Siargao Island, Philippines
Siargao Island is one of those relaxing laid back places you never want to leave. There are quite a few surfers that don't. It's known as the surfing capital of the Philippines. There are surf breaks all up and down the eastern coast of the island for all levels of surfers. The island is definitely for outdoor adventurous folks with plenty of good places for coffee or beer to relax between activities. There's more to the island than just surfing though.
How to Get There
At the moment all the flights to Siargao Island (Airport code IAO, Sayak Airport, Del Carmen) come from Cebu (CEB) or Manilla (MNL). Don't confuse Siargao Island with Surigao City (SUG). You will end up on the wrong island and it will take you two taxi rides and a boat ride to get to the right place. You wouldn't believe how many folks make this mistake.
Getting to either the north or south of the island will cost you around 1,500 pesos for a private van, or 700-800 pesos for a trike ride. These prices are negotiable, there is no set prices or meters so the above prices are just a roundabout. There is also occasionally shared vans that run from the airport to General Luna which would be the way to go if they are available. The airport is in the middle of the island so it'll take 30-45+ minutes to get to either location. Have cash, most if not all transport will not take credit card.
Where to Stay
There are two main places for tourists on the island. The most popular is General Luna down at the south of the island. The famous surf break is Cloud 9 which holds annual surfing competitions. I can't give advice or say much about it since I'm a diver, not a surfer, but I'm sure there is a lot of information out there. General Luna (or GL as it's referred to on the island) has quite a few restaurants, bars, shops and everything from hostels to very high end resorts. If you want to spend the night clubbing, this is the place to stay.
My favorite area of the island is up north. It's much quieter than down in GL. There's a good surf break off of Pacifico at Big Wish, which is open to the public. If you talk to any of the hosts at the resorts or restaurants around, they will probably tell you about a couple "Secret Spots". There is also a good break off of the beach at Bamboo Surf Beach which is run by George who is a German guy who has lived all over the world and has had some really interesting experiences. Do us all a favor, if you're wanting to surf off this resort or any other for that matter, at least buy a burger and a coke. Don't be the mooch, contribute to the local economy in some small way.
The place I always stay is at DaRosa Del Mar. It's a resort run by Dave and Roselou who's hospitality is second to none. The resort is very laid back with hammocks by the best beach on the island. It's 6 independent villas and a fantastic restaurant. My morning routine (when I'm not being incredibly lazy) is to get up, have a cup of coffee at the restaurant / bar (or bug Dave for a Cappuccino if I really need some caffeine), then it's a 5k jog through Alegria and Garcia up to Little Hawaii and back. The locals look at me like I'm crazy, and probably wonder if I'm too poor to rent a scooter (which is not far from the truth). After that it's a shower in the villa and breakfast burritos. No kidding, real breakfast burritos....
As far as food goes, both Bamboo and DaRosa are the only places I will eat on the north end of the island. I'm sure there are other places that are safe to eat especially down in GL, but I've been taken down more than once by bad food, but not an issue at all at either one of these places. Bamboo is known for really good burgers, pizza and very tasty omelets. DaRosa Del Mar has quite a variety on their menu from chicken alfredo, chili chicken (my favorite because it's spicy), pizza and fajitas (Stacey's favorite) and several local dishes just to name a few. They serve really big portions and the menu is very reasonably priced.
Picture at sunset of the kubo and beach at DaRosa Del Mar in Alegria
General Siargao Island Information:
Siargao is an island in the Philippines, located in the province of Surigao del Norte. It is known for its beautiful beaches, world-class surfing, and laid-back atmosphere.
History: Siargao was first inhabited by the Manobo people, who were later displaced by the Spanish. The island was named after the siargaw tree, which is a type of mangrove found on the island.
Geography: Siargao is a small island, with a total land area of 169 square miles. It is about 750km southeast of Manila. The island is surrounded by crystal-clear waters and white-sand beaches.
Surfing: Siargao is known as the "surfing capital of the Philippines." The island is home to Cloud 9, one of the best surfing spots in the world. Cloud 9 is a right-hand point break that breaks over a shallow reef. It is known for its powerful waves and challenging conditions.
