Wondering what to do in Siargao? This guide highlights some of the best things to do in Siargao, even if you’re not a surfer.
Called the ‘Surfing Capital of the Philippines,’ Siargao Island comes to mind first for locals who want to learn surfing, brush up on their surfing skills, or participate in international surfing competitions.
👉Check Cebu to Siargao flights!👈
But Siargao is not just a surfer’s paradise. It’s also a beach bum’s favorite hideout and for some people who are chasing the highs of outdoor adventures.
And in the past couple of years, I have seen Siargao grow so fast when it comes to attracting tourists. I always say that Siargao is on track to become the next biggest tourist destination in Southeast Asia.
How to Get to Siargao
Located in the northernmost part of Mindanao, Siargao is only a 1-hour flight from Cebu and a 2-hour flight from Manila. Local commercial airlines Cebu Pacific Air and Philippine Airlines and boutique airline Sunlight Air have direct flights to Siargao.
From Cebu, flights leave Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) and take about an hour to reach Sayak Airport or Siargao Airport. If flights from Cebu to Siargao get too expensive, you can take an overnight ferry from Cebu to Surigao and then take another 2-hour ferry from Surigao to Siargao.
For more details, read our guide on How to Get to Siargao from Cebu!
From Manila, flights leave Ninoy-Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and take about 2 hours to land in Siargao. At the moment, flights are the only way to get directly to Siargao from Manila.
👉Check Cebu to Siargao flights!👈
Where to Stay in Siargao
If you’re looking for the best villas and resorts in Siargao, here are our top picks:
- Siargao Island Villas (Check room rates!)
- Romantic Beach Villas (Check room rates!)
- Las Palmas Villas and Casitas Siargao (Check room rates!)
- Daluyong Beach Resort (Check room rates!)
- Blauset Two (Check room rates!)
👉Find more resorts in Siargao!👈
10 Activities in Siargao You Must Do
You might think this is just another article that puts surfing and a few other Siargao Island activities in one post. I get it—many tourists think Siargao is all but surfing.
There are so many fun things to do in Siargao for non-surfers as well. That’s what this post is all about—to give you a comprehensive list of activities to do in Siargao that goes beyond surfing.
Most of the best things to do in Siargao Island are in the water. Whether you are looking for recreational activities or outdoor activities in Siargao, our list covers all the top things to do in Siargao that we think you should experience at least once. Here are some of them:
1. Go Tri-Island Hopping (Guyam Island, Daku Island, and Naked Island)
Having 48 known remote islands and islets, with all its crystal-clear, white-sand beaches, you can expect Siargao to be a prime tourist destination for island hopping.
The most popular island hopping tour in Siargao is the tri-island tour, which takes you to Guyam Island, Daku Island (daku means “big”), and Naked Island. Don’t skip this tour!
👉Book Siargao Tri-Island Tour!👈
A new addition to the tri-island hopping tour in Siargao is Secret Island or Secret Sandbar, which is my favorite part. It’s a white sandbar submerged in crystal-clear blue water accessible only during low tide.
This is not always part of the tour, so make sure to ask your boatman to take you to Secret Island, which is near Guyam Island.
An option you can add to the three islands is Corregidor Island or Casulian Island. You can hike to the top of the coconut-dotted mountain and get a picturesque view of Dapa and General Luna’s coastline.
👉Book Siargao Tri-Island Tour!👈
How to Avail Siargao Tri-Island Tour
Go to General Luna Tourism Office to book your tri-island hopping tour. The boat fee is 3,000 PHP (~60 USD), good for 5 people. This boat will take you around Guyam Island, Daku Island, and Naked Island.
On Guyam Island, you must pay a 45 PHP (~1 USD) entrance fee. If you want to share costs with other tourists, you can join Siargao Tri-Island Tours.
👉Book Siargao Tri-Island Tour!👈
2. Explore Sugba Lagoon, Kawhagan Island, and Pamomoan Beach
Another must-do in Siargao is to visit Sugba Lagoon. It is known for its emerald water smack dab in the middle of the 8,620-hectare Del Carmen Mangrove Reserve—the largest contiguous mangrove forest in the Philippines.
I’ve done this tour twice. The last time I did this tour, we stopped at Pamomoan Beach first.
At Pamomoan Beach, you can play volleyball in the middle of towering coconut trees, chill on its clear white sand beach, or take a rest at its beach huts while sipping fresh coconut juice!
