It’s no secret that Siargao is our favorite place in the Philippines! There is so much adventure to be found on this tiny island covered in palm trees.
We spent 16 days in Siargao and found so many things to do there—and you definitely can’t see it all within 3 days!
From picture-perfect lagoons, caves, beaches, and island hopping—Siargao is a place that has it all! Even though Siargao is known as the surfing capital of the Philippines, we found plenty of things to do in Siargao even as non-surfers ourselves!
In this 3 Day Siargao itinerary, I’ll go over exactly how I would spend my time in Siargao if I only had 3 days. I’ll go over where to stay, how to get around, and exactly what you should do each day!
If you only have 3 days in Siargao, this itinerary hits all the highlights of Siargao so you can make the most out of your adventure there!
How to Spend 3 Awesome Days in Siargao: A First-Timers Guide and Itinerary
Where to Stay in Siargao
If this is your first trip to Siargao, you are probably wondering where to stay! Luckily, figuring out where to stay in Siargao is pretty straightforward.
If this is your first visit to Siargao, I recommend staying in General Luna for your 3 days in Siargao. Most of the island’s accommodations, restaurants, and shops are located in General Luna, and it’s also where all the tours and activities depart from. It’s also easy to arrange for transportation to/from the airport to General Luna.
There are all sorts of hotel options in General Luna, from backpacker hostels to luxury resorts and everything in between.
We personally stayed at Hostel Bajala in General Luna. It’s a little outside main tourist zone in General Luna but we enjoyed staying in a quieter area.
How to Get Around Siargao
The best way to get around Siargao is by motorbike since you’ll have the freedom to go anywhere at your own pace. You can rent a motorbike in General Luna for about 350 to 500 pesos per day.
Read our full blog post: Renting a Motorbike in the Philippines: Complete Guide
But don’t worry if riding a motorbike isn’t your thing. There are other transportation options to get around Siargao, and all the tours we recommend include transportation to Siargao’s top attractions.
If you’re only going around General Luna, tuk-tuk and tricycle drivers hang out all over the place and you can hire one for 50 to 150 pesos per ride.
Make sure you agree upon a price with the driver before hopping in. Tuk-tuk and tricycle drivers tend to charge whatever they feel like, especially at night when people are coming back from the clubs.
What to Pack for Siargao
I won’t go over my whole packing list since that’s not necessary! Instead, I’ll share some of my must-have items you might not have thought of when packing for a trip to Siargao.
- Crocs: During our time in Siargao, I was so glad to have Crocs to protect my feet when exploring caves and islands. They are the ultimate shoe in the Philippines for a reason – many Filipinos wear them too!
- Earplugs: If you’re planning to do any island hopping while in Siargao, I recommend bringing a set of earplugs for the boat rides. Most boats in Siargao have super loud diesel engines that will make your ears ring!
- Sunscreen: For some reason, sunscreen is expensive in the Philippines and I’ve even encountered places selling fake sunscreen that doesn’t work! So I recommend bringing your own sunscreen to Siargao.
- Dry Bag: With all the sand, salt, and water flying everywhere during our adventures out to Siargao’s islands, I was so glad to have a dry bag to keep all my things safe from the elements!
- Travel Towel: In my opinion, a travel towel like this one is super necessary for a trip to Siargao! It packs down nicely and was there for me anytime I went swimming, or just needed to brush sand or dirt off.
Siargao Day 1: Explore the Island – Siargao Land Tour
It’s the first day of your 3-day adventure in Siargao – welcome! On this day we’re going to cover the main highlights of Siargao — also known as the Siargao Land Tour.
On this day, you will leave General Luna and head north to explore the island. I’ve included our Siargao land tour itinerary with 4 awesome places I recommend visiting.
You can either do a self-guided motorbike tour or book a group tour. I recommend motorbiking as the roads in Siargao are excellently paved and fairly safe. No matter what you choose, you will have a fantastic time!
