Siargao, this beautiful teardrop-shaped island that wins over every traveler, isn’t a large island like Luzon or Bohol, but you shouldn’t underestimate its size either. That’s why today we want to tell you about how to get around Siargao, whether independently or by public transport.
Heads-up: circling the whole island can take a little over 5 hours if you don’t make any stops. Although it’s feasible to go from General Luna, in the south, up the east coast to the north and return via the west (we’ve done it several times), the island has enough attractions to keep you exploring for several days, whether by motorbike, by tricycle or on a tour.
How to get around Siargao
Getting around Siargao can be a bit of a puzzle. For context, most travelers concentrate around General Luna, which is where we recommend you stay in Siargao thanks to its variety of hotels, restaurants and bars, as well as the chance to do several cool excursions—most notably the Siargao island hopping to the three islands (Tri-island, Corregidor, Mam’on or Corregidor). In this area you’ll find plenty of places to rent a motorbike and also lots of tricycles. From the airport, to reach your hotel, you can rent a motorbike or hop on one of the vans heading to this part of the island. From Dapa port, you can opt for shared tricycles, buses or private transport.
However, there are more and more options in the north of Siargao, in places like Alegría, Burgos or Pacifico, ideal for those seeking quieter areas and surf breaks. With far less tourism, getting here is a bit trickier. If you’re coming from the port, you’ll need to wait patiently for a multicab to depart; from the airport, you’ll likely have to negotiate a tricycle—unless you’re up for renting a motorbike.
There isn’t really a direct, regular service between south and north either, so you’ll need to find the way of getting around Siargao that works best for you. We cover all of this and more below.
Public transportation in Siargao
Although it’s gradually improving, public transportation in Siargao is almost non-existent. There are a few jeepneys or multicabs (basically a jeepney, but a bit smaller and more modern) linking the island’s main towns (basically Burgos, Pacifico, Del Carmen, Dapa and General Luna) and a bus that goes from General Luna to Dapa, but schedules are either erratic or not very frequent. Therefore, it’s an option to consider if you have plenty of time to spend on transport and/or want to save a bit.
From Dapa terminal, “motor” (shared tricycles) leave frequently for General Luna and Del Carmen. They seat 6 people and usually don’t depart until full. The ride takes between 20 and 30 minutes depending on stops. The price per person for a shared tricycle to General Luna is 30 pesos and to Del Carmen 50 pesos. If you don’t want to wait until it fills up, you can always rent it privately by negotiating. Usually, one from Dapa to General Luna is around 250-300 pesos. If you want to avoid the hassle of haggling and have someone wait for you, we can share a couple of contacts if you leave us a comment below.
At that same terminal you can also catch multicabs to the north of Siargao, to Del Carmen as well as Burgos, Pacifico and Alegría. However, you’ll need to be patient because they’re not that frequent. In theory, multicabs leave at 7:30, 12:00, 15:00 and 17:30 and cost 100 pesos to Burgos, a bit more if you go to Pacifico or Alegría. If the times don’t suit you, you’d need to negotiate a tricycle. To Alegría, the farthest spot, they’re around 800-900 pesos. We can also share contacts.
From Dapa there are also DATSCO buses to General Luna roughly 8 times a day Monday to Saturday from 4:15 to 17:15 every 30 minutes. The station is here and they drop you on General Luna’s main street. They cost 33 pesos per person and take about 30 minutes to arrive. Once in General Luna, you can take a tricycle to your hotel if it’s far. In theory, you shouldn’t pay more than 20 pesos per person if you’re moving within the General Luna to Catagnan strip.
There are also DATSCO buses to Del Carmen (from where boats to Sugba Lagoon depart) and Santa Mónica. They operate Monday to Saturday at 7:00, 11:00, 14:30 and 15:30 and take 1 hour to reach Del Carmen. The ticket costs 50 pesos.
For reference, in the opposite direction, i.e., from General Luna to Dapa and Santa Mónica, bus schedules—running only Monday to Saturday—are as follows (as of today, always reconfirm):
- General Luna-Dapa: 4:15, 6:00, 6:30, 7:00, 7:30, 8:45, 9:30, 10:15, 11:00, 11:45, 12:45, 14:00, 14:45, 15:30, 16:30 y 17:15.
