DIY Travel Guide to Siquijor, Philippines

Siquijor is a small town where simplicity is at its best. Here’s the Best Islands in Siquijor.

The first time I was in Siquijor, it was just an overnight trip and I swore that I will go back. When my friend asked me to go with her someplace where she can do ‘alone time’, I quickly suggested Siquijor and to spend at least 2 nights (but honestly, 2 nights are still not enough) to fully enjoy the place.

BEST ISLAND IN SIQUIJOR

Trip Highlights:  

Siquijor

Cambugahay Falls

Cantabon Cave

Salagdoong Beach

Kagusuan Beach

Other Highlights: Lazi Convent, St Francis of Assisi Church, Guiwanon Spring Park, Balete Tree and Fish Spa

Dumaguete

Siliman University

Other Highlights: Fruit Market and Sansrival Cafe

Travel Tips:

Dumaguete

Tricycle system in Dumaguete is like the “jeep” system in Metro Manila. They can stop anytime to pick up passengers. One tricycle is good for 4 pax.

Siliman University

You can walk from Dumaguete Pier to Siliman University, takes around 10 minutes. Not sure if it is open to the public. We were there on a Saturday and we begged the lady guard to let us enter for picture taking. She allowed us but we need to leave our I.D with her.

Fruit Market

Avocados are 25 per kilo. Small Fuji apple is 12pesos. Yellow mango per kilo is 40 pesos. If you want to go here, just tell the tricycle driver “Fruit Market”

Sansrival Cafe

“small serving” (compared to other restaurants in the city) for the food from their café

Siquijor

June is the start of the off-season. So you can ask for discounts for the room prices (which we did) and even from the tour. For the food in Siquijor, you can buy from the market and let your resort cook it for you. Cooking fee is around 50pesos per dish. For restaurants, prices usually range from 150 and up for a rice topping but the serving is big for its price.

Ways to Go Around Siquijor:

– Rent a motorbike – price range is 250-400 pesos for the whole day.

– Rent a motorbike with driver – price range is 500-800 pesos per day.

– Rent a car – 3,500 pesos as of February 2015 for both mountain and island tour. This mode of transportation is in a form of jeep or multi- cab, usually it fits 8-10 Pax.

– Rent a tricycle with driver – price range is 1800-2000 pesos for both mountain and island tour

For Salagdoong Beach in Siquijor:

Things to bring:  The usual beach items like dry bag, sand-proof mat (not sure what the proper term for this), medicines, sanitary napkin (to hide your money!), “waterproof” neck pouch where you can put your cellphone, toilet paper (just in case you need to go to the toilet), sunblock, snorkel, ponytail holder, underwater camera, rash guard

Not sure if your stuff will get stolen here. What my friend and I did was we took turns guarding our things while the other went to swim.

Tips: You can bring your own food. They have cottages for rent.

Remember: There is a group of people doing videoki. So it might be an issue to those who just want to have peace and silence by the beach.

Water on the beach is VERY clear (we were there from 11am-12noon) and we saw a lot of fish

For the cliff diving (it’s actually “board” diving), don’t be scared since there are a lot of locals there who will help and encourage you to jump. You can even tell them to jump in the water and wait for you so they can save you just in case you drown.

There is also a water slide, but it isn’t always open.

For Kagusuan Beach in Siquijor:

Our tour guide mentioned that this place is prone to theft that’s why a lot of tour guides don’t bring their guests here anymore. However, he said that as long as someone is guarding your things, there will be no problem.

For Cantabon Cave:

The road going there can be chilly since it is in the mountains. Bring something to cover yourself if you easily get cold.

You can go there even it is already a bit late. We arrived there around 6pm and was still allowed to go to the cave.

They have available lockers. But it is better you wear a “waterproof neck pouch” and put your valuables in it.

If you worry what kind of footwear to wear, it actually depends on the person. I wore trekking sandals to be safe. My friend wore a pair of girly Havainas, and she had no problem in the cave. Do some warm ups beforehand just in case you are prone to injuries.

For Balete Tree and Fish Spa

The “fish spa” is a similar one in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

For Cambugahay Falls

Things to bring: dry bag, medicines, sanitary napkin (to hide your money!), “waterproof” neck pouch where you can put your cellphone, toilet paper (just in case you need to go to the toilet), sunblock, snorkel, ponytail holder, underwater camera (they have fish in the water!!!), rash guard

There are “3 sections” on this waterfall. First one is the one with the “Tarzan” swing. 2^nd section is where the water isn’t too deep. You can actually reach the waterfall itself. 3^rd section is where you have to walk a bit farther. Be careful on the 3^rd section, water is deeper and there are more rocks in the water. If you want to reach the waterfall here, make sure you can swim or at least wear a life vest.

