We stumbled upon the Stairs of Heaven completely by accident after visiting the Tigasao Lighthouse. Chloe noticed a sandy trail leading through the bushes. We curiously followed the path and stumbled upon a secluded cliffside with a staircase that seemed to descend straight into the ocean. The stairs led us to a pristine tidepool where we swam in clear waters, surrounded by Siargao’s rocky coastline.
I’ve never seen this spot mentioned anywhere else, and we didn’t come across a single person during our visit. It’s incredible that Siargao still has hidden gems like this—places where you can enjoy a slice of paradise all to yourself.
Stairs of Heaven Complete Guide
The Stairs of Heaven is a stone staircase carved into a rocky cliffside that leads down to a sandy tidepool. The tidepool is perfect for swimming as long as you visit during low tide.
The stairs are located on the east coast of Siargao, near Pacifico Beach. In fact, you can clearly see Pacifico Beach from the stairs.
How to get to Stairs of Heaven
The best way to reach the Stairs of Heaven is by motorbike, as it’s located in a remote area of Siargao that few people visit.
Starting from General Luna, we rode up the Siargao Circumferential Road and turned into the village of Tigasao. After passing through the village, we continued along a backroad that had been recently paved and was in excellent condition during our visit, with no traffic in sight.
We followed the road until it dead-ended at a beach and made our first stop at the nearby Tigasao Lighthouse. On our way back from the lighthouse, Chloe noticed a narrow trail cutting through the bushes. Intrigued, we decided to explore. The trail was overgrown, but our curiosity paid off when it brought us to the Stairs of Heaven.
The map location below is accurate and can be used to navigate to the Stairs of Heaven.
Stairs of Heaven: Our Experience
When I first saw the Stairs of Heaven, I was in disbelief. I was not expecting the little trail through the bushes to lead anywhere significant—let alone to a place as epic as this. The white staircase wound its way down a rocky cliff, seemingly descending into the ocean below.
At first glance, the stairs appeared to dead-end at the water. We paused to take it all in, watching waves break over a rocky shelf in the sea. Then, something caught my eye—a pocket of white sand nestled within the rocks.
It was high tide, and after adventuring around Siargao, I learned how dramatically the coastline transforms with the tides. We made a note to return during low tide to see how the stairs would transform with the changing tides.
A few days later, we came back, this time timing our visit with low tide. And we were right—the transformation was incredible. The ocean had pulled back to reveal hidden nooks and crannies among the rocks. At the heart of it all was that same sandy pocket I’d spotted before. But now, the water inside it was calm, crystal-clear, and ready to be explored.
We descended the steps and made our way to the tidepool. The rocks were a little slippery, so we had to be careful when walking over them. When we reached the tidepool, we dove right in.
At first I was a bit surprised. The water was still despite being close to the ocean. It was incredibly clear, unlike our last visit when high tide completely covered the pool with waves. It felt like an entirely different place.
But I did not let my guard down. I kept a watchful eye over my shoulder at the ocean, keeping an eye on the tide. I knew that at any moment the tide could start coming back in.
The sandy bottom of the pool was surrounded by rocks and patches of seaweed. As we swam around, the water remained still, only disturbed by the shimmering of the surface from the sea breeze.
After finishing our swim, we climbed back up the staircase and left the area, heading further north in search of more adventures along Siargao’s beautiful eastern coastline.
Where to Stay in Siargao
Choosing where to stay in Siargao is pretty straightforward. General Luna is the island’s main tourism hub. Most of the accommodations, restaurants, and shops are located in General Luna, and it’s also where all the tours and activities depart from. If you want to be close to everything, General Luna is the place to be.
Here are our recommendations on where to stay in Siargao:
- Luxury: If you’re looking for the best place to stay in Siargao, Las Palmas Villas is hard to beat. It has everything you would expect from a resort, including a swimming pool, a garden, and a full-service restaurant and bar.
- Mid-range: Big Waves Boutique Hotel is located right in the heart of General Luna, in a local neighborhood. The rooms are clean and all have their own private bathrooms and AC.
- Budget: We enjoyed our stay at Hostel Bajala so much that we ended up extending it a few times. The place is clean, cozy, and comfortable. We couldn’t ask for more.
If you prefer to find your own place to stay, you can visit Booking.com to explore all your accommodation options in Siargao.
What to Pack for Siargao
Here are some of our 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.
Our Siargao Google Maps Locations
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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 guide to the Stairs of Heaven in Siargao. Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions! 🐸