Top Things to do on Siargao Island:
Surf at Cloud 9, what else could be #1 - This is the most popular surf spot on the island and is known for barreling right-hand waves. In the surf season from September through at least December you'll have the hollow tubes the advanced surfers are looking for. There's also a boardwalk and a pier for that can make for some really good pictures especially at sunrise.
Surfing at Pacifico - Since surfing is the top of the list of things to do on the island, Pacifico is probably the second favorite spot. It's about a 40 minute trip from General Luna, but a beautiful village with a couple restaurants, Bamboo Surf Beach and a public beach called Big Wish. This area is popular with tourists and locals alike. I'm usually on the island during off season, so there are always people learning to surf here. There are some rocks to be aware of, but definitely a better place to learn than down at Cloud 9. During surf season you'll get the barrel waves up here too.
Beaches - Siargao has some of the most beautiful beaches in the Philippines. Some of the most popular beaches include:
General Luna Beach
Daku Island
Pacifico Beach
Naked Island
and my favorite beach that deserves an entry by itself...
Alegria Beach - Located in Alegria, about an hour or slightly more north of General Luna. If you want to get away from the crowds and just hang out at the best beach on the island, head to the northern tip. Alegria beach is great to just relax and swim. There are a few places to get a bite to eat and a cold drink, but besides that you will have the place mostly to yourself. Most tourists don't even see this part of the island.
Nature: Siargao is home to a variety of natural attractions, including:
Sugba Lagoon - Located in Del Carmen, it's in the middle of a mangrove forest with hills all around. It's a beautiful swimming lagoon to get away from the crowds in General Luna.
Magpupungko Rock Pools - Located in Pilar, about 40-50 minutes from General Luna is a great half day tour. The rock pools are exposed at low tide, so plan your trip then. Hang out in the clean blue waters of the pools, cliff dive, and explore the nearby caves. Be careful though, it's easy to get scratched up on the jagged rocks.
TakTak Falls - One of the only waterfalls on the island at about 15 meters. It's also at the northern tip, a short distance from Alegria Beach. It's in the jungle, so lots of shade around. You can take a swim in the pool below the waterfall and take some good pictures. You can also get a cold drink and hang out in one of the kubos for a bit.
Bent Coconut Tree - Instagram spot. This is one of the most photographed spots along the island with the curved coconut tree hanging over the Maasin River in Pilar, about 30 minutes from General Luna. Best to go in the morning when it's less crowded. You can't climb the tree anymore but there is a platform right next to it that you can jump off of into the river.
Dive The Blue Cathedral - One of the few dive spots on the island, it's right at Cloud 9. There is a 20 meter wide hole that has caverns off to the side. There are a couple of other dive spots near Naked Island and Guyam Island. As a diver, I would not compare diving in Siargao to Palawan or Boracay, but if you're on the sland and want to dive there's at least a couple of spots.
Other activities - Siargao is a great place to go for adventure activities, such as:
Surfing
Stand-up paddleboarding
Kayaking
Rock climbing
Cave exploring
Siargao is a beautiful and exciting island with something to offer everyone. Whether you're a surfer, a beach bum, or an adventure seeker, you'll have a great time on Siargao.
Additional Tips for visiting Siargao:
The best time to visit Siargao for beaches and island hopping is during the dry season, which is from March through September. For surfers the best time is July through November. Every September is the annual Siargao International Surfing Cup.
If you're planning on surfing, you can bring your own board or rent one from one of the many surf shops on the island.
There are a variety of accommodation options available on Siargao, from budget-friendly hostels to luxurious resorts.
Siargao is a relatively safe island, but it's always a good idea to be aware of your surroundings and take precautions against petty theft.
Be sure to try the local food! Siargao has a thriving culinary scene, with everything from fresh seafood to Filipino favorites.
Above are some pictures from DaRosa Del Mar. As always, these are pictures I personally took and there is NEVER any photoshopping or editing in any way.
