Updated March 2026.
Surfing Siargao soon?
Great choice! As someone who has traveled all over the world in search of the best surf destinations, I can assure you that Siargao Philippines makes for truly unique, tropical surf trip.
Mainland Filipinos are slowly catching on to the good graces of Siargao as the nation and the world comes to know the island as the “Surfing Capital of the Philippines” thanks to the marketing efforts of the government. Since its inception in 1996, the Siargao Cup has been promoted and sponsored by the government. Every September thousands find their way to watch the best surfers in the Philippines and professionals from around the globe perform at Cloud 9. But Siargao isn’t as mainstream as Bali or Cabo San Lucas for traveling surfers and has maintained a grassroots charm. However, the surf spots offer exciting waves for everyone from beginners to advanced surfers, and there’s lots of interesting stuff to do besides surfing Siarago.
In this article, you’ll learn all about surfing Siargao, get answers to common questions about Siargao. By time you’re done reading this epic Siargao Surf Guide, you’ll be ready to get on the plane.
What You Need to Know About Siargao?
- Location: 500 miles (800 kilometers) southeast of Manila in the Philippine Sea
- Area: 169 mi² (438 km²)
- Nickname: The Surfing Capital of the Philippines
- Languages Spoken: Siargaonan (a dialect of the Visayan language), English
- Currency: Filipino Peso
- Climate: Tropical
- Population: 110,000
- Time Zone: Philippine Time (PHT)
Where is Siargao Island located in the Philippines?
Siargao is an island located in the south eastern Philippines. A direct flight from the Manila to Siargao is about 2 hours and 15 minutes.
When should you visit Siargao?
Although Siargao is known to be pretty balmy year-round, the best time to visit is during the dry season between March and October. However, if the main purpose of your trip is surfing, the best months for big swells and ideal winds span from August to November. Keep in mind that the international surfing scene takes over Cloud Nine in September, so expect limited accommodation and crowded surf breaks during that time.
How to Get to Siargao Philippines from Manila
The best way to get to Siargao from Manila is on a domestic flight on Philippines Airlines or CebGo Airlines. If you arriving from an international destination, you should know that the domestic and international terminals at Ninoy Aquino International Airport are not connected so it was a bit of a hustle to get from one to another. Due to our flight times, we stayed overnight in Manila both ways and caught a morning flight from Manila to Siargao. The cost for flying from Manila to Siargao round trip is about $200 USD.
Is there an Airport in Siargao?
Yes! When you arrive from the global hubs of Manila or Cebu, you’ll find that the humble, one-room Sayak Airport doesn’t offer much in the way of amenities. Fortunately, an army of air-conditioned vans meets each flight, ready to take passengers into town. Note that if you’re traveling alone or in a small group, pair up with other travelers to reduce the cost of the 45-minute ride to General Luna and Cloud Nine.
Getting Around Siargao
Once you’ve reached your accommodation, familiarize yourself with the lay of the land aboard one of Siargao’s ubiquitous homemade moto-tricycles called Habal-Habals. Custom vehicles are a bit of a thing in the Philippines — from chromed-out jeepneys in Manila to Siargao’s home-chopped tricycles, welders must make a killing. The noteworthy thing about the tricycles is that they’re a cheap and colorful way to get around, especially when traveling short distances.
Many visitors also choose to rent their own motorbike or car to surf different breaks, or to go to Sugoa Lagoon or the rock pools. A private vehicle is a handy way to see more of the land and get a feel for island life. Unlike Manila, Siargao has very little traffic, but be wary of dogs, cats, and children running across the road. If you aren’t comfortable driving around the island yourself, most hotels help guests hire a driver or guide to take them wherever their heart desires.
Best Restaurants in Siargao
When in Siargao, unless you’re surfing at dawn, don’t bother getting up too early. You’ll find that mornings start late and slow with coffee shops and breakfast options opening well after 8 a.m.
Best Coffee In Siargao
Once things on the street get moving, be sure to stop at Filibeans next to Harana for a coconut latte. Baristas froth locally made coconut milk and pour an espresso that rivals the most artisanal cafés at home.
Best Breakfast In Siargao
Although you must try the typical Filipino breakfast of eggs, sweet sausage, and rice, you may prefer something lighter before setting off on your adventures. If that’s the case, head to neighboring restaurants Kawayan Bakery (for fresh croissants and French treats) or Shaka (for acai bowls and smoothies) on your way out.
