Siargao is an adventure lovers paradise! Quickly becoming the go-to destination in the Philippines for surfing and with miles of unspoilt white sand beaches and almost fifty secluded islands ready to be explored, I guarantee you will not be out of things to do during your stay in Siargao. Read on to discover the best things to do on the island.

• Sugba Lagoon – This hidden gem really is worth a visit during your stay in Siargao. It is only accessed by boat and there are various packages that can be purchased from the boat dock in Del Carmen depending on if you want to add on other stops during your trip there. Prices start at 2100 pesos for 2 people for just Sugba Lagoon, or 2900 pesos to add on Pamomoan beach as well. This price includes a private boat for your party and captain during your entire excursion; trips to pamomoan beach exclude a small 30 entrance fee which can be paid upon arrival. The boat trip to the lagoon took maybe 30 minutes through the mangroves until you finally turned the corner around one of the cliffs and the incredible blue lagoon comes into view. It honestly is like nothing I had ever witnessed before – the water is so clear and turquoise it really took my breath away! Once you arrive at the lagoon you will disembark the boat to a small raised area where you can rent clear kayaks to paddle around the lagoon, and there is a tall diving platform for the adrenaline junkies out there! When you are ready to leave, just let one of the staff know which number boat you came in on and they will radio the captain to come pick you up – it’s that easy! 

• Pamomoan beach  – just a short boat ride from Sugba Lagoon is a beautiful unspoilt beach called Pamomoan beach. This is the Instagram worthy beach you’ve been waiting for! We booked this addition when we purchased tickets to Sugba Lagoon and we were so glad we did! There is a small eatery onsite that serves BBQ and rice and also has a selection of drinks for purchase. During our stay, we bought an entire bottle of rum and two bottles of coca cola and the total came to just under the equivalent of $2.50! Please note that there is a small 30 pesos entrance fee that must be paid on arrival to the beach, it can be settled at the bar. There are various tables and chairs along the beach; it was the perfect relaxing afternoon we were hoping for! After a couple of drinks, we took a stroll down the beach, feeling very much like Robinson Crusoe before boarding our boat back to Del Carmen. 

• Magpupunko Beach and Rock Pools – our trip here to Magpupunko was such a pleasant surprise – we arrived to the picturesque Magpupunko Beach and thought this was the main draw until we started following a few people walk around the rocks to the left of the beach and discovered the rock pools – it really was nature’s swimming pool! These were huge natural pools at the foot of some small cliffs where we saw some of the local children showing off their diving skills into the blue waters below.  There are various eateries at the top of the beach serving breakfast, lunch and various drinks. 

• Maasai River – once a quaint fishing town, the addition of a large platform and rope swing brought popularity to this otherwise unknown village. Entrance fee to visit is just 20 pesos where you can let your adrenaline junkie run free with the tall swing over the river. Totally picturesque and insta- worthy! There is also a small floating raft whereby locals offer to take pictures for you with the iconic swing in the background. A great addition to a land tour! 

• Coconut Mountain View Lookout Point – you’ll likely drive past this at some point if you are exploring the island; it really is something to be marvelled at, as you descend the main road you will view the acres of coconut palm trees and river running through it from above! 

• Naked Island – this unique island is more of a sandbar and only accessed at low tide – it has literally nothing on it but pure white sands – it’s worth seeing but I would advise not spending too long here – it gets busy and there are better islands to visit that have a little shade! Saying that it’s a wonderful spot to watch the sunset with some friends.  

• Daku Island – this palm fringed island was definitely one of my highlights during my island hopping tour in Siargao. The island is fairly large and expansive but still very much unspoilt. The water here is so incredibly blue and they have roped off certain designated swimming areas at the best beach, which was very helpful as the boat traffic gets quite busy, especially around lunchtime. There are many palapas and areas to kick back and relax, and one thing they do excellently is the seafood buffet lunch which is usually included if you book a tour through a company. It really is quite the expansive seafood spread and some of the best food I had on the island! Get the cameras ready for this one – I guarantee you’ll need it! 

• Guyam Island – this island is very small, but don’t let that deter you! It’s absolutely beautiful, crystal blue water, powdery sand with a quaint bar and restaurant and many lounges, palapas and tables to sit at and simply relax! The prices at the “Guyam Burger” were very good, and although I only ordered drinks here I was very impressed with the service and drinks I received. 

• Tuktuk tour around the island – I booked a private guide to take us around the island in a tuk tuk and it worked out at just $25 per person for the entire day including entrance to attractions – we booked with “Dod’z Island Tours”. If you book with a larger group it’s obviously cheaper, but it was wonderful to have a private tour and pick and choose where we went and how long we chose to stay at each location. Possible options for stops on your land tour include Magpupungko Rock pools, Coconut view, Secret beach, cave pools, Massai river, Sugba lagoon (additional price for this as includes boat out to the area). 

• Rent a scooter and explore – this was the top activity that was recommended to us during our stay in Siargao – with rentals as low as 400 pesos per day ($7.20) it does make sense if you’re comfortable riding one and bring your sense of adventure! 

• Visit the many unspoilt beaches – There’s no shortage of beaches on Siargao and what better way to spend a lazy afternoon than with your toes in the sand? Bonus points if you find a chill beach bar – my favourite while visiting was Lagkaw Beach Bar near the south of the island, open Thursday through Sunday with great cocktails, food vibes! 

• Secret beach – admittedly not really a secret anymore, but a trip here is definitely worth a visit! It’s a popular place for local families to gather and the powdery white sands surrounding. There’s also a firefly tour.

• Enjoy a Fresh coconut – there’s nothing more refreshing than drinking fresh cold coconut juice directly out of a coconut! There’s plenty of street vendors around the island happy to open one for you, all you need is a straw. If you’re feeling adventurous, add a shot of their local rum into it.

• Try your hand at surfing –  it’s no secret that Siargao is a surfers haven, and since becoming a world surf league destination, it’s really put Siargao on the map. With waves to suit all levels from beginner to advanced, and some of the best surf guides to coach you, it’s definitely worth playing your luck on a surfboard, even if it’s your first time! If you’re an avid surfer, be sure to visit Cloud 9 Surf Break!

• Paddle boarding – another great activity to be enjoyed during your stay on the island. Most beachfront hotels have SUPs available to use for guests or for a small fee. When the currents are low it’s a wonderful way to spend an early morning or evening.

• Try traditional Filipino dishes – one of my favourite things about travelling is embracing the local culture and tasting all the traditional food and meals. The Philippines was no exception; one of my top dishes I tried was called pork tocino which is usually had at breakfast with garlic rice – and it was so delicious! ‘Chicken arroz callad’ was also a top pick of mine – it’s like a chicken broth porridge with rice – the ultimate comfort food! 

• Take a yoga class – yoga classes are readily available throughout the island and incredibly affordable – and if you’re lucky, you’ll find a class with an ocean view! During my stay at Soultribe Retreat I participated in the yoga class almost every morning; the yoga deck was located on top of the main building with panoramic views over the beach and ocean – can you imagine anything better?

For more information on visiting Siargao, read my Top Tips for Your First Visit To Siargao, Philippines

Looking to book accommodation on the island? Read my review of Soul Tribe Beach Resort

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