AND BUDGET
Day 1 Siargao Travel Guide Itinerary – Arrival in Siargao
3:45PM – Arrival in Siargao
5:00PM – Check in at the hotel
7:00PM – Dinner at Kermit Siargao Restaurant
9:00PM – Drinks at Loose Keys
Day 2 Siargao Travel Guide Itinerary – Island Hoping
8:00AM – Pick up at the hotel
9:00AM – Explore Guyam Island
12:00PM – Lunch at Daku Island
2:00PM – Explore Naked Island
4:00PM – Back at the hotel
5:00PM – Sunset in Cloud 9
8:00PM – Dinner at Harana Restaurant
10:00PM – Drinks at Viento del Mar
Day 3 Siargao Travel Guide Itinerary – Surfing + Tidal Pool and Cave Pool
8:00AM – Practice surfing at Cloud 9
12:00NN – Lunch at Isla Cabana Resort
1:00PM – Off to Magpupungko Tidal Pool
2:30PM – Swim at Magpupungko
4:00PM – Explore Tayangban Cave Pool
6:30PM – Back at the hotel
8:00PM – Dinner
9:00PM – Rest
Day 4 – Off to Davao
how much is the day tour enlisted above per person?
You will cross the forest to reach the cave pool?
This is a comprehensive guide to Siargao looks like weve then there too thanks for sharing
thank you for this blog. been seeing a lot of travel agencies sharing how beautiful Siargao is.
great travel guide! very informative.
thanks for this Siargao travel guide!
appreciate it! very helpful travel guide! 🙂
thank you for sharing this Siargao itinerary! 🙂 very helpful!
Travelers on a budget will certainly love Mama’s Grill.