Why Siargao Should Be On Your Philippines Bucket List
In region of Surigao del Norte, there lies a tear shaped island that happens to be my favorite place in the world, and it’s named Siargao—confusing I KNOW. With a dozen coconut trees, beautiful white sand, and it’s amazing crystal clear waters… you’re bound to feel inspired when you visit. Just ask the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ singer Anthony Kiedis, who even wrote a song about the island!
What ever walk of life you come from… this magical place has a little something for you. Let me layout why this island holds such a special place in my heart, and why you need to visit Siargao Island for yourself.
To Make Friends
Family or Friends? I really can’t tell!
The Philippines is home to some of the nicest people in the world, but in Siragao the locals are even friendlier. I am not sure if it is the relaxed beach life, or if there’s something in the water but the locals exude kindness. Everyone greets you with a friendly, “Hello, Kumasta? Where are you from?”
Traveling alone? I would advise staying in a hostel…YES a hostel! Disregard the stupid killer movies we have all seen. At a hostel you’ll experience being a part of a family instantly and it’s a great way to meet people. There seems to always be a sense of community when you stay in a hostel—it brings like minded people together who want to see the world.
When I visited, I stayed at Slaty Nomads where I met some of the best people—Check it out HERE. I felt a part of a family from the moment I arrived. The owner Geo was more than inviting, and even shared beers, stories, and laughs with everyone until the sun came up.
To Eat Everything
Food so good that you’ll need a gym membership after you leave! Whether you are looking for something local, or something western… this island has it all.
Tacos - YES, you know I love tacos! Miguel’s Taqueria was the first stop. Here you can order mouth watery tacos, quesadillas, burritos, and chimichangas but the best find was a hidden away place by Cloud 9 called Ola's banditos. Oh my, the crunchy tacos are my favorite by far.
Traditional Filipino Breakfast - Kalami Breakfast Avenue is where you can get a filling breakfast for only 150php, that’s $2.88 USD.
Western Breakfast - Greenhouse is the brunch spot you’ll never regret! Do your tastebuds a favor and order the Same-Same but Different, or the Oh My Wow. Both are fantastic, it just depends on your mood. Oh my wow is a healthy option but after a night out with friends, the same-same but different will do right by you.
Snacks and Desserts - There is a 4pm happy hour @Kawayan French Bakery on Monday, but get there right at 4 or I ensure you that everything will be gone. Dessert House also has some tasty treats to satisfy your late night sweet tooth… order the Oreo float!
Italian Food - Trattoria Altrov’e is a bit expensive but the pizza and pasta are the best I’ve had on the island. Order the pizza Bianca, and the Carbonara pasta… yes order both!
Vegan or Not Vegan Food - Homemade Taste has two kitchens, a vegan side, and a non-vegan side. I tried the homemade vegan burger with fresh chips as well as the mango chicken curry—by far my favorite!
To Island hop
Siargao has some of the most beautiful cotton-candy sunset and the clearest waters you’ll find!
One of my favorite activities I did in Siargao was go island hopping. You can explore a few islands in one day or just pick one to hangout on all day. There are several tour operators to take you out, just head to the General Luna Pier. Here’s a few of your island options: Guyam Island, Naked Island, Daku Island, and my personal favorite Corregidor Island.
Getting to Corregidor Island was super convenient—our hostel arranged a day trip for our little hostel family. When we arrived in the morning, we had the entire island to ourselves. As soon as I hit the soft white sand I felt like I was home. The hostel even put together a massive local lunch, a vicious game of volleyball, and a hike with views you’d get lost in.
Our day trip to this stunning island only cost 1,500 php per person, which is around $29.00 USD! The food, boat, rum & coke, and lunch was all included—not bad for only $29.00 if you ask me!
To Surf
Love to Surf or just getting started? I remember trekking though what I call a banana tree/palm forest to get to what the locals call, “The Secret Spot!” As I peaked over the hill, I could see the ocean full of surfers. Was I really about to attempt to surf with all these experienced locals watching?
I have to admit, at first it was a little intimidating. So intimidating that I decided to sit back and watch everyone instead of hopping on a board. It wasn’t until one of the locals came up to me and asked “You want to give it a try, po?” The sincerity in his voice and his positive reassurance helped me get past my nerves to try… After all, what do I really have to loose… An arm or maybe a leg?
Siargao a surf capital. Whether you are a pro or completely new to surfing, the island has a spot for you. I paid only 1000 php ($19.35 USD) for a private two-hour session—completely worth it. Your instructor will be a local who has surfed their entire life, and they are so excited to teach you their tricks. Don’t be shy: hop on a board and embrace the island life.
The island of Siarago is also home to Cloud 9, which happens to be rated, “the best surf-break in the Philippines and the best place to surf in Asia.” Be sure to also to check out, Cemetery, Jacking Horse, Guyam Island, and Tuesday Island for surfing as well!
