Things to do in Siquijor: The complete guide

Many Philippine islands are known for excelling at something in particular. Some are ideal for diving, others for surfing; there are places that offer dream‑like island‑hopping and others that bring you close to beautiful waterfalls. But if we had to define the strong point of this island, we could say it’s the great variety of things to do in Siquijor.

Although it doesn’t have the most beautiful beach in the country nor the biggest waterfall you’ll see on your trip to the Philippines, visiting Siquijor gives you the opportunity, from one base, to see beaches, waterfalls, caves, dive sites, historic buildings and, among other activities, marine sanctuaries. All of this is wrapped in a magical atmosphere that you’ll only understand if you venture to the heart of the island.

How many days to stay in Siquijor

Located in the centre of the Visayas region, getting to Siquijor is fairly simple. Even so, even if you know you have more attractions nearby, don’t plan too little time on the island. It’s quite common to fall in love and want to dedicate an extra day.

Our advice is that you spend at least two full days in Siquijor. Bear in mind that these days shouldn’t include transfers; they should be days to make the most of the island. With two days in Siquijor you’ll be able to circle the road that surrounds it, but if you fancy something a bit more adventurous, add at least one more day.

By the way, we’ve always rented a motorbike to visit Siquijor. Although most of the road is usually in good condition, please don’t risk driving if you don’t have much practice. In that case, you can always hire a tricycle driver for a day and let them tell you some secrets of this enchanted island. It’s also possible, if you like, to rent a car. We can give you contacts for both options if you leave us a comment.

Also, if you’re thinking of going snorkelling at Apo Island from Siquijor – one of the best places to snorkel in the Philippines – plan to add at least one more day. On the day you arrive, go to the Coco Grove hotel and ask which days they plan to run the excursion. It’s not daily, so you’ll have to coordinate.

For example, a good plan to make the most of Siquijor could be:

• Day 1: Century‑old Balete Tree, Cambugahay Falls, Lazi Convent, Monkey Beach/Secret Beach, Church of María, Salagdoong Beach and snorkelling and sunset at Tubod. If it’s the months with the most wind around Tubod, you can swap Tubod for snorkelling at Paliton.

• Day 2: Lugnason Falls, San Antonio (hilots), Cantabon Cave, Siquijor Town and nearby beaches, Paliton Beach and sunset at Solangon Beach or one of the mountain cafés.

• Day 3: excursion to Apo Island + sunset at Paliton Beach.

As you’ll see below, these are just the basics. There’s much more to do in Siquijor and, don’t forget the most important thing, it’s an island where you can feel extremely relaxed – make the most of it !

Keep in mind that Siquijor went unnoticed until recently, as Filipinos considered the island enchanted and were afraid of it. However, its popularity has grown greatly on social networks and therefore, during holidays and weekends, there are now places that get packed. So our advice is that, if you can, avoid visiting at weekends; you’ll enjoy it more.

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What to see and what to do in Siquijor

What we like most to do in Siquijor is to get lost on its roads on a motorbike. Really, the landscapes will make you fall in love. Even so, here we summarise the essential things we believe you have to see and do in Siquijor. At the end of this article you’ll find some “extras” for those who have more time or are more adventurous.

1. The Century‑Old Magic Tree (Old Enchanted Balete Tree)

You might be thinking “did I really come all the way to the Philippines to see a tree?” We thought the same. But when we passed by it – it’s on the island’s main road – we got off the bike to see it and we loved it.

The Old Enchanted Balete Tree is a tree more than 400 years old that belongs to the banyan family. Its branches, over the centuries, have spread across the ground, making it grow in all directions. They say that the water in the small pond where it rests has healing properties and many Filipinos go there to try their luck. It’s also very common to take your shoes off, put your feet in the water and let the fish that live there eat your impurities. Be careful though: there’s a big fish that might give you a good nip.

