Multi-level waterfalls, white sand beaches lined with palm trees, and mountainous landscapes are just a few things that you can expect when you visit Siquijor. Siquijor is an island in the Philippines that still feels untouched… an explorers paradise if you will! There are so many incredible hidden gems scattered throughout the island, you can spend weeks here, and discover new things everyday.
We spent 3 days in Siquijor, which we feel like is plenty of time to see the highlights of the Island. In this blog post, we are going to share the best places to stay, restaurants to eat at, and some incredible things to do on the Island of Siquijor.
Things To Know Before You Arrive
ATM/ Payment
There are quite a few ATM machines around in the main town of San Juan and the ports. Most establishments, like restaurants and bars, exclusively take cash so make sure to have plenty on hand! We found only a few places that took credit cards, and they add an additional charge to your bill to use them. You will also need cash if you plan on renting a motorbike, heading to a waterfall, or tipping!
Best Time to Visit
The “dry” season in Siquijor is between end of November to late March! However, there are still storms that pass through at this time. We got one day of rain during our time on the Island.
Their actual “rain” season is from June to October. This time in the year can expect rain and even typhoons!
Best area To Stay
The best area to stay in on the Island, in our opinion, is in San Juan. This is where the majority of the restaurants and hotels are concentrated. It is also central to both ports, making it easy to access. Some of the main tourist attractions are only a short drive away from this area as well. We have our recommended hotel below.
How To Get To Siquijor
Ferry from Liloan
There are multiple ferries that run to and from Siquijor on a daily basis and dock at either the Siquijor Port or the Lorena Port. If you are traveling from the southern portion of Cebu, you can take the Maayo Shipping Ferry from Liloan Port, which takes approximately 3 hours. This is a direct route, unlike some other ferries that stop in Dumaguete first before traveling on to Siquijor.
There is not a lot of information on this ferry specifically and we feel this one is so convenient. The ferry schedule is typically at 2 AM on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. There is also a ferry at 7 AM on Sunday. You need to buy the ticket at the port, so arrive no less than an hour before the departure time. You can check the updated schedule, and reserve a place on the ferry (not buy a ticket) via their Facebook Page here! The ferry is 200 php per person which is approximately 4 USD.
Ferry from Bohol
If you are traveling to Siquijor from Bohol, Ocean Jet is the main ferry provider offering daily scheduled departures to the Siquijor port at 3:20 PM. This ferry is air conditioned, takes 2 hours, and is approximately 900 php or 16 USD per person. You can book the ferry here!
Airplane
There is a new small airport in Siquijor that has daily flights coming in via Philippines Airlines and Cebu Pacific Airlines. This is the most expensive way to travel to Siquijor, but is also the quickest at around 1 hour! Most flights depart from Cebu Airport.
Getting Around Siquijor
Rent a Motorbike
We highly recommend renting a motorbike to explore the Island while you are visiting. A motorbike gives you the most autonomy to make your own schedule and explore at your own pace. We had a motorbike delivered to our hotel for 450 php a day with helmets included.
The roads in Siquijor are less busy than most islands so it makes it much less stressful to drive around.
Tricycle
If you are looking to explore places close to where you are staying, and you do not want the responsibility of driving, there are many Tricycles driving around. You can simply flag one down, let them know where you want to go and ask how much! There is no consistency in prices for Tricycles and drivers often make a price up on the spot, so definitely make sure to barter and agree on a price before getting on!
Tours
If you are looking to see some of the highlights of Siquijor with an experienced guide driving, then a tour is a great option. You can ask the front desk of your hotel for tour options!
Things To Do In Siquijor
Cambugahay Falls
Cambugahay Falls is arguably the best waterfall in Siquijor! There are 3 levels and each level has bamboo rafts and swings to make the adventure more memorable.
The entrance fee is very reasonable at 20 php per person (less than 1 USD). There is a mandatory guide that accompanies you to the base of the waterfall and they receive no wages so be sure to tip them for their time. We did not feel a guide was necessary, but our guide took our phones and got some really cool videos of us so we cannot complain.
It is also 50 php per person to use the swings and bamboo rafts. The swings and rafts at the two different levels are “owned” by two different people so you will need to pay separate fees if you want to use both.
Arrive early if you want to avoid the crowds. Because this is such a popular waterfall, it gets quite crowded quickly. We went for just before 8 AM (their stated opening time) and we had the falls to ourselves for about 30 minutes.
