26 Incredible Things to Do in Siargao: Complete Travel Guide

When we first landed in Siargao we had no idea that our trip would last as long as it did. The island has the perfect mix of beautiful nature, a chill vibe, and enough comfort for it to be our absolute favorite destination in the Philippines. So much so that we extended our stay in Siargao three separate times!

But while Siargao is famous for its surfing, there’s so much more to explore on this small island covered in palm trees. In this guide, we’ll share all our best Siargao tourist spots and the best things to do in Siargao to make your trip unforgettable.

26 Incredible Things to Do in Siargao

Magpupungko Rock Pools

No adventure to Siargao is complete without a visit to the Magpupungko Rock Pools. The area is famous for its tide pools that appear during low tide. There is a massive rock right in the middle of the largest tide pool, which serves as a popular cliff-diving spot. With plenty of action, it’s no wonder this place is a popular destination in Siargao.

We visited during both low and high tide to experience the difference.

At low tide, the pools were calm and filled with people swimming and jumping off the rock into the water. It was a great place to explore, with marine life hiding in the crevices of the rocks and little caves scattered throughout the area. Walking around, we were able to fully appreciate the beauty of the pools and their surroundings.

High tide, however, was a whole different experience. Only a few adventurous people were in the water as waves crashed directly into the tide pools. Swimming during high tide is more dangerous, so it’s best for confident swimmers. Despite the risk, it was incredible to see the pools transformed by the ocean.

Beto Cold Spring

Beto Cold Spring is our favorite cold spring in all of the Philippines because there’s so much to do there. It has two main areas: a shallow pool where the cold spring originates, perfect for lounging and relaxing, and a deeper pool with a bamboo bridge, a jumping platform, and a rope swing. The deeper pool is where you’ll see kids doing flips, dives, and just having a good time.

There are also kayaks available for rent at the cold spring, so you can paddle in the river. We rented a kayak and paddled over to a nearby village. It was a great way to see the island from a different perspective.

When the surf conditions are low, Beto Cold Spring becomes a hotspot for surfers looking to cool off and have some fun. It often turns into an impromptu party spot, with people singing karaoke, drinking, and enjoying the water. It’s a fantastic place to meet other travelers and hang out with locals in a fun setting.

Maasin River

The Maasin River is one of the most famous spots in Siargao. It originally became famous for its iconic coconut tree rope swing over the water.

If you’re looking to get the iconic rope swing over the river photo, I regret to inform you that the tree is gone and has been replaced by a jumping platform. However, a visit to the Maasin River is still well worth your time as long as you go early in the morning to avoid the crowds.

These days, the thing to do at the Maasin River is take a canoe tour up to a lagoon. We hopped into a canoe with a guide and were among the first groups out that morning. It was a calm, beautiful ride through the mangroves, and watching little flowers fall from the trees made the experience feel even more magical.

At the end of the river is a small spot locals call the “secret lagoon.” While it’s a popular turnaround point for all the canoe tours, it still has that hidden-in-the-jungle vibe.

We bought a coconut from one of the vendors and took some photos, enjoying the lagoon all to ourselves. The locals told us that the lagoon gets crowded during the day and in an hour there will be a line to take photos there. I guess that’s one of the perks of arriving early.

Sohoton Cove

Sohoton Cove is famous for its limestone cliffs, hidden lagoons, and caves. It’s one of the most beautiful destinations you can visit from Siargao, but getting there is difficult. The journey starts with a 2-hour boat ride from Dapa to the Sohoton Tourist Center, followed by another boat ride that takes you into the cove itself.

Entering Sohoton Cove is an experience I won’t forget. The only way in and out is through a narrow cave passage, where the ceiling was so low that we had to wear helmets and duck to avoid hitting our heads.

Once inside, it felt like we had floated into another world. Tall green cliffs surrounded by milky blue water. It’s the kind of stuff you see in movies.

The first place we explored inside the lagoon was Hagukan Cave. When our boat stopped next to a cliff, I was a little confused. There didn’t seem to be an entrance anywhere. Then, our guide suddenly jumped into the water and asked, “Who’s going first?” One by one, he led each of us underwater through a narrow passageway that opened up into Hagukan Cave on the other side.

