SIARGAO ISLAND, PHILIPPINES GUIDE | Surfing,Things To Do

Siargao Island Philippines Travel Travel Guide

Siargao Island Travel Guide: Beyond Cloud 9

Contents

Surfing, Island Hopping, Things to Do, Where to Stay, Food & Travel Tips

I am updating this Siargao travel guide after my recent trip to the island with friends.

And this time, I finally got to experience Siargao for myself.

There were five of us: Doc Betsy, Doc KT, Atty. Nancy, another Doctor—Lei Lani, a Doctor of Business Administration—and me.

Five fun-loving people. One island. Lots of food. Lots of photographs. Lots of laughter.

And because apparently simply traveling together wasn’t enough, we also came up with a little travel experiment: a color palette every day, with at least two colors.

Yes, we actually coordinated our outfits.

Apparently, enjoying a beautiful island wasn’t enough. We also had to look coordinated while enjoying it.

That’s how we travel. 😂

SIARGAO: MORE THAN JUST SURFING

Siargao became famous as the Surfing Capital of the Philippines, with Cloud 9 at the center of its international reputation.

But you don’t have to surf to enjoy the island.

There are beaches, islands, lagoons, rock pools, rivers, waterfalls, coconut-lined roads, cafés, restaurants, resorts and plenty of places where you can simply slow down.

General Luna remains the main tourism hub, with the largest concentration of accommodations, restaurants, cafés, surf schools, tour operators and nightlife.

But one of the things I enjoyed about Siargao was discovering that you can leave General Luna and experience a completely different rhythm.

And here’s something I think travelers should know before going:

Siargao can be expensive—especially General Luna.

And when I say expensive, I mean even some places that don’t necessarily look or feel particularly luxurious can still have surprisingly high price tags. Accommodation can be expensive, restaurants can add up quickly, and the general cost of staying around the center can make you stop and ask:

“Did I come to Siargao or did Siargao come for my wallet?” 😂

But the good news is that the entire island isn’t like that.

Move farther from the main tourism center and you’ll find areas where food, accommodation and other expenses can be much more reasonable.

So don’t assume that you have to stay right in the middle of General Luna to enjoy Siargao.

Sometimes, getting a little farther away is actually part of the adventure.

in our green OOTD at Cloud 9

CLOUD 9: THE SIARGAO ICON

Of course, we went to Cloud 9.

You really can’t come to Siargao and not see the place that helped put the island on the international surfing map.

For us, it was also another excuse for photographs—five friends, tropical scenery and, naturally, our carefully planned color palette.

Cloud 9 remains Siargao’s signature surf destination and is known for its powerful reef break. Even if you’re not a surfer, the boardwalk is worth visiting for the views and the chance to watch experienced surfers in action.

For beginners, however, Cloud 9 isn’t necessarily the place to start. A qualified local instructor can take first-timers to a more suitable beginner break.

Travel tip

Timing is everything.

Cloud 9 can get very crowded, particularly in the afternoon when visitors come to see the famous spot, take photographs and watch the surfers.

So if you want a quieter experience and better light for photographs, come early.

And if you’re surfing, respect the local conditions and listen to your instructor or guide.

Sometimes, the best travel strategy is simply to beat the crowd.

Shaka Bar, Cloud 9 with our Black OOTD

ISLAND HOPPING: NAKED, DAKU AND GUYAM

The classic Siargao island-hopping adventure takes travelers to Naked Island, Daku Island and Guyam Island.

Naked Island is wonderfully simple—a beautiful stretch of sand surrounded by clear water.

Daku gives you more room to relax, swim and enjoy a meal.

Guyam provides another beautiful island setting before heading back toward General Luna.

But the experience isn’t really about checking three islands off a list.

It’s about spending a day on the water, swimming, eating, talking and enjoying the fact that you’re surrounded by some seriously beautiful scenery.

And with friends, of course, there are even more photographs.

Because apparently one photograph is never enough when five people have coordinated their outfits.

Travel tip

Bring sunscreen, drinking water, a dry bag and cash.

