Discover the best things to do and the top tourist spots on Siquijor Island in the Philippines.
Siquijor Island is an off-the-beaten-path tropical island destination of the Philippines, located just off the coast of Negros.
Those who make it here will be greeted by palm-fringed white sand beaches, coral reefs with abundant sea turtles, jungle waterfalls for swimming and cliff jumping, and some of the friendliest, most welcoming locals in the country.
After traveling around the island for a week I’ve written this Siquijor Island travel guide to help you find what to do so you can plan your own itinerary.
Quick Things to Know About Siquijor Island
Siquijor Island is a small island. However, at approximately 343.5 km² in size, it's still a fairly big place to explore!
- The main tourist area is San Juan, which is a long stretch of coastline on the southwest side of the island. Here, you'll find some of the most popular Siquijor tourist attractions, seaside hotels, beautiful beaches, and affordable beach resorts.
- While Siquijor Island does have tourism infrastructure, it's much less developed than what you might expect to find on Cebu or El Nido. Therefore, you can expect a more laid-back vibe.
- Most people speak very good English and are very friendly and accommodating to travelers.
Best Things to Do on Siquijor Island
Alright, with the logistics out of the way, let's dive into the reason you're really here– to discover all the epic things to do on Siquijor Island (and the best tourist spots!).
1. Visit Cambugahay Falls
Visiting Cambugahay Falls is by far the most popular thing to do on Siquijor Island. This epic waterfall features 3 tiers of magical cascades and crystal-clear blue water lagoons, it's one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Philippines!
And, it's easy to reach by descending just 50 meters from the main road.
Due to it blowing up on social media, Cambugahay Falls is one of the most popular Siquijor tourist spots. My advice is to get here early to beat the crowds!
Location: Tigbawan, South Siquijor
2. Sunset on Paliton Beach
Travelers will find Paliton Beach on the northern end of San Juan town. This awesome beach is arguably the most popular spot to watch the sunset on Siquijor Island, featuring white, sandy shores, coconut palm trees, and picturesque swings.
We made it a ritual on our Siquijor itinerary to head down here each night as the sun set on the horizon.
Location: Paliton Beach, West Siquijor
3. Explore The Siquijor Circumferential Road By Motorbike
Alright, like all the epic islands of the Philippines, the best way to explore Siquijor is by renting your own motorbike and exploring attractions along the main road.
You'll find motorbike rental anywhere along San Juan for about 300-500 pesos per day.
Once you've got your set of wheels, dot out all the tourist spots on your Siquijor itinerary and hit the Circumferential Road. This is the sealed road wrapping around the whole island. All the best highlights and attractions including the waterfalls and most popular beaches are found along the way, albeit with a few small detours.
We found that everywhere we drove on the island we were greeted with friendly smiles and waves!
Did you know: The Spaniards gave Siquijor the name “Isla del Fuego,” or, “Island of Fire" due to the many swarms of fireflies that inhabit the vegetation on the island.
4. Cliff Jump at Salagdoong Beach
If you're up for an adventure, the drive out to Salagdoong Beach on the far eastern tip of Siquijor Island will be right up your alley!
This beach is famous for its forest entry and awesome cliff jumps.
You'll find 2x concrete diving boards here. One at 5 meters and the taller at 10 meters. Even if you're not an adrenaline-type of traveler, visiting this popular Siquijor tourist spot is still one of the best things to do, so add it to your itinerary!
Location: Near Town of Maria, East Siquijor
5. Visit the Ancient Balete Tree
The century-old enchanted balete tree is a popular attraction and tourist spot to visit on the island of Siquijor. The Balete is a type of fig tree that grows in the Philippines and is known as the "strangler fig" in other parts of the world.
This awesome tree is worth a quick stop and is located not far from the south end of San Juan, just before the town of Lazi. It's said that this tree is over 400 years old! Titas Travels writes a great article about it.
6. Rope Swing at Lagaan Falls
Looking for a tropical island waterfall that's seriously flying under the radar? Make sure to add Lagaan Falls to your Siquijor itinerary. You'll find this waterfall close to the much more famous Cambugahay Falls.
Here, you'll also find rich blue water, rope swings, and beautiful surroundings! Nearby, you'll also find Lugnason Falls, which is another great spot worth visiting.
Access to Lagaan Falls is via a dirt path, easily accessible for most travelers, with a small entrance fee of around $1. For those seeking a quieter alternative to Cambugahay, Lagaan offers a more secluded experience, making it ideal for relaxing swims and enjoying nature without the crowds.
7. Visit Apo Island
Just a short boat ride south from Siquijor Island is one of the best tourist spots in the Philippines! This awesome marine park has some of the best coral reef systems I've ever had the privilege of diving on! There are literally hundreds of turtles and thousands of unique fish species protected here.
You can arrange an Apo Island boat trip from Siquijor by asking around at the docks at Poblacion Sur. Otherwise, it's easy to visit on a snorkeling day trip from Dumaguete.
8. Chill on Tubod Beach
A great way to wind down this epic list of things to do on Siquijor Island is to spend some quality lazy time at Tubod Beach.
This is a pretty popular Siquijor tourist spot as you'll find its thick coconut palm forests and white sands draping the shores of San Juan. This is one of the best places to visit on Siquijor if you want to relax and swim in clear waters (come at high tide).
Seriously, this beach looks like something straight out of a tropical island TV commercial!
Location: Near San Juan, Southwest Siquijor
9. Snorkel at Tubod Marine Sanctuary
Tubod Beach is also a great place to go snorkeling!
Just out from its shores is a marine sanctuary where you'll find crystal-clear waters and vibrant coral gardens. This spot is usually quite calm and good for beginner snorkelers. Plus, the beach is easily accessible from San Juan, and you can rent snorkeling gear from the nearby Coco Grove Beach Resort.