Hagukan Cave is also known as the Luminescent Cave and it didn’t take long for us to find out why. The moment we started splashing around, the cave water lit up with a shimmering blue-green. At first, we felt a little silly splashing each other, but we saw everyone else doing the same! It was a crazy experience.

The next stop on the tour was Magkukuob Cave. Unlike Hagukan, you can actually walk into this cave but be prepared to wade through head-deep water in some parts. After going through the cave’s interior, we climbed up a narrow tunnel that opened up to a spot overlooking the lagoon—right next to a jumping platform!

That’s right—the only way out of Magkukuob Cave is to leap off the platform straight into the lagoon below. It was an exciting finale to an awesome adventure.

Our final stop in Sohoton was the famous Jellyfish Lagoon. Our guide dove in the water first, and when he resurfaced, he was holding a jellyfish in his hand! He handed it to Chloe, who was hesitant at first, but he reassured her that these jellyfish are harmless. After that, we couldn’t wait to dive in ourselves.

We visited Sohoton in June and realized we had just missed the prime jellyfish season. The best time to see the jellyfish in Sohoton is from March through May. So if you’re hoping to catch them in larger numbers, plan your visit for those months.

After the Jellyfish Lagoon, we headed back to the Sohoton Tourist Center and boarded the tour boat. Our tour boat took us right around the corner to Tiktikan Lagoon Cottages for lunch. We were starving after all that exploring, so we were thrilled to see a boodle fight feast laid out for us. We didn’t hold back and were completely stuffed for the boat ride back to Siargao.

Coconut Trees View Deck

One of the most iconic photo spots in Siargao is the Coconut Trees View Deck. Despite its name, it’s not a viewing deck but rather a pull-off on the side of the road. We drove past it many times during our adventures, as it’s located right along the main road connecting General Luna to the northern part of Siargao.

It’s a good place to stop and take a break while motorbiking around the island. If you have a drone, bring it here — it’s an awesome place to capture photos of the sea of palm trees.

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Sugba Lagoon

Just west of Siargao lies Sugba Lagoon – a place is famous for its emerald-green waters surrounded by lush limestone hills. It looks like it’s straight out of a postcard.

There are plenty of island tours in Siargao, but if you have limited time, Sugba Lagoon is my recommendation because it’s easy to get to. The tours depart from Del Carmen, where you’ll hop on a boat and enjoy a 30-minute ride through mangrove forests and past coastal villages before reaching the lagoon.

One of the highlights of Sugba Lagoon is the diving board attached to the platform. We jumped off a few times into the water below. After that, we rented a kayak and paddled around the lagoon, exploring its quieter corners away from the main docking area.

We brought our snorkels, hoping to spot some fish, but the waters here are mostly for swimming and paddling rather than snorkeling. Nonetheless, the experience of kayaking in such a beautiful setting made it a memorable day.

Tri-Island Hopping

Tri-Island Hopping is one of the most popular things to do in Siargao, taking you to the islands of Naked, Daku, and Guyam. These three islands are located just off the coast of General Luna and can all be explored in a single day on a tour that departs from town.

The adventure starts at Naked Island, a small strip of powdery white sand surrounded by clear, aquamarine waters. It’s a great spot to swim, soak up the sun, and enjoy the scenery.

The next stop is Daku Island for lunch. Here, you’ll experience a Filipino boodle fight—a massive spread of local dishes laid out on a table for everyone to share. After taking a few photos, everyone digs in together. It’s a communal way to enjoy a delicious meal and connect with your tour group.

The final stop is Guyam Island, a tiny, circular island ideal for lounging and relaxing. It has a laid-back atmosphere and a small bar, so it’s the perfect place to unwind on the beach before heading back to General Luna.

Corregidor Island

When I first saw photos of Corregidor Island, it made an impression. The island was covered in grassy hills dotted by palm trees. It’s a landscape you don’t often see in the Philippines, so I knew we had to visit it when we were in Siargao. The best part is that the island has a trail that goes up into these hills, so we could experience them up close.

The hike in Corregidor follows a path from the beach and up onto a trail that curves along the hillside. I didn’t know it at the time, but the island only has one village, and we walked right through it on our way up.

Once we reached the top of the hills, we were rewarded with unobstructed views of the sea and surrounding islands. I took a moment to soak it all in, amazed at how high up we were—it’s rare to get such awesome views from a small island.

