Going on a Siargao trip and want to know all the best things to do in Siargao Island, Philippines? We have you covered! Below you will find our guide to all the top Siargao activities to plan your ultimate trip.
Located in the Province of Surigao del Norte, Siargao is a stunning island with a population of around 150,000 people who call it home. Until recently Siargao was a relatively unknown island outside of the Philippines. This all changed about 10 years ago when Siargao shot to international acclaim as one of the top tourism spots.
Siargao is particularly well regarded for its surfing with some excellent beaches. However, there is so much more to Siargao than just beaches and surfing. It has a whole host of wonderful attractions and Siargao top things to do. Among these are many natural formations and beautiful surrounding islands.
Siargao is also a wonderful place to relax. It offers a slow pace of life and a contagious calm.
Below, you will find our Siargao travel blog with everything you need to know about the best places to visit in Siargao Island, all the top tourist attractions in Siargao Island as well as the best places to go in Siargao for great accommodation!!
Top 22 Best Things To Do In Siargao Island, Philippines
Here are the best Siargao things to do. Read through and select the ones that fit your interests and timeframe.
Surf Or Stroll Along Cloud 9 Waters And Boardwalk
The Cloud 9 Boardwalk was built for spectators of the 2014 Siargao International Surfing Cup and is now among the top Siargao attractions. Located on the southeast of the island it’s just a 10 minute drive from General Luna.
There is a 50 PHP fee to walk along the boardwalk. However, it is iconic and it’s one of the top things to do Siargao offers. There’s also a multilevel viewing platform where you can get a good view of the beach below.
As can be expected, the beach here has some tremendous waves. This is not a surf beach for beginners and you’ll want to know what you’re doing if you plan on surfing here. However, nearby Jacking Horse is great for more gentle swells. You can rent surfboards and other equipment near here too.
Whatever the case, this is an iconic spot and worth adding to your list of activities in Siargao.
Kickstart Your Day With A Shaka Cafe Smoothie Bowl
Located close to Cloud 9 is Shaka Cafe. It’s perfect if you’re after a breakfast place in Siargao. This is a cafe chain all over the Philippines serving wonderful and healthy food like smoothie bowls, juices, sandwiches, vegetarian wraps and more. It’s the best place in Siargao for a healthy bite to eat.
Their smoothie bowls are extra good. You can also grab a cup of coffee before heading to your next destination.
Dip In The Crystal Clear Waters Of Magpupungko Rock Pools
The Magpupungko Rock Pools are just one of the many phenomenal spots you’ll want to add to your Siargao to do list.
This natural rockpool is a 45 minute car ride from General Luna and makes a stunning place for a swim and some rock jumping and climbing. This is complemented by the stunning turquoise color of the water. There’s also a few small caves.
The rock pool only appears at low tide so you’ll want to plan your visit appropriately. It’s one of the best places in Siargao in the morning when the tide is low.
Set Foot On Guyam Island
Siargao is the place to go for island hopping, and one of the top Siargao places to visit is Guyam Island. This is one of the easiest islands to get to from Siargao as it’s just a 2km boat ride away from General Luna.
When you arrive in Guyam Island you’ll be greeted by the beautiful white sand and azure blue water. There isn’t much to do here other than relax. If you’re visiting as part of an island hopping tour, you’ll get up to two hours on the island.
Bask under the palm trees and enjoy some local food and drinks from the local vendors before heading to the next island. There is a small entrance fee to access the island, and if you’re looking for things to do in Siargao for non-surfers, you’ll enjoy swimming and simply enjoying the beach.
Taste Fresh Seafood In Daku Island
Daku Island is another popular island to visit as part of an island hopping tour. One of the top things to do in Siargao Philippines here is to surf and snorkel. An island hopping tour will offer you 1-2 hours here.
There is a pretty beach here with beautiful water, palm trees lining the beach and a small community on the island living in pretty wooden huts. You can also rent a private hut to enjoy some shade and there are also some local restaurants near the beach serving huge and delicious seafood – perfect for lunch!