As a curiosity, you’ll probably see a lady selling “potions” and medicinal herbs. Many Filipinos believe in the magic of Siquijor and its healing power (you’ll see more about this later when we talk about the hilots), so these kinds of products are very popular. On the other hand, at the century‑old tree they also sell some very big coconuts for only ₱30, which will help you stay hydrated.

The entry price shouldn’t worry you at all; it’s only ₱20. You have to pay ₱5 to park the motorbike. It’s a quick stop and on the route to other attractions on the island, so we recommend you don’t skip it.

2. Cambugahay Falls

Cambugahay Falls are undoubtedly one of the must‑sees on the island of Siquijor. Once you park your motorbike and, going down the stairs, start to see the turquoise waters of this beautiful waterfall, you’ll understand why. This lovely spot is made up of three bathing areas.

• The first is the most famous and beautiful to see. A large swimming area surrounded by palms and vegetation where a waterfall about seven metres high crashes down. You can dive in by jumping from the top of the waterfall or by launching yourself holding on to the enormous swing hanging from a nearby tree. Note: jumping costs ₱50 and you can do it as many times as you like.

• The next level of Cambugahay Falls are small natural pools where you can sit for a while to relax.

• The third level is made up of a small waterfall that feeds a pool smaller than the previous one. If you have to choose, the first level is the most beautiful and comfortable, although the second is where there are usually fewer people.

At weekends there is usually quite an influx of Filipino tourists and it’s very normal to see them doing somersaults to get into the water – quite a show! If you want them for yourself, get up early and be there at 7 a.m. By about 9:00 they’re already crowded. Even so, to get the light right and see the turquoise colour of the water, we recommend going at around 11:30–12:00.

The entrance costs ₱50 and there is no parking fee, although you can give a donation.

You can find a lot more information in our article dedicated to them: Cambugahay Falls.

⭐ Note: there are many waterfalls in Siquijor. These are just the most popular (but also some of the prettiest). Take the opportunity to lose yourself at others like Lagaan Falls, Kawasan Falls, Locong Falls or Cabugsayan Falls (these are the least known).

If you’re adventurous, you can also go, like us, to the Cangbangag Falls, the highest on the island. Because of the effort it takes to get there (trust only the Maps.me map because Google Maps doesn’t give the correct location – at some point you’ll have to start walking and cross a river), we only recommend them if you have four or five days in Siquijor. They’re cool and you’ll be alone, but we think there are better ones elsewhere in the Philippines and even on Siquijor.

3. Salagdoong Beach

Salagdoong Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Siquijor and generates somewhat mixed opinions. It’s made up of two small coves bathed in beautiful turquoise waters where, if you take your snorkelling mask with you, you’ll be able to enjoy its colourful biodiversity. Last time we even saw a couple of turtles.

The reason some people dislike this pretty spot is that at this beach concrete bleachers have been built that take away its charm and attract hundreds of local tourists to enjoy big barbecues and the restaurant, especially at weekends. Some say this beach has become a kind of small theme park and they’re not entirely wrong.

Be that as it may, Salagdoong Beach is an ideal place to make a stop on your motorbike tour of Siquijor. It’s also one of the few beaches in Siquijor with enough depth so you can take a dip at both low and high tide.

If you dare, you can climb to the top of its cliff and jump from the diving board. Heads up: from below it looks much lower than it does when you’re about to jump; you might think twice when it’s your turn.

To enter this beach you have to pay a fee of ₱50 per person plus a small supplement that will vary depending on the vehicle you arrive with (₱30 for motorbikes). The restaurant is decent for eating, if a Filipino family doesn’t invite you to share their barbecue.

4. Beaches of Siquijor

If you’re looking for beaches in Siquijor with a bit more of a “Filipino essence”, let us tell you which are our favourite beaches.

You can find all the information on these and other beaches in our article Best beaches in Siquijor.