Maasin River Boat Tour
For your first destination, I recommend heading to the Maasin River as early as possible. It’s one of the most popular destinations in Siargao and for good reason.
The highlight of the Maasin River is a boat tour where you hop in a canoe to explore the river. Your guide will take you up the river and it’s the perfect spot to explore Siargao’s forests by boat and experience a different side of the island. The river is narrow and is lined with palm trees and pretty pink flowers.
The Maasin River was the location of the famous ‘bent palm tree’ over the river. However, the palm tree died a few years ago and no longer exists.
The boat’s turnaround point is a ‘Secret Lagoon’ where you can drink fresh coconuts and wade in a freshwater cold spring. We’re from Hawaii which doesn’t have many navigable rivers, so it was so nice to explore a river by canoe in a tropical setting.
At the end of the boat tour, you can jump off a platform if you’re looking for an adrenaline rush or just want to practice your backflips.
The Maasin River boat tour takes anywhere from 1-2 hours. It all depends on how busy it is. The line for the secret lagoon at the boat tour’s turnaround point can get long during peak times so I recommend going early in the day.
Read our full blog post: Maasin River in Siargao: Complete Guide
Head up north for some epic swimming
Next, it’s time to head up to the north side of Siargao to hit the beach and visit one of the craziest tidepools in the Philippines.
Magpupungko Rock Pools
No adventure to Siargao is complete without a visit to the Magpupungko Rock Pools! It’s probably the most famous land tour stop in Siargao.
Magpupungko is known for its tide pools that appear during low tide. A massive boulder sits in the middle of the largest tide pool, which serves as a popular cliff-diving spot.
The water at Magpupungko is blue and clear – we had a great time snorkeling around and looking at all the little fishes hiding in the rocks. With plenty of action, it’s no wonder this place is a popular destination in Siargao.
We spent about 1 hour at Magpupungko but you can expect to spend anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours there. There is no time limit, it just depends on how long you want to swim and explore the area.
Pacifico Beach
After a busy morning of adventuring around the popular spots in Siargao, it’s now time to catch your breath and relax at Pacifico Beach.
Just 15 minutes north of Magpupungko Rock Pools, Pacifico Beach has a much different vibe. It’s a long, quiet beach fully equipped with hammock, chair, and umbrella rentals if you’re looking for a bit of relaxation. Pacifico is our favorite beach in Siargao because it’s quiet, not busy, and still close enough to General Luna.
If you’re up for it, they even offer surfing lessons at Pacifico. We paid 500 pesos per person for a 1-hour surf lesson. This is a great beginner place to learn because there are plenty of waves to share.
Read our full blog post: Pacifico Beach in Siargao: Complete Guide
Pacifico Beach is best during high tide, while Magpupungko Rock Pools is best during low tide, so feel free to swap these activities depending on the Siargao tide forecast.
Eat Lunch at Common Ground
Across from Pacifico Beach is Common Ground, a super cute cafe and brunch spot. This restaurant serves fresh smoothie bowls, shakshuka, pancakes, and BLT sandwiches.
Even though their menu is small, they have something for everyone – whether you’re looking for a light snack, a full meal, or vegetarian options. They even have huts for rent if you feel like spending the night!
Coconut View Deck
Now that you’re well-fed, it’s time to head back down to General Luna! On your way back, we recommend making a pit stop at the Coconut View Deck.
The Coconut View Deck is a famous photo spot in Siargao. It’s really just a pull-off on the side of the road. But the pull-off overlooks a stunning view of endless coconut trees.
This place is so popular there are even kind locals who will help take ‘human drone’ photos for you for a tip! You’ll only need about 10-15 minutes here.
Read our full blog post: Coconut View Deck in Siargao: Complete Guide
Sunset at Cloud 9
You’ve made it back to the small city of General Luna, just in time to wind down for the day!