- General Luna-Del Carmen-Santa Mónica: 7:00, 11:00, 14:30 y 17:30.
In theory, buses stop here, but it’s better to ask people; they’ll happily point you in the right direction.
Another common way to get around Siargao is by “habal habal”. These are large motorbikes that act as taxis around the island. They can take up to two passengers plus the driver. Prices vary, so you’ll need to negotiate depending on the route. Even so, the fixed fares between the General Luna, Cloud 9 and Malinao areas for habal habal and tricycles are 20 pesos per person.
You can read in depth about these means of transport and get familiar with them in our article Cómo moverse por Filipinas.
Siargao tours
If you don’t ride a motorbike or drive a car or, simply, you can’t be bothered and want to meet people (which is great because Filipinos are super fun), a land tour to the island’s highlights that agencies call the Siargao Land Tour has become very popular. It’s pretty good because it also includes Sugba Lagoon and is a great-value option if you’re traveling solo. Take a look here:
Renting a motorbike in Siargao
The most convenient and common way to get around Siargao is by motorbike. You’ll find motorbike rental signs on almost every corner of the island. You can ask at your accommodation in Siargao or walk along the main roads until you find your adventure companion.
Motorbike rental prices in Siargao vary depending on how many days you plan to keep it. A common price is around 300-350 pesos per day, and it can be reduced considerably if you’re renting for more than 3 or 4 days.
Also keep in mind that prices vary depending on the type of motorbike you’re going to rent. Scooters are usually a bit more expensive than semi-automatics.
Many motorbikes in Siargao are adapted to carry your surfboard. It’s a good option if you plan to spend several days surfing.
Passports and a driver’s license are not usually required to rent a motorbike in the Philippines. Sometimes owners make a copy of your passport or require some other document (ID card, library card…) as a deposit. That said, it would be crazy to ride without a valid driver’s license for motorbikes in the Philippines. Read our article on Driving and renting a motorbike in the Philippines.
Another thing to note is that in recent years Siargao police have become strict about enforcing traffic rules, especially when it comes to wearing a helmet. So we recommend you do it not just for your safety but also to avoid a fine. We also suggest wearing proper footwear rather than flip-flops, which will help if you need to put your foot down.
Please, be extremely careful when driving. While it’s not an island with heavy traffic and the roads are in very good condition (all the main ones are paved), it’s normal for all kinds of animals—and the odd person—to cross your path, especially at night. Seriously, motorbike accidents are common and this isn’t an island prepared to deal with serious health issues. If you don’t have experience, don’t risk it.
The price of gasoline in Siargao is about 60 pesos per liter. As a curiosity, as in many places in the Philippines, there are very few gas stations in Siargao, but you won’t have trouble getting fuel. It’s sold at roadside stores in 1-liter Coca-Cola bottles.
Renting a motorbike at Siargao Airport: since transport prices from the airport to other parts of Siargao are a bit abusive, you should know it’s possible to rent motorbikes as soon as you exit the airport. It’s an option to consider if you’re not too loaded with backpacks. Prices range between 3000 and 500 pesos per day, depending on your bargaining skills and the number of days you’ll rent them.
They also have motorbikes for rent right at Dapa port, if you’re coming by boat from Surigao. The price is similar.
Keep in mind that when returning the motorbike—unless you arrange otherwise with the person renting it to you—you’ll have to do it at the same place where you rented it.
We’ve been to Siargao several times, so if you need the contact of someone who rents motorbikes, whether for the airport or the General Luna area, write us a comment and we’ll give you more information. You can also rent easily and with a completely trustworthy provider via this link. You can choose multi-day packages, different types of motorbike, and even have it delivered/collected at your hotel, which is fantastic to save time and focus on enjoying yourself.
Renting a car in Siargao
If you don’t like riding a motorbike, don’t worry—you’ll also find car rentals in Siargao. Daily prices hover around 2.500 pesos, with a discount for several days. We’ve never rented one, but you can ask at your accommodation, which will surely arrange it for you, or take a quick look on Google Maps, where several companies appear.
By the way, almost all roads in Siargao are in very good condition, so you don’t need a 4×4. They’re becoming fashionable because they look great in photos, but you don’t need one.
