Siargao is a beautiful tropical island at the south of the Philippines located in Surigao del Norte Province. It’s a popular surfing spot but offers other several activities and attraction for non-surfer visitors as well. The island’s shape is similar to a tear drop and is surrounded by reefs and amazing white sand beaches.

Travel Tips

Renting a boat  – find a bigger group and rent a boat together. The more the merrier and it’s cheaper.

Food – Buy your food at the market before visiting the Islands. It’s cheaper and you have more choices.

Transportation – Habal habal is the most economic option for your transportation around the island. It’s cheap and reliable.

Accommodation – Check different properties here.

Related Article: DIY Travel Guide – Surigao Del Sur

Trip Highlights

Magpupungko Rock Pool

This beautiful rock formation is in Pilar, Siargao. You can only visit and swim in this natural rock-pool formation during low tide due to strong water current and waves during high tide. Entrance fee is Php50 and is managed by the local government. The place is very stunning; with crystal clean water, amazing rock formations and views. This is a ‘must visit’ in Siargao Island. Just be careful when walking around and swimming at the pool because rocks are slippery and the pool is deep. 

Naked Island

Naked Island is a small sandbar, with white fine sand and surrounded by crystal clear waters. Being a sandbar, it doesn’t have any vegetations or trees around so bring an umbrella or tent if you want to stay longer to protect yourself from scorching sun. It’s great for beach bumming and swimming.

Dako Island

Dako literally means big in local dialect. It has a beautiful white sand beach for and crystal clear waters swimming. You need to pay a docking fee of Php100 for your rented boat. There are available huts/cottages in the island for rental where you can leave your stuff while enjoying the beach. The other side of the island is also a great surfing spot. There are several stores in the island operated by the local people who live in the island. You can also bring your fresh seafood and meat and there’s a restaurant that can grilled or cooked in the island for a minimal fee. There’s is no electricity in the island and locals rely to solar power and generator.

Guyam Island

Just like Naked and Dako Islands, Guyam Island has a beautiful white beach too. The island is adorned by many coconut trees. It’s a private property and entrance fee is Php10/person only. It has a small area for swimming but not crowded.

Sugba Lagoon

You need to rent a boat and take a trip for about 45 minutes. We passed by a protected mangrove area and several small communities with their houses built on stilts. There are also white sandy beaches. The lagoon is stunningly beautiful with clear and calm waters. You can rent a paddle board and paddle around the crystal clear waters.

Travel Budget

Transportation Tip: If you’re looking for the cheapest way to book the Trains, Buses, Ferries, Transfers on this route, we use 12Go.Asia to compare the prices!

Daily Itinerary

DAY 1: Arrival

I arrived at Sayak Airport from Mactan Cebu International Airport before noon. The van service hired by my hostel I will stay for 5 days was already waiting for me outside the airport. From the airport to the hostel took is 1.5 hours land travel.

I just rest for awhile and went to the beach, few meters away from the hostel. I looked for a cheap restaurant to eat but I didn’t find any near the beach so I found myself riding a habal-habal (motorbike) going the Cloud 9, the famous site for surfing. I found a cheap restaurant, had late lunch then proceed to boardwalk, in front of the surfing area. I took pictures and I had fun watching the surfers that are untiringly catching their waves.

DAY 2: Siargao Island Land Tour

You can rent a motorbike or habal habal to go around.  Visit the Taktak waterfalls.

Visit Magpupungko Rock Pool Formation in Pilar, Siargao. Visit the market and buy the famous saang (spider shellfish). You can get it cooked for just Php 30 and order rice for dinner. Watch and take pictures of the sunset from Cloud 9.

DAY 3: Island Hopping (Naked, Daku, Guyam Islands)

We shared a rented boat with another family to minimize the cost. Bought breakfast at the market and bought a packed lunch to bring during the tour.

Visit the Naked Island, Dako Island and Guyam Island. Watch the sunset from Guyam Island.

DAY 4: Bucas Grande Island/Sohoton Cove National Park

Journey on the boat from the port to Bucas Grande is around 2.5 hours.

Go spelunking in Crystal Cave. There are volunteer guides around, tipping is recommended.  Entrance fee includes the helmet and flashlight. There’s a briefing about do’s and dont’s before the spelunking begins. Crystal cave has a wide opening and it’s a like a big dark room with stalagmites and stalactites. There are no narrow pathways for a level-up spelunking. Not for hardcore adrenalin junkies.

Visit the Sohoton Lagoon. The tour rates depend on the size of the group. For our group we availed the Tour A and B for the Sohoton Lagoon tour and Jellyfish Sanctuary tour.

Due to narrow entrance to the lagoon, tourists need to transfer to smaller boat without roof.

After our Sohoton Lagoon our boatmen brought us to another place where we need to transfer to a non-motorized boat for stingless jellyfish sanctuary tour. Best season to spot stingless jellyfish is from June-September.

DAY 5: Biking / Mangrove Forests and Sugba Lagoon in Del Carmen, Siargao 

Early morning biking going around Cloud 9. Tour departs mid morning and takes 1.5 hours to reach Del Carmen.

The boat trip going to the mangrove sanctuary and Sugba Lagoon takes up to 45 minutes.  The lagoon is stunningly beautiful with clear and calm water. It’s a post card perfect photo.

DAY 6: Departure

En route to the next destination.

Recommended Budget Accommodation in Siargao

Recommended Luxury Accommodation in Siargao

Transportation Tip: If you’re looking for the cheapest way to book the Trains, Buses, Ferries, Transfers on this route, we use 12Go.Asia to compare the prices!

About the Contributor:

Emmalyn Picaso is a Filipina traveller and an environmentalist by heart, passionate about flora and fauna, books,music, games, movies, mountaineering and any outdoor activities.

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