General Luna is packed with restaurants and shopping, but before you explore those let’s catch the sunset at the famous Cloud 9 surf break. Known as one of the best surf spots in the world, there is plenty to do at Cloud 9 even for non-surfers.
The main landmark of Cloud 9 is its boardwalk that goes out into the ocean. It’s a great place to catch the sunset and watch surfers ride the world-famous Cloud 9 wave. There’s also the beach to explore. Or, you can just chill and have a beer at one of the beachfront bars.
If you’re looking for a light snack, head over to Shaka for a smoothie bowl. Either way, there are plenty of things to do at Cloud 9 while enjoying the sunset even as a non-surfer.
Dinner in General Luna
Now for one of the most unexpected things about Siargao – the food!
Siargao has an eclectic international food scene that will make anyone from anywhere comfortable. There is also a wide range of pricing when it comes to food, so whether you’re a budget traveler or the wine-and-dine type, General Luna’s food scene has you covered.
I’ll list some of our favorite restaurants in General Luna below. But to be honest… there is so much more to try there! We spent 16 days in Siargao and there is no way we could have eaten at all its restaurants.
- Kurvada ($$): Kurvada is a carinderia that serves filipino food. All the dishes are ala carte and you can get a big plate of food on a budget.
- JM Carenderia ($): Another carinderia in General Luna that is more catered towards locals.
- Lokanto Siargao ($$$): Mediterranean food. We had the Greek salad and the Falafel Gyros. It was so refreshing—just what we needed to feel energized for the rest of the day.
- Las Barricas Siargao ($$$): This place is a cute little spot to grab tacos and drinks. While the tacos are not authentic Mexican, they are still tasty.
- Shaka Cafe ($$): Perhaps the most famous restaurant in Siargao, their smoothie bowls hit the spot after an afternoon at Cloud 9.
- Bebie’s Barbeque ($$): If you’re driving through General Luna, it’s hard to miss this spot. Smoke billows from both sides of the street, filling the air with BBQ. It’s a favorite among locals and Filipino tourists.
- Kanaloa ($$): Restaurant on the beach in a quieter part of General Luna. They are known for their skewers. It was one of our favorite places for dinner in Siargao – we ate there three times.
- Little Rotti ($$): The 2nd floor of Hostel Bajala is home to a restaurant that serves some of the best Indian food we’ve had.
- Food Lab ($$): They specialize in Vietnamese dishes, and a bowl of pho was exactly what we needed after a night of partying.
- The Hub by Lokal Lab ($$): We went here for dinner one night because we heard they had fast internet. We had an ahi bowl and it tasted amazing, especially for the price. Oh, and the internet was indeed fast.
- El Chapo’s Siargao ($$): We recommend the fried tacos. Don’t bother with anything else.
- Cloud 8 ($$$): Who knew you could get Taiwanese food in Siargao? We had dinner here with our hostel mates and it was some of the best Taiwanese food we’ve had outside of Taiwan. I was not expecting that in the Philippines.
- Big Belly ($$$): If you’re craving a burger in Siargao, Big Belly is the spot. We had their smash burgers and they took us right back to America.
- Andok’s Chicken ($): Like Jollibee’s, Andok’s is one of the Philippines’ fast food restaurants. They serve a juicy roast chicken that is absolutely divine and budget-friendly!
Free Siargao Google Maps Locations
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Siargao Day 2: Island Tours
It’s your second day and now that you’re acquainted with the island, it’s time to leave — for an island tour, of course 😊
I’ll share 3 popular island tour options below so you can pick one that’s best for your travel style. The options range from beautiful lagoons to faraway coves and each is magical in its own way. And if you decide to extend your Siargao trip like us, maybe you’ll end up doing all 3?
If I only had 3 days in Siargao, I would choose the Tri-Island tour because it offers a wide variety in a single tour and it’s easy to access from General Luna.
