A Trip to Siargao

A coconut forest paradise with endless opportunities for adventure

Written by Gracie Rounds

Introduction

Turquoise lagoons. Sea caves. Surfing and sunsets. Siargao, Philippines has it all. The only downside is that a shorter trip to this island will leave your heart wanting for more. But that’s what tropical mini-paradises like this are meant for, right?

The first thing you will notice when flying into Siargao is that you are landing in a literal sea of palm trees. The rest of your trip will be framed by these palms, making every view feel like it’s straight out of a tropical magazine.

Based on the three month visit of my sister, full-time world traveler Callie Rounds, this guide will take you to every adventurous corner Siargao has to offer. Read ahead!

Where to Stay

After arriving at the airport, you will have about an hour drive to General Luna, which is the main area where people usually choose to stay. There are many great hostels and hotels you can find here.

If you are okay with being a little ways out from the main scene and are looking for more of a retreat vibe, the Soultribe Beach Retreat is an incredible option. The owners are fantastic and this will easily be one of the best stays in all of the Philippines.

Coffee

After a stop to the Spotted Pig Cafe, you will hardly be looking for any different coffee recommendations in General Luna as this will become so loved.

Free Wi-Fi, fantastic coffee, and yummy healthy eats. This spot will become your obsession and you’ll be missing it after you leave.

Eats

If you’re looking for a higher end meal, Isla Cabana Resort is the perfect place for an upscale date-night or fancy night out with friends.

Otherwise it’s always a vibe if you go to main street around dinner time where whole town comes alive. The streets are filled with live music, there are more food options that you can possibly imagine, and a lot of little places to check out.

What to See

Coming from the experience of an adventurous soul like Callie, this is the section you are probably expecting will have the most to offer- and you’re right. Although she is an avid foodie and loves a good place to stay, she is known for her epic adventures. So let’s see what Siargao has to explore!

First up- surfing. You are going to love what this island has to offer in terms of the diversity of waves. If you’re a beginner surfer, Cloud 9 is a perfect place to learn where you can surf a beach break wave really easily. For someone who is a bit more experienced, Daku Island, Salvacion, or Cemetery are all decent sized waves without a ton of people. And for the pro-surfer, Stimpy’s and Rock Island are the expert choices.

To get to almost all of the surf spots you’ll get on a boat from Kanaway Snack Bar. And depending on the season some these spots will be working and some of them won’t. It’s always good idea to check in with the locals and where they recommend to go.

On the island there are a bunch of adventures you could motorbike or taxi to. For a quite popular option that can get a bit touristy, check out the Maasin Bridge River Swing. Here you can experience a turquoise river with palm trees you can climb and a deck you can jump off of. You can rent a raft or kayak to float down the river as well. It’s definitely worth it despite the crowds.

Along the way to this bridge, you can check out Coconut View V1, which is a huge palm tree forest and a fantastic place to stop and fly drones- if that’s your kind of thing!

The Tayangban Cave Pool is something you don’t want to miss. You can take the uber-adventuorus path for this attraction and pay a guide to lead you through a cave in complete darkness. This is definitely reserved for a certain type of person though, as there are a bunch of bats and it can get quite clausterphobic. There is a way to do this without going through the cave, you can just ask a guide.

At the end of the cave, it will open up to a beautiful turqouise lagoon with a rope swing. There is a deck with high and low jumping spots and more caves to explore everywhere you look.

And for epic sunsets go to Catangan-cabitoonan bridge. This is a really special spot to take in the views, and you can jump off the bridge if you’re looking for a rush of adrenaline.

Day trips from the island

By boat there are many day trips that you can take from the island. The Sugba Blue Lagoon is one of these options where you can take a boat out of Dapa Port. This boat ride will take you past beautiful islands, through mangroves and eventually will lead you to a turqoise lagoon. It’s a very well-organized little trip that you’ll want to choose a sunny day for, and you’ll want to go early to avoid crowds.

Just off of Siargao about 5 minutes away is a sandbar called Naked Island. This is a really fun spot to go and hang out at during the day, and would be another place you’d want to bring a drone.

A little farther away would be Corregidor Island, but it is worth going a bit off the beaten tracks. This island has some of the most beautiful views you will ever see, with cliffs that drop into the sea, tons of palm trees, and crystal clear water. You can’t miss the most popular hike here, you ask the locals and they’ll show you the way. You’ll be surrounded by lush grass, cows, and a really kind local community. Usually people bring some money to support the locals, they will even catch a fish for you and cook it on the spot if you ask!

All of that being said. If you are down for the ultimate adventure that could really change your life, you will want to look into visiting the jelly fish sanctuary near Sohoton Cove. This is one of the only places in the world where you can swim with hundreds of thousands of stingless jelly fish.

It is sometimes hard to find a boat that will take you to this island from Siargao, as it’s quite a far boat ride, so once you get there you will want to stay for a bit. And make sure to get a fast boat to get there as some of the slower boats might break down along the way!

Club Tara Resort is the most aesthetic option for the best price around Sohoton Cove. This is about 15 minutes away from the jelly fish sanctuary. It’s important to hire a guide to take you to experience this as they will know when it is safe/unsafe to go.

After you are finished with that life-changing expeirence with marine life, there are also many caves that you don’t want to miss around here. If you are a free diver, there are some you have to free dive to get to that are just spectacular.

Conclusion

It’s undeniable that Siargao has so much to offer for any traveler who visits. Say a week, two weeks, or like Callie enjoy over three full weeks here to explore every little corner.