The hike was not long and in about 30 minutes we were at the end of the trail. The trail ended at a small shack with benches for resting. We stopped for a moment to chat with a few others and spotted a bent coconut tree. It turns out that the tree is one of the photo ops of the trail, so of course Chloe had to get a photo of her own!

To get to Corregidor Island, you need to arrange a boat transfer from the General Luna Pier. Most boats leave in the morning, and joining a group tour is best to make it more affordable.

You can also add Corregidor Island to your Tri-island hopping itinerary, so you visit four islands instead of three.

Tigasao Lighthouse

I first saw a picture of Tigasao Lighthouse on a postcard at one of the surf shops in General Luna. It looked interesting, so I found it on a map and decided to go see it for myself.

The lighthouse is located right along the coastline, but there’s no road that goes directly to it. We rode our motorbike to the end of the nearest road, parked, and then walked along a trail to reach it.

When we finally arrived, the sight of the white lighthouse set against the tropical surroundings was charming. It felt like stumbling upon a lost Pacific island, so we spent some time taking photos and enjoying the view.

Stairs of Heaven

We stumbled upon the Stairs of Heaven by accident after visiting the Tigasao Lighthouse. On our way back from the lighthouse, we noticed a set of steps leading through some bushes. Following the path, we discovered a hidden cliffside spot with a staircase that seemed to descend straight into the ocean.

At the bottom, we found a tide pool that only appears during low tide. Unfortunately, it wasn’t low tide during our first visit, so we returned a few days later, this time timing it perfectly to swim in the tide pool.

I’ve never seen this spot recommended anywhere else, and we didn’t encounter a single person when we visited. It’s amazing that Siargao still has hidden gems like this, where you can experience a slice of paradise all to yourself.

Secret Beach

Just outside of General Luna is Secret Beach, a place perfect for catching sunsets and relaxing. The beach itself might not be the most picturesque, but its grassy area shaded by palm trees is an ideal spot for lounging and hanging out with friends.

One activity you can do here is rent a canoe or paddleboard to explore the nearby mangroves. That’s exactly what we did one afternoon, and we had an absolute blast.

There are lots of little paths winding through the mangroves, so make sure you keep track of where you’re going. And don’t forget to have a strong paddler on board—when the tides change, the currents in the mangroves can get surprisingly strong.

Tubig-ajan Cold Spring

After visiting the Magpupungko Rock Pools, we made our way to Tubig-Ajan Cold Spring, which is tucked away in a nearby village and definitely off the usual tourist path.

What makes Tubig-Ajan unique is that you can’t just walk up to it—getting there involves a short boat ride across the river from the village. When we arrived, it was low tide, and we had the place all to ourselves. There’s a rock pool area built around the spring, creating a natural swimming area that looks like it’s set up for parties and gatherings.

While low tide isn’t the best time to visit since the water was quite shallow, it was still incredibly clear and clean, and we enjoyed exploring the peaceful surroundings.

Pasikon Beach

We stopped by Pasikon Beach one morning on our way to Siargao’s north shore and had the entire place to ourselves. It’s a small white sand beach tucked away in a secluded cove with palm trees that dot the shoreline.

Since the beach is privately owned, there’s an entrance fee of 80 pesos, but the clean sand and relaxed vibe make it worth the price. It’s a bit of a drive from General Luna, which keeps it quiet most days. It’s a great spot to visit, especially if you’re already heading up to explore Siargao’s north shore.

Marvelous Somyot Cave

Exploring the Somyot Cave was by far the most intense adventure we had in Siargao. The tour kicked off with us being fitted with helmets, gloves, and headlamps—looking back, we should have known we were in for a challenge with all that gear, but we went along with it anyway.

From the moment we stepped inside the cave, our adrenaline was pumping. The cave has several large chambers connected to each other by narrow passageways. These passageways were the trickiest parts to navigate and made the adventure feel like we were going into another world. Thankfully, our guide was there to help us through every tight corner.

In the cave we saw countless rock formations, a cave pool, and tiny cave bats. The most unique thing about the cave is that it has these stalactites that you can tap on like a xylophone to make some sweet cave music. It was an unforgettable adventure that pushed us out of our comfort zone in the best way possible.