If you are visiting with your family, you can have your lunch at Pamomoan Beach since it has many tables with a small store serving a made-to-order menu, alcohol, chips, and whatnot.
Our next stop, Kawhagan Island, was right across Pamomoan Beach. Both are equally stunning, having fine white sand and crystal-clear water.
Kawhagan Island has a beautiful white-sand beach and a wide sandbar. It is located right across Pamomoan Beach, so near that it feels like you can cross to the island through the water.
Our last stop was Sugba Lagoon. Going to Sugba Lagoon, you will pass by the thick mangrove forest and coasts with small settlements and various islands. Your visit to Sugba Lagoon should also include Pamomoan Beach and Kawhagan Island.
Sugba Lagoon is the main highlight of any Sugba Lagoon tour, where you will enjoy many water activities in Siargao. This lagoon is surrounded by limestones and mangroves, and it is where the famous cliff-diving board is.
They used to have two diving boards, one hidden from the crowd. Unfortunately, they closed it due to an accident. At Sugba Lagoon, you can also do kayaking and paddleboarding.
Sugba Lagoon Tour Rates
- Tour A (Sugba Lagoon) (2,150 PHP or ~38 USD)
- Tour B (Sugba Lagoon and Kawhagan Island or Pamomoan Beach) (2,700 PHP or ~48 USD)
- Tour B+ (Suba Lagoon, Kawhagan Island, and Pamomoan Beach) (3,050 PHP or ~54 USD)
- Tour C (Sugba Lagoon, Kawhagan Sandbar or Pamomoan Beach, and Mangrove View Deck) (3,050 PHP or ~54 USD)
- Tour D (Sugba Lagoon, Kawhagan Sandbar, Pamomoan Beach, and Mangrove View Deck) (3,650 PHP ) or ~65 USD)
- Tour E (Mangrove Forest Guided Tour) (2,150 PHP or ~38 USD)
- Tour F (Magrove View Deck) (600 PHP or ~11 USD)
Sugba Lagoon Tour Rates
- Sugba Lagoon entrance – 50 PHP (~1 USD) for locals and 100 (~2 USD) for foreigners
- Kayak rental – 300 PHP (~6 USD) per hour
- Paddleboard rental – 200 PHP (~4 USD) per hour
- Crystal kayak rental – 400 PHP (~8 USD) per hour
- Pamomoan Beach entrance – 50 PHP (~1 USD)
How to Get to Sugba Lagoon from General Luna
Sugba Lagoon is 35 minutes away from General Luna. The boats that will take you to the attractions take about 25-35 minutes one way.
From General Luna, you may take a habal-habal (motorcycle taxi) or tricycle to Sugba Lagoon Port. A one-way transfer costs 500-700 PHP (~20-24 USD).
Alternatively, you can drive a scooter to Sugba Lagoon. The rental fee is 500 PHP (~20 USD) per day.
3. Learn How to Surf at Cloud 9
Of course, this list won’t be complete without surfing. If you have not tried surfing yet, learning how to surf in Siargao should be high on your list.
As the “Surfing Capital of the Philippines,” Siargao is a destination for learning surfing, with dozens of surf spots ranging in size for all kinds of surfers—beginner, intermediate, advanced, and even pro surfers.
The most popular places to surf for beginners are near Cloud 9. First-time surfers are usually trained at spots like Jacking Hourse and Quicksilver. Cloud 9 break is for advanced and pro surfers.
👉Book a surfing lesson in Siargao!👈
Best Surf Spots in Siargao
I’m not a pro surfer by any means. But I have surfed in quite a few spots in Siargao with local surfers, so I have been introduced to where the good swells are.
Secret Beach was where I trained with my surf instructor for a while. The swell was good for new learners.
Personally, my favorite surf spots in Siargao are Guyam Island and what they call “Backdoor” (because it’s located at the back of Daku Island). Backdoor is where I tried massive waves (up to 8 feet) and got wiped out so many times.
If you really want to learn surfing seriously, local surfers recommend going to Pacifico Beach, where the swells are more stable. Since it’s located far up north, Pacifico Beach is never crowded like “Crowd 9,” as local surfers jokingly call Cloud 9.
👉Book a surfing lesson in Siargao!👈
Cloud 9 Fees
- Cloud 9 entrance – 100 PHP (~2 USD) per person
- Surfboard rental with surfing instructor – 500 PHP (~10 USD) per hour
How to Get to Cloud 9
Take a habal-habal or tricycle to Cloud 9. The fare is 30-50 PHP (0.5-1 USD) per person. Travel time from General Luna center is 5 minutes.