Walk Along The Sandbar Of Naked Island
You’ll likely visit Naked Island as part of an island hopping tour along with Guyam and Daku Island above, and you’ll see why it’s on our Siargao Island things to do list. It’s one of the most unique places in the Philippines!
This island is just a sandbar in the middle of the beautiful ocean. It measures just 200 meters long end to end, and you can walk the entire thing in a matter of minutes. You’ll generally get 30-45 minutes to spend here as part of a tour.
It’s called Naked Island for a reason – there aren’t any facilities on the island at all. Instead you can walk, swim and enjoy the unique experience of being on this island.
Take The Plunge In Maasin River
Maasin River is famous due to the awesome palm tree rope swing – one of the top Siargao Island activities all over social media. From the rope swing you can dive into the Maasin River.
It takes about 30 minutes to reach this spot from General Luna. You can visit either as part of a tour or by hiring a scooter. You can also take a canoe ride along the Maasin River to another spot where you can swim and relax.
This is a great place for snapping a photo and finding your own little piece of serenity.
Go Bamboo Rafting At Sugba Lagoon
Another attraction on our list of top 10 things to do in Siargao 2024 is bamboo rafting at Sugba Lagoon. This super blue lagoon is on Caob Island which can be accessed by boat. A boat ride takes about 45 minutes from General Luna.
There’s a floating pontoon here with a house/restaurant where you can get a bite to eat and a drink, as well as store your belongings.
You can then make your way to some of the awesome Siargao tourist attractions offered here. Among these is a diving board where you can jump into the super blue lagoon below, kayaking and of course bamboo rafting – a Siargao must do for the adventurous on Caob Island!
Relax At Doot Beach
If you’re after things to do in General Luna Siargao then Doot Beach is just a 10 minute drive away and is one of the many beautiful beaches in Siargao. You can easily get there by scooter. One of the coolest things about this beach (besides for its beauty) is the mangrove forest nearby which you can access by boat.
This is a secluded area and there are no Siargao beach activities here but it is a stunning area. Note there is a sign which says its private property so you may want to visit with a local.
Discover The Beautiful Secret Beach
Another tourist attraction in Siargao is Secret Beach. This beach is hidden behind stunning coconut palm trees (hence its name) and is actually quite a popular beach for both swimming and surfing.
This is a great beach if you’re a beginner surfer and looking for lessons. It takes 20 minutes to drive there from General Luna.
Paddle And Surf In Pacifico Beach
Pacifico Beach is another popular beach among the things to see in Siargao. Popular with surfers due to some super sized waves, there’s also a local village nearby where you can buy some tasty BBQ food.
It’s a 1 hour drive to Pacifico Beach from General Luna and it’s a lovely place to spend a day.
Stroll The White Sands Of Alegria Beach
When it comes to the best place to visit in Siargao to go swimming there can be a bit of a shortage as most beaches are surfing beaches. However Alegria Beach is a beautiful and secluded beach (mostly locals visit here), and perfect for swimming.
The beach is located about a 1.5 hour drive away from General Luna. The drive is very scenic and in the same direction as Magpupungko Rock Pools so it may be worth combining a trip. It offers the classic Siargao beach experience – white sand, crystal clear water, coconut palms, with the addition of gentle waves and a reef.
Shop Some Local Souvenirs
There are so many places to see in Siargao that you may want to save most of your money for activities to do in Siargao. However you shouldn’t leave without a souvenir and this island offers some cool souvenirs like dreamcatchers, keychains and t-shirts.
General Luna’s Tourism Road is the best spot to find souvenirs.
Scoot Or Bike Around The Island
Exploring on your lonesome is a must do in Siargao. The slow pace of life makes Siargao one of the most laid back spots in the Philippines. Consequently roads are quiet and are best explored by bike or scooter.
You can hire a bike for around 150 PHP for a day and a scooter for between 300 – 400 PHP for a day. This is a great way to explore multiple attractions in a day.
Swim The Waist-Deep Waters Of Tayangban Cave Pool
If you like caves then one of the places to visit Siargao to add to your things to do on Siargao Island list is Tayangban Cave Pool. It’s located 30 minutes away from General Luna by scooter.
