General Luna
First-timersThe main town, with hostels, food and bars.
Siargao island guide
Things To Do In Siargao
The surf island: a famous reef break at Cloud 9, palm forests, lagoons, rock pools and island-hopping, and the liveliest backpacker scene in the Philippines.
Cloud 9
The famous break
2021
Typhoon Odette
45 min
Airport to General Luna
The surfing capital
Siargao is a teardrop-shaped island off north-east Mindanao, facing the Pacific. Its reef break, Cloud 9, made it the surfing capital of the Philippines, and General Luna, the main village, has grown into a lively town of cafés, hostels and bars.
The island was badly hit by Typhoon Odette in December 2021 and has since rebuilt.
Three to five days is right, and many people stay longer.
Where to stay
General Luna, the main town, has nearly all the hostels, restaurants and bars, along the road towards Cloud 9. Quieter places are further out, around Catangnan and Pacifico on the north-east coast, which is better for surfers who want empty waves.
Catangnan
SurfersQuieter, closer to Cloud 9.
Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Siargao
Siargao is the surf capital of the Philippines. Cloud 9, a powerful reef break, is famous worldwide; watch from the wooden boardwalk that runs out over the reef. It is for experienced surfers; beginners learn at gentler breaks such as Jacking Horse and on the inside reefs, with surf schools in General Luna.
Island-hopping trips visit Naked Island, a sandbar with no trees, Daku Island, with a village and beach lunch, and Guyam, a tiny palm-covered island.
The Magpupungko rock pools, on the east coast, form at low tide; check the tide times before you go. Sugba Lagoon, near Del Carmen, is a turquoise lagoon surrounded by mangroves, for kayaking, paddleboarding and jumping off a diving board.
Riding a scooter through the island's palm forests, past viewpoints over coconut groves, is one of the best things to do. Siargao was badly hit by Typhoon Odette in December 2021 and has rebuilt.
Free things
Free things to do in Siargao
Watching the surfers from the Cloud 9 boardwalk is free, and so are many of the beaches and viewpoints over the palm forests.
Magpupungko and Sugba charge small fees. Sunsets from General Luna's beaches cost nothing.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Siargao
Siargao has a surprisingly varied food scene for a small island: cafés, smoothie bowls, wood-fired pizza and Filipino canteens. Kinilaw, fish cured in vinegar, and grilled seafood are local favourites.
A meal is €3 to €8.
Nightlife
Going out in Siargao
General Luna has a lively nightlife for a surf town: different bars host parties on different nights of the week, and the scene is sociable and young.
A beer is €1.50 to €3.
Getting around
Getting around Siargao
Sayak Airport has flights from Manila and Cebu; it is about forty-five minutes to General Luna by van.
Scooters are the way around the island; tricycles and vans cover longer trips. Boats leave General Luna for island hopping.
Costs
What Siargao costs
Siargao is mid-priced. Dorms start around €8 and a careful day is €20 to €35.
Surf lessons are about €8 to €15 for an hour with an instructor and board. Island hopping is €15 to €25 shared, and a scooter about €6 to €8 a day.
The currency is the Philippine peso (PHP); prices here are euro equivalents, at roughly 65 pesos to the euro. ATMs are limited and can run out; bring cash.
Safety
Staying safe in Siargao
Siargao is safe. Cloud 9 breaks over shallow, sharp reef; surf within your ability. Scooter accidents are common on the island's roads, especially at night after parties; wear a helmet.
Typhoons hit roughly from June to November and can cancel flights and ferries for days; build slack into island plans.
Emergency number is 911.
Day trips from Siargao
Island hopping, a lagoon and rock pools.
Island hopping
Naked, Daku and Guyam islands.
Sugba Lagoon
Kayak and paddleboard in a turquoise lagoon.
What's on
What is on while you are there
The Siargao surf competition brings pros to Cloud 9.
September or October
Surf competition
Cloud 9
International surfers.
August to November
Surf season
Siargao
The best waves.
When to go
March to October for calmer weather; the surf is best from August to November.
Jan
Wettest
Feb
Wet
Mar
Drier
Apr
Good
May
Good
Jun
Good
Jul
Good
Aug
Surf
Sep
Surf competition
Oct
Surf
Nov
Surf
Dec
Wet
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs. The east coast is wettest from December to February.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are in pesos locally; these are euro equivalents.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Siargao travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Can beginners surf Siargao?
Yes, at gentler breaks such as Jacking Horse, with lessons. Cloud 9 is for experienced surfers.
When is surf season?
August to November brings the best waves.
How do I get there?
By flight from Manila or Cebu to Sayak, then forty-five minutes by van.
When are the Magpupungko pools best?
At low tide; check the tide times.
How many days do you need?
Four or five; many stay longer.
When is the best time to visit?
March to October for calmer weather; August to November for surf.
Do I need a scooter?
It is the easiest way around; wear a helmet.
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