How to Book Surfing Lesson in Siargao
You may just go directly to Cloud 9. But if you want to ensure you get a qualified surfing instructor, book a surfing lesson online.
I understand if surfing might not be your cup of tea. Don’t worry—Siargao has so much to offer.
👉Book a surfing lesson in Siargao!👈
4. Go Scuba Diving in Siargao
Unlike Cebu, Palawan, and Bohol, Siargao is not as well-known as a diving destination. This is due to the island’s exposed location near the edge of the Philippine trench facing the open ocean, which makes diving not easy at all.
Nevertheless, Siargao has quite a number of dive sites that are not for the faint of heart. There are about 20 dive sites around Siargao Island.
Most of these can be found at Pansukian, Daku Island, and Corregidor Island. There are also incredible dive spots around La Janosa Island, Mam-on Island, Anahawan Island, and Antokon Island—all of which are not commonly visited by Siargao tourists.
But the highlight is the Cathedral, found near the Cloud 9 break, where caverns and tunnels can be explored by experienced divers when the sea conditions are good.
👉Book a scuba diving lesson in Siargao!👈
5. Swim with Stingless Jellyfish in Bucas Grande Island
Bucas Grande is located about 2 hours away by boat, south of Siargao Island. It is famous for its numerous caves, white sand beaches, waterfalls, and lagoons.
The entire Bucas Grande Island is part of Socorro, a town of Surigao del Norte, which is the same province Siargao Island is under.
One of the most popular tourist spots in Bucas Grande Island is Sohoton Cove National Park, more commonly known as Sohoton Cove, a maze of interconnected natural water pools located in the southwest part of the island.
👉Book Sohoton-Bucas Grande Tour in Siargao!👈
At Sohoton Cove, you can swim with millions of translucent stingless jellyfish in the vast Tojoman Lagoon or what is more known as Jellyfish Lagoon.
Club Tara Resort is another popular tourist attraction in Bucas Grande. This 3-star resort is distinguishable for its line of overwater villas and a long stretch of wooden boardwalks—all enveloped in limestones and verdant greeneries.
Another highlight at Sohoton Cove is Tiktikan Lagoon or Tiktikan Lake. Surrounded by limestone cliffs, lush greenery, and emerald water, it is a perfect place to do some water activities like kayaking and paddleboarding. But even just swimming and chilling makes for a great reward after a long trip.
👉Book Sohoton-Bucas Grande Tour in Siargao!👈
How to Get to Bucas Grande from Siargao
The best way to get to Bucas Grande Island from Siargao Island is to book a Sohoton Cove Bucas Grande Tour. This includes a two-way transfer from Siargao to Bucas Grande and a guided tour around Sohoton Cove, Tiktikan Lagoon, and Club Tara Resort.
You can get to Bucas Grande through a DIY trip. The boat fee ranges between 6,000-7,000 PHP (~100-125 USD) for a two-way transfer. Travel time is 2 hours one way.
👉Book Sohoton-Bucas Grande Tour in Siargao!👈
6. Go Sightseeing Around Siargao
As one of the best islands in the world, you can guarantee that Siargao has many sights to offer. Outside the gorgeous islands, if you stick to mainland Siargao, you will see some of the top sights in Siargao.
My personal favorites are Alegria Beach in Santa Monica town, located in the northernmost part of Siargao, and Canijugan Peak Retreat and Campsite in Dapa.
I believe Alegria Beach has the softest and finest cream-colored sand in mainland Siargao. You can just laze around the beach, play beach volleyball, or have a casual chat with the friendly locals.
Canijugan Peak offers a panoramic view of a coconut plantation in Barangay Malinao and a silhouette view of Daku Island. The climb up might be challenging due to the steep, rocky trail, but it will be worth it.
Sample Sightseeing Itinerary in Siargao
If you are down for a road trip around Siargao, here’s a sample sightseeing itinerary (in this order) that I personally did last time I went:
DAY 1
- Canijugan Peak
- Coconut Trees View Deck
- Maasin River
- Tayangban Cave
- Magpupungko Rock Pools
DAY 2
- San Miguel River
- Pacifico Beach
- Coconut Plantation
- Somyot Cave
- Little Hawaii Coastline
- Alegria Beach
- Taktak Falls
7. Visit Least Visited Mam-on Island and La Januza Island
If you can’t get enough of the staples like Guyam Island, Daku Island, and Naked Island, you can surely hit the sands of Mam-on and La Januza.
