It’s hard to argue against a vacation on a beautiful island filled with palm trees and surrounded by ocean, isn’t it? If you agree, look no further than Siargao, one of more than 7,000 islands of the archipelago that is the stunning and unique Philippines, waiting to welcome you to the holiday destination of your dreams.
Prepare your coconut-drinking straws and put on your sunglasses: we’re going to explore the best places to visit in Siargao.
20 Amazing Things to do in Siargao, Philippines
Sohoton Cove National Park
Welcome to National Park like no other. Where else can you glide on the smooth lake surface from one shore to another, stopping to enter cave systems heavy with time and history, or kayak through a narrow canal with trees casting shadows on you from both sides, leaving dark spots on the water?
Add the sunset, coloring the edges of the sky in orange and purple, and it’s hard to imagine an experience better than this.
Opening times: 7:00 – 16:00
Entrance fee: It’s possible to buy a tour for 2,000 PHP per person with lunch included
Enjoy Siargao’s Surf Spots
What’s a trip to Siargao without surfing? The waves breaking all the way across the seemingly endless coastline make a pretty convincing case, and locals and tourists alike break out their boards all year round. Here are just a few surfing spots in Siargao that are worth checking out:
Below is a list of the surf spots in Siargao and their level.
- Burgos (Expert) – for those who aren’t afraid of a reef;
- Pacifico (Expert) – for those wishing to ride the biggest waves;
- Salvacion (Intermediate) – for those who don’t want to go too extreme;
- Stimpy’s (Intermediate) – for those who like the crowds;
- Rock Island (Intermediate) – for those preferring their waves to be tricky;
- Jacking Horse (Both beginner and intermediate) – for those just dipping their toes in;
- Quicksilver (Both beginner and intermediate) – for those willing to take on the locals;
- Cloud 9 (Expert) – for those who aren’t afraid of a challenge;
- Tuason Point (Expert) – for those who crave an adrenaline rush;
- Cemetery (Intermediate) – for those that appreciate the scenic view;
- Daku (Intermediate) – for those with little experience;
- Giwan (Beginner) – for those who like to learn while having the best view.
To sum up, whether you’re a pro or a beginner, the Siargao surfing scene won’t disappoint!
Visit Naked Island
If surfing isn’t your cup of tea, worry not. There are plenty of things to do in Siargao for non-surfers, and visiting the AMAZING Naked Island is just one of them! True to its name, there is nothing on the island apart from the sand, and that’s exactly why you should visit. It compensates the lack of greenery with a stunning white sandy beach perfect for sunbathing.
Drop your towel near the water and let your biggest worry be getting the perfect suntan. This is not the place for anything else!
Magpupungko Rock Pools
A warning is due: getting to Magpupungko Rock Pools may feel like stepping inside a postcard. You’ll swim in pools of water so clear and blue that you won’t believe your eyes.
The Magpupungko Rock Pools are one of the best things to do in Siargao. From the stunning water to jumping from a cliff, you’re in for a treat.
Surely a color that rich can only be achieved in Photoshop. You’ll discover the underwater caves while getting excited to get to into the water from a cliff. Enter at your own risk!
Opening hours: 24 hours
Entrance fee: 50 PHP per person
Discover Kawhagan Island
Our trip through the corners of paradise continues on Kawhagan Island. A patch of green in the deep blue ocean, wrapped in stripes of white sand like a present, is calling for you to have a rest on its shores.
Exhale as you sink down to the soft sand and watch the gentle waves wash your worries away; it seems like the best thing you can do on Kawhagan Island is relax.
Take Photos at Corregidor Island
If you want to take a break from the beach and climb your way up to the palm trees, there’s no better place to visit than Corregidor Island.
Visiting Corregidor Island is one of the most amazing things to do in Siargao that you shouldn’t miss!
Nowadays, it is an extremely peaceful, stunning, and enjoyable island that you shouldn’t miss on your holiday to Siargao. We were on private island hopping and, therefore, were lucky enough to be guided by a couple of locals. The tour lasts about 1 hour and you’ll walk to the very top with the palm trees, the incredible view on the blue water sandy beach, and the friendly locals.
Opening hours: 24 hours
Entrance fee: The guiding services start at about 200-250 PHP per person
Have a Seafood Feat on Daku Island
Indulging in local foods should definitely be on your list of things to do in Siargao. Why not start with having a seafood feast? The Philippines are blessed with an abundance of fish turning them into something delicious. There’s no better way to enjoy Filipino cuisine than at Daku Island. Try the raw fish salad, squid adobo, and crabs in coconut milk while your eyes feast on the scenic view of the ocean. You deserve to have lunch with style!
Talking more about my personal experience. We sat at a table and ordered fish dishes, a salad, and some beers. Now, the moment to pay arrived. The owner charged us for every single ingredient that was in the salad, rather than the whole dish. While I was quite annoyed, we’re talking about less than $1 per ingredient.
To conclude, Daku Island is one of the most beautiful places in Siargao, and possibly the Philippines. Be prepared to chill with a beer, have some seafood, and avoid salads!
Explore General Luna
The surfing capital of the Philippines awaits! The locals take that title very seriously, and it’s impossible to find a beach in General Luna where you and your surfboard won’t receive a warm welcome.
After spending the whole day in the ocean, ease yourself gently back to earth by having a fresh fruit smoothie. Or watch one of the many surfing competitions held for everyone that loves riding the wave!
In conclusion, if you’re an experienced surfer or a novice, General Luna is one of the things to do in Siargao that should be on your top priority list.