Boat trips depend on weather and sea conditions, so keep your itinerary flexible.

SUGBA LAGOON

Sugba Lagoon in Del Carmen offers a completely different side of Siargao.

Instead of open ocean and surf, you get calm water, lush surroundings and dramatic limestone scenery.

Swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding and the famous diving platform are among the experiences available here.

If you include Sugba Lagoon in your itinerary, give it enough time.

Don’t rush through it just because you have another destination waiting.

Some places are better when you stop checking the clock.

Travel tip

Weather and boat conditions can affect the trip, so confirm current fees, boat arrangements and operating conditions before going.

MAGPUPUNGKO ROCK POOLS

Another popular attraction is Magpupungko Rock Pools in Pilar.

The most important thing to know?

Check the tide.

The natural pools are best experienced during low tide, when the rock formations and pools become accessible.

This is one of those attractions where timing is more important than simply putting it on your itinerary.

You can plan the whole day around it.

But you cannot negotiate with the tide.

The ocean always wins.

Travel tip

Check the tide schedule before leaving General Luna and confirm current entrance fees and local conditions.

MAASIN RIVER AND THE INLAND SIDE OF SIARGAO

Siargao isn’t only about beaches.

The inland areas offer coconut-lined roads, rivers and lush scenery that make simply driving around an experience in itself.

Maasin River is one of the island’s best-known inland attractions, particularly because of its iconic coconut scenery.

This is also why I recommend leaving some space in your itinerary for a road trip.

Some of the best moments in Siargao happen between the attractions.

You may start the day thinking you’re simply going from Point A to Point B.

Then you see a beautiful road, a coconut-lined landscape or an interesting roadside stop.

And suddenly, Point B can wait.

That’s part of the fun.

PACIFICO, BURGOS AND NORTHERN SIARGAO

If you want to see another side of Siargao, head north.

Pacifico, Burgos and Alegria offer a quieter experience than the busy center of General Luna, with beaches, surf, coastal scenery and a slower island rhythm.

Pacifico has developed its own reputation as a surf and beach destination, while the northern route itself is worth experiencing for travelers who enjoy road trips.

And this is where I would give one of my favorite Siargao recommendations:

Don’t be afraid to stop.

See a beautiful view?

Stop.

See a roadside café?

Stop.

See a coconut stand?

Absolutely stop.

You don’t have to turn every trip into a race to the next tourist attraction.

Sometimes the unplanned stops become the stories you remember most.

TAKTAK FALLS

Yes, there are freshwater adventures in Siargao too.

Taktak Falls, in the northern part of the island, offers a change from the beaches and ocean.

If you’ve had enough saltwater, this is your excuse to find freshwater.

Because after several days of beaches, swimming and island hopping, your body may eventually say:

“Can we please stop being salty?” 😂

While waiting for our flight, we had breakfast at our favorite spot, Waterfront Hotel, in our blue-and-white OOTD. With Atty. Nancy, Doc KT, and Lei Lani.

OUR SIARGAO ADVENTURE

What made this particular Siargao trip memorable wasn’t just the places we visited.

It was the company.

There were five of us, and somehow every ordinary activity became an opportunity for laughter.

Then there was our color challenge.

Every day, at least two colors.

It sounds simple until five adults have to agree on what those colors should actually be.

Suddenly, getting dressed became part of the itinerary.

“What’s our color today?”

was almost as important as:

“Where are we going today?”

The result was a collection of colorful photographs that captured not only Siargao, but also the personality of our little group.

And that’s something I have learned from traveling over the years:

A destination gives you the scenery. Friends give you the stories.

I honestly don’t even know where this was—or why it was considered spectacular. 😂 Our driver brought us here because apparently, people stop for photos.

The heat was scorching, but we still decided to have our photos taken, so we paid a man who claimed to be one of the “human drones” of the place. Obviously, he wasn’t. 😂 The videos he took for us were mostly… pavements! Hahaha!

