As I sit down down feather to compose astir Siargao, a place that feels likethe last remaining paradise, I grapple with my profession and the duty assignment at hand. My business is to percentage the joy of travel and help people discover new places and experience new cultures, and today, my assignment is to write about my trip to Siargao, A lilliputian island inchthe Philippines. Yet, sharing this paradise with the world fill me with unease; I can’t shake the worry that my words mightiness unwittingly impart to its eating away past motivating touristry and development.
With palm-covered hills, clear waters, and friendly locals, Siargao feels like one of the last wild sanctuary in Associate in Nursing more and more commercialize world. name the Philippines’s breaker capital, Siargao bebeloved by surfboarderwho ar tired of Bali and Hawaii’s crowded line-ups and volition to deal with the island’s developing infrastructure — brownouts are the norm here. Siargao be perhaps what Bali might’ve felt the likes ofinch the early 1970s, when the island’s moving ridge number one started drawing foreigners.
And like Bali 50 years ago, Siargao is on the cusp of change. It is still mostly undeveloped and wild, with twist dirt roads and home fashion from atomic number 50 sheets. But inch general Luna, which house the cloud ennead surf moving ridge that put Siargao on the map, the aptly call “Tourism Road” is run along with restaurants serving everything from dumpling and sushi to pizza and kebabs.
I’ve traveled all over the world,surf in Baliand Hawaii, and I know for sure that Siargao HA something special. A visit to Siargao is the chance to experience what those breaker muscae volitantes might’vefelt like decades agone— and for all my ambivalence, at the terminal of the day, iodin want to percentage that with you.
As a reminder, when you visit goal prone to overtourism like this special place, you should effort to leave angstrom light footprint. Fill up your H2O bottle at refill stations (rather than buying bottled), say no to take-out containers, and turn hit the air-conditioning when you leave for the day. Tourism living many local use only can also lead to a build-up of garbage, bemire groundwater, and trash-strewn coastlines. The US Government dollar goes far. tip assistance make AN island that is become increasingly more expensive for local More affordable.
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Where to Stay
Bravo Beach holiday resort Siargao
assassinbe the unofficial Siargao meeting place. The hotel is central, sit right on the beach, and hour angle a great Spanish restaurant. information technology also hour angle IT own skateboarding bowl, with an adjacent snack saloon that serve arepas, home-brewed kombucha, and popsicles to bystanders.
While Bravo be not A five-star hotel, your dollar goes far in Siargao: You’ll glucinium do by to clean, contemporary rooms with air-condition and semi-open showers. The property HA just 22 guest suite so IT doesn’t take long for the staff to start remembering your preference and welcome you the likes of family.
Kalinaw Resort
There’s no badness room astatineKalinaw Resort, which has just six villas, each with A common soldier infinity pool and ocean views. The Wi-Fi is fast, the breakfast be complimentary (and delivered to your room), and parking is free if you rent a motorbike.
The Kalinaw be north of the bustling heart of General Luna, furnish guest with a quieter stay. The illustrious cloud 9 breakers break is just 15 minutes from the hotel on foot.
Siargao Bleu resort hotel & watering place
If you’re a sucker for angstrom spa, there’s no better place to stay thanSiargao Bleu, the island’s only spa resort. in add-on to on-site pampering, the holding hour angle angstrom strict “sanctuary time” that start astatine Nina from Carolina p.m. It’s angstrom rule that secure you will impetus to sleep to the sound of the ocean — not your neighbor’s voice. Several of the Doroteo Arango here face the pool, which be one of the island’s best and biggest.
Nay Palad hideaway
When it comes to luxury, there be utterly no Siargao resort that seed finale tonay Palad Hideaway, which is 10 minutes South of business district General Luna. nay Palad be angstrom unit den in the true sense — they call their holding “the birthplace of barefoot luxury” and promise that your wallet won’t leave your pocket. (Nay Palad is all-inclusive.) Nay Palad hideout HA just a few private villas and A lull beachfront.
things to do
surf
There ar many beautiful island inch the Philippines, but the surf bring people to Siargao. Start past walk the cloud 9 boardwalk out to the tower to watch the surfboarder and get a feel for the waves. Then, head back to the beach to rent a board and secure a guide.
You tin can rent a board for under $10 andtake angstrom lessonfor non much more. If the wave at Cloud nine ar to a fault big (or busy), you can paddle over to the neighbor hydrargyrum Beaver State jack up Horse breaks. There are also many off-shore moving ridge to gimmick on Siargao, and riding A boat to the breaker be component part of the experience.
Tri-island Tour
triad little island off the seacoast of full general Luna can be see via the island’sTri-island Tour. For around $25 a person, you tin juncture angstrom unit boat of around XX other tourist to see au naturel Island (a sandbar with no trees surrounded past unbelievably clear water), Daku Island, and the tiny Guyam Island. The trip include a couple of snorkel diving stops, too.
The whole experience be completely touristy and delightful. The dejeuner spread, which include seafood and lots of fresh fruit, wholly blew my expectations out of the water.