When you arrive at the cave you’ll need to buy a ticket to enter (100 PHP at the time of writing) which includes a mandatory guide who will take you through the cave. Prepare to get wet! Parts of the cave are waist deep in water.
When you’ve passed through the cave you’ll reach the swimming hole/cave pool. One of the many stunning Siargao places to go.
Explore The Lagoons Of Sohoton Cove
Sohoton Cove National Park is located on Bucas Grande Island which you can actually visit as part of an island hopping tour. However, you may want to stay longer as many of the fun things to do in Siargao are located on this island.
One of these is the Crystal Cave. This is a deep cave complete with awesome stalagmites. Hagukan Cave and Magkuku-ob Cave are two other caves worth visiting and both have swimming holes. You’ll also want to visit one of the famous blue lagoons of Siargao at Tiktikan Lagoon.
It’s also possible to stay at Sohoton Cove which is worth doing if you want to get the most out of this area.
Catch Sunrise Over The Sea Of Coconut Palms
If you’re looking at what to do in Dapa Siargao then why not wake up early and watch the sunrise? The Coconut Trees View Deck is close to General Luna in Dapa with coconut palms running far into the distance before meeting the mountain range.
It’s the perfect place to snap an early morning instagram worthy photo.
Try And Taste Lokal’s Delicious Coconut Ice Cream
Lokal is an awesome local restaurant on the northeast of the island with a range of delicious and healthy items like wraps, smoothies, juices and ice cream.
Their coconut ice cream is particularly good and what they’re best known for. Definitely worth trying!
Go Tree Jumping At Taktak Falls
Taktak Falls is the only waterfall in Siargao and one of the must visit places in Siargao if you love waterfalls. About 14 meters tall, the waterfall is located near Pacifico and takes about 1.5 hours to reach from General Luna.
After paying a small entry fee, it’s a short walk to the waterfall. The area is modest compared to other Siargao attractions, but still it’s pretty and worth seeing if you’re in the area.
Watch The Sunset From Santa Monica Pier
If you’re looking for the top places to visit in Siargao to see the sunset then make your way to Santa Monica Pier.
Whilst it’s over a 1-hour drive to reach Santa Monica Pier if you’re staying in General Luna, this is one of the options for the best place to go in Siargao to watch the sunset due to its westward facing position.
Join A Beach Clean-up Drive
Siargao’s claim to fame in the tourism world has been quite recent and as such, the place has been somewhat swamped. A beach clean-up drive is one of the best things to do at Siargao if you want to give back to the local community.
You can join these around General Luna. Companies like The Adventure Bag Crew operate weekly clean up drives where they’ll go to a local beach and pick up trash. It’s an awesome way to do something kind for the locals.
Check Out Corregidor Island
Corregidor Island is just next door to Siargao and it’s easy to get a boat there from General Luna. It takes about 45 minutes to reach it by boat. This is a peaceful island with a small local community and slow pace of life.
This is a good island to visit if you’re asking what to do in Siargao aside from surfing. While there is a lovely beach, you can also find nice locally cooked food and walk from one side to the beach, enjoying some wonderful views along the way.
Sample Itinerary For Siargao
Below is a sample itinerary in Siargao. I recommend having at least a 3 days itinerary in Siargao as there are plenty of things to do in Siargao for 3 days, although a 4 day itinerary Siargao is ideal.
On the first day, start with a visit to Cloud Nine boardwalk, before heading for breakfast at Shaka Cafe. Next, take an island hopping tour and see Guyam, Daku and Naked Island and have lunch on one of the islands.
On the second day hire a scooter and head to the Magpupungko Rock Pools. You can then either continue on to Pacifico Beach or Alegria Beach. If you head to Pacifico Beach, stop at Taktak Falls.
On the third day, wake up early and watch the sunrise over the coconut palms. You could then go to another island like Corregidor Island, Sohoton Cove National Park on Bucas Grande Island, or Caob Island for bamboo rafting. Alternatively, you could spend the day exploring attractions on Siargao like the Tayangban Cave Pool, Secret Beach and Maasin River.
