Siargao is known as the surfing capital of the Philippines due to optimal wave conditions most of the year. When I was planning my trip to the Philippines, I read a few reviews that suggested skipping Siargao if you are not a big surfer because that was the only thing to do on the island. I considered not going because of those reviews, but I ultimately decided that if I was already halfway around the world, why not check it out. I am glad I did. Ultimately, I had an amazing time in Siargao and wish I had booked a longer stay. I found that there was a lot do despite not being a big surfer. The laid-back nature of the island, fun live-music scene, and vibrant nightlife made this a great place to wrap up my trip to the Philippines.

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Visit Cloud 9 surfing area to surf or to take in the surfing action

If you surf, Cloud 9 is an absolute must for surfing the best waves in the Philippines. Siargao is very far east in the Philippines island chain, so the island is exposed to the open ocean and gets very reliable waves for surfing. Siargao is the surfing capital of the Philippines and has that laid-back surfer vibe experienced in many surfing destinations like California and Costa Rica. I was having a recurring SI joint issue when I got to Siargao, so I did not get to surf.

There was a women’s surfing competition while I was there, however, which was pretty neat to watch and to listen to how the judges scored the different competitors for which waves they caught. You can take lessons and rent a surfboard right at the entrance to Cloud 9 and it also sounded like surfers did not have to pay the entrance fee to the beach area. For a while, I kept wondering what all the side racks on the motor scooters in Siargao were for, until I realized that they were for taking your surfboard with you on your scooter.

Views of Cloud 9 surf area
More exquisite views of Cloud 9 surf area
The entrance sign to Cloud 9 Surf Area
Many of the motor scooters in Siargao have side carts to hold your surfboard

Head to downtown General Luna for restaurants and nightlife

General Luna is the hotspot for restaurants and nightlife in Siargao. There is almost any variety of food you can imagine as well as numerous venues offering live music. There is also a revolving party that takes place at a different beach bar/nightclub every night of the week. Be sure to check with the locals to find out where the party will be while you are there. When I was in town, it was over May 4th (Star Wars Day), and Siargao Beach Club was having a Star Wars Themed Party. If live music, nightclubs, and dining are your vibe, definitely be sure to check out General Luna for the vibrant scene and variety of offerings all within a short walking distance or tuk-tuk ride of each other.

I was at Siargao Beach Club during their Star Ward Day (May 4th) celebration
Stormtroopers standing guard at Siargao Beach Club

Visit the Magpopongko Rock Pools

Having been in the Pacific Northwest in the United States and visited the tide pools there, I was not sure what to expect from tide pools in the Philippines. I am glad I visited though as the pools were really quite amazing. Be sure to visit at low tide or you will not be able to see very much. At low tide, you can peruse the tide pools that contain an amazing amount of sea life as well as neat coral and rock formations.

Do note that you have to pay an entrance fee as well as a scooter entrance fee if you rode a scooter to the rock pools. You then also have to pay a scooter parking fee, so be sure you have enough small bills on hand to cover these expenses. I would advise wearing sandals or other footwear as you walk around the tide pools since there are numerous small sea urchins all over the place. This site is definitely a must see in Siquijor in my opinion.

Some of the neat tide pools at Magpopongko Rock Pools. Be sure to visit at low tide or you will not be able to see anything.
More neat tide pools at Magpopongko Rock Pools

Go to the Coconut Plantation Overlook

One of the main tourist attractions in Siargao is the Coconut Plantation Overlook. This overlook is amazing! There are coconut palm trees as far as the eyes can see. In the middle of the day, the overlook is incredibly busy with many other tourists, but I stopped off early in the day when I did a partial circumnavigation of the island on a motor scooter and there were very few other people there. You can also pay a local guide to take a “human drone” video of you where they will use your camera to mimic that you are taking a video using a drone. This was pretty amusing to watch as the guides were quite animated and really got into taking those videos for people.

The coconut plantation overlook in the evening
Views of the plantation in the morning from my partial circumnavigation of the island

Visit Sunset Bridge for sunset and food vendors

Although the sun sets on the west side of the island well away from most of the resorts and hotels in the Cloud 9 and General Luna areas, Sunset Bridge still provides a decent view of the sunset off to the west. The bridge is absolutely packed with other people taking in the views as well as with numerous food vendors providing snacks and beverages. If you have a free evening around sunset, definitely make your way over to the bridge and grab some food and check out the views.

Views of the sunset from on top of Sunset Bridge
Sunset Bridge is a very popular stop for sunset and for grabbing food at the food stalls

Rent a scooter and circumnavigate the island

The roads throughout Siargao are relatively lightly traveled, so riding a motor scooter around the island is much simpler than operating one on some of the busier islands in the Philippines. I rented a scooter from my hostel and did a near circumnavigation of the island in a day. I got to see so many beautiful beaches, jungles, ocean overlooks, and waterfalls that I would not have had I not rented a scooter. If you have a free day and want to check out some of the more remote sites around Siargao, definitely rent a motor scooter and head out for a full or partial circumnavigation of the island. I visited Taktak Falls, Alegria Beach, Pacifico Beach, the Coconut Plantation Overlook, and Magpopongko Rock Pools and Flats before returning to my hostel for the night.

Views of Pacifico Beach from the second story of a cafe in town
Alegria beach is a stunning and less crowded beach in the northern part of the island
Taking some photos at the Coconut Plantation in the morning
Visiting Taktak Falls on my ride around the island

Try Singaporean cuisine at Siargao Hawker

Prior to Siargao, I had never tried Singaporean cuisine in my life. After Siargao, I keep wondering where I can get Singaporean food again. The food and signature cocktail were amazing, and I got to talk with the owner for a little while to learn more about his past as a restauranter and bringing Singaporean cuisine to Siargao (click here for Siargao Hawker events and menu). This restaurant gets busy later in the evening, so drop by early if you want to beat the crowds and enjoy some mouthwatering food.

Enjoying a delicious bowl of Katong Laksa, one of the signature dishes at Siargao Hawker

If you go to Siargao:

If you are travelling on a budget and are okay staying in a hostel, consider staying at Casavia Siargao Hostel (click here for availability and rates for Casavia Siargao Hostel). This hostel is absolutely the place to stay if you are a digital nomad. The hostel is very cozy, the beds have lockers that can be locked with a padlock, and the bathrooms and showers are open air, which is pretty amazing. The hostel also really attempts to make the stay feel like home and organizes movie nights, karaoke nights, group dinners, yoga sessions, and more over a WhatsApp group for the hostel. When I stayed there, many of the other guests had been there for quite a while and seemed to share an amazing bond.

They had game nights together and even coordinated going to the various nightclubs around Siargao together. If it interests you, Casavia Siargao also provides access to a nearly private beach just a short walk from the hostel. They also have motor scooters that you can rent from the front desk and can set you up with a return trip to the Siargao airport for your departure.

If you are looking for a more upscale stay, check out INARA Siargao, General Luna, Retreat Siargao Resort, General Luna, or Casa Talisay, General Luna. If you want a more secluded stay away from the crowds in General Luna, check out the Pacifico Beach area of San Isidro. For a more luxurious stay, check out Bamboo Surf Beach (Bamboo Surf Beach, San Isidro) or Yapak Beach Villas (Yapak Beach Villas, San Isidro). To learn more about what to do in the Philippines, visit my 30-day itinerary here.