Best Lunch In Siargao
For lunch, it’s hard to stay away from Harana. The thatched palm-frond roof, flickering pendant lights, and colorful bean bags will lure you in, but the excellent food will entice you to return almost daily. On a hot day, try the coconut kinilaw, a Filipino version of ceviche made with fresh raw tuna, prawns, coconut milk, and vegetables served in a hollowed-out coconut. Harana serves Filipino favorites, but one of the standouts is the pork sisig, a popular bar snack made up of a sizzling mound of sour pork and vegetables topped with a raw egg that cooks as the meat cools. But if you’re burnt out on Filipino food, Harana’s poke bowl is worth trying as well.
Best Dinner Spots In Siargao
When it comes to dinner, try Mama’s Grill and Filipino BBQ in General Luna. That said, get there early and be sure to order the purple sausage balls and an array of seafood, meats, and vegetables.
One last place you must try is Kermit’s. Kermit’s is one of the longest standing expat establishments on the island for a reason. Their pizza, pasta, and cocktails are some of the best on the island, and the atmosphere is lively, fun, and popular with locals and tourists alike. Just be sure to call ahead and make a booking so you don’t have to wait.
Where to Stay in Siargao
The area surrounding Cloud Nine and General Luna has a wide range of accommodation from luxury private villas to per-night hammock rentals. We stayed closer to Cloud Nine because we wanted quick and easy access to the surf. From our villa, we could hire a boat to Stimpy’s and Rock Island and be in the water before sunrise. General Luna has more action and choices in terms of food and nightlife.
Best Hotels in Siargao (For All Budgets)
Point 303 Resort
True budget accommodation with direct access to Cloud 9 and Jacking Horse. It’s ideal for surfers who want to be right next to the waves without breaking the bank.
Price Range: $70 USD per night
Bravo Beach Resort
A well loved hostel that is located right in the thick of all the restaurants and nightlife. It’s clean, on the beach, and has a good vibe for both surfers and non-surfers. Rent a scooter to head up to Cloud 9.
Price Range: $80-100 USD per night for a private room
The Henry at Kermit Siargao
Kermit’s surf school and restaurant are some of the best on the island. Now, they’ve teamed up with the Henry Hotel Group to offer tropical digs right next to the action. Spacious and luxurious rooms flank the palm fringed pool.
Price Range: about $100 USD per night
Buddha’s Surf Resort
Located halfway between General Luna and Cloud 9, you’ve got the best of both worlds with a little less partying and more palm free fringed beaches. Buddha Surf Resort is a great choice for surfers looking for luxurious accommodations and top-notch surf guiding services. You can book a 5, 7, or 10 day surf package that includes surf lessons, transport, breakfast, board rental and more. Buddha is under construction and we can’t wait to see it totally renovated in 2025.
Price Range: $80-115 USD per night
Siargao Bleu Resort & Spa
If you’re looking for a more upscale resort-style experience than a surf camp or backpackers, Siargao Blue has you covered. Siargao Blue has a beachfront pool , comfy rooms, and a spa. Check out one of the floating villas that gives you instant access to the pool.
Price Range: $210-500 USD per night
Nay Palad Hideaway
A truly stunning luxury resort offering all-inclusive packages with personalized service, gourmet meals, and private villas, which are more like your own home. Ideal for those seeking a high-end, serene retreat with world-class surfing nearby. You’ll need a ride to Cloud 9 (22 minutes) or General Luna (10 minutes).
Price Range: $500+ USD per night
Best Things to Do in Siargao
Whether you made the journey for surfing or not, you should end your first day with a sunset and a San Miguel beer at Cloud Nine. The famed surf spot is home to a wooden boardwalk that spans a sparkling lagoon and offers a viewing platform to all the action. You can also walk along the point beneath the swinging palm trees and catch a glimpse of the sun as it sets over the bay, where many people learn to surf on longboards.
If you’ve come to Siargao for the surf, catch a boat at dawn and head to Stimpy’s or Rock Island located about 10 minutes from Cloud Nine. You should also check out Salvation, which is about a 25-minute drive or bike ride from General Luna. Beginners should try Secret Spot or Guiuan on the south side.
For non-surfers or non-surf days, take the hour-long trip from General Luna to the Magpupungko Rock Pools. Just remember to visit during low tide and bring a snorkel, some reef shoes, and a waterproof camera to explore the translucent pools. And be sure to stay for a coconut and a wonderfully cheap lunch of Filipino spring rolls, or lumpia, and vinegar-marinated meat or seafood called adobo at a nearby stand before heading back.