Option 1: The Tri-Island Tour (plus Corregidor Island)
The Tri-Island Tour is the most popular island tour in Siargao. It’s called the Tri-Island Tour because you visit 3 islands: Naked Island, Daku Island, and Guyam Island.
There is an option to add Corregidor Island to the tour at an extra price, and I highly recommend doing this because it turns the tour from great to outstanding! But let’s get into the Tri-Island Tour first.
The Tri-Island Tour starts at the General Luna Pier where you’ll board a boat and then visit 3 different islands. All 3 islands are close by, and it takes about 20 minutes to get to Naked Island which is the furthest one.
Naked Island
Naked Island is a beautiful sandbar off the coast of General Luna. There is no vegetation, just sand – hence its name.
This place is absolutely stunning, with white sand and bright blue waters. It’s most visually appealing to visit during high tide but we visited it during both high and low tide, and it was an awesome experience both times.
Daku Island
Daku is the biggest island on the tour. It even has its own village. But most people don’t come to Daku to explore. Rather, this is where you swim and eat lunch.
If you join a group tour, your tour guides will treat you to a boodle fight – a traditional Filipino meal. Unfortunately, we didn’t take a group tour so we weren’t able to join in on a boodle fight. Instead, we found some small sari-sari stores where we bought light snacks and cold drinks.
Guyam Island
Guyam Island is a tiny picture-perfect island. It’s surrounded by white sand and the middle of the island is covered in palm trees. It’s very cute and a nice place to relax and have a drink at its bar.
Corregidor Island
Corregidor Island is an optional island to add to your Tri-Island Tour and it turned out to be our favorite island on the tour!
If you look south From the coast of General Luna, you’ll see a small island covered in green grass, that’s Corregidor – it almost looks like Ireland!
You’ll arrive at Corregidor Island on a clean white sand beach, then you’ll meet up with a local guide who will bring you hiking to the top of the island.
The hike starts with a stroll through the island’s only village, then you’ll make your way up to Corregidor’s interior where you’ll walk through grassy green hills dotted with palm trees. It’s such a unique landscape. After returning from the hike, cool down by swimming in the clear blue waters at the beach by your tour boat.
Read our full blog post: Corregidor Island from Siargao: Our Complete Guide
Option 2: Sugba Lagoon
Sugba Lagoon is an amazing lagoon that I found to be very beautiful for the least amount of work. You can visit Sugba Lagoon as part of a group tour, and they will arrange for all your transportation there. Another way to go to Sugba Lagoon is to do it the DIY way on your own.
To get to Sugba Lagoon the DIY way, drive to the Port of Sugba Lagoon in Del Carmen. Then you hire a boat to get you to Sugba Lagoon. The boat ride takes about 25 minutes.
Once you’re at Sugba Lagoon, you’ll enter an area surrounded by small islands, creating a gorgeous teal-colored lagoon. Your boat will dock in the middle of the lagoon at a floating platform where you can leave your things and explore.
The most famous attraction at Sugba Lagoon is its jumping platform where you can dive into a roped-off area to swim. You can also rent kayaks to explore the lagoon.
Trey and I brought our snorkels but didn’t find much ocean life underwater. But regardless, it’s a beautiful place and I’m glad we visited – and I would visit again and again! It’s the perfect swim spot.
Read our full blog post: Sugba Lagoon in Siargao: Complete Guide
Option 3: Sohoton Cove
Sohoton Cove is a remote untouched lagoon, filled with turquoise waters, caves, and tall cliffs.
The Sohoton Tour includes a dive into a glowing green limestone cave, a swim with jellyfish, and another cave that ends with a cliff jump into the lagoon! For lunch, you’ll share a Filipino boodle fight with all the friends you made on the tour. There are also some epic diving boards at the lunch spot.
The drawback of Sohoton is that it’s an absolute adventure to get to from Siargao, which is honestly the make-it-or-break-it point. It takes at least 2 hours by boat to get there.
