12 Amazing Things to do in Siargao – Philippines – TREKwithBECK
Siargao is without a doubt one of my favourite islands in the Philippines! There is such a laid-back atmosphere to this island, it really is addictive. Siargao is a famous surfing location, but there is so much to do on the island, if you don’t surf you will still have plenty to see.
I have visited here twice now, the first time in 2019 and second in 2024. I found my visit in 2024 to be slightly different to my first visit for a couple of reasons. Firstly, unfortunately a lot of the locations on this list have become massive tourist traps. Nature spots which have been filled with ‘tourist photographers’ and extra fees for ‘tourist activities’. Not necessarily a bad thing but does take away from the natural beauty – this wasn’t the case in 2019. I’ve also always been a bit funny about natural places being turned into commercial spaces.
Despite these changes, Siargao is still an island I would visit again and recommend people to visit. It is a beautiful island, with friendly locals, great food, and plenty to do. So, if you do want to visit, this post will contain everything you need to plan your holiday.
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If you are travelling to Siargao, the most efficient way to get here is by flying. There is an airport, Sayak Airport, located about 40 minutes from General Luna (the main tourist area). You can get direct flights from Manila, Cebu, and Davao. I would use Skyscanner to find the best flight deals.
The other option, which is slightly cheaper but a longer journey – flight and ferry. You can catch a flight to Surigao City, then catch a ferry heading to Siargao. This ferry leaves at 4 times during the day, 6am, 10am, 10.30am and 3.30pm. The trip will take around 2 hours and you can book this on 12go Asia.
How to get around?
There are three ways you can get around Siargao; scooter, tuk-tuk or tour. I would highly recommend renting a scooter, because it gives you the freedom to explore what you want, when you want. If you are new to scooter riding too, this is a great place to learn. The roads are brand new, and there aren’t too many curves. Most of the roads once you leave General Luna are empty as well. A scooter rental costs about $350 PHP for a day ($9.50 AUD).
If you aren’t comfortable riding a scooter you can rent a tuk-tuk for a day or book a land tour. These options are going to be more expensive than renting a scooter, but it is the best option if you are not a confident driver.
Best time to visit?
The best time to visit Siargao depends on what you plan to do on your visit; surfing, island hopping, beaching, or lounging. If you plan on visiting Siargao for its amazing surfing spots, visit during July to November. These months will give you the best waves and the annual Siargao international surfing cup is also held every September.
If you want to visit Siargao for any other reason, I would visit from March to September. These months have less rainfall and make it the optimal time for island and beach hopping. I visited in November and March and found March to be better for the activities I wanted to do.
How many days to spend here?
Siargao is one of those places a lot of backpacker’s plan on visiting for a couple days, and end up staying for months, even longer. It is one of the most laid-back islands in the Philippines, and has this addictive atmosphere, I think a lot of people fall in love with. I have been here twice and would happily go a third time. I can even see Siargao being a great place to work as a digital nomad.
If you are coming to Siargao to surf or just relax, I would recommend a minimum of 4 days. You can easily get around the island within one day, but there is so much to see and do! A few of the activities on this list are full day trips as well, so you need to keep that in mind if you want to do a few or all of them.
Best places to stay?
There are many beautiful places to stay in Siargao, for backpackers, mid-range, or luxury travellers. I would recommend staying in General Luna, along the tourist road – as this is will give you access to all the best shops and restaurants.
- Matam-is Café & Homestay
- Fat Lips Surf Lodge
- Suyog Life Siargao
- Latitude 10 Siargao
- Marahuyo Siargao
- Happiness Beach Resort
- Kermit Siargao
12 Things to do in Siargao!
If you are coming to Siargao, you must visit what is possibly its most famous landmark. Cloud 9 is a world-famous surfing spot, known for its thick, hollow tubes and barrelling right hand waves. I wouldn’t recommend surfing here unless you are experienced, as it has been described as a death ride. It can have waves from 5 to 6 foot high and hosts major surf competitions.
If surfing isn’t your thing, Cloud 9 is a great place to watch the sunset or sunrise. It also has some amazing rock pools and secret lagoons. The whole wooden viewing platform which leads out to the ocean, is also an impressive sight.
Siargao has some fantastic surfing spots for both beginners and advanced surfers. The best spots to surf here are Cloud 9, Quicksliver, Daku Island, Pacifico Beach, Pilar and Tuason’s Point. I don’t know much about surfing, so depending on your level, you may have to do some research on which spot will be best for you.
If you are new or want to learn how to surf, there are plenty of companies that offer surf lessons around Siargao. This will also most likely be an activity that your accommodation offers. If you are planning on taking lessons, I would just make sure that you book with a reputable school. I have heard some horror stories about beginners being taken to not so beginner spots, and people ending up with injuries.
3. Taktak Falls
Taktak Falls is the only waterfall located on Siargao. To get here you will need to either drive or rent a tuk-tuk for the day, as it is about an hour or so drive from General Luna. The waterfall itself isn’t as impressive as waterfalls on island like Cebu, but it is still a lovely spot for a refreshing dip! The waterfall is about 15 metres high and there are picnic tables you can rent.
It costs 70 PHP for entry and parking (roughly $2 AUD). This is a popular spot for locals and tourists, so I would arrive early to avoid any crowds and I wouldn’t visit on weekends.
