Sibuyan is one of the islands that make the Romblon archipelago. We came here drawn by the chance to visit the imposing Cresta de Gallo, but most visitors come to climb to the summit of Mount Guiting-Guiting (G2), at 2,048 meters above sea level. If, like us, this kind of ascent isn’t your thing, you’re now going to discover things to do in Sibuyan and the main reasons to visit this Philippine island.
On the other hand, Sibuyan is known as “the Galápagos of Asia”. While it’s true that comparisons are odious and that we didn’t see a hint of Ecuador’s Galápagos epicness, the truth is that Sibuyan has something that makes it very special. Geologically speaking, it has never been connected to the Philippine archipelago and a succession of seismic movements created that irregular profile of mountains, full of primeval forests with enormous biodiversity. Among them stand out a critically endangered species of fruit bat and a species of carnivorous plant (Nepenthes sibuyanensis), which can only be found in this part of the world.
How many days to spend in Sibuyan?
We spent 4 days in Sibuyan, one of which was entirely to enjoy Cresta de Gallo. Another we spent relaxing, but the rest we used to explore the island a bit by motorbike, as we always like to do wherever we go.
If your goal is to ascend Mt. Guiting-Guiting, you should plan to stay at least a couple more days. It can be climbed in a single day, but it’s normal to spend at least a couple and sleep at some camp before reaching the summit.
In our opinion, if your big goal is Cresta de Gallo, you should spend at least 4 days on the island: the day you arrive from Romblon or Roxas, the Cresta de Gallo day, a day exploring waterfalls and the Catingas River, and the day you leave.
If you’re the kind who likes to explore areas with hardly any tourism, get lost in the jungle, and visit waterfalls, give it a few more days! Although the beaches of Sibuyan aren’t very pretty, it’s still a very unspoiled and interesting island.
Even so, remember that in the Romblon archipelago there are incredible islands to devote more time to such as Romblon and Tablas.
Things to do in Sibuyan?
1. Go to Cresta de Gallo, the most important thing to do in Sibuyan
The first item on our list of things to do in Sibuyan couldn’t be anything else. Let’s be honest, we came to Sibuyan because we wanted to go to Cresta de Gallo and from Romblon it was impossible. What is, in our opinion, one of the islands with the best beaches in the Philippines, is barely an hour from Azagra port by taking a bangka.
You can spend a whole day gawking at its tongues of white sand, the turquoise water, the snorkeling, or simply the fact that hardly anyone visits it. This is still the main reason that should draw you to Sibuyan, unless you’re in love with hiking.
⭐ Discover everything about Cresta de Gallo, Philippines.
2. Trek to Mt. Guiting-Guiting
The ascent of Mount Guiting-Guiting is one of the toughest in the Philippines and it’s said this is where Filipino mountaineers train when they want to prepare for other peaks. We’re not in great shape, so we didn’t try it, but if you’re thinking of doing it, keep in mind it’s best to dedicate 2 or 3 days.
The base is the town of Magdiwang, where you can stay at the famous Sanctuary Garden Resort, which is a good idea because they’ll help you find a guide. It’s mandatory in order to climb and costs 500 pesos per person.
If you’re going to stay overnight, besides all the mountain gear and food, you’ll need to bring a tent. At the DENR office they can help you with this and also hire a guide, which is indeed mandatory and runs around 1,300 pesos per day per group. Permits are obtained at the Mount Guiting Guiting Natural Park – Protected Area Office, which we’ve marked on the map below.
Of course, you can also do easier hikes among Sibuyan’s forests. If you like birds or are curious about the island’s biodiversity, the DENR can give you more information and help you get a specialized guide.
There’s also an even tougher hike called the Olango Trail or Reverse Traverse, which goes from San Fernando to Magdiwang. For this you’ll need at least 2 nights and 3 days.
3. Take a dip in Catingas River
They say that Catingas River is the cleanest in the Philippines and supplies 90% of Sibuyan’s fresh water. The best way to see it and get great views of the river with Mt. Guiting-Guiting behind is at a spot set up as a public bath just 10 minutes by motorbike or tricycle from the town of San Fernando.
This area is very popular with families because there’s a small bar to buy snacks and even several platforms for doing “flips.” Whether you jump or not, it’s fun to spend a while watching how much people enjoy themselves and, of course, take a dip in the water, which truly is very clear. For us, it’s another of the must-do things in Sibuyan, although on weekends it gets absolutely packed.
Entrance is 50 pesos for foreigners.
4. Explore the waterfalls of Sibuyan
Thanks to its orography, Sibuyan has lots of waterfalls and rivers you can visit. We went to a couple of them, but here’s the list of waterfalls to see in Sibuyan and to cool off with fresh water:
- Bila-bila Waterfalls: easily accessible if you’re staying in Cajidiocan; we really liked these multi‑tiered waterfalls where we didn’t see anyone else. Although there are 9 tiers, the most accessible are the first 4 and we didn’t venture further up. The path was a bit confusing at times, but by asking a kid we saw around we got there. By the way, bila-bila means butterfly because, apparently, this area is a sanctuary for them. They’re the ones in the photo below.
- Cataja Falls: you can reach them from Magdiwang and they’re hard to find, so it’s best to hire a guide by asking at the DENR office. Not only is it hard to get to the access point, but then you have to walk and climb. It’s a succession of waterfalls and quite beautiful natural pools, the tallest are 18 meters high.