The falls are located in the town of Lazi, which is about 30 minutes by scooter from the main town of San Juan.
For being the most popular waterfall on the Island, we were surprised at the lack of signage directing you to the waterfall itself. We highly recommend using Google Maps if you are driving a scooter to the falls.
Find the Google Maps location below!
Lugnason Falls
Also known locally as Zodiac Falls, this waterfall is located in San Juan town making it quite easy to each. There are a trail that lead will you down to this beautiful waterfall and swimming hole. It takes approximately 15 minutes from the parking area to reach the 5 meter high falls.
There are a lot of places to explore once you get to the base. There is a rope swing available to use without charge, and also some jumping spots from the top of the falls. Make sure your guide shows you where to jump! If you follow the stream down to the right, there are some small man made pools. You can also climb the waterfall and explore some of the upper levels!
Arrive early in the day to avoid a crowd. Our guide told us they typically get over 100 people visiting in a day, which is a lot for this small waterfall!
There is no entrance fee to this waterfall. If you bring a scooter, then there is a parking fee of 20 php. There is a guide that is assigned to you on your arrival and you are expected to tip them as they earn no wages.
When we arrived in Siquijor, it was after quite a few days of heavy rain fall, meaning the waterfalls were raging! It also meant the color was a bit more grey than normal.
You can find the Google Maps location below.
Paliton Beach
This is the highest rated beach in Siquijor. It is located in the town of San Juan, making it quite easy to reach if you are staying in this area.
There is a few different sections of the beach. When you arrive to the parking area, you will see a small white sand beach area directly in front of you with a few beach huts and vendors. If you go to the right, through the trees (you will see a walking path) you will arrive at the larger portion of the beach. This section of Paliton Beach is where you will find the rope swings, beautiful white sand and a lot of vendors selling alcoholic beverages and snacks.
You can find the exact Google Maps location below.
SALAGDOONG BEACH & CLIFF JUMP
Salagdoong Beach was previously one of the most popular beaches on Siquijor. At the time of writing this blog post (Feb 2023) it is closed to all swimming and cliff jumping. So definitely ask some locals if the beach has opened when you visit!
Apo Island Day Trip
Apo Island is located just 30km off the shore of Siquijor and is a popular place to snorkel and dive! You can organize a day trip through some of the dive shops in town or even through the front desk of your hotel .
Expect to see colorful coral, plenty of tropical fish and if you are lucky some sea turtles!
Places To Eat in Siquijor
Aroi MakMak Thai
This hidden gem is located in the main town of San Juan right along the beach. Although it is unassuming from the exterior, you walk through the narrow entry onto a beautiful patio with an incredible sunset view. The Thai food is great, we highly recommend the Red Thai Curry!
Baha Bar
This bar and restaurant is located in the center of San Juan and came highly recommend from multiple travel blogs. However in our opinion, the food was mediocre at best and probably is worth skipping for meals. The atmosphere is great however and they have live music almost every night. So we recommend visiting for a drink in the evening.
Tuko Restaurant
Located in South Mountain Resort, this restaurant over looks the ocean from the mountains. It is a great place to watch the sunset and enjoy a quality meal. You do not need to be a guest at the hotel to come here for a meal. The food quality here is amazing, and we had the best meal we have eaten in the Philippines here. We recommend the Signature Steak and the Pork Ribs!
Dolce Amore Restaurant
This open air restaurant serves up some authentic Italian food! If you have a craving for wood fire pizza or a great pasta dish, then this is the place you should go!
Where To Stay In Siquijor
South Mountain Resort
South Mountain Resort is located just a short 5 minute drive up into the mountains from San Juan. The resort offers a variety of rooms that are perfect for couples, small families and groups. If you are looking for a longer stay on the Island, some rooms come equipped with a full kitchen, dining area and living room. If you are looking for a short term stay, other rooms have a comfortable bed and the standard hotel room offerings. The grounds of the hotel are lush and jungle like. The infinity edge swimming pool offers spectacular views of the ocean below, and one of the best lookouts for the sunset in Siquijor.
The Resort also offers a full service bar and restaurant. The staff take pride in the food they cook and the service they provide. The owner truly goes above and beyond to make you feel like part of his family.
We book all of our hotels through Booking.com!
Final Thoughts
Siquijor is a unique island in the Philippines offering a perfect mix of adventure and relaxation! With white sand beaches, stunning waterfalls and rich history, this island is a true explorers paradise.
Let us know if you found this blog post helpful and if you have any questions at all in the comments.
