I first saw a picture of the Tigasao Lighthouse on a postcard at a surf shop in General Luna. The white pillar standing tall against a backdrop of coconut trees created such a memorable image that I had to figure out where it was.
After some digging, I pinpointed what I believed to be the lighthouse’s location on a map. Excited, we headed north on Siargao to see it in person. Our route took us through the island’s center, down a village road, and along a secluded backroad before we finally arrived at the lighthouse.
In this guide, I’ll share exactly how to find the Tigasao Lighthouse and what to expect when you get there.
Tigasao Lighthouse Complete Guide
The Tigasao Lighthouse is an abandoned lighthouse located on the east coast of Siargao in the Philippines. It’s in an absolutely beautiful area where a palm tree-lined coastline meets white sand beach. Visiting it makes you feel like you’ve stepped onto a lost island.
Because the Tigasao Lighthouse is located on the coastline, it is accessible only on foot. We rode our motorbike to the end of the nearest road, parked, and then walked along the beach to find it. It was a short but scenic walk that added to the adventure.
Be sure not to confuse the Tigasao Lighthouse with the Pacifico Lighthouse, another abandoned lighthouse nearby. Both are worth visiting, but they are different lighthouses.
How to Get to Tigasao Lighthouse
Our adventure to the Tigasao Lighthouse took us to the northeastern side of Siargao, just south of Pacifico Beach.
We followed the Siargao Circumferential Road for most of the trip, eventually turning off at the village of Tigasao. As we rode through the village, the narrow roads required us to slow down. But soon enough, we were on the other side of the village riding a new, wide concrete road.
We rode until we reached the end of the concrete road, overlooking a beach. We parked our motorbike and walked along the beach to reach the lighthouse.
The map location below for Tigasao Lighthouse is accurate. However, we recommend navigating to the nearby Stairs of Heaven, parking your motorbike there, and then walking south along the beach to get to the Tigasao Lighthouse. That’s what we did.
Tigasao Lighthouse: Our Experience
As we walked along the beach, we didn’t see anything at first. I was questioning whether the lighthouse even still existed. Was the lighthouse destroyed by a typhoon? Did it even still exist?
I saw a faint trail in the grass and decided to follow it along the coast through the trees. Chloe began to question where I was leading her, especially since we were wandering around a remote part of the island without another person in sight.
But then, a tall white structure began to poke through the treetops in the distance. We found the lighthouse! Chloe’s mood instantly shifted to excitement. The lighthouse was even more beautiful in person than it was on the postcard.
We spent a while taking photos and admiring the lighthouse from afar. For a moment I considered climbing the spiral staircase that goes up the side of the lighthouse but decided against it. Salty coastal air and crumbly concrete are a risky combination.
On our way back along the beach, Chloe noticed another trail leading through the bushes toward the coastline. If she’s keen on going on some random trail, I’m down for some exploration. What we discovered at the end of that trail was a stairway neither of us expected.
Read the full blog post: Stairs of Heaven in Siargao: Complete Guide
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 Tigasao Lighthouse in Siargao. Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions! 🐸