Tigasao Linaw Cave Lagoon

On our way back from Stairs of Heaven, we stopped at Tigasao Linaw Cave Lagoon to cool off and take a quick dip. The lagoon is tucked away in the bushes off the road, so when we arrived, we had to ask a local if we were in the right place.

As we entered, we noticed a few locals swimming inside a small cave nearby. We went over to check it out, and they explained that the water inside the cave was freshwater and not salty at all. This was exactly what we came for since we don’t like motorbiking home with salty swim clothes so Chloe hopped in first. Immediately after jumping in the cave pool her face lit up! The water was much cooler than we expected, which was perfect for the hot day.

We visited during low tide, so the water in the lagoon was quite shallow. We saw a zip line that ran across the lagoon, with a local boy that was daring enough to ride it. Even though we didn’t ride the zip line ourselves, the experience was still a fun little detour on our way back to General Luna.

Pacifico Beach

Pacifico Beach is located on Siargao’s east side and is the place that people go to when they want to escape the crowded beaches in General Luna. It’s close enough for a quick trip but far enough to keep things peaceful and uncrowded.

The beach is long and sandy, making it easy to find a quiet spot to relax. We spent the afternoon there, enjoying fresh coconuts while watching surfers catch waves during sunset. The beach bar serves refreshments and has chairs, umbrellas, and towels for rent, so you can literally show up empty-handed and still have everything you need for a relaxing afternoon.

When you arrive, you’ll be greeted by the local surfers offering lessons. It’s more of an activity rather than a lesson since they push you into the waves as they come in. Hardly any skill is required, you just need to be able to stand up on the board. We gave it a try for an hour and had a blast.

Del Carmen Mangrove Boardwalk

After visiting Sugba Lagoon, we found ourselves in the town of Del Carmen and decided to check out a newly built boardwalk nearby. The boardwalk extends over the mangroves, giving you the chance to explore without getting your feet wet. Pretty neat concept.

When we reached the entrance, we noticed that they rent bicycles. Always one to make things easier, Chloe suggested we rent some to cruise along the boardwalk, and I’m so glad we did.

The path zigzagged through the mangroves and turned out to be much longer than I expected. As we rode over the boardwalk, the sun began to set. I wondered what the view from above was like, so I sent up my drone. The sight was incredible—the mangroves stretched out for miles, much larger than I had imagined. We had the entire boardwalk to ourselves, making it the perfect way to end our day of exploring.

Bugak Cold Spring

Bugak Cold Spring is a tiny off-the-beaten path cold spring not far from General Luna. It’s easy to miss since there aren’t many signs for it along the road, but we were able to find it and entered the area through a small gate.

As we descended the stairs to the river, we initially struggled to locate the cold spring until a local pointed us to a small cove where the spring originates. I quickly jumped in and felt the refreshing rush of cold water mixing with the river.

The facilities at Bugak Cold Spring are quite basic, featuring only a small bench and a hut for shade. When we visited, some workers were busy fixing the stairs, so it’s possible that the area may be more built up when you visit.

Lunch and Beach at ShakaBrah

On our way back from Bugak Cold Spring, we were feeling hungry, so we decided to stop at this place called ShakaBrah in Santa Fe. It’s an unassuming spot right on the side of the road that serves Vietnamese food and coffee. One of our favorite combos.

When we walked in, we discovered that ShakaBrah offers more than just food and coffee. It’s located right on the beach, complete with its own beach access and a freshwater shower. After enjoying our lunch and coffee, we took a refreshing swim in the ocean and rinsed off before heading back to General Luna, feeling completely clean and satisfied.

Tayangban Cave Pool

Tayangban Cave is a wet cave in the most literal sense. When going through the cave, you’ll be wading through water in the dark. If that sounds like fun to you then you’ll love this place. But I’ll admit we were a bit hesitant to enter the cave at first.

Exploring the Tayangban Cave Pool was one of the more adventurous things we did in Siargao. We started the adventure with our guide fitting us with hard hats and headlamps. Our guide warned us we were going to get wet, so we left everything in our motorbike and only brought our action camera.

As we entered the cave, the adventure went from 0 to 100 real quick. There are no shallow areas to get comfortable when entering. We just had to fully commit and climb down into chest-high water. The cave was pitch dark except for our headlamps, and there were times when I had to navigate by feeling my way around since I couldn’t always see where I was stepping.