Though I absolutely recommend this Sohoton tour, if I only had 3 days… I might skip it because it’s an all-day event and can be exhausting because of the long boat ride.
Read our full blog post: How to Get to Sohoton Cove from Siargao: Complete Guide
Sunset Bridge
After your island tour, it’s time to head to Sunset Bridge to catch… the sunset!
Sunset Bridge is a famous spot in General Luna for many reasons. There’s an awesome market full of local vendors selling snacks and souvenirs. And of course, the bridge has an awesome view of the sunset. Some people even jump off the bridge for fun.
Rest assured, this place is busy so it’s a fun spot to visit. And if you’re single, there’s even lore you’ll meet your future lover there…
Dinner in General Luna
For dinner on your second day, I recommend going out and trying a different restaurant in General Luna! There are so many to choose from, so check back on our list from Day 1 for our recommendations.
Go Out for the Nightlife in General Luna
Whether you’re into parties or not, we found General Luna to be an awesome place to experience nightlife.
The clubs in General Luna have a neat system, each night of the week is dedicated to a different club, so you can easily find a party no matter when you go out:
- Mondays: Mama Coco
- Tuesdays: Sidargo
- Wednesdays: Goodies
- Thursdays: Bed and Brew
- Fridays: Barbosa
- Saturdays: Harana
- Sundays: Happiness
- Every night: El Lobo, Siargao Beach Club
After going on a group tour, we made new friends and they invited us out! Not one to say no to new friendships, we gladly took their offer and our whole group went out and spent more time together. It was honestly so fun and the best way to seal our memories in Siargao.
Going out in a new place with other travelers is just magical. At that moment in time, we’re all together and the likelihood of this happening ever again… is extremely rare! Fond memories I will cherish forever.
Siargao Day 3: Adventure or Action
It’s day 3 and your last day in Siargao! Depressing I know… but we will make the best of your last day so that you’ll leave with the best memories that will last a lifetime!
I’ll leave you with a few options so you can choose based on your travel style, but Option 1 is what I would do if it were my last day.
Option 1: Spelunking, Cave Pools, and Cold Spring
If you’re adventurous people like us and find joy in exploring the world’s wonders, I recommend this option for your last day in Siargao. It involves exploring the roads less traveled for a fun and exciting adventure.
Marvelous Somyot Cave
Hope you like long drives cause we’re heading back up north for an insane cave adventure!
An hour from General Luna, the Marvelous Somyot Cave was recently opened to the public in March 2023 and was the most adrenaline-pumping adventure we had in Siargao. We spent an hour exploring this cave and it was one of our most memorable travel experiences yet.
The Marvelous Somyot Cave is a massive cave with multiple rooms. Inside the cave are bats, pools, and narrow passageways that require some care and planning. There’s even a spot where you can tap on the mineral formations to make some sweet cave music!
Before you attempt this cave, we recommend reading our guide below to see if this is a suitable adventure for you. It’s not necessarily safe and if you have a lot of fears they may all hit you at once in this cave. I know I couldn’t get out of here faster but I don’t regret it at all!
Read our full blog post: Exploring the Marvelous Somyot Cave in Siargao
Tayangban Cave Pool
After exploring Siargao’s underworld, it’s now time to head back south to General Luna but with a couple of epic adventures along the way.
The next stop is Tayangban Cave Pool – this awesome cave is a thrilling adventure that checks off all the boxes.
First, you arrive and meet with a guide who gets you fitted in helmets and safety equipment. Then you enter a dark cave that’s full of water. As you wade through the cave, you’ll see beautiful sparkly stalactites. At points, you’ll even come across some bats.
The end of the cave opens up to a beautiful grotto that’s perfect for swimming. There is even a jumping platform and a rope swing!
If you’re scared of bats, don’t worry – you can still enjoy the grotto without having to go through the cave. Just let your guide know which you prefer, but we found exploring the cave to be the highlight of the experience! The cave only takes about 15 minutes to get through, but I would budget about an hour for the entire experience.
