They say the Philipines is the next big thing on a travel destination map.
Let me introduce to you this secluded paradise in the Philippines, Siargao Island. It is a tear-drop shaped island in the Philippine Sea situated 800 kilometres south-east of Manila in the province of Surigao del Norte.
Some may say it is like Hawaii 50 years ago. Its vegetation and coastline resemblance exquisite Polynesian beauty.
If you are sick of crowds, drunk people and loud parties in South East Asia try Siargao Island – an absolute tropical paradise. It probably has a couple of years left before masses discover it.
If you are a surfer that is even better as Siargao is pretty much the only spot in the Philipines where you can surf. Some might say, world class surf ( during the season)
Most popular spot to surf on the island is: Cloud 9 located in the mainland General Luna. Good for beginners and pros in surfing.
General Luna is the centre of the island. That is where all the restaurants and hotels are. However, there is much to explore so don’t get stuck there for too long.
I wouldn’t call the island a surfing destination as it has so much more to offer, so if you are not into that sport, you still should go there as you will love it and will be back for sure. I am such a tropical chaser, and I can guarantee this one is on the top of the list.
I went there in August, and even though it was wet season in the majority of South East Asian countries, Siargao Island has a very particular location where the rainy season does not affect the island too much, and the weather was unbelievable the whole time.
What does Siargao Island has to offer?
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Surfing
Cloud 9 is the most popular spot for surfing, but you can find other good places on the island. Jump on the scooter and start exploring!
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Rock pools
The Magpupungko Pool is located in Pilar, about an hour drive from General Luna. You will have there so much fun!
https://www.instagram.com/p/6b6DPwsB8z/?taken-by=martateresak
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Diving and Snorkelling
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Island hoping
You can arrange that from every accommodation as this is a must thing to do in Siargao. You should visit three islands perfect for island hoping: Naked Island, Daku Island and Guyam Island.
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No cars, no crowds, tropical ocean coastline
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Secluded luxury accommodation
There is so much to choose from when it comes to accommodation on the island! Either a budget option such as Kermit Hotel or upper-class resort such as Kalinaw Resort ( pictures below). However, there is more to choose from. I would recommend to book only first 1 or 2 nights and then check a couple of resorts while you there as they are located very close to each other.
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Awesome restaurants set up by top European chefs.
The beauty of the island is the fact that there is a fair bit of excellent European chefs who live on the island. I am always a fan of local cuisine. However, there is not much of that on Siargao Island.Check TripAdvisor 10 best places to eat in Siargao. There are some excellent spots that you can’t miss. These are my personal favourites: Kalinaw Restuarant, Kermit Siargao and Kawayan Restaurant!
How to get there?
It is not yet a super easy one flight direction, but when you get there, you will be satisfied with its spectacular beauty.
Catch a flight to Manila, then to Cebu and then a short trip to Siargao Island. There is great airline Cebu Pacific Air that operates in the area.
I only had a couple of days, but I would recommend staying for at least one week or longer.
This post is also available in: Polish
