What are the best beaches in Siquijor? As we tell you in Things to do in Siquijor, the mystical island of the Philippines may not stand out for having the most beautiful beaches, the most impressive waterfalls or the most spectacular island hopping, but it’s the mix of all of this, together with its laid‑back vibe, that makes it special and a favorite for many travelers.
Even with its quirks, Siquijor’s beaches are gorgeous and perfect for unwinding in the shade of a palm tree or soaking up the Filipino sun on their white sand. After several visits to this magical island—and so you don’t go crazy searching—this article gives you a curated selection of the best beaches in Siquijor.
What the beaches in Siquijor are like
While it’s true you can’t really consider Siquijor a 100% beach destination like Boracay, Bantayan or even Malapascua, this Visayas island is still a great spot if you’re looking to relax on the sand.
If you ask us whether the beaches of Siquijor are beautiful, we’ll answer with a resounding yes. Most of them have fine white sand, elegant coconut trees and turquoise waters. Plus, it isn’t a crowded destination at all, so—save for exceptions and certain moments—it’s very likely you’ll have them almost to yourself, whatever the season.
However, most beaches in Siquijor share a feature that makes them a bit less comfortable for paradise‑seekers: they’re very shallow. Even when the tide is high, you need to walk quite a bit for the water to reach your knees. This, combined with the sun’s effect, means the swim isn’t that refreshing. Still, on the bright side, if you like to lie in calm water for hours enjoying the scenery—or you’re traveling with kids and prefer not to worry—Siquijor’s beaches are perfect.
To be totally honest, since tides depend on the lunar cycle, if you happen to be there on days when high tide only occurs at night (as happened to us for an entire week on one of our many visits to the island), you might not find Siquijor’s beaches as beautiful. In many of them, low tide exposes long stretches of sand with seaweed (though this depends on the season) and even some unpleasant mud.
For all these reasons, we suggest checking the tide table and trying to time your visit to the best beaches in Siquijor for when it’s high.
Note that being shallow at the shoreline doesn’t mean you can’t swim or that they’re uninteresting. Much of Siquijor’s coast boasts lovely reefs, making it a perfect destination for snorkeling in the Philippines. Two good examples are Tubod Beach and the Tulapos Marine Sanctuary. We’ve even seen turtles at Salandoong Beach just a few fin kicks from the shore. To reach the coral area comfortably, we suggest bringing water shoes like these.
Sunset at Coral Cay, Solangon Beach
On the other hand, thanks to the palm trees and vegetation, you won’t be lacking shade on Siquijor’s beaches. It may sound trivial, but once you feel how strong the Philippine sun is, you’ll be grateful to have a place to take cover.
Finally, though it may sound obvious, remember we’re talking about nature and personal taste. It’s highly likely that the beaches of Siquijor (as anywhere on the planet) won’t be in the same state as when we visited and that what you see won’t be identical to our photos. Nature is unpredictable and affected by many variables, including the weather.
As we explain in When to travel to the Philippines?, the country is affected by two monsoons: Habagat, the southwest monsoon, and Amihan, the northeast monsoon. The former blows roughly from June to November and the latter from December to May, bringing more or less rain to different parts of the country. In Siquijor, depending on each beach’s orientation, there’s more or less wind, making them prettier or not, with more or fewer seaweeds, and with cleaner or murkier water.
As a rule of thumb, from June to November it’s common for the eastern beaches (Monkey Beach, Kagusuan…) to have calmer water, while those in the west (the whole Paliton, Solangon, Tubod area) look a bit less attractive. If you’re visiting Siquijor between December and May, you’re more likely to find a calm Paliton Beach and a somewhat rougher Salangdoong.
Add to this that tides and currents can bring more or less trash to Siquijor’s beaches. Unfortunately, all the world’s seas are full of plastic, which washes ashore and mixes with the litter we all generate.
☀️ From traveler to traveler: while you won’t find Siquijor’s beaches crowded, our tip is to visit them Monday to Friday. Filipinos love getting together as a family and going to the beach on weekends—especially Salangdoong Beach—where they won’t hesitate to fire up the barbecue.
Salangdoong Beach
Where the best beaches in Siquijor are
We’ve already given you some hints about what we consider the best beaches in Siquijor, but if we had to pick one area, we’d say, for us, they’re concentrated on the east of the island. From Siquijor Town to the Tubod sanctuary (basically all of San Juan) you’ll find most of the hotels in Siquijor and restaurants, so it won’t be hard to find a base to enjoy them.
That said, if you’re looking for a beach in Siquijor where you can take a comfortable dip, that’s Salagdoong Beach. Set apart from the rest, it’s deeper and thus nicer for swimming.
Dapdap Beach
Map of the best beaches in Siquijor and nearby accommodations
To give you an idea, here’s a map with the location of the best beaches in Siquijor and recommended accommodations near them. Click each one to make your booking.
Best beaches in Siquijor
Let’s get straight to it—here are the best beaches in Siquijor. We’ve sorted them by area: San Juan, those closest to Lazi and Maria, and those around Sandugan.