[Pro Tip] Be careful of the sharp rocks and reef beds. The island of Siargao isn’t very sandy, but the beginner beaches (like Secret Spot) are far less dangerous. I know a couple of friends who got minor cuts on their feet and legs… we won’t name names you know who you are!
To Explore by motorbike
Want to have an island at your fingertips?
There is nothing more liberating than hitting the open road to explore. If you want to explore, renting a motorbike is going to be your cheapest option! Many locals in Siargao will rent you a motorbike, so be sure to ask around to get the best price! We had the option to rent our motorbike from our hostel @saltynomads. We paid 300php ($5.81 USD) per day, which was the discounted rate for rating it more than 10 days. You can easily rent from other people as well! Renting motor bikes is anywhere between 300-500php per day.
Can I be a little honest? I had never driven a motorbike before, so I was very nervous…. I snuck away from everyone to practice on an empty road until I felt more comfortable. Happy to say, no accidents happened!
Extra tips:
Always check your motorbike for scratches and dints before renting. Take photos before you rent the motorbike in case you are accused of damages when you return it.
Read the contract before you sign! Most of the time you are responsible for every little thing including flat tires, bad gasoline, and lost helmets which can be rather pricy to replace.
Motorbikes can easily be pried open, so don’t leave any valuables in the seat compartment.
Shop around to get the best price—the longer you rent, the cheaper it will be per day!
To Party
Party…Party…Party… Lets all just have a good time!
If beach vibes and cheap alcohol is what you are looking for, then Siarago can be your party get away. Every night there is a party… a no, I am NOT lying! The bar owners on the island do a great job of sharing the love. Different bars take on the responsibility of hosting a party each day of the week—so Monday - Sunday, there is always something to do.
There were so many nights of fun in Siargao. I constantly found myself making new friends at all the different bars. I’d be dancing all night to house music with the locals, or drinking rum at the beach bars, or just telling jokes next to the waves crashing against the sand. Other nights I’d be twerking to Hip-Hop & R&B at Herana, teaching locals the lyrics to all the Nicki Minaj songs at the hostel, or drinking a fancy glass of wine at Bravo. I was presently surprised with the amount of variety every club had to offer!
#GoodVibesOnlys
To Relax
You are on an island, so act like it!
RELAX, RELAX, RELAX… Some days I would feel adventurous and other days I just wanted a good book and a hammock. Letting the beach life consume you is nothing to fear—this is a beach town. Allow yourself to be lazy for a couple of days, you’re in the right place.
One day I so lazy… I had the hostel call me a traveling masseuse so I didn’t have to leave my bed. They came to Salty Nomads, and I slowing drifted away into relaxation station during my hour long massage. Oh, and it was only 400php! ($7.72 USD)
Before I decided to visit Siargao, I was working my life away, climbing that corporate ladder! This island helped me forget about all that work stuff and allowed me to relax. I got lost in the beach life, and I happily let it consume me. The waters and beach life had me hypnotized.
To Visit the Rock Pools
What is a rock pool?
Rock pools are a collection of water in a rock bed that run along the shorelines. If the conditions are just right, the water will be a mystical blue color just like this picture. Siargao’s Rock Pools are a place where you can dive, snorkel, and work on your tan when it’s low tide.
The Magpupungko Rock Pools were hands down my favorite part of Siargao. The mystic waters and beautiful rock structures make for a great photoshoot, and even better GoPro videos. Keep in mind that timing is everything if you plan to visit! Most rock pools are only visible durning low tide, so do your research before going. Keep in mind that the tides change every day so you’ll need to keep up to date. Oh and don’t forget your water shoes, the rocks are very sharp.
I fell in love with the rock pools at Magpupungko… Honestly I wasn’t expecting much… but damn I was wrong. I was greeted by the friendly locals, who rented me some snorkeling gear so I could see all the fish living their lives. I found myself jumping off the rocks to get a deeper look at the bottom—it was truly a beautiful place to visit.
One thing that I love about Siargao is that the community takes all its measures to keep this place beautiful. They routinely close the pools for rehabilitation as they want to maintain the structure. Be sure to do your research before making the trip there. You probably get it by now, The Magpupungko Rock Pools are incredible… Please don’t visit Siargao without seeing them!
Siarago is a magical place, and I hope my experiences will encourage to visit.
Cheers, Mikey
Now let’s hear from you! Have you ever been to Siargao, Philippines? Did I miss something amazing? If so we need to know about your experience so I can do it on my next visit. Share them in the comments below, and I’ll be sure to check them out!
I guess I should get into the budgeting part… it’s probably the main reason why you clicked. So after traveling in the Philippines for 28 days, in Singapore for 5 days, and Malaysia 60 days in Malaysia, I’ve come to the conclusion that Southeast Asia is fu*king CHEAP compared to the USA.