Read our full blog post: Tayangban Cave Pool in Siargao: Complete Guide
Beto Cold Spring
After exploring the caves, the adventure isn’t over yet! It’s time to visit our favorite cold spring in the Philippines.
Beto Cold Spring is a gorgeous cold spring just outside of General Luna. This picturesque freshwater spring has multiple swimming areas, jumps, a rope swing, kayak rentals, and even karaoke!
You can check out our full Beto Cold Spring Guide below but I literally love this place. It’s a fun place to hang out with other locals and travelers alike!
Read our full blog post: Beto Cold Spring – The Largest Cold Spring in Siargao
Option 2: Surf, Skate, and Wake
Now that you’ve been in Siargao for a few days, you can’t deny that its board sports culture is alive and well. It is literally everywhere – from surfing to skateboarding and even wakeboarding. Maybe you’ve got the itch to participate?
Surfing
If surfing is something you’ve always wanted to try, there is no better place to learn than in Siargao!
Coming from Hawaii, we were hesitant to surf since the culture in Hawaii is extremely territorial and intimidating. But in Siargao, our surf anxiety melted away. The surfers are kind and eager to teach and I never felt any territorial vibes over waves. Lessons are super reasonable too – around 500 pesos for 1 hour!
The obvious choice to surf is at Cloud 9. But honestly, even when the waves at Cloud 9 are small it’s overcrowded and on the verge of unsafe.
If you want to learn, Jacking Horse is usually recommended for beginner surfers. There is also a surf break in the distance called Cemetery. You can hire a surf instructor on the beach and then catch a boat to get out there. Or you can head back out to Pacifico and learn to surf there like we did!
Skateboarding (surf skating)
Another big trend in Siargao is surf skating. This is when you ride a longboard over the pavement in stylish ways. Pretty much skateboarding but a lot more groovy.
There’s a group that surf skates Malinao road every day during sunset. It’s a great beginner spot as the road is less busy, flat, and in great condition.
Siargao Wakepark
Did you know there is a wakepark just outside General Luna? We visited it on a Sunday, which was perfect because they have a Sunday Funday special: you purchase a drink for 100 pesos and get a free ride. Pretty amazing deal if you ask me.
Trey went for a ride on a wakeboard, and he did pretty well!
Between every few wakeboarders, they have a pro go for a ride to show off their skills! The pros break up the monotony of a bunch of newbies riding. It’s such a cool show!
If you go on Sunday like we did it is honestly a bit of a party. We visited with a large group of our hostel mates and had an amazing time.
Option 3: Island Tour
If you loved your island tour from day 2 and can’t get enough, I recommend spending your last day doing another one!
If you haven’t tried Sugba Lagoon yet, it’s an easy one and will only take about a half day so you can spend the rest of your day exploring General Luna and other nearby areas.
Are You Following Our Siargao Blog Series?
We spent 16 days in Siargao and found so many things to do there—from caves to beaches, mangroves, and lagoons. To help fellow adventurers, we’ve put together guides to the best places we found. You can check them out by clicking the links below.
- Start planning your trip here: Siargao Travel Guide
- Our ultimate guide to Siargao: 26 Awesome Things to Do in Siargao
- How to plan your Siargao vacation: Siargao 3 Day Itinerary
- Our Siargao Beach Guide: 15 Best Beaches in Siargao
- Our favorite place to swim in Siargao: Beto Cold Spring
- Our most intense adventure in Siargao: Exploring the Marvelous Somyot Cave
- Our favorite day tour in Siargao: Sohoton Cove
- Our favorite beach in Siargao: Pacifico Beach
- How to rent a motorbike in the Philippines
I hope you enjoyed our Siargao 3-Day Itinerary! Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions. 🐸
This is amazing. Thank you for sharinf