This is just a small selection. As we mention in What to see and do in Siquijor, our advice is that, if you can, rent a scooter and explore at your own pace. For example, there are plenty of unnamed beaches around Dumanhog that you’ll spot from the road. Don’t hesitate to stop and name them however you like.
Paliton Beach / Cangbusyo Beach
Many will agree that one of the best beaches in Siquijor is Paliton Beach, also known as Little Boracay. Although a few years ago it flew under the radar for many travelers and was full of boats, it’s now one of the island’s best‑known spots—especially at sunset—when little drink stalls start serving cold beers to watch the sunset.
With white sand and pretty coconut trees (though the poor palm that made it iconic is about to fall due to the “Instagram effect”), Paliton Beach is ideal for relaxing during the day as it usually isn’t crowded. If you can, visit at high tide so you can swim comfortably.
Separated by a small cliff of coral rock, Cangbusyo Beach is another Siquijor beach we recommend visiting. It’s much smaller than Paliton but deeper, so swimming is more comfortable. You’ll now find several food stalls like OceanBowls, one of the places we recommend in Where to eat in Siquijor.
There’s a road to reach each of these beaches but, in reality, you can easily walk from one to the other. The prettiest stretch is what appears on Google Maps as “Better Paliton.” Since 2023, an access fee of 20 pesos per person is charged.
Note that you’ll have to pay 100 pesos if you want to snorkel in the Paliton sanctuary. In our opinion, it isn’t really worth it. There are others on the island, like Tubod, that are much better and cheaper.
Hotels near Paliton Beach: Dolce Amore Resort and Fable Hostel
Paliton Beach to the north, and Cangbusyo is the small cove between them
Solangon Beach / San Juan Beach
Known as Solangon or San Juan Beach, this stretch runs roughly from the Siquijor Sunset Glamping Village to the Tambisan bridge. We have a special soft spot for it because it was one of the first Philippine beaches we saw back in 2010 when we lived in Manila. At that time we stayed at Coral Cay Resort, which, in our opinion, has the prettiest stretch. When the tide is high, the palm trees almost touch the sea, making for a gorgeous postcard.
Solangon Beach is one of the longest and most comfortable beaches for walking in Siquijor. When the tide is high, it’s perfect for swimming without being bothered by waves. However, when it’s low, it can feel a bit icky because the sand turns to mud. Still, we love it for its tranquility and can spend hours watching fishermen head out, dogs wander by, and—of course—the sky change colors at sunset.
On one of our latest visits to Siquijor we spent two weeks at the White Villas Resort, right on Solangon Beach. We were lucky enough to enjoy about ten sunrises and sunsets. The calm water here turns the sea into a mirror of the sky, giving us epic sunsets. In fact, it’s our favorite place to end the day—much more relaxed than Paliton Beach.
There are many access points to Solangon Beach, but if you fancy it, you can enter through Coral Cay; they don’t mind at all. The bar is fairly cheap and the grounds are lovely, so we recommend it.
That said, if we had to choose a swimming spot in the San Juan area, we’d pick the stretch in front of Shaka. It’s deeper here, so it’s pleasant even at low tide and it’s quite clean with hardly any seaweed. The bar/restaurant is great and you’ll have no trouble accessing it. There are also shaded areas.
Hotels in Solangon Beach: White Villas Resort (to which we’ve dedicated a full article), Swakihan Guest House and Seashore Inn
The Coral Cay area
The Shaka area
Tubod Beach
Heading south you’ll find what we think is Siquijor’s best marine sanctuary: Tubod. It’s located right in front of the spectacular Coco Grove Beach Resort, which can also boast one of the island’s best beaches.
Even though you’ve read “resort,” don’t rush off—you can access the beach and enjoy it even if you’re not a guest. You won’t be able to use the facilities, including umbrellas, but you can lie on its white sand. Just enter via the small path marked on the road by a huge sign that says “Tubod Marine Sanctuary.”
Unfortunately, you now have to pay 50 pesos to access. If you plan to go snorkeling—which we recommend—you’ll need to pay 100 pesos at the sanctuary booth just before the resort. Bring your mask and snorkel; if you don’t have them, you can rent the gear for 200 pesos.
As with the previous beaches, we recommend coming at high tide. Not only will it be easier to swim out to the reef, but you can also bathe comfortably at the shoreline, especially if you’re not a fan of seaweed.
Hotels in Tubod Beach: Coco Grove Beach Resort, Tagbalayon Lodging House and Infinity Sands Resort
Monkey Beach
Once past the town of Lazi on the way to María, Siquijor has a small peninsula packed with interesting beaches—but they’re hard to access. One of our favorites is Kagusuan Beach; however, since 2008, due to property disputes, access has been prohibited. Even so, if you’re up for adventure, don’t hesitate to visit its neighbor: Monkey Beach.
This small slice of blond sand sheltered by huge walls is dotted with large coral rocks. Getting into the water is a bit awkward due to the rocks, so bring your water shoes.