It was simply too hot, and I didn’t have the energy to get mad. But I hope Tatang learns to improve his skills—so the next guests won’t be as forgiving as we were. 😅

WHERE TO STAY IN SIARGAO

Siargao’s accommodation scene offers plenty of choices, particularly around General Luna and the surrounding areas.

For first-time visitors, General Luna remains convenient because of its concentration of restaurants, cafés, nightlife, surf schools and tour operators.

But convenience comes at a price.

And this is something I noticed during my recent visit: accommodations around the main tourism center can be surprisingly expensive.

So before booking, don’t simply look at how attractive a property appears online.

Look at the location.

Look at what is included.

Look at the surrounding food and transportation costs.

And most importantly, look at your budget.

You don’t necessarily have to stay in the busiest part of the island to have a great Siargao experience.

You can consider different areas depending on what kind of trip you want:

General Luna — convenience, food, nightlife and activities.

Cloud 9/Catangnan — surfing and proximity to the famous break.

Del Carmen — quieter surroundings and convenient access to Sugba Lagoon.

Pacifico/Northern Siargao — slower pace and a more relaxed island experience.

Choose your location according to the kind of holiday you want—not simply according to the number of photographs you’ve seen on social media.

WHERE WE ATE AND DRANK IN SIARGAO

Of course, no trip to Siargao would be complete without talking about food.

And with five people traveling together, food was practically part of our daily itinerary.

We didn’t just ask:

“Where are we going next?”

We also asked:

“Where are we eating next?”

Here are some of the places we managed to try during our trip.

Yugto Siargao

YUGTO SIARGAO — OUR FIRST-NIGHT DINNER

Our first night in Siargao brought us to Yugto Siargao, and it turned out to be a nice and easy way to begin the trip.

It is a simple but decent place, without trying too hard to be fancy. After traveling and settling in, sometimes that’s exactly what you want—a comfortable place, decent food, a relaxed atmosphere and, of course, good company.

It became our introduction to Siargao dining for this trip.

Nothing overly complicated. Nothing pretentious.

Just a pleasant first-night meal with friends as we settled into island mode.

And of course, being the first night, we were still relatively fresh and organized.

We had no idea that a few days later, our daily routine would become some combination of eating, exploring, taking photographs, coordinating our outfits and asking where we were going to eat next. 😂

Yugto was a simple but enjoyable start to our Siargao food adventure.

SIAGO — ONE OF MY FAVORITES

Siago was one of the places I really loved.

I enjoyed both the atmosphere and, more importantly, the food. There was something about the overall experience that made me want to stay a little longer and simply enjoy the meal.

The waitstaff were also very nice and well-trained.

And here’s something that impressed me: they actually knew how to take photographs.

For a travel blogger, this is important! 😂

You can give someone your phone and say, “Can you take our picture?”—and sometimes you end up with half your head missing, someone’s feet cut off and enough empty ceiling space to build another restaurant.

But the staff at Siago knew what they were doing.

One of the waiters even recognized us. Interestingly, we later discovered that he also does a side hustle at Harana, where we had cocktails.

Small island, small world!

It was another little moment that made the experience more memorable.

You know a place is doing something right when you’re already thinking about what you would order the next time you come back.

For me, Siago was definitely one of those places.

WILD — AND OUR RED OUTFIT PHOTO PROBLEM

We also had dinner at Wild, and this gave us one of the funniest moments of our trip.

We were seated in one of those low dining areas with red upholstery.

The problem?

We were all wearing red that night.

Now, normally, a coordinated red outfit sounds like a great idea for photographs.

Except when your background is also red.

And to make matters worse, the red of the upholstery was so soft and muted that it wasn’t exactly helping our carefully planned photo shoot.

Instead of looking like a beautifully coordinated group, we were slowly disappearing into the furniture. 😂

At that point, there was really nothing left to do but laugh.

This is what happens when five adults take their daily color palette seriously.

Sometimes the color coordination works.

Sometimes the restaurant wins.

But beyond our little photography dilemma, we enjoyed the dinner and the relaxed atmosphere at Wild.

And honestly, these funny little moments are exactly the kind of things that make a trip memorable.