If you have another day and are looking at what to do in Siargao for 4 days, you can do both things listed for day 3. This will complete your 4 days itinerary in Siargao and ensure you’ve seen it all.
What To Do In Siargao Island Map
Best Place To Stay In Siargao
One of the biggest considerations you’ll need to make when choosing where to stay in Siargao is which area. Among the most popular spots are General Luna, Catangnan, Pilar and San Isidro. Most tourist facilities are near General Luna and we assume most people will stay near this area in the list above.
Although Siargao has had a noticeable tourism boom in recent years (discounting covid), international hotel chains have yet to truly establish themselves here. This means Siargao offers a more authentic and homely experience.
There is still a range of accommodation options for every budget including some resorts. Our favorites are listed below.
BEST – Isla Cabana Resort Review
Isla Cabana Resort is a 4 star resort located in the main tourist district of General Luna. This resort offers guests great amenities and scores well amongst hotels in Siargao. This is a great option if you want to be near the beach.
Rooms include standard rooms and ocean suite villas with a private pool. Most rooms also include free breakfast.
Some of the best facilities include a restaurant with great food, a gym, free WiFi, a variety of water sports on offer, plus a private pool and its own private beach. There’s also a spa onsite and daily housekeeping.
Click here for the latest prices.
MID-RANGE – Bulan Villas Review
Located in the north of General Luna, Bulan Villas is in Catangna. This is an environmentally friendly hotel with a minimalist charm, yet it offers guests great comfort at a mid-range price.
There are 14 rooms in total spread over four villas. The selection of rooms include fan rooms which include access to a shared bathroom. These are a great budget option. Six of the rooms offer their own private bathroom and air conditioning.
There is both a restaurant onsite offering fabulous Italian food as well as a private pool. This isn’t the best family option but better suited towards solo travelers and couples.
Click here for the latest prices.
BUDGET – Balay Hayahay Review
If you’re looking for simple and well priced accommodation with minimal fuss, Balay Hayahay is it. This accommodation offers clean, comfortable rooms in a native bamboo cottage.
Rooms include a bed, access to a shared bathroom and access to communal areas like a games room and bar.
The facilities are basic and this is the closest experience to living like a local in Siargao. For example, you’ll be showering in cold water. However, all rooms have WiFi and air conditioning and the staff are friendly and very accommodating. This will be a charming stay to remember!
Click here for the latest prices.
Click here to see all our recommendations for the best resort in Siargao.
How To Get To Siargao
It’s easy to get to Siargao by plane or ferry. You can take a direct flight to Siargao airport from Cebu and Manila and be there within an hour or two.
To see all the latest flights and prices, click here.
It’s also possible to take a ferry from Cebu to Surigao City. From here, you can take a quick, 1.5 hour ferry to Siargao Island.
You can check the latest ferry schedules and prices by clicking here.
You can find our full guide to how to get to Siargao from all over the Philippines here or read our guide to how to get to Siargao from Surigao here or from Cebu here.
Siargao With Kids
Siargao is a place for everyone to unwind, kids included. There’s nothing for kids not to enjoy here, as all attractions like the beaches and islands are accessible to them. If your kids enjoy spending endless hours on the beach then this is the place to go.
Plus, there are a range of attractions like surfing, kayaking and more which is great for older kids.
However, if you have very young kids or you need a bit more variety and more exciting attractions then you probably won’t find much in Siargao! In this case a couple of days is probably more than enough for a family to enjoy the beaches and attractions, and then move on to the next destination.
Final Words
If you want to see Siargao, now is the time to go!
The island has so much beauty and so much to offer visitors that it’s only a matter of time before it gets swamped with tourists. However for now, Siargao still offers visitors a relaxing and charming escape filled with wonderful attractions just waiting to be explored.
Read our guide on getting the Cebu to Siargao ferry here, all the best resort to stay in Siargao here or find our full Siargao travel guide here.