Alegria beach is about a 1.5-hour drive from General Luna, so again you will need your own transportation or to hire a tuk-tuk. This beach has white sand and crystal-clear water. There is a bit of reef here, but there are still small patches which are deep enough to swim. It is a beautiful beach to spend a few hours relaxing, and if you get hungry, there is a restaurant behind the beach huts. The beach was quite busy when I visited as it was Holy Week, but I can see it being quieter when it isn’t a public holiday.
There is a small entrance fee of 10 PHP and a parking fee of 20 PHP.
Pacifico Beach is about 1 hour drive from General Luna, located on the North-Eastern Coastline. Again, you will need to organise a tuk-tuk or rent a scooter to get here (are you seeing a common theme?). It’s another white sand beach, lined with palm trees – which is a great place for relaxing. You can also surf here if you’d like!
I believe there is a small fee which must be paid upon entry to this beach – I didn’t end up visiting here because it was packed. I stopped along the road, about 10mins north of Pacifico beach and found mine own little slice of paradise.
Magpupungko rock pools is one of the more popular tourist destinations on this list. You could easily spend a few hours to a day here. It’s about a 45-minute drive from General Luna and it is best visited during low tide. During low tide this magnificent rock pool forms, which you can swim and snorkel in. If you happen to get here during high tide, don’t worry. The beach is still a beautiful spot to relax, and there are some swimming spots.
During low tide it is busy, so I would recommend coming during high tide and staying for low tide. During low tide the main rock pool is amazing, but make sure to check out the small ‘bath’ size ones closer to the beach.
You will have to pay an entrance fee of 65 PHP per person and 20 PHP for parking. You can also rent kayaks or snorkelling gear on the beach. There are also restaurants and places to buy snacks.
This was one of those spots which was a hidden gem when I visited in 2019 but has now become a bit of a tourist trap. You will find Tayangban Cave along the side of the road; it is turquoise pool with a small cave system. You can no longer pay the entrance fee and just swim in small cave. You must hire a guide as well, who will show you through the small cave system. This will cost around 200 PHP per person for this activity.
Even though I didn’t stop here on my most recent trip, it was still beautiful when I first visited, and it is a popular spot. That’s why I have put it on this list, but just be warned, I don’t believe it will be the scheduled natural attraction it was when I first visited. There may be some lining up!
There are three small islands located off the coast of mainland Siargao: Daku Island, Guyam Island and Naked Island. You can visit these three islands on a bout tour, which runs for about 8 hours. On this tour you will have the option to walk around the islands, have lunch, swim, and snorkel.
Daku Island is the biggest island and usually the last stop on the tour (where you have lunch). It has some nice swimming and sunbaking spots. Guyam Island is the smaller island, which you can walk around in 5 minutes. This is usually the first stop and is a nice place to relax for an hour. The last island is Naked Island, which is a small island completely made of sand, there is nothing on this island (hence the name).
I quite enjoyed this tour, and thought it was a nice day activity. If you are short on time though, I wouldn’t recommend this be your first choice. I would make sure you head to Sugba Lagoon, as that’s an activity you can’t miss!
This is a short activity that can be completed in 5-10 minutes. Coconut Palm Road is a lookout, which looks over hundreds, if not thousands of coconut trees. That’s all it is really! If you are driving to Magpupungko rock pools or Tayangban cave pools, you will pass by here.
I am not sure if there are any fees to take photos here, but I do know there are ‘tourist assistants’, which will offer to take photos for you. If you do choose the help of these locals, you will need to pay or tip them. I can guarantee you will get great photos from them though; they know what they are doing!
If you are choosing to do any day trips with your time in Siargao, it must be Sugba Lagoon. I’ve done all three-day trips on this list, and this is still my favourite. The tours usually include Sugba Lagoon and 2 islands. You will need to get here by boat, but it is only a short 30–45-minute boat trip from the starting point.
At Sugba Lagoon you can rent a kayak, go swimming, dive off the diving platform, swing off ropes and explore the lagoon. It is one of the best activities I have done in Siargao, and I highly recommend it!
This was another hidden gem back in 2019, but again has been turned into a tourist trap. The Maasin river swing is a rope swing which is tired to a coconut tree, where you can swing on it into the river. It became popular a few years back from some incredible photos which appeared online. Due to its popularity, it has now got plenty of other activities to do at the sight – such as bamboo rafts or kayaking.
The entrance fee is 20 PHP, if you want to use the swing that’s an extra 20 PHP, if you want photos that’s an extra fee as well. You can also take the bamboo raft or kayak up to a secret lagoon for 500 PHP. This spot does get extremely busy, so if you want it to yourself, I recommend arriving at 6-8am.
Sohoton Cove National Park is a long day trip from General Luna. You will need to take a 30-minute tuk-tuk to Dapa, then a 2-hour boat ride to the starting point. The tour through the cove is quite short, but it is fun! You will complete 3 activities in this cove. Swimming with stingless jelly fish, swimming in a dark cave and a small rock climb/cliff jump.
After this short tour, you arrive at a different cove for lunch and swimming. There are diving platforms, a slide and swing here to use. The whole day is long, but I did find it quite fun. The whole trip will take around 10-12 hours to complete.
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