Just 15 kilometres south of Salagdoong Beach is Kagusuan Beach. When you arrive you’ll see that it’s totally different to the previous one, as you can be practically alone and not feel surrounded by cement constructions. One of the best things to do in Siquijor that we recommend most is to explore, look beyond and lose yourself along the paths. If you do this from Kagusuan Beach and go one kilometre further, you’ll reach a path that leads to the little‑known Monkey Beach. Here you can be practically alone and enjoy the curious rock formations on the shore.

There are also more beaches to the north, even less well known, where you’ll hardly see anyone. Secret Beach (in the photo below, also called Bacong Beach, a bit rocky but with a spot where you can lie down) and Umpas Beach (note that you have to go down quite a bit to reach this one) will delight you if you want to feel like Robinson Crusoe. Keep in mind that the path by motorbike is a bit horrible, so we only advise you to go if you’re very skilled or don’t mind walking for 20–30 minutes.

PRECAUTION: some travellers have told us they’ve suffered opportunistic thefts on these beaches. Although nothing similar has ever happened to us and we consider the Philippines a very safe country, be careful with your belongings and don’t leave them unattended. Keep them as close to the shore as possible, as thieves might slip through the undergrowth. Also consider that these are beaches without any kind of maintenance and that depending on the time of year they can have a lot of rubbish.

Another beach to visit in Siquijor, much more popular but very pretty, is Paliton Beach. Surrounded by palm trees and with white sand, it’s an ideal place to enjoy the best sunset on the island. In reality, Paliton is divided in two: Paliton(the largest) and Cangbusyo Beach (as it appears on Google Maps, the smallest). You can reach both on foot, so don’t hesitate to explore them. The entrance fee is ₱20.

Now both have stalls selling drinks and food. It’s easy to walk between the two without difficulty. Although you can swim at low tide, it will be more comfortable and they also look better at high tide. Access can be made by two roads; you can see it on the map we’ve left below.

Don’t snub the beach of Solangon/San Juan either, where there are a couple of bars with beers at good prices to enjoy the sunset. Our favourite is the one at the Coral Cay hotel. Even so, the part with the best bathing (even at low tide) is the one opposite Shaka, where they also serve great shakes and smoothie bowls.

The beach at the Coco Grove hotel, where the Tubod marine sanctuary is located, is also great. If you’re not a guest at the hotel you can’t use the loungers and umbrellas, but the beach is public, so you can stay there. However, they charge an access fee of ₱50 and ₱100 if you plan to snorkel.

Another of our favourite beaches is Dapdap Beach, in Siquijor town itself. Hardly anyone goes here and it’s very photogenic. On the way to Larena you also have Caleeia Beach, where there’s a little bar perfect for relaxing.

Depending on the time of year you visit Siquijor, the winds will blow towards one side or another and this affects the state of the beaches. Thus, when the Habagat (south‑west monsoon, roughly from June to November) blows, it’s usual that the beaches on the east (Monkey Beach, Kagusuan…) have calmer water, while those on the west (the whole Paliton side) look a bit less pretty. If you go to Siquijor between December and May, you’ll probably find a calm Paliton Beach.

Keep in mind that, except for Salagdoong Beach, most of Siquijor’s beaches are very shallow, so you’ll have to walk or swim quite a bit to get a relaxing swim. We still like them just as much, but it’s advisable to check the tide table to try to coincide your visit with a period of high tide, as otherwise they may disappoint you.

5. Cantabon Caves

Besides bathing on beautiful beaches or jumping from waterfalls, another interesting thing to do in Siquijor is to delve underground. In the heart of the island the Cantabon Caves await you – a network of tunnels almost a kilometre long that you can visit with the help of a guide. The current route is 600 metres and we promise it will be one of the most special activities you do during your tour of Siquijor.

The information office is in the village of Cantabon. Here you have to pay the entrance fee, which includes: guide, helmet and torch. The guide costs ₱500 and is valid for up to three people, after which you have to add ₱50 per person. The last entry is usually at 17:00.