10. Tulapos Marine Sanctuary
While we are onto the topic of snorkeling and diving, you definitely want to check out Tulapos Marine Sanctuary on the north side of Siquijor.
This is another great place for exploring Siquijor's underwater world, with thriving coral reefs and healthy marine life. It's also famous for a big school of barracudas that are drawn to the area.
Snorkeling gear rental is available near the beach for 50 pesos.
Location: Close to Enrique Villanueva, North Siquijor
Where To Stay on Siquijor
The main tourist hub on Siquijor is known as San Juan (Siqujor Town). However, there are also several guest houses, hostels, and resorts scattered around the island. Below I'll give you my three top options for where to stay in Siquijor to plan your trip.
- Epic Bamboo Treehouse: Mandala Tribe Treehouses - Want to take your Filipino island adventures to the next level? Mandala Tribe features epic treehouse accommodations in a perfect spot on Siquijor. The breakfast is amazing and the price is really fair!
- Budget Guest House: LightHaus Destination Place - This is the best-reviewed guest house on the island! This place costs less than $10 a night, is ideally located, and has a crazy 9.7/10 rating on Booking.com
- Luxury: Descanso En Paraiso Resort - Descanso En Paraiso is a luxury resort on Siquijor without the regular price tag! This resort is just a short walk from popular Pontod Beach and has its own restaurant, pool, garden, and bar.
How to Get to Siquijor Island
Siquijor Island does have an airport, but flying is the most expensive option. Instead, you can reach it easily via ferry from neighboring Filipino Islands: Cebu, Bohol, and Negros Oriental.
Below are your best options for getting here before checking out all the epic tourist spots and ticking off things to do!
Option 1: Guided Tour from Dumaguete
If you're short on time, or just simply looking to explore the island on a day trip, then you're in luck.
There's one very popular tour running from nearby Dumaguete which seriously cuts the costs of exploring Siquijor Island.
This trip includes:
- Hotel pickup/drop-off in Dumaguete
- Private tour around Siquijor island
- Return ticket ferry included
- History tour with visit to century-old churches
- Take a dip in the turquoise waters of Cambugahay Falls and see the famous 400+-year-old Balete Tree
- End the day at the famous Triad Cafe for views of Negros and Boho
This trip is really affordable and can actually work out cheaper than doing things independently.
Option 2: Direct Ferry From Dumaguete to Siquijor
The cheapest way to get to Siquijor Island if you're taking the independent/backpacker route is to first fly to Dumaguete.
Once you're in Dumaguete, you can book a 50-minute ferry to Siquijor easily online. I recommend the OceanJet ferry as they are fast, reliable, and cost-effective and depart from the easy-to-get-to ferry terminal.
Option 3: Siquijor From Bohol
Book: Bohol Ferry
There's also a ferry running from Bohol in the north. This is a good option if you are planning an island-hopping adventure in the Philippines. I suggest Cebu > Bohol > Siquijor as an epic itinerary.
Option 4: Siquijor Island from Cebu
Cebu is the most popular island in this region of the Philippines. Here, you'll find epic waterfalls, jungle, and diving.
If you're planning to visit Siquijor from Cebu city, then head to the south (Liloan Port). There's just one ferry going to Siquijor from Cebu daily and you can't book it online. This option is great if you're on a backpacker's budget as it only costs 500 PHP per person.
However, when we tried this option, the ferry was canceled last minute, forcing us to change our plans and visit Dumaguete first instead.
About the Best Siquijor Tourist Spots
Alright, with the list of things to do on Siquijor Island out of the way, here are a few things you'll want to know about the popular tourist spots:
- It's common to charge an entrance fee and/or a motorbike parking spot at popular spots like Cambugahay Falls. This is usually fairly cheap
- It's also common for locals to offer you a "guide" at many Siquijor tourist spots. This is usually not necessary but sometimes worth the company! A typical tip is 50-100 PHP.
- Most people on Siquijor speak English
- Food at local street vendors is typically very cheap!
How Long to Spend on Siquijor Island?
If you're short on time, I again highly recommend the full-day island trip from Dumaguete. This is an action-packed itinerary and features most of the popular tourist spots on Siquijor.
Otherwise, if you're here to explore, spending 5-7 days is a good chunk of time. In saying that, we spent about a week on Siquijor Island and there were lots we didn't get to do! Ahh, until next time!
Weather & Things to Know
Most people claim that the best time to visit the island is between April and July. This is the "dry" season where you'll get nice weather with much less rainfall. However, visiting the popular tourist spots on Siquijor is much more enjoyable in the shoulder season between December and March.
The weather is typically pretty fierce and wet in the typhoon season, which runs between August and October.
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I really hope that you've enjoyed my travel guide to Siquijor Island.
While you're here, why not check out some of my other guides to the Philippines, I bet you'll find something to add to your bucket list!
- Siargao Travel Guide - discover the epic island of Siargao and why there are so many more things to do than just surfing
- Cebu Island Travel Guide - my ultimate adventure travel guide to Cebu
- Kawasan Falls - how to visit the Philippines' most famous waterfall
- 10 Best Islands in the Philippines - a roundup of my 10 favorite islands to travel to in the Philippines
- Accommodation Guides: Plan where to stay in Siargao and find great hotels in Cebu
Tita S
Sunday 22nd of January 2023
Thank you so much, Olly and Haylea, for appreciating and linking my post about Siquijor's 400-yo Balete tree. I enjoy your blog and great pictures! More power to We Seek Travel, keep safe, and continue to pursue your passion for adventure to share with your followers!
anthony byrne
Sunday 23rd of January 2022
Hi who is open now on the island Ba Ha bar?