Siargao abounds with postcard-perfect swimming and snorkeling spots, but Sugba Lagoon is a full-day aquatic adventure that is not to be missed. Be warned: it’s a bit of a drive and a boat ride, but you’re sure to get a taste for rural life as you pass the traditional above-water villages on your way through the mangroves. At the lagoon, rent a paddleboard and marvel at the green-blue water below.
Lastly, Siargao is host to all sorts of island-hopping tours, or — if you’d rather design your own course — charter a boat and do a DIY tour. Either way, be sure to visit Daku Island, Naked Island, Guyam Islands, or Turtle Island. You can stop by the markets near the General Luna harbor and pick up fresh fish and veggies on your way out, and most boat captains will even make you a BBQ lunch on the beach.
best Siargao Surf Spots
Best Surf Spots in Siargao for Beginner Surfers
- Jacking Horse
- Daku
- Guian
- Cloud 9 in the summer season
Best Surf Spots in Siargao for Intermediate Surfers
- Salvacion in the shoulder season
- Cementary
- Rock Island in the shoulder season
- Stimpy’s in the shoulder season
- Tuason in the shoulder season
Best Surf Spots in Siargao for Advanced Surfers
- Cloud 9
- Quicksilver
- Pacfico
- Rock Island
- Stimpy’s
- Tuason
What are the surf seasons in Siargao?
Surfing Siargao is possible all year round, however certain times of year will have great swell heights and better wind conditions.
Peak Surf Season
Late September to early December is considered peak surfing season. This is the best time for experienced surfers, with consistent, powerful waves, particularly at Cloud 9. The quality swell also brings the Philippines biggest surfing competition, the Siargao International Surfing Cup, to town so expected crowded line-ups.
Winter Season
December to March is the Amihan season, which brings onshore winds to many spots. A few protected waves like Salvacion are spared the wind. Lots of waves around for those who don’t mind messy faces.
Spring Season
April and May offer fun, clean, user friendly conditions for intermediate surfers. Generally smaller than peak season with lots of different spots on tap.
Summer Season
Summer is the low season for surf in Siargao. The waves are smaller and more manageable for long boarders and beginners. There is a pretty big longboard culture in Siargao. When Cloud 9 is small it becomes a haven for longboarders.
Best Surf Lessons in Siargao
Surfing in Siargao for Beginners
Our first choice for women surfers is Surfista Travels, because it is owned and run by a local, female surfer, Elaine Abonal. Abonal has a community driven approach, teaching visitors to surf while simultaneously introducing them to the island’s culture. Surfista’s surf camps not only include small group lessons and photography, but also environmental awareness activities.
At Harana Surf School, you can do 1-on-1 coaching or group coaching with local coaches if you are beginner and surf guiding if you are more advanced. Harana is located right at Tuason Point so you don’t have to compete with the beginner crowds at Jacking Horse. Plus, the food and vibe at Harana is right on point.
Mao-Mao Surf School is another excellent choice for a surf school or surf camp depending on your needs. Mao-Mao’s certified instructors are said to be very patient when leading the smaller, less crowded classes where guests are often taken to lesser surfed breaks. If you’re looking for somewhere to stay while you surf, Mao-Mao’s surf camp is a short walk to Cloud 9 and features really cool triangle, thatched roof bungalows in the jungle with their own private bathrooms. They also do surf-skate classes!
Kermit Surf Resort & Restaurant Kermit is one of the most well-known and oldest surf resorts on Siargao. The vibe at Kermit’s (and the amazing food) will make you want to hang around Kermit’s for most of your trip. They offer local instructions with heaps of experience and patience to help you become a better surfer.
Siarago Philippines FAQ
Is Siargao A Good Place for Women Surfers?
Siargao is a fantastic place for women surfers because it offers waves for surfers of all levels and reputable surf schools for those new to surfing. Siargao is considered safe and welcoming to all kinds of tourists including solo travelers and women travelers.
How Big is Siargao?
Siargao is about 437 square kilometers (271 miles) and can circumnavigated by car in about 5 hours.
When is the best time to visit Siargao?
The best time to visit Siargao is during the dry season (it can rain heavily all day long during the wet season), which lasts from March to October. That being said, the best waves are generally from September to December.
Siargao WEather
Siargao is warm year-round, with average temperatures ranging from 26°C to 32°C (79°F to 90°F). The hottest months are typically April to June. Humidity is high throughout the year, generally around 80-90%. The Dry Season (March to October) see mostly sunny weather, while the Wet Season (November to February) sees frequent rainstorms, typhoons, and strong winds.