After a short walk with your guide to the cave, once inside the adventure begins. It will take you over slippery floors, stalactites, stalagmites, columns and other rock formations (the cauliflower, the waterfall, Harry Potter’s hat…) and even a natural underground pool ideal for taking a dip. The tour lasts between 45 minutes and an hour and a half, depending on the stops you make and your agility.

Traveller to traveller: do this visit with non‑slip footwear suitable for water and wear a swimsuit, and we recommend you leave your electronic devices in the locker so you don’t have to worry about them. You can take your phone and during the tour the guides can carry it for you, but it’s better if you also have a dry bag.

6. The Hilots and healers of Siquijor

Much is said about the magic and mysticism of Siquijor, but very few travellers embark on the adventure of discovering it. This reputation comes, in part, from the hilots healers. Hilot is a traditional Filipino therapy based on massage and the manipulation of bones and muscles, which also uses different sacred rituals and medicinal plants. Although by law it is now necessary to have a diploma to practise as a hilot, the true practitioners (mostly women) acquire this knowledge from their mothers or grandmothers.

You may see in different hotels in Siquijor that a “Hilot massage” is offered, but this is more like a classic relaxing massage. If you want to live the real experience, drive your motorbike to the central town of San Antonio and once there ask the locals where to find your hilot. The experience is totally worth it and after your session you’ll feel like new.

In our case, we’ve had the opportunity to be in the hands of three different healers in Siquijor, each with a different technique and all really super interesting. Our first years on the island we always visited a hilot who is based mainly on traditional massage (applying different “potions” of natural herbs), but on our last visits we’ve met new healers. One of them applies the Bulo Bulo technique to cleanse your interior; it’s amazing to see how the water they use cleans itself at the same time. The other (well, actually they’re a couple) practice toob, a kind of cleansing of bad energies with smoke from different plants, and then usually finish with a small massage using natural oils.

If you want the contact details of some of our favourite hilots and healers in Siquijor, leave us a comment and we’ll send you all the information.

By the way, every Holy Week, Siquijor receives hundreds of visitors who come to the Healing Festival or Festival of Healers.It takes place in Cantabon Cave and not only do the hilots of Siquijor (who are the majority) attend, but others from all over the Philippines.

 

7. Lazi Convent and Church of San Isidro Labrador

Another possible plan in Siquijor is to make a stop at two of its most important historical buildings, which tell us about the Spanish colonial past of the Philippines. The Church of San Isidro Labrador, packed to the brim during Sunday Mass, was proposed by UNESCO in 2006 as a World Heritage Site, but the poor state of its structure and the authorities’ lack of interest in its conservation have prevented it from achieving that distinction.

On the opposite pavement you can visit the Lazi Convent, which boasts the record of being the oldest in all of Asia, built in 1887. Restored in 2019, it’s an interesting visit that will make you travel back in time, surrounded by a very special atmosphere. Entry to the convent used to be completely free, but since March 2019, they charge an entry fee of ₱30 per person.

If you’re interested in this kind of historic building, don’t hesitate to head to Siquijor town. Here you’ll find the Church of San Francisco de Asís, built with coral between 1795 and 1831, and the attached bell tower, which is being rehabilitated.

On the other hand, in the town of María is the Church of Nuestra Señora de Providencia, built in 1880. Inside you’ll see a statue of Santa Rita de Cascia holding a skull and an inverted crucifix. As a curiosity, the inhabitants of Siquijor say she walks around at night…

8. Lugnason Falls (Zodiac Falls)

Another of Siquijor’s waterfalls that deserves a visit is Lugnason Falls, near the San Juan area on the southwest of the island. What will surely catch your eye is the spectacular colour of its waters, somewhat different from Cambugahay Falls. The bathing area is smaller than the previous ones, but the height of the jump from the waterfall is greater.