Despite their scenic views on top of their crystal-clear, powdery white sand beaches, Mam-on Island and La Januza Island have remained off the radar of many tourists. Just facing each other east of Siargao, both are residential islands located about 30 kilometers away from General Luna.
👉Book Siargao Tri-Island Tour with Mam-on Island!👈
How to Get to Mam-on Island and La Januza
Getting to Mam-on Island and La Januza Island can be expensive. Since there are no regular passenger boats that travel from the mainland, you need to charter a private boat for a two-way transfer, which costs 3,500-4,000 PHP (~63-72 USD).
Alternatively, you may get an island hopping tour that can bring you to Mam-on Island and La Januza Island on top of the tri-island: Guyam Island, Daku Island, and Naked Island.
👉Book Siargao Tri-Island Tour with Mam-on Island!👈
8. Go Beach Hopping around Siargao
Siargao Island is lined with beautiful white sand beaches. A lot of these beaches are free of charge, so there’s no reason not to visit them.
In General Luna, a lot of people don’t realize that there’s General Luna Beach, which is fairly accessible right through alleys along Tourism Road.
Boardwalk Beach in General Luna is also a good spot, a favorite hangout spot among local kids.
About a 5-minute drive from General Luna’s town center is Malinao Beach, a less-touristy, expansive white beach sand beach.
A little further from Malinao Beach is Doot Beach, which offers one of the best sunsets in Siargao. At night, you can witness fireflies lighting up the surroundings.
If you travel up north, you will see the best beaches in mainland Siargao, such as Pacifico Beach, Alegria Beach (the best beach in Siargao), and Tangbo Beach.
9. Go Cliff Diving at Magpupungko Rock Pools
It’s hard to miss Magpupungko Rock Pools if it’s your first time in Siargao Island. Located in Pilar, just a 30-minute drive away from General Luna, Magpupungko Rock Pools is a must-visit where you can jump off cliffs. It has many jump-off cliffs; the highest is about 25-foot-tall.
Magpupungko Rock Pools gets extremely crowded at certain times, hence the water starts to get murky.
Just a tip to avoid crowds—check when low tides start in Pilar and be there before then. Trust me, having been here many times over, Magpupungko is more enjoyable when there are no crowds yet.
The disadvantage when you get too early (and leave early) is that you won’t be able to see the magnificent crashing waves as the tides start to rise again.
Magpupungko Entrance Fees
- 50 PHP (~1 USD) entrance fee
- 25 PHP (~0.5 USD) scooter parking fee
How to Get to Magpupungko from General Luna
There’s no public transportation that regularly plies to Pilar. The best way to get there is to rent a scooter or charter a habal-habal to Magpupungko Rock Pools. The fare is 300 PHP (~6 USD) one way. The travel time from General Luna is 30-45 minutes.
You may also book Siargao Land Tour to get you to the Magpupungko Rock Pools and other attractions in Siargao Island.
10. Kayak along Maasin River
Maasin River is home to the iconic leaning coconut tree that used to have a swing. That swing is now gone and has been replaced with a diving board structure built beside that same tree.
You may use the diving board for free. Do note that if you are a heavy person like me (I weigh around 76kg), your butt or feet might touch the riverbed.
You can continue the fun by renting a kayak, cruising along the river, and swimming in the hidden natural water pool at the end of the cruise.
Maasin River Fees
- 20 PHP (~0.5 USD) entrance fee
- 300 PHP (~6 USD) kayak rental
How to Get to Maasin River
Charter a habal-habal or tricycle to Maasin River. The price is about 400-500 PHP (~8-10 USD) for a two-way transfer. If you are driving your own scooter, check the exact location. The travel time from General Luna is 30-45 minutes.
You can book Siargao Land Tour to get you to the Maasin River and other attractions in Siargao.
Your Ultimate Siargao Travel Guide
Siargao is one of the fastest-growing tourist destinations in the Southeast Asia. There are many more things to do in Siargao beyond this list. If you are looking for more, let me know in the comments.
If you’re preparing for you trip to Siargao, check out our range of Siargao travel guides:
- Siargao Travel Guide
- Cebu to Surigao Ferry Schedule
- Surigao to Siargao Ferry Schedule
- Best Resorts in Siargao
- Best Hotels in Siargao
- Best Hostels in Siargao
- Top Siargao Tourist Spots
If you have questions, just leave them in the comments. I will get back to you ASAP!
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