Siargao is the Philippines at its most spectacular – a teardrop-shaped island of legendary surf, emerald lagoons, cave pools and deserted sandbanks. Here’s everything you need to know to plan your trip.
Siargao had been on my radar for years before I finally made it there, and it absolutely lived up to every expectation. Known the world over as the Philippines’ surfing capital – home to the legendary Cloud 9 reef break – Siargao is also, if you dig a little deeper, an island of extraordinary natural variety. Stingless jellyfish lagoons, tidal rock pools you can only reach at low tide, an emerald lagoon hidden behind a 30-minute longboat journey through the mangroves, and deserted sandbanks that appear from the sea and disappear again with the tide.
You don’t need to surf to love Siargao. Honestly, you don’t. The island is full of people who came for the waves and stayed for everything else, and I’d count myself among them.
Here’s what to do, where to eat, and everything you need to know before you go.
Things to Do in Siargao
The Land Tour: Magpupungko, Maasin River, Sugba Lagoon + More
The classic Siargao land tour packs five of the island’s best natural sights into one long, brilliant day, and it’s the single thing I’d most recommend doing on your first trip. Here’s what it covers.
Magpupungko Rock Pools
Start early at Magpupungko. These extraordinary natural tidal pools, carved into flat volcanic rock on the eastern coast near the town of Pilar, are one of Siargao’s most spectacular sights — a series of beautiful pools of impossibly clear water perfect for swimming and (if you dare) cliff-jumping. The scale of them, and the colour of the water against the dark rock, is genuinely stunning.
The critical detail: you can only access the pools properly at low tide. At high tide the rocks are submerged and the pools are invisible. This is non-negotiable — check the tide chart before you book anything, and make sure your tour is timed for a low-tide morning visit. Get there early too, as tour groups arrive in force later in the day.
Top Tip
Wear wet shoes or sandals with good grip. The rocks leading down to the pools are beautiful but they can be genuinely slippery, and flip-flops won’t cut it. The entry to the pools is the bit to be careful on — take it slowly.
Maasin River
A lovely, laid-back stop with a cool river location and a few jumping-off points to launch yourself into the water. You can rent a kayak and paddle along the river if you fancy it — I didn’t get to do that on my visit, but it’s been recommended to me by pretty much everyone who has. Budget a leisurely hour here.
One honest update worth knowing: the rope swing at Maasin Bridge is no longer there, so if that was specifically on your list, manage expectations accordingly. The river and the jumping spots are still well worth stopping for.
Sugba Lagoon
Sugba Lagoon is the kind of place that makes you stop and just look. A 30-minute longboat ride across the mangroves (that part is lovely in itself) brings you out into an emerald-green lagoon enclosed by tall cliffs — it reminded me of the karst scenery around Railay in Thailand, but quieter, and somehow more magical.
Once you’re there, rent a kayak and paddle around — a single kayak is around ₱200 for an hour, a double ₱300, or go for the crystal-bottomed kayak at ₱500 if you want to see what’s underneath you. Alternatively there’s stand-up paddleboarding. There’s also a designated swimming area and a jumping-off point for those who want it.
Top Tip
Time this early. Sugba Lagoon gets very busy after lunch when tour groups start arriving in numbers. If you can be there in the morning and leave before noon, you’ll have a much more peaceful experience.
Secret Beach
A beautiful, quiet beach on the edge of a lagoon — calm water, great swimming and a genuinely peaceful spot. Kayaks and SUPs are available for hire if you want to explore further along the shoreline. Lovely for a relaxed hour between the more active stops.
Coconut View (The Sea of Palms)
The simplest stop on the tour, but one of the most photogenic: a roadside pull-off where lush coconut palms stretch as far as the eye can see in every direction. It’s a quick stop — five or ten minutes — but the scale of it is genuinely striking, and your photos from here will look extraordinary.
The Island Hopping Tour (Tri-Island)
The other must-do day on Siargao is the classic island hopping tour, which visits three very different islands just off the coast.
Naked Island is exactly what it sounds like — a bare, low sandbar rising from the middle of the ocean with nothing on it whatsoever. No trees, no shade, no buildings. Just a crescent of brilliant white sand and the sea. It’s surreal and beautiful.
Daku Island is the largest of the three, with palm trees, a small local village and the option for a BBQ lunch on the beach. It’s a proper island rather than a sandbar, and a lovely place to slow down for a couple of hours.
Guyam Island is tiny, photogenic and palm-fringed — the one from all the Instagram shots, with the little thatched shelter on the beach. Small enough to walk around in five minutes, gorgeous enough to want to stay much longer.
Top Tip
Go for a smaller group boat rather than a large tour boat if you can. The difference in experience between cramming onto a vessel with 20+ people versus a small group is significant, especially on the smaller islands where space is limited.