The entry costs ₱20 and you’ll see some guides who will take you to the best spots. They’ll also brighten up your stay with their typical show of incredible jumps from the top of the waterfall.

Lugnason Falls have up to 12 levels and you can climb up the river to discover them, but the one that most deserves a visit is the first. If you want to explore them all, it’s best to hire a guide.

Note: the waterfalls are at their most splendid in the rainy season.During the driest months (February to May) they sometimes carry very little water.

9. Snorkelling in Siquijor: Tubod Marine Sanctuary, Tulapos and Caticugan

If you’re a lover of snorkelling, a must‑do in Siquijor for you is to visit the Tubod Marine Sanctuary. It’s located within the beach of one of our favourite hotels in Siquijor, the Coco Grove Beach Resort.

In case you’re not staying there, you can access its beach and sanctuary by paying the ₱100 fee. If you want, you can also rent the snorkelling equipment for ₱50 extra. Once inside, you can go straight to dive into the incredible seabed of the Tubod Marine Sanctuary. Fish of all colours, wonderful coral and, with luck, the odd turtle await you.

As we told you when talking about the beaches, it’s better to snorkel in the Tubod Sanctuary during the months when the Amihan wind blows, that is, from December to May. This way the water is calmer and clearer.

In the area near Tubod there are a couple more marine sanctuaries that may interest you: Maite (₱100 fee) and the one in Paradise Bay, accessible from Emocion Guesthouse. From the first it’s quite common to see the occasional turtle. In Paliton there’s also one, but we didn’t find it very interesting.

On the other side of the island is the Tulapos Marine Sanctuary, where it’s common to see turtles, barracudas and reef sharks. It’s obligatory to hire a guide. The price is ₱250 for two people. You also have to pay ₱100 per person. If you want, you can rent snorkelling equipment for ₱50 and fins for ₱100.

To enjoy the Tulapos sanctuary it’s much better to go between June and November, when there’s less wind in this area of the island and therefore the water is less choppy.

Finally, the Caticugan Sanctuary, halfway between San Juan and Siquijor town, will also give you a great snorkelling experience without needing to swim far. Entry costs ₱50 per person; you need to hire a guide (₱200 per group) and you can also rent snorkel gear there (mask and fins for ₱200). It’s also a good place to go from June to November, when the water here is calm.

IMPORTANT: throughout the municipality of San Juan (which affects the area from Caticugan to Tubod, but not Tulapos) it is forbidden to snorkel and dive (as well as, of course, to fish) on new‑moon days. It’s possible to swim near the shore, but not to do the previous activities. For the rest of 2025, these days are 26–28 June, 26–28 July, 24–26 August, 23–25 September, 22–24 October, 21–23 November and 21–23 December. Dive centres, when this happens, continue diving in other spots outside San Juan and also run trips to Apo Island.

10. Sambulawan Underground River

Discovered only in 2017, this river seems incredible to us. Don’t expect anything similar to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River; this is a more immersive experience. It’s a guided tour through a cave in which there is literally an underground river. So much so that it’s amazing to hear the sound of the river running.

You’ll be amazed swimming through the bowels of the earth and enjoying absolute tranquillity. The route is out and back and lasts about 20 minutes in each direction. In the last part there is a chamber where you can find some stalactites and stalagmites. Really, everything we can tell you about this is too little.

We went in wearing swimsuits and with the GoPro, although you can go with your mobile perfectly fine, being careful not to get it wet. It’s not that you have to submerge yourself completely if you don’t want to; you’ll float with the life jacket they’ll give you. As for footwear, you can go in flip-flops and then leave them before you start swimming through the river.

The entrance is ₱250 per person (includes life jacket and headlamp) and then you pay the guide what you think appropriate for the whole group. They usually do a good job, so we advise you to leave at least ₱100 per person.

Really, it’s highly recommended. Another must on the list of things to do in Siquijor. If you have to choose between Sambulawan and Cantabon, perhaps Cantabon is cooler, but it’s also more demanding and requires more time.

