What to Do in Siargao, Philippines

Siargao is fast becoming one of the most popular destinations in the Philippines. Stories and photos of crystal clear waters and empty beaches are tempting in us travellers. Surfing at Cloud 9, the stunning Siargao resorts and the relatively little amount of things to do in Siargao means it’s a great island for rest and relaxation, without getting too bored. 

I spoke to a few local business managers while I was in Siargao, and all said that the island was so much busier that as recent as last year. I saw sites marked out for new developments and I overheard some surfers moaning at how much busier it was getting.

So… MUST. GO. NOW.

I went to the island for 5 days to find out what to do in Siargao that has got everyone so excited.

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Watch my video on Siargao

What to Do in Siargao

Siargao originally became popular as the ‘Surf Capital of the Philippines’. Thanks to its unique most eastern spot, onto the Pacific Ocean, the swells come in and they break right there. Surfers love the chilled out vibe here and the little town of General Luna was set up to cater for them trickling in. But now they’re coming in droves and the sleepy island of Siargao is waking up.

Still, there’s not that much to do here, but that’s kind of the beauty.

– Rent a surf board for a day

For around 500 pesos (£7) you can rent a surf board and take to the ocean. Lessons available too, of course.

– Go island hopping

For around 1500 pesos (£21) you can go out on a boat to check out some of the surround islands. Would’ve loved to do this but didn’t, thanks to the temperamental weather when I was there.

 – Rent a motorbike 

Absolutely the best thing to do on Siargao, and what I spent a lot of time doing, rent a motorbike to explore the island. I paid 450 pesos (£6.20) for 24 hours, twice, and pretty much drove the entire island. I ended up spending around 300 on petrol for that.