Keep an eye on the road and you’ll see a stuffed monkey marking the path that cuts through the forest to the cliff. If you’re comfortable riding a scooter on dirt, it won’t take you more than 5 to 10 minutes to reach the stairs. Otherwise, park and in a short while you’ll be walking down to this idyllic spot where there’s usually no one.
From traveler to traveler: it’s best to come to Monkey Beach before noon because after 14:00 or 15:00 the sun no longer reaches it, so it looks less pretty and swimming is less appealing. Please be very careful with your belongings when you go into the water, as there have been some thefts in this area recently.
Hotel near Monkey Beach: Sabas Beach and Campsite
Secret Beach (Bacong Beach)
Relatively close to Monkey Beach is this secret beach that stole our hearts. Also beneath a huge cliff with a rocky bottom, the water’s clarity and the beauty of the landscape make the tricky access worthwhile.
When we last visited, part of the road was under construction, so access was really complicated—even with a scooter. The trail goes through the forest, so be careful not to slip on the dirt. Once you reach the parking area, you’ll see a rustic wooden staircase leading down to the sea.
Hotel near Secret Beach: Genevie Guest House
Salagdoong Beach
If you’re craving a proper dip, Salagdoong is the best beach in Siquijor to do it. About 45 minutes from the San Juan area, it sparks mixed feelings. You’ll soon see why: it’s a pretty, picturesque beach, but at the same time it’s been developed so much that it’s a bit of a shame.
Salagdoong consists of two coves, one larger than the other, both washed by turquoise waters. The small one remains in a natural state, while the larger one has horrible concrete bleachers along the shore. They’re separated by a cliff where a couple of diving platforms and a slide have been installed. The latter has been closed for years (it’s not in great shape and we don’t want to imagine how many accidents there might have been), but you can definitely jump from the platforms. The lower one is about 6 meters and the higher about 10. Just be careful if the tide is low.
In our opinion, this beach is great for a stop on your Siquijor scooter route to grab a bite (there’s a decent restaurant), take a swim and break out the snorkeling gear, as it’s not unusual to spot sea turtles.
If you can, avoid visiting on weekends when it’s at its busiest. Filipinos love spending the entire day there with the family. They bring karaoke and often barbecue—if you’re lucky, you might even leave with a full belly!
Admission to Salagdoong Beach costs 50 pesos per person and you also have to pay for your vehicle. For a scooter, you’ll pay 20 pesos.
Hotel at Salagdoong Beach: Jelly Sea Resort
Dapdap Beach
Around Siquijor “town” or Poblacion there are several interesting beaches we encourage you to visit if you’re looking for something beyond the usual. For example, just past the Provincial Hospital of Siquijor is Dapdap Beach, a place we fell in love with at first sight.
0% touristy, we left the scooter and headed straight to the small pier. From there we enjoyed the happiness of kids taking a dip, the smiles of fishermen under the palms and the scene of turquoise waters breaking against the typical coral rocks of this part of Siquijor.
Hotel near Dapdap Beach: Villa Marmarine Beach Resort
Caleeia Beach / Candanay Norte and Candanay Sur Beach
If you’re thinking of exploring the north of Siquijor and driving toward Larena and Sandugan, don’t hesitate to stop at the little beaches of Candanay Sur and Candanay Norte (the latter also known as Caleeia Beach).
White sand, crystal‑clear water, palm trees and, most importantly, that quintessential Siquijor feel we’re crazy about. Modest nipa‑bungalow resorts and the odd bar with wonderful views—what more could you ask for?
As these are also very shallow, we recommend visiting these Siquijor beaches at high tide. They’ll look prettier and you’ll be able to swim comfortably.
By the way, if you’re after some local party vibes, Kadanai Shore really goes off on weekends with DJs and live bands.
Hotel at Caleeia Beach: Villa Marmarine Beach Resort
Sandugan Beach
We end our tour of the best beaches in Siquijor in the little‑known Sandugan area. Very similar to the previous ones, here you’ll have a strip of white sand and turquoise water almost to yourself. It’s also usually shallow, so you’ll need to walk quite a bit for the water to reach your neck.
If you want to spend a few days away from it all, this part of the island is great, with seafront hotels where all you have to worry about is enjoying nature every day. Plus, as with the rest of Siquijor, prices are fairly affordable—nowhere near Palawan or Siargao levels.
If you’re only passing through, we recommend parking your scooter at Kiwi Dive Resort, from where you can access the beach and take a stroll. They won’t charge you an entrance fee and the ladies who run it are lovely. If you’re hungry, you can eat there or do as we did and head to Kalachuchi Beach Resort, which is pretty good and lets you use its nice pool for 100 pesos per person.
Hotels in Sandugan Beach: Kalachuchi Beach Resort and La Villa Alta
More information about Siquijor
We hope you enjoyed this selection of the best beaches in Siquijor! This is just a small part of our comprehensive Siquijor guide, where you’ll find tips on activities, accommodations, restaurants and much more.
If you still have any questions or suggestions, we’d love to read them in the comments!