11. Diving in Siquijor

On our last visit to Siquijor (we’ve lost count of how long we’ve spent on this island), we were lucky enough to discover its seabed – a thorn we’ve had since a long time ago.

Despite not being one of the most well‑known places for diving in the Philippines, the truth is that we came away delighted and we think it’s a great place whether you’re a beginner or have experience, especially if you like the small things, because although not to the level of Dauin, macro lovers will enjoy it a lot. In the couple of dives we did along the coast near San Juan, we saw 10–11 turtles, so it’s a great spot to see them if that excites you, without paying the prices of the Apo Island trip, which we’ll talk about next.

The price of fun dives is around ₱1,400–₱1,600, depending on the number of dives you do. In addition, you have to pay a fee of ₱150 per day of diving.

Recently, a Spanish couple have taken charge of a dive centre on the island and we decided to dive with them. We had a great time and, besides being good professionals, they’re very nice and will help you have a more complete experience of the island. If you fancy having their contact, leave us a comment and we’ll be happy to send it to you.

Bear in mind as well what we’ve said about the prohibition on diving after the new moon. Although the dive centres will advise you of this.

12. Apo Island

A visit to Siquijor would not be completely finished without making the excursion to the fabulous Apo Island. This is one of the paradises of diving in the Philippines and snorkelling in the Philippines, as you can find yourself surrounded by turtles. The marine sanctuary enjoys coral in excellent condition and with a lot of life, so you should not stop including it in your trip around the country.

You have two ways to get to Apo Island from Siquijor:

1. The most economical and complicated way is to go to Dumaguete (1 hour by boat, about ₱350), take a bus to Malatapay (20 minutes, approximately ₱50) and then a boat to Apo Island (40 minutes, ₱300). If you choose this option, the best thing is to stay at least one night on the island and enjoy its relaxed atmosphere. We’ve stayed a couple of times at Liberty’s Lodge (rooms from ₱500), which has a dive centre.

2. The shortest way to get to Apo is on an excursion from Siquijor. The trip takes 90 minutes (one way) and you’ll spend a few hours on the island snorkelling. The organisation is handled by the Coco Groove hotel and the Island Vibes Explorers dive centre. They usually depart when they have a minimum group of travellers, normally 15 people. It costs ₱2,750 per person (₱1,525 for children) including food, fees and snorkelling equipment. If you want to dive, you’ll have to pay ₱4,700/₱6,350 for 1/2 dives. Island Vibes charges ₱2,450(₱1,500 for under 12s) for snorkelling and ₱4,300/₱5,900 for 1/2 dives.

You can read much more about this island to see if you want to do the excursion or stay there in our Guide to Apo Island.

NOTE: excursions to Apo are not daily and need a minimum group of 15 people to depart. Therefore, it’s important that as soon as you arrive on the island you head to one of these two places to sign up and have them let you know if a group forms. If you’re really keen to go to Apo and tours don’t run, you’d have to do the whole journey to Dumaguete and Malatapay that we mentioned at How to get to Apo Island.

13. Where to see the sunset in Siquijor

We always recommend San Juan as the area to stay in Siquijor because, besides being the most prepared with restaurants and hotels, having beautiful beaches and being accessible from the ports, its westward orientation means you can enjoy the beautiful sunsets that usually characterise the island. From all this coast, which faces the island of Negros and its impressive volcanoes, between 17:30 and 18:00 you’ll be able to see the sky turn first orange and red and then pink and purple.

Where to see the sunset in Siquijor? You have many options, but basically they’re divided into two types.

1. From the heights: Siquijor is a mountainous island and access to heights is super quick from the coast of San Juan. That’s why little cafés/restaurants have sprung up that are easily accessible from which you’ll get a fabulous panorama of the island and also watch the sunset. In this sense, the one with the best views is Bucafe(photo on the left), which is also the most popular and photogenic, as it has a net you can lie on. The best thing is to arrive about 45 minutes before sunset to get a spot. They serve cocktails, shakes/juices and beers, in addition to food. Another cool place is the bar of Jungle KingDomes (photo on the right). It’s smaller and lower, so the vegetation blocks the view of the sunset, although you will see the sky change colours.