MASALA SIARGAO — BREAKFAST STOP

We also had breakfast at Masala Siargao.

It was one of those meals that broke away from the usual breakfast routine and gave us something different to start the day.

Sometimes, especially when you’re traveling with friends, breakfast becomes less about having the perfect meal and more about sitting down together, talking about the day’s plans and figuring out which attraction—and which restaurant—you’re going to conquer next.

And yes, we were already thinking about food again.

COCKTAILS AT HARANA SURF RESORT

Not every food experience has to involve a full meal.

We also had some cocktails at Harana Surf Resort, which gave us a chance to simply slow down and enjoy the atmosphere.

After a day of moving around, sightseeing and taking photographs, sitting down with a drink is a different kind of travel experience.

No itinerary.

No rushing.

Just cocktails, conversation and friends.

And as I mentioned earlier, one of the waiters we encountered at Siago also does a side hustle at Harana.

So when he recognized us, it became another funny little connection from our trip.

KERMIT — NOT MY FAVORITE, BUT NOT BAD

And then there’s Kermit.

I know Kermit is one of the names that comes up quite often when people talk about Siargao, so naturally, we had to try it.

Was it bad?

No.

Was it my favorite?

Also no. 😂

But that’s the beauty of travel—and especially food.

What one person absolutely loves may not necessarily become your personal favorite. And that’s perfectly fine.

I wouldn’t say we had a bad experience. It simply didn’t make the same impression on me as some of the other places we visited.

And perhaps that’s why I prefer writing about food from personal experience rather than simply copying a list of “must-try restaurants.”

ONE THING I NOTICED: PEOPLE WERE JUST SO NICE

More than the food itself, there was something else I noticed during our dining experiences in Siargao.

People were generally very nice.

From the restaurants we visited to the staff who assisted us, there was a friendliness that kept showing up again and again.

The staff at Siago were warm and helpful. The people we encountered at Wild were pleasant. We had a nice experience at Masala, enjoyed our cocktails at Harana, and even when a particular restaurant wasn’t exactly my favorite, the overall experience was still perfectly fine.

That friendliness makes a difference.

Travel isn’t only about beautiful beaches, good food or Instagram-worthy locations.

Sometimes, it’s the people who make you feel welcome.

And so far, in almost all the dining places we visited in Siargao, that was something we consistently experienced.

People were simply friendly.

And honestly, that is something worth remembering.

AND THERE WERE OTHERS…

There were a few other places we ate at during the trip, but honestly, after several days of moving around, eating, photographing and laughing, I don’t remember all their names anymore.

And I’m okay with that.

Because this isn’t supposed to be a definitive list of “The Best Restaurants in Siargao.”

It’s simply a record of some of the places we personally experienced during this particular trip.

And that is also why I plan to write separately about some of these places and other specific spots we visited.

I don’t want to turn one Siargao article into a 10,000-word survival challenge for the reader. 😂

There are stories that deserve their own space—especially the places that surprised me, the meals that stood out, and the experiences that made us stop and say:

“Okay, this was worth coming to Siargao for.”

So, stay tuned.

There is more food—and more Siargao—to talk about.

HOW TO GET TO SIARGAO

Most travelers arrive through Sayak Airport in Del Carmen and continue by land to General Luna or their chosen accommodation.

Another option is traveling through Surigao City and taking a ferry to Dapa.

Flight schedules and routes can change, so check current airline schedules before booking.

Once you arrive, arrange your transfer in advance if possible, especially if you arrive late in the day.

GETTING AROUND SIARGAO

You have several options:

Scooter or motorcycle — flexible and popular for experienced, licensed riders.

Tricycle or habal-habal — useful for shorter trips.

Van or private vehicle — particularly practical for groups.

Boat — essential for island hopping and certain excursions.

Scooters remain one of the most flexible ways to explore the island, but travelers should ride responsibly, wear helmets and carry the proper license.

For groups like ours, a van or private vehicle can be much more practical, especially when you’re carrying bags, cameras and whatever else five travelers somehow manage to bring along.