As we approached the end of the cave, I could see light pouring inside. I almost didn’t want it to end, even though I was excited to see where we would end up.

Once we emerged from the cave, we entered a small natural pool with a rope swing and a jumping platform. There were a few local boys hanging out and taking turns on the rope swing, so we introduced ourselves and joined in on the fun.

Sunset at Kanaloa

Kanaloa is a restaurant just outside of General Luna, and it’s the perfect spot to grab a drink with dinner while watching the sunset. It’s famous for its skewers and we loved eating there so much that we went three times!

Kanaloa has its own beach. While it may not be ideal for swimming, it’s a great spot to rent canoes and explore the nearby mangroves. That’s exactly what we did one afternoon before returning for dinner and drinks at the restaurant.

Cloud 9 Boardwalk

Cloud 9 is the heart of the surf scene in Siargao. The area is known for its legendary surf break, so it’s the go-to spot for all surfers on the island.

One of the main attractions of Cloud 9 is its boardwalk, a wooden pathway that stretches out over the water leading to a viewing platform. The boardwalk is a popular place to spend sunset. You can watch the surfers carve up the waves as the sunlight casts a golden glow.

If you’re in need of a snack between wave sets, head over to nearby Shaka Siargao. The cafe is famous for its smoothie bowls and island vibe. With outdoor seating and a view of the ocean at Cloud 9, it’s an awesome spot to unwind while soaking in the coastal scenery.

Alegria Beach

Alegria Beach is a beautiful white sand beach way out on the north shore of Siargao. Going out there really gives the “getting away from it all” vibe, if going all the way out to Siargao isn’t enough to get away from it all.

When we arrived at Alegria Beach, it was low tide, and the sun was beginning to set. Alegria Beach has a restaurant right on the shore and a nearby resort if you’re looking to stay longer. The beach was so beautiful and peaceful that we even considered finding a homestay and spending the night there.

Paddle to Naked Island

Naked Island is part of the famous tri-island hopping route in Siargao, but there’s a more adventurous way to get there—by paddleboard! That’s exactly what we did, along with a few others from our hostel, and it turned out to be an epic way to spend the afternoon.

Paddling out to Naked Island wasn’t easy for us, especially since we hadn’t paddled much, but we pushed through and made it safely to the island.

When we arrived, I took in the view of the pristine, sandy island surrounded by clear blue waters and couldn’t believe we actually paddled all the way there. Just when I thought we were a bit crazy, two guys swam up to the island and they told us they swam there all the way from shore!

The paddle to Naked Island took us about an hour, with a few breaks along the way to swim and enjoy the ocean. On the way back, it only took 45 minutes, thanks to the current pushing us back home.

We rented our paddleboards from our hostel, but you can also find paddleboard and canoe rentals at Secret Beach.

Siargao Wakepark

If you leave General Luna, you’ll likely spot signs for Siargao Wakepark. That’s exactly what happened to us, and I can’t believe it took us so long to finally check it out!

We visited Siargao Wakepark on a Sunday, which was perfect because they have a Sunday Funday special: you get a free ride with the purchase of a drink for 100 pesos. Pretty good deal if you ask me.

The atmosphere at the wake park was lively, with plenty of people enjoying beers and watching the wakeboarders. We even ran into a few folks from our hostel, which made it fun to have a little crew to hang out with.

It was my first time wakeboarding, and I was a bit nervous about trying it in front of a big crowd, but the chill vibe and welcoming crowd put me at ease.

There were a few wakeboard pros there that would go for a ride every few rounds, just to break up the monotony of us newbies in the water. These guys would catch huge air and do some insane flips, while the crowd cheered on. If anything, seeing these guys shred made the trip to the wakepark worth it alone.

Go Out for the Nightlife in General Luna

We went out to the clubs twice while in Siargao and had an awesome time each night.

We went to Harana on a Saturday night and we had more fun than we should have. If you haven’t tried it yet, the Philippines has this beer called Red Horse, and it’s known for being extra strong. Its bottles are pint-sized, so after just two of those, I was feeling pretty tipsy.