2. From the beach/coast: of course, from all along the coast of San Juan you have many opportunities to watch the sunset. Here are some recommendations within those we’ve been trying :

• Paliton Beach: the most lively area, especially at this time, as more people come and take the opportunity to buy a drink at its little stalls.

• Coral Cay, The Bruce, White Villas (or similar): at this end of San Juan there’s always tranquillity and the bars of these two hotels are ideal. The photo below is from this point.

• Don Juan Bar, RumBar (or similar): the whole coast heading south of Siquijor has little bars like the ones we mention, with tables on the beach.

• Belle’s Beach Bar: one of our favourite places to eat in Siquijor; it’s on a small cliff and the cocktails are tasty, in addition to having good Wi‑Fi.

• Tubod Beach: the beach, in our opinion, the prettiest in the area and you already know it has a good reef.

Don’t worry; we mark them all on the Siquijor map at the end of this guide so you don’t get lost.

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More cool things to see and do in Siquijor

Here are some extra places to visit in Siquijor :

· Simply touring the island: really, the landscapes are very beautiful, with rice paddies in the interior, mountains and viewpoints.

· If you’re going to visit the Cantabon Caves, we recommend you continue along the same road and you’ll reach Mt. Bandilan National Park. There are lots of hikes to do there, but unfortunately the information office is usually closed. Even so, you’ll find the highest mountain in Siquijor where they’ve built a viewpoint from which you get 360º views.

· Speaking of viewpoints, from Kamp Aninipot, a hotel that imitates the hobbit houses from The Lord of the Rings, you also get brutal views. You’ll have to pay ₱10.

· If you want one with an infinity pool, you have two very cool ones where, paying an entrance fee, you can swim without being a guest: Nakabalo Guesthouse (₱1,000 to enter, ₱600 is consumable in the restaurant) and Infinity Heights Resort.

· In the town of San Juan there’s a kind of municipal pool called Capilay Spring Park where you can take a bath. They’re free and the water is cold.

· If your visit to Siquijor coincides with a Friday or Saturday, don’t forget to drop by JJ’s Backpackers, which fills up with people at night and is quite a sight. It’s the meeting point for visitors and island residents who are looking for a bit of a party and, moreover, it’s right on the beach.

· Although from any point in the San Juan area you can see cool sunsets, you have Pitogo Cliff, a very picturesque cliff area. The entrance costs ₱30. But avoid the weekend because Filipinos love to go there to take photos and it’s truly the only place to see in Siquijor that gets crowded.

· If you’ve read about the Blue Lagoon or Secret Lagoon somewhere, forget about it. It really isn’t worth it at all and you’ll get muddy. It’s extremely neglected.

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Practical information about Siquijor

Keep enjoying the magic of this island with these other tips about it that we’ve gleaned from our own experience.

Tips for enjoying Siquijor

Don’t miss these tips that we would have liked to have had on our first visit and that we’ve been gathering over the years and our many trips there :

• In Siquijor you eat really well and at very decent prices, compared to other places in the Philippines. That’s why we take the opportunity to stuff ourselves and, by the way, prepare you a guide on Best restaurants in Siquijor.

• The best time to visit Siquijor is from December to May, when it’s the dry season. However, that doesn’t mean it won’t rain or that the weather will be bad in the rainy season. We encourage you to visit at any time.

• If you can, avoid the weekend and local holidays. It has become one of the best‑known destinations among Filipinos and the island fills up.

• Although the Philippines is safe, some travellers have alerted us to thefts on beaches. Please be very careful with your things if you’re going to swim or snorkel.