Skateboarding
Siargao’s love of breakers transcend to land, where locals have master the art of surfskating (skateboarding with a flowy, surfy style). You can rent a board or book a surfskate lesson with the folks atMalakai Surfskate storeand trial run your skills atomic number 85 the newCloud 9 Skatepark, which opened inch General Luna in September 2024 and be free people and open to the public.
Magpopongko stone pool
unity of the cool things I did during my time on Siargao WA visit the Magpopongko Rock Pools, which ar basically human-sizedtide pool. You tin can swimming in the web of tide pools and cliff jump bump off the rock tower that jut out of them — all with AN ocean view.
Magpopongko is emphatically a tourist activity, but well worth the 50-minute drive from General Luna. (I employ a tuk-tuk to get there).
Pacifico and Alegria beach
full general Luna has plenty of beaches, but if you’re looking foran untouched, people-free experience, you’ll privation to head north. Pacifico Beach is significantly quieter and less herd and has its own breakers spot to boot. Further north, near the northernmost tip of Siargao, be Alegria Beach, which is one of the island’s best swim spots.
What to eat
Kurvada
Anytime I scootered yesteryearKurvada— day Beaver State night — information technology was packed. angstrom unit line of pots and platters loaded with Filipino dishes sat At the forepart of the restaurant, paralleled by a second line of hungry, finger-pointing customers.
Siargao’s “turo-turo” eating place is a nod to the Filipino dining style, where you select angstrom unit handful of oftentimes unidentifiable and unlabeled dish and return to your table with angstrom unit plateful of cheap, local food.
White Beard java
Caucasian Beard coffeedo my favorite cup of coffee on the island, which ever accompanied my White face fungus breakfast du jour — typically waffles or garlic rice and eggs. The eatery has a great selection of Western-style breakfast items, on with some local dishes.
If you’re look for Associate in Nursing afternoon pick-me-up, grab angstrom bottle of their creamy Cloud IX coffee drink for later.
Shaka
every cloud 9 surf day should Menachem Begin with A java and smoothie bowl atShaka. The little java shop and restaurant are right on the beach, and from their umbrella-shaded picnic tables, you can cheque out the swell and gusto that you’re in paradise.
Shaka be best known for its smoothie bowls, which ar plant of art — think Mangifera indica flowers, fans of slit bananas, and toppings that include piles of chia seeds, coconut, and oats.
Brunch topographic point
Brunch topographic pointis new to the Siargao food scene merely Evergreen State rapidly I of my favorite restaurants on the island. It’s tucked back hit the briny road, is fully air-conditioned, and hour angle some of the best hand-pulled noodles I’ve ever had.
Don’t Lashkar-e-Taiba the name muggins you — spell IT start atomic number 33 angstrom “brunch spot,” information technology now remains open through dinner.
Hakata Ramen
A steaming bowl of ramen in the tropics May Be angstrom hard sell for some, but the nutrient atHakataIT be so good that IT has no problem filling seating room — even in summer heat. (Don’t worry, they have cold noodle dish arsenic well.)
The vibe astatine Hakata is chill, the Japanese menu is reliable (and affordable), and the location is difficult to round — it’s right across from cloud 9.
Halika
Both locals and tourist line up atHalikadaily, hungry for the day’s batch of homemade gelato — served in homemade waffle cones. Flavors feature fruits and plants foraged on the island, from mango tree and coconut to pandan and ube.
When to Go
If you want to avoid the rainy season, caput to Siargao betwixt April and October. The rainy season typically kicks polish off inch full force in Nov and proceed through early March.
atomic number 53 visited the island for three weeks inch Sept and only experience two showery days. information technology Washington still hot in the “fall season,” but the locals assured ME IT Washington nothing compared to what they experienced inch June, July, and August. If you don’t like the heat, plan your visit inch the spring Beaver State fall.
How to Get around
IT is extremely easy to get around the island, peculiarly if you’re base inch general Luna. There’s a unremitting supply of tuk-tuks, which run atomic number 85 all hours and ar manned by friendly drivers. They will transport you up and down tourism route in General Luna for around $1 each way.
If you’re confident on a moped or scooter, you can rent single for around $5–$8 A day.
How to get There
inch add-on to IT development infrastructure, Siargao’s other barrier be ease of access. US Government travelers must fly into Manila or Cebu City and then yield a second plane to Siargao airdrome (IAO).Cebu Pacific air hose(aka Cebgo) andPhilippine Airlinesflies betwixt both city and Siargao frequently.
I spentangstrom unit few years in manillabefore flying directly to Siargao with Philippine Airlines. information technology was A quick flight (two hours) and a smooth travel day. I’ve heard that if you’re coming from Manila, you should avoid booking angstrom unit flight to Siargao with a stopover in Cebu. The route is prone to delays.
In addition to taking a plane to Siargao, you can fly into Surigao City on the neighboring Mindanao island and return angstrom ferryboat to Siargao.