And remember:

You are on vacation. You don’t have to drive like you’re late for a meeting.

HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU NEED?

For a quick introduction, three days can work.

For a more comfortable first visit, I’d recommend four to five days.

If you want to explore northern Siargao and have time to slow down, give yourself six to seven days.

THREE DAYS

Cloud 9 + island hopping + General Luna

FOUR TO FIVE DAYS

Add Sugba Lagoon and inland attractions.

SIX TO SEVEN DAYS

Add Magpupungko, northern Siargao, Pacifico and a relaxed road trip.

Most importantly, don’t fill every hour.

Leave some space for nothing.

Nothing can be surprisingly memorable.

WHEN TO VISIT SIARGAO

The best time depends on what you want to do.

Surfers generally look toward the months with stronger and more consistent waves, while travelers focused on sightseeing, beaches and island hopping should pay close attention to weather and sea conditions.

Rather than relying only on a generic travel calendar, check the actual forecast and conditions close to your trip.

And for attractions affected by tides, such as Magpupungko, check the tide schedule too.

The weather and the ocean have the final say.

SIARGAO TRAVEL TIPS

Before you go, here are a few things I would keep in mind:

Check the tides.

Especially for Magpupungko.

Check the weather.

Boat trips can be affected by sea conditions.

Bring cash.

Particularly when traveling outside the main tourism areas.

Bring sunscreen and sun protection.

Carry a dry bag for island hopping.

Download offline maps if you’re exploring outside General Luna.

Don’t over-schedule.

Siargao is better when you have time to breathe.

Respect the environment.

Take your trash with you and avoid unnecessary single-use plastics.

Respect local communities.

Remember that Siargao is someone’s home, not simply a tourist attraction.

And perhaps my most important tip:

Don’t try to see everything.

You will only spend your vacation looking at your watch.

AND THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING

This updated guide is meant to give you the bigger picture of Siargao—the places, the experiences, the food, the roads and the little things that make the island worth exploring.

But I also know that putting everything into one article can be overwhelming.

You came here to read about Siargao, not to finish a thesis about Siargao. 😂

So I will be writing separately about some of the specific places we visited and the experiences I had during this recent trip.

There are stories from particular spots, food discoveries, little surprises and personal experiences that deserve more than just a paragraph in a general travel guide.

And yes, one thing I definitely noticed during this trip:

Siargao can be quite expensive, especially around General Luna.

Accommodation, food and even some places that aren’t necessarily spectacular can still come with surprisingly high price tags.

But once you move beyond the main tourism center, you’ll find parts of the island where things can be much more reasonable.

So consider this your big-picture Siargao guide for now.

The more specific stories are coming.

Stay tuned. There are still plenty of Siargao stories to tell.

On our way home in our yellow OOTD, our favorite spot to stay while waiting for our flight is Waterfront Hotel.

MY SIARGAO TAKEAWAY

There are more places to stay.

More places to eat.

More things to do.

More visitors.

But there is still something familiar about Siargao—the roads lined with coconut trees, the ocean, the sunsets, the relaxed island atmosphere and that feeling that you could easily stay another few days.

This recent trip also reminded me that travel is not really about completing a list.

We didn’t see everything.

We didn’t have to.

We simply enjoyed the places we reached, ate good food, took too many photographs, laughed a lot and, yes, coordinated our clothes.

Five friends.

One island.

At least two colors a day.

And a whole lot of memories.

That, for me, is Siargao.

Cloud 9 may have put the island on the map.

But there is an entire Siargao waiting beyond it.

Come for the waves.

Stay for the islands.

Explore the roads.

Eat well.

Slow down.

And leave with a story of your own.

SIARGAO ISLAND TRAVEL GUIDE + TOURIST ATTRACTIONS — Pin Me, [ *Siargao Island Travel | How to Go To, Surfing, Weather ]*

LIST OF RESORTS, HOTELS

You can book a room in your next visit to the island by clicking on the link (name of resorts) listed below. This list includes budget resorts and homestays. Almost all of these resorts offer discounts.