Is there uber in Siargao?
No, but you can always flag down a tricycle or Habal-Habal to get around town! The Habal-Habals were a super fun way to get around the General Luna/Cloud 9 area. You can also rent your own motorbike. To go further afield (Sugba Lagoon, Salvacion), we hired a driver with a van.
Do I need a car in Siargao?
No, definitely not! If you are comfortable riding a motorbike, you can hire one to get around. Otherwise, just hop into a tricycle!
Is Siargao worth visiting?
Absolutely! This is an incredibly beautiful place with super friendly people and great waves. We really enjoyed learning about Filipino culture and trying the new dishes. If you are a beginner surfer, this is a great place to learn. If you want to surf powerful waves over sharp reef, this is your place, just show up between September and December!
Is Siargao expensive?
Depends on how you like to travel… Budget accomodation can set you back $10-20 USD per night while luxury villas with private beaches, pools, staff, etc can cost $150-500 USD per night. As far as spending money goes, you can expect to spend less than $100 per day on food, motorbike rental or tricycle rides, and surf lessons. You could spend way less if you ate at local restaurants and surfed on your own. Siargao is relatively affordable when compared with other South East Asian surf destinations like Bali.
Should I bring My Surfboard to Siargao or Rent One There?
Like most surf trips, bring your own surfboards if you are a serious surfer who plans to spend most of the trip surfing. If you are longboarding or learning, save yourself the hassle. Siargao is home to such a vibrant longboard culture, you can always find a log to rent. There are plenty of surf shops as well with anything you forgot from the surf trip packing list, board rentals, repairs, lessons and more.
Final Thoughts: Traveling to Siargao Philippines
Throughout time, seafaring wanders and enterprising imperialists have been attracted to the Philippines’ Eastern Visayas. The first ancient “tourists” of Indonesian and Malay descent crossed oceans to reach the tropical outpost that is now Siargao. Next came the Spanish conquistadors who brought their language and the Roman Catholic Church along for their several-hundred-year-long stay. The Americans arrived in 1898 and subjected the nation to another long bout of occupation.
Today, although the Philippines is an independent nation, evidence of each of these foreign influences lingers linguistically. You’ll hear hotel staff counting, “Uno, dos, tres, cuatro” and referring to keys as llaves. Indonesian words are painted on storefronts. And in a small village, where fishing boats ferry surfers to and from waves, you’ll find David, a twenty-something-year-old who’s never been to the U.S. yet speaks impeccable English complete with American slang while he and his mother prepare the crunchiest and juiciest fried chicken this side of Kentucky.
Like much of the Philippines, Siargao has long been a melting pot of languages and cultures, but it was largely overlooked by mainland Filipinos until surfers brought international attention to the island. Rumors of perfect swells traveled across oceans and motivated more and more waveriders to make the journey. Eventually, the Filipino government took notice, branded the island as “the Surfing Capital of the Philippines,” and launched a marketing campaign to make Siargao the next Bali. Government officials pushed the Siargao Cup (a sponsored surf contest held each September) into the international surfing spotlight, helped the airlines open more direct flights to the island, and summoned corporate developers to get their slice of Siargao before it was too late.
The quest to Bali-ize Siargao was thrown off, briefly, by Typhoon Odette (Rai) in 2021. The storm caused widespread destruction and severely impacted Siargao’s trajectory as the next big surfing destination. Over the last few years, business owners have mended their headquarters and the government has resumed its campaign to bring the world to Siargao.
If you look around at your fellow passengers on your flight to Siargao, you’ll notice that the marketing is working. Every day, an increasing number of domestic and international tourists land on Siargao’s shores. While Cloud Nine is still the stuff of surf fantasies, Siargao’s good-natured locals, exquisite natural beauty, and diverse and bountiful food offerings have made the island a dream destination for everyone.
As soon as you step foot in Siargao, you’re sure to notice something special in the air. Whether it’s the island’s intoxicating swirl of cultures, dreamy beaches, and coconut lattes, or the possibility of catching the best waves of your life, no one can quite put their finger on it. But no matter why people choose to visit, everyone leaves infatuated with this little island.
Book your ticket and fall in love with Siargao for yourself.
Looking for other off the beaten path surf trips?
Try surfing in Thailand, Kuta Lombok, or these Indonesian Bali alternatives.