Now back to the club itself. Harana has two stages with DJs. The front stage is covered and plays hip hop and Top 40 hits, while the backstage, right next to the beach, played house and tech house music. We bumped into a bunch of people we’d met earlier in the week and even made some new friends that night. Siargao has such an awesome vibe that it’s not hard to make new friends.

The second time we went out, we went to Siargao Beach Club. It’s a much larger venue with plenty of tables for drinks and food. When we first arrived, the dance floor was pretty empty, but it didn’t take long for it to completely fill up.

At one point, while I was walking past the crowd, I heard the DJ shout, “FOAM PARTY!” I knew I had only a few seconds to escape the crowd before a wave of foam descended over everyone. I love parties, but foam parties scare me. Thankfully, I managed to make it out of the crowd and watched the foam party rage on from a safe distance.

Where to Party in Siargao: Siargao Party Schedule

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

Where to Eat in Siargao

One of the best things about Siargao is that there’s no shortage of great places to eat. Trying out all the different restaurants almost felt like a daily event, and there are plenty more we didn’t get a chance to visit.

The food scene in Siargao is incredibly international, with excellent options for American, Mediterranean, Taiwanese, Filipino, Mexican cuisine, and more!

Here’s a list of our favorite places to eat in Siargao:

• Kurvada: Kurvada is a carenderia 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 carenderia 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.
• Kolekbibo: We ordered the Surfer’s Happy Meal and the Surfer’s Wrap, and they were both amazing. The food had a comforting, homemade feel. The wrap itself was made from scratch, adding to that homey vibe.
• Buyod Restaurant: Right next to the famous coconut trees view is this cute restaurant. We had a couple of smoothies and an order of lumpia. The lumpia was so good that we ordered it again.
• 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 here 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. The internet was fast too.
• 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. Was not expecting that in the Philippines.
• Common Ground: This cute cafe and brunch spot is across the street from Pacifico Beach. We ate breakfast here on one of the days we went to Pacifico.
• 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.

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.

1. 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!
2. 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!
3. 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.
4. 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!
5. 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.

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When Is the Best Month to Visit Siargao?

The best months to visit Siargao are from March to October, which is the island’s dry season. It’s the opposite of the typical weather pattern in the rest of the Philippines.

If you’re a surfer, September to November is Siargao’s prime surfing season, when the waves are at their best. This period is highlighted by the Siargao International Surfing Cup, a week-long event that kicks off in October and attracts surfers from around the world.

How Many Days Is Enough for Siargao?

We recommend spending at least five days in Siargao, but if you can, try to stay as long as possible. It’s not uncommon for people to extend their trips after experiencing the island for a few days. We extended our stay in Siargao three times while we were there!

How Do You Get Around Siargao?

The best way to get around Siargao is by motorbike. There are rental vendors all over General Luna, and most accommodations can arrange a motorbike rental for you, so you don’t even need to leave your place to get one. Motorbike rentals in Siargao typically start at around 350 pesos per day.

If you’re not comfortable riding a motorbike, you can also get around Siargao by hiring a tricycle or tuk-tuk. Rides within General Luna start at around 50 to 100 pesos per person.

You can even hire a tricycle or tuk-tuk for a tour around the island if you want to go sightseeing. Just be sure to negotiate the rate before starting your ride.

What Is Siargao Famous For?

Siargao is widely known as the surfing capital of the Philippines, with Cloud 9 being its most famous surf break. Every October, the island hosts the Siargao International Surfing Cup, an event by the World Surf League.

Apart from surfing, Siargao is home to several iconic tourist spots like the Coconut Trees View Deck and the Maasin River Rope Swing.

Unfortunately, the bent coconut tree rope swing at Maasin River fell over in February 2023, so it no longer exists. However, the area is still worth visiting for its scenic river views.

Is Siargao a party island?

Siargao offers plenty of nightlife options, but it’s not typically regarded as a party island. Many visitors come to the island primarily for surfing and sightseeing, so while there are opportunities to enjoy the nightlife, it’s not in-your-face or overwhelming.

We went out to the clubs twice during our stay and had a great time, but if partying isn’t your scene, you can easily skip it and focus on the island’s natural beauty and other things to do in Siargao.

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

We hope our guide to things to do in Siargao helped you plan your adventure there. Please write us a comment below if you have any questions! 🐸