Buying Ferry Ticket to Siquijor (From Dumaguete Pier):

I can’t remember all the available schedules. But I do remember there are a 10am ferry and an 11am ferry. We were there on a Saturday, and the 10am tickets were already sold out when we arrived there at 9:00am. 11:00am ticket was from Online Shipping. Ocean Jet has 1250pm departure time everyday, 210pesos for tourist class.

Buying Ferry Ticket to Dumaguete (From Siquijor Pier):

It is better if your tour guide can buy your ferry ticket early in the morning of your departure day from Siquijor. Some ferry companies don’t have “advance booking” system. GL and Online don’t. In our case, our tour guide was kind enough to offer to buy the tickets (and even the terminal fee!) for us beforehand so we don’t have to worry. There was 9am, 10am and 11am departure time available on a Monday. Ocean Jet has 1:50pm departure time everyday, 210pesos for tourist class.

Cheap Accommodation in Siquijor? Check out Agoda.

Daily Budget:

Itinerary Details:

Day 1  June 6 (Saturday)

07:00 – departure from NAIA Airport at Manila

8:30am – arrival in Dumaguete Sibulan Airport; went straight to Dumaguete Pier

9:00am – arrival @ Duamguete Pier; bought an 11am ferry to Siquijor (there was a 9am and 10am ferry but they were sold out) We took the Orline Shipping and decided to explore Dumaguete during the waiting time.

9:05am – walked from Dumaguete Pier to Siliman University; explored inside the university

10:20am – walked back to Pier, boarded the ferry

11:00am – departure from Dumaguete Pier

1:00 pm – arrival in Siquijor, went straight to Danish Lagoon Resort for check in then to Chekesh for lunch

14:30 – departed Chekesh for Old Balete Tree. Then went to Cambugahay Falls

17:00 – departed Cambugahay falls to go to Cantabon Cave

18:00 – arrived in barangay hall in charge of the Cantabon Cave.

18:30 – start exploring the cave

20:20 – exited the cave; went to eat dinner at Dagsa and back to Danish Lagoon Resort

Day 2   June 7 (Sunday)

07:00 – breakfast at Danish Lagoon Resort

08:30 – left Danish Lagoon resort for Kalusuan Beach

10:50 – left Kalusuan Beach for Salagdoong Beach. Then we hang out at Salagdoong Beach and ate snack there

15:00 – left Salagdoong Beach. Our tour guide offered to do a “road trip” around the north part of Siquijor (form Maria town to San Juan). After that, we head back to Danish Lagoon Resort.

17:00 – back at the Danish Lagoon Resort to rest

18:30 – dinner at Danish Lagoon Resort

Day 3   June 8 (Monday)

07:30 – breakfast at Danish Lagoon Resort

9:00 – departed Danish Lagoon Resort

09:30 –arrived at Siquijor pier

10:00 – departed Siquijor pier

11:20 – arrival in Dumaguete Pier; lunch @ Neva Brick Oven

12:15 – done with lunch; went to Sansrival Café to buy pasalubong; then went to the fruit market to buy avocados

13:20 – went straight to Dumaguete Sibulan airport because the weather was too hot and we didn’t want to spend any more money

17:00 – Boarding time (delayed by half an hour)

17:55 – departure from Sibulan airport back to Manila.

About the Contributor:

Mary Grace Que, I’m a 30-year old girl who grew up in a culture where travelling is something to be done during holidays only. But I’m a rebel. Early this year, I started to fall in love with Philippine beaches and waterfalls. I made it my goal to see as many as possible while I still can. I’m bad with photography, so I just usually enjoy my surroundings instead of taking photos.

Name of the Country: Philippines

Date/s of your Travel: June 6-8, 2015

City / Places Visited and Number of Days: (Please note the number of days you spent in each places if you are travelling in consecutive days and going to different places in your itinerary.)

• • Dumaguete (June 6 for 2 hours ½ hours only as a jump off point; 8:30 (June 8 for almost 4 hours; 11:20am to 4:20pm)

• • Siquijor (June 6-8 for almost 2 days)

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