- Lambingan Falls: also close to Magdiwang and much more accessible than the previous ones. You don’t need to hike and you can reach them in just 10–15 minutes from town. They’re not very high, but they’re good for a dip. Entrance is 50 pesos.
- Busay Falls: these waterfalls are near San Fernando, between this town and España, so they’re convenient if you’re staying in the former to go to Cresta de Gallo and can be combined in a single day. Busay Falls are near the bridge at the entrance to San Fernando, where there’s a turnoff. Follow it and then you’ll have to continue on foot. You’ll probably get lost, but you can always ask someone and they’ll kindly point you in the right direction. Although the waterfall isn’t very high, the landscape around it is very pretty and, if you don’t visit on a weekend, you’ll likely find it very quiet. They’re also called Panangcalan Falls.
- Dagubdob Falls: also near San Fernando; you’ll have to walk about 15 minutes from where you park the motorbike. Like Bila-bila, these waterfalls have several tiers you can keep ascending.
- Many more: Pinamitian Falls, Kweba Fall, Panas Fall…
5. Drive along the coastal road
And although it may, seem obvious, one of the best things to do in Sibuyan is simply to drive the road that circles the coast. Although there are stretches that are quite good, when we visited the island there were many others that still weren’t paved or were in progress, so you have to be extremely careful when driving.
Besides enjoying the little towns and landscapes we saw along the way and greeting thousands of Sibuyanons, we found a surprise that we loved: the Virgin Mary of Candelaria Church in Azagra. According to what we read, this is one of the oldest churches in the Philippines, as it dates from the 17th century and was built by the Augustinians. Although it isn’t in very good condition, we liked being able to see a little piece of the history of the Philippines in such a remote area.
There are also the remains of an old barracks from the Spanish era in San Fernando: Casa de San Fernando. They’re a bit destroyed, but you can still see the remains of the watchtower.
If you want to take a dip, although the beaches aren’t much since the sand isn’t fine or white and there are usually lots of rocks, in Cajidiocan there’s a stretch of coast that isn’t bad at all.
If you need a contact to rent a motorbike, we’ll gladly pass you one we trust.
Where to stay in Sibuyan
Depending on what you’re going to do in Sibuyan, it’ll be better to stay on one side or the other. Our advice is to split your stay between Magdiwang and San Fernando, since if you want to see the whole island, the distances are huge. If you want to focus on Cresta de Gallo and the south, it’s better to stay in San Fernando.
On the other hand, Cajidiocan is farther from Azagra. We slept there because we found a reasonably priced Airbnb, but we don’t recommend it for 2 reasons: 1) it’s far from Azagra (the departure point for Cresta de Gallo) and 2) the owner wasn’t quite all there and the treatment was so‑so.
Thus, our recommendations for staying in Sibuyan are:
In San Fernando or Azagra:
- Seabreeze Inn: basic rooms with air conditioning for 800 pesos.
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Bungalow on Sibuyan on the beach near Cresta de Gallo: rental of an entire house near Azagra for $35. The German owner and his Filipina wife help you with absolutely everything, including renting motorbikes and the outing to Cresta de Gallo. They serve all meals. As of today, the best option.
In Magdiwang: Sanctuary Garden Resort, rooms for just under 1,200 pesos. Simple but clean, and this place is the best in the area.
In Cajidiocan: although it’s farther from Cresta de Gallo, you might feel like staying on this side of the island, where the beach isn’t bad. Here you have a new hotel called VRT Brilliant Hotel.
How to get to Sibuyan
You can find everything detailed in How to get to Sibuyan.
How to get around Sibuyan
Sibuyan isn’t a very touristy or very populated island, so you’ll have to be patient with transportation. There are jeepneys connecting the island’s main towns, mainly from Magdiwang to San Fernando and from Magdiwang to Cajidiocan, stopping in the different settlements. They usually wait for the boats to arrive, and it takes a couple of hours to reach either San Fernando or Cajidiocan. The price depends on the route. For example, from Magdiwang to Cajidiocan we paid 100 pesos.
There are also lots of tricycles connecting the island’s small towns and operating as shared transport until around 18:00. The price depends on the route you take, but they usually cost about 30–50 pesos for a 15–20‑minute ride.
Once you settle in one of the 3 main towns (Cajidiocan, San Fernando, or Magdiwang), the most comfortable thing is to rent a motorbike. This usually comes out to about 400 or 500 pesos per day. Remember to drive carefully and ask for a helmet. If you want, we can pass you a contact. Leave us a comment and we’ll send it to you.
Tips for visiting Sibuyan
- The best time to visit Sibuyan runs from January to May, that is, in the dry season. See Best time to travel to the Philippines for more info about the climate in the Philippines.
- The internet connection is pretty terrible in Sibuyan and even mobile data doesn’t work very well. Depending on the area, Globe or Smart will work better. Learn more about Internet in the Philippines.
- There’s only one ATM in Sibuyan and sometimes it doesn’t work, so come with enough cash. In Romblon you will be able to withdraw money. Keep in mind all our recommendations about Money in the Philippines.
- As we always say, travel with good travel insurance for the Philippines.
Map of Sibuyan
Here’s a map with all the places we’ve mentioned so you can get an idea of what you can see in Sibuyan and plan your visit:
Do you have any questions or suggestions about things to do in Sibuyan? We’ll be delighted to answer you in the comments!