Renting a tuk tuk in Siargao
It’s also possible to rent a tuk tuk in Siargao. There’s a company called Binggo Siargao that offers these vehicles—so typical of India or Thailand—for you to drive. It’s actually a great option if there are several of you, since they can fit up to 6 people, are easy to drive and, being covered, you won’t get wet.
Prices start at 1.200 pesos per day, but drop the more days you rent, and can go down to 800 pesos per day. If you don’t feel like driving, you can rent the tuk tuk with a driver for 1.500 pesos per day.
Be very careful when driving a tuk tuk because, although it may seem easy, when turning, if you don’t go slowly, you can drift out of your lane. Seriously—don’t get overconfident.
Renting a tricycle with driver in Siargao
One way to get around Siargao is to rent a tricycle with its driver for a whole day. The price will depend on the number of hours and distance you plan to cover, but it’s usually around 1.200-1.300 pesos per day if you want to do a little route to the north from General Luna.
Road conditions in Siargao
If you’re thinking of renting a motorbike or a car in Siargao, you might be wondering what the roads are like. Rest easy: the condition of most roads in Siargao is excellent.
The ring road around the island is fully paved, with shoulders and enough space for two vehicles. Plus, there’s hardly any traffic, so driving around Siargao is very pleasant. Even so, be extremely careful because it’s very common for animals to cross or for people to be walking on the shoulder.
Traffic accidents (even fatal ones), unfortunately, are common on the island, especially if you’re on a motorbike. From our own experience, health infrastructure in Siargao is still dreadful and not prepared for anything serious. You don’t want to visit the hospital—really.
So drive cautiously and always travel with good travel insurance for the Philippines that covers you if you need to be urgently transferred to a proper hospital in Cebu or Manila. By clicking this link you get a 5% discount on your policy.
How to get from Siargao Airport to your hotel
We’ve already shared a few tips, but one of the most frequent questions from those searching how to get to Siargao is how to go from the airport to their hotel. Here we’ll clear up all your doubts.
How to get from Siargao Airport to General Luna, Cloud 9 or Malinao
Most travelers usually stay in the south of the island, so here’s how to go from Siargao Airport to General Luna or any hotel around Cloud 9 or Malinao. In any case, you should know the airport is quite far from this part of the island. The trip will take about 45 minutes.
As you exit the airport, you’ll find shared vans charging 300 pesos per person that will take you directly to your accommodation. If you’re a bit of a negotiator and there are several of you, it’s possible to get them for 250 pesos.
Other cheaper but slower ways to get from the airport are tricycles and habal-habal. If there are several of you, negotiating a tricycle might be worth it, but keep in mind it will hardly be less than 700-800 pesos in total. Since multicabs and buses from Santa Mónica and Del Carmen aren’t very frequent (we left indicative timetables and prices at the beginning of this guide), we don’t think it’s very worthwhile, as you’ll lose a lot of time. Even so, you can wait by the roadside. When you arrive in Dapa (about 1 hour), you’ll need to take a shared tricycle or bus to General Luna.
Of course, as we mentioned above, you can also rent a motorbike right outside the airport. Prices are around 300 pesos per day, with room to negotiate if you’re staying quite a few days. You’ll find several people outside offering them, but please check the bikes carefully—especially the tires—because some travelers have told us they had issues, and then it’s a hassle since these folks don’t usually live in the hotel area.
How to get from Siargao Airport to Alegría, Pacifico or Burgos
If you’re thinking of staying in the north of Siargao (trust us and book a few days at this hotel to be blown away), it’ll be a little harder or more expensive to get there from the airport—but don’t worry, there’s always a way. In this case, you have the following options:
- Rent a motorbike: around 300 pesos per day. Cheaper for more than 3 days.
- Negotiate a private tricycle: around 800 pesos, depending on where you’re headed. You’ll find them as you exit the airport, but we can give you a couple of contacts if that makes you feel better. Leave us a comment and we’ll send you all the info.
- Wait by the road for a multicab going that way: this would be the cheapest, but note there are no set schedules and they’re not that frequent. We’ve never taken them, but given that from Dapa they cost 100 pesos to Burgos, reckon it’ll be a bit less.
Siargao Guide
You’ll find much more information in our Siargao Guide: what to do, how to get there and other useful facts.
If you have any questions or suggestions, we’re all ears in the comments.