Dive at Sugba Lagoon
For a chill day in the bluest waters, try Sugba Lagoon. A secluded azure spot in the middle of the mossy-green palette will steal the whole day from you and still leave you wishing you’d spent just a little more time.
Adrenaline junkies rush to do cannonballs from the cliffs. Peace lovers opt to learn how to paddle boat, and everyone takes their time getting in the cool waters as time stands still. What will you do at Sugba Lagoon?
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Eat Delicious Filipino Food
We found our way back to food, and rightfully so – what’s a better way of getting to know a place than by trying its food? Don’t let the unfamiliar names scare you away: everything you don’t already love, you’re going to.
Whether it’s the local favorite chicken adobo, tapsilog – breakfast of beef, fried eggs and rice, or kare kare – an oxtail stew with roasted peanuts, you’ll definitely find something that’ll make you ask for a recipe!
Moreover (and shame on me), my favorite food in Siargao was the Italian Altrove restaurant. They have delicious pizza and Italian food with Italian ingredients but also some locally produced ones. Going there is the perfect culinary, romantic, and unique thing to do in Siargao that you shouldn’t miss!
Get Tanned at Allegria Beach
If you seek nothing but solitude, a day at Alegria Beach is just what the doctor ordered. No matter how long you walk along the beautiful coastline, the only sound disrupting the silence will be the waves quietly washing ashore, leaving soft ridges in the sand in their wake.
Choose the perfect spot underneath a tall palm tree and step into the crystal clear waters, feeling nothing but salt on your skin and sun rays in your hair as you recharge for any future adventures. Note that Allegria beach is quite remote if you’re coming from General Luna or Cloud 9. I’d recommend renting a car to get there, and this takes us to the next point.
Rent a Motorbike & Explore the Island
With so many places to visit in Siargao, it may prove useful to rent a car and explore more of the island. A car will bring independence from tricycles and private drivers. Create your own schedule, follow your own itinerary, and go to any place you want, whenever you want.
Spend your days driving from one beach to another and from one local shop to another secluded area. If you’re not confident in your driving skills, note that the other drivers aren’t too crazy. If I managed to drive in Siargao, you can probably too!
Price: 2500PHP/$50 for 24 hours
Take Amazing Shots at Siargao’s Palm-lined Road
For everyone in search of the perfect holiday picture: waste no time in getting to the Palm Tree Road. The name doesn’t really do it justice as it is a road snaking deep into the palm tree forest, wide and never-ending, going for kilometers with nothing but palm trees at its sides.
As the sun hits, the shadows on the road change with the hour. Forming strange shapes on the ground, and the natural everchanging light makes it stunning for photos at any time of day.
If you have a drone, don’t hesitate to bring it along. Once you see the green forest basking in sunlight from above, you’ll never forget it.
Palm Tree Rope Swing Siargao
There’s a palm tree leaning over the river nearby the Palm Tree Road, hanging over the stream so conveniently that the local kids couldn’t resist the opportunity to turn it into a playground.
Let your inner child out and hang on tight as the rope swings slowly like a metronome in the middle of a palm tree forest. Don’t be embarrassed if you fall into the river once or twice; just join in with the laughter!
Opening hours: 24 hours
Entrance fee: 20 PHP
Discover Siargao’s Secret Beach
Our never ending search for solitude brings us to Secret Beach – and all is in the name, really. A quiet corner of heaven hidden in the coconut forest, dressed in fine white sand and surrounded by clear blue-green waters, and not another person in sight.
Bring your favorite book to sit with in the shade or get the surfboard out to feel the waves beneath your feet; there’s no right or wrong way to relax at Secret Beach.
Pacifico Beach
Another spot on any surfer’s paradise is Pacifico Beach, promising crazy waves and almost no people pretty much all year round. This surfing hotspot is guaranteed to give you the ride of your life.
After that, you rode the waves, you can relax in a hammock stretching between the palm trees. Or drink coconut water watching the sun going down. Definitely not a place to pass up!
Pay a Visit to the Night Market
If you combine the best traits of a night owl and a shopaholic, you’re going to love the Night Market. Rows upon rows of colorful tents are spread across the streets, offering everything but the kitchen sink – and you probably still can find one if you look hard enough!
The local produce is displayed attractively on the tables under the bright lights, and you can get everything from food to fabrics not just for the cheaper price, but also of better quality than in a big store. And who doesn’t like feeling like a kid in a candy shop?
Hanoyoy Island
A small green island is waiting for you, promising you relaxation like no other by going under the name of Jacuzzi Island. It’s not a popular tourist spot, so you can have all of its beauty to yourself, and it’s easily reached from the mainland of Siargao by walking across the reef at low tide.
Once you’re there, waste no time in getting into the natural jacuzzi pool, feeling all your troubles dissipate under the soft vibrations. It’s a spa treatment that you deserve!
Wakeboarding
If you’re not a surfer but still want to try your luck on the board, why not go for wakeboarding? It removes the stress of being in the water on your own, as you’re being tagged by a motorboat, but you still can show off your balancing skills, feel the wind in your face, and even attempt a trick or two if you’re feeling confident.
Watch the water part in front of you as you glide forward and let everyone marvel at how effortless you make it look!
Ride a Bike Around Siargao Island
We’ve spoken about needing two pairs of wheels to get around Siargao with ease. However, sometimes, one pair is more than enough. Ride a bike through the best parts of Siargao as you’re guided by a local who show you things that you’ve never seen before! Hop on the bike and let’s pedal towards adventure!
No matter why you’re coming to Siargao, be it for solitude, great waves, or delicious seafood, you’ll find it here in no time. That’s for certain.