Surfing at Cloud 9
Even if you’ve never surfed in your life, Cloud 9 is worth seeing. The legendary right-hand reef break that put Siargao on the world surfing map — a thick, hollow barrel that rolls in from the Pacific — is one of those waves that genuinely takes your breath away to watch up close, even from the safety of the famous viewing tower.
The boardwalk out to the tower is a classic Siargao experience, and the terrace above it is a great place to simply sit, watch and appreciate what’s happening in the water below.
For beginners and improvers, there are excellent surf schools in General Luna offering lessons and guided sessions. The best conditions are typically in the early morning (6-9am) before the wind picks up.
Top Tip
Even if you’re not surfing, come to Cloud 9 at dawn. The wave at sunrise with barely anyone around is a completely different experience from the afternoon bustle, and one of the most beautiful natural spectacles on the island.
Sohoton Cove (Including the Stingless Jellyfish Lagoon)
Sohoton Cove is the full-day adventure, and the one that most first-time visitors don’t bother with because it’s a significant commitment. Do not make that mistake.
A boat journey of around two and a half hours (from Dapa Port, or longer from General Luna) takes you to a cave and lagoon system of genuine drama — through Hagukan Cave by kayak (at low tide only, as the entrance submerges at high tide), past dramatic rock faces and into a series of lagoons of extraordinary colour and stillness.
The headline attraction is the stingless jellyfish lagoon: a sheltered, warm body of water in which you can swim freely among thousands of small, translucent jellyfish that have evolved without their sting in this enclosed habitat. It’s an otherworldly experience — these things are genuinely floating around you and on you, and they’re completely harmless. There are only a handful of places in the world where this is possible, and Sohoton is one of the finest.
Top Tip
The jellyfish are most abundant between March and June, and visibility varies with water clarity and conditions. The tour is also tide-dependent for the cave entrance, so it’s a day that requires careful planning — the best operators will organise the timing around the tidal window. The boat ride is long and the open-sea crossing can be rough, so bring a windbreaker, something to listen to, and seasickness tablets if you need them. Budget around ₱2,000-3,000 per person for the full tour.
The Cave Tour
Siargao’s cave tour takes you through a series of remarkable underground and semi-underground cave pools — crystal-clear freshwater pools inside dramatic cave formations, perfect for swimming in. The combination of the caves themselves and the quality of the water makes for a very different activity from the tidal and lagoon experiences elsewhere on the island, and a great half-day.
Kayaking on Maasin River
If you have a day when you want something lower-key than the full land tour, kayaking the Maasin River independently is a lovely option — just turn up, rent a kayak, and paddle at your own pace along the quiet, tree-lined river. The river setting is genuinely beautiful and it’s a good antidote to the busier tour-group spots. Allow a couple of hours and bring snacks.
Mama’s Grill
General Luna
If you ask anyone in General Luna where to go for cocktails, you’ll almost certainly end up at Mama’s Grill. It’s the kind of place where the evening stretches out pleasantly without you entirely meaning it to — good drinks, a friendly, low-key atmosphere, and the social hub energy of somewhere that simply works. My firm recommendation for drinks in town.
Know Before You Go: Practical Tips for Siargao
- Rent a scooter. This is the single best piece of advice for Siargao. The island is spread out and a scooter gives you the freedom to stop wherever you want, reach quieter spots at your own pace, and dodge the van tours. Most rental places in General Luna are inexpensive and easy to find.
- Tide tables are essential. Magpupungko, the cave entries at Sohoton, and several lagoon activities are tide-dependent. Check the tide chart before booking any activity that involves the rock pools or caves.
- Morning is magic. Cloud 9 at sunrise, Magpupungko before the tour groups arrive, and Sugba Lagoon in the early hours are completely different experiences from the same spots at 2pm. Set your alarm.
- Plan Sohoton as its own day. The boat journey is long and the experience is full-day. Don’t try to combine it with anything else — give it the day it deserves.
- Book the jellyfish lagoon early. The March to June window is peak season for jellyfish numbers, but the tours fill up. Book ahead if your dates fall in this window.
- The rope swing at Maasin Bridge is no longer there — worth knowing if you’ve seen it on older guides or social media.
- General Luna is the main hub and by far the easiest base — most tours, restaurants and accommodation are here or within easy reach.
Best Time to Visit Siargao
The dry season (March to June) offers the best weather and the peak jellyfish season at Sohoton. Surf season peaks between July and November, when the Pacific swells arrive. The island is quietest (and sometimes wetter) from December to February.
How Long to Spend in Siargao
A minimum of 4-5 days covers the main highlights comfortably: one day for the land tour, one for island hopping, a day for Sohoton, and a day or two to surf, explore the caves, and simply be on the island at a more relaxed pace. A full week is ideal.
Getting to Siargao
Siargao has its own domestic airport at Sayak (IAO), served by flights from Manila and Cebu. The flight from Manila takes roughly 2 hours. From the airport, it’s about 45 minutes to General Luna by van or tricycle. Book transfers in advance as the options at the airport are limited.
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