• Euronet ATMs are spreading like a plague, but we recommend you be very careful with them because they’ll try to trick you with the exchange rate so that you pay a lot more money. We advise you to go with cash or use Remitly in the Philippines, which is a great trick to save on commissions. There are pawnshops in Siquijor town and in San Juan.

• Please be very careful when driving in Siquijor because there are many sections of the road under construction and there are many accidents, especially at night.

• Power cuts are super frequent on the island due to the demand for electricity with a growing population and tourism. It’s essential to look for accommodation in Siquijor with a generator.

• From experience, the hospitals in Siquijor leave a lot to be desired. If you need medical assistance, it’s better that you go to Dumaguete or Cebu. Remember to travel with travel insurance like the one we use. Here you have a 5 % discount for coming from us.

Where to sleep in Siquijor

If you’re already wanting to get to the island, take a look at these hotels we recommend:

• Tropical Fun Ta Sea Rentals: this is our favourite because of its location (by the sea) and because of how big and clean the rooms are.

• White Villas Resort: this was the hotel where we stayed for more than 10 days on our penultimate visit to Camiguin and we fell in love. It’s in the Solangon area, on the beachfront and even has a small pool. Incomparable. Find out all about our stay in: Stay at White Villas Resort, Siquijor.

• Tagbalayon Lodging House: if you’re looking for something discreet and at a good price, as well as well located, this is your place. It also has shared dormitories.

It’s very important that you check that the accommodation has a generator (the ones above do). Unfortunately, with the increase in tourism on the island, power cuts happen almost every day, especially when the sun goes down and you really don’t want to be in your room sweltering without even being able to use the fan.

If you want to know the best area to stay and some more recommendations, take a look at where to stay in Siquijor and don’t be left without your room.

How to get to Siquijor

Find out in our guide how to get to Siquijor from other points in the Philippines such as Bohol, Manila or Dumaguete. We can already tell you that the island still doesn’t have airports receiving commercial flights, so you’ll have to arrive by ferry from Dumaguete, Bohol or Cebu. If you want to start looking at the routes, you can consult and book on this platform.

How to move around Siquijor

Most travellers tour Siquijor on a rented motorbike. Although most of the road is in good condition (except for the last two years, when there have been endless works causing long potholes), we only advise doing it if you have a licence, practice and if you’re going to drive very carefully, as fatal accidents have occurred. Remember to always wear your helmet. Motorbike rental costs around ₱300–₱400 a day, depending on the number of days you’re going to take it.

If you need a good contact to rent a motorbike (trustworthy and with bikes that aren’t falling apart), we can give it to you without problems if you leave us a comment.

There are petrol stations dotted around the island, but you’ll also see that in the little shops (the sari‑sari) they have Coca‑Cola bottles filled with petrol.

On the other hand, if you don’t drive, don’t worry. There are a lot of tricycles that will take you from one point to another on the island. Most provide a set service from point to point on the island and pick up people along the way. Therefore, they’ll charge you the price that’s been set per person. To know what that is, we recommend you ask at your hotel.

For example, the normal fare from Siquijor port to San Juan is ₱40 per person (about ₱100 for the whole tricycle). From Larena port to San Juan it’s ₱50 per person.

If you want to make the most of the day, the best thing is to hire the services of a tricycle for the whole day. They’ll then charge you a special rate that will depend on the distances you want to travel and the number of hours you want to spend with them. A fairly common price is ₱1,200 per day. We can also give you a contact without problems.

Finally, it’s also possible to rent a car in Siquijor. It’s not the most common and you won’t find many places, but it’s totally feasible. Prices are around ₱2,000 per day, with discounts if you rent it for longer. If you need references, you can also leave us a comment and we’ll pass you the information.

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Map of Siquijor

With this map of Siquijor you’ll easily identify the place where each of the things to do on the island is located.

 

Have we left something out in this list of things to do in Siquijor? In the comments you can ask us any questions and suggestions you like.