Airene’s guidebook
surf spots
Some basic spots. For good surfers when the waves are over one meter in size. Otherwise, if it is smaller, then it is a free-for-all.
Surf on Siargao is tide-related. Some spots handle medium to high tide and back to medium and others work at low-to-medium tides.
Cloud 9 is the wave everyone comes to surf. Often called "Crowd 9." This wave is a right-hander that handles anything from 1 to 3.5 meters. it can be heavy when it's big. Good at higher tides
Try the islands offshore as well. Rock Island and Stimpy's. Rock Island is a right that handles pretty big surf and it's counterpart, Stimpy's, is a left from the facing island. You have to surf both waves. Good at low to medium tides, but still ok at higher tides.
31 locals recommend
Cloud 9 Surfing Area
Cloud 9 is the wave everyone comes to surf. Often called "Crowd 9." This wave is a right-hander that handles anything from 1 to 3.5 meters. it can be heavy when it's big. Good at higher tides
Try the islands offshore as well. Rock Island and Stimpy's. Rock Island is a right that handles pretty big surf and it's counterpart, Stimpy's, is a left from the facing island. You have to surf both waves. Good at low to medium tides, but still ok at higher tides.
Food scene
Most of the recommendations are international food. For local food, you can try one of the dozens of local barbecues.
The Bliss
Tourism RoadBravo was the first place to have good appetizers. Hummus, babaganoush and other tasty treats. Other places have also popped up recently, but hey, Bravo is busy if you like busy.
16 locals recommend
Bravo Beach Resort Siargao
Tourism RoadBravo was the first place to have good appetizers. Hummus, babaganoush and other tasty treats. Other places have also popped up recently, but hey, Bravo is busy if you like busy.
pretty good wood-fired oven pizza. Also has pasta dishes and salads. We go there when we are too lazy to make our own pizza.
Altrove Siargao
Tourism Roadpretty good wood-fired oven pizza. Also has pasta dishes and salads. We go there when we are too lazy to make our own pizza.
La Carinderia
Tourism RoadAnother Italian place but no pizza. Great food though.
The restaurant, Warang, features good indonesian food. Try the Nasi Campur. Or Nasi Goreng. The bak wan appetizer is also tasty.
Siargao Island Villas
Tourism RoadThe restaurant, Warang, features good indonesian food. Try the Nasi Campur. Or Nasi Goreng. The bak wan appetizer is also tasty.
although it's not Thailand, Buddha's does what they can with what is available locally to create some modest Thai dishes. This resort also does breakfast.
Buddha’s Thai Cuisine
although it's not Thailand, Buddha's does what they can with what is available locally to create some modest Thai dishes. This resort also does breakfast.
The place to get your basic food stuffs. No vegatables, just dry goods, milk and such.
21 locals recommend
Tag grocery
The place to get your basic food stuffs. No vegatables, just dry goods, milk and such.
Hit GL for the wet market. If you are cooking for yourself, then this is where you can buy fresh fish, vegetables, fruits, etc. You have to do random checks to get the fish you want. Often has yellow fin tuna, mahimahi, snappers of all sorts, octopus, squid, cuttlefish, shrimp, reef fish, swordfish, marlin, etc. Often has nothing as well--it is hit and miss.
7 locals recommend
General Luna
Hit GL for the wet market. If you are cooking for yourself, then this is where you can buy fresh fish, vegetables, fruits, etc. You have to do random checks to get the fish you want. Often has yellow fin tuna, mahimahi, snappers of all sorts, octopus, squid, cuttlefish, shrimp, reef fish, swordfish, marlin, etc. Often has nothing as well--it is hit and miss.
Bulan Pizzeria
Tourism RoadGood pizza, good people. Across from Warung Indonesian Restaurant.
Warung Siargao Indonesian Restaurant
Pretty good indonesian food. Try the Nasi Campur or the Bakwan.
Neighborhoods
The cool neighborhood, just past Cloud 9, to the new bridge. Home to Catangnan Fried Chicken and several dirty kitchens, homestays, hostels, resorts and Airbnbs. And, of course, Hale Aloha and Siargao Yacht Club. Enjoy sunset happy hours from the two roof decks and chill to contemporary Hawaiian tunes.
Catangnan
The cool neighborhood, just past Cloud 9, to the new bridge. Home to Catangnan Fried Chicken and several dirty kitchens, homestays, hostels, resorts and Airbnbs. And, of course, Hale Aloha and Siargao Yacht Club. Enjoy sunset happy hours from the two roof decks and chill to contemporary Hawaiian tunes.
Sightseeing
Siargao is great for surfers, especially if there is any kind of swell. However, it is not the typical beachy island. The barrier reef projects out up to 500 meters or more in places and drains off dry during low tide, so there is no place to swim and chill at during low tide.
For non-surfers, it is a great place to learn how to surf with many easy spots to learn at, due to the barrier reef.
If you are not interested in surfing, then there are better places to go to if you have a limited travel budget.
If you take a day off from surfing, then an excursion is in order. Hit Mapugunkpo at low tide to experience the swimming holes in the reef. Overcrowded and overrated, it is still something else to do.
16 locals recommend
Magpupungko Beach & Tidal Pools
If you take a day off from surfing, then an excursion is in order. Hit Mapugunkpo at low tide to experience the swimming holes in the reef. Overcrowded and overrated, it is still something else to do.
Daku Island is part of the three-island day trip. Naked island, Daku and one other. You will enjoy lunch during your day as well. Not much to do on the excursion as the coral is dead, especially around naked island where the local fishermen have dynamited the reef to bits. Good for a day though.
18 locals recommend
Daku Island
Daku Island is part of the three-island day trip. Naked island, Daku and one other. You will enjoy lunch during your day as well. Not much to do on the excursion as the coral is dead, especially around naked island where the local fishermen have dynamited the reef to bits. Good for a day though.
Well, if you're gonna drive around for a day, stop here for an hour. The cave is filled with water, higher or lower, depending on the tide. you walk through the horseshoe shaped cave and exit. it its a cave, albeit nothing dramatic.
Tayangban Cave Pool
Siargao Circumferential RoadWell, if you're gonna drive around for a day, stop here for an hour. The cave is filled with water, higher or lower, depending on the tide. you walk through the horseshoe shaped cave and exit. it its a cave, albeit nothing dramatic.
As an athletic alternative to surfing, hit the wake park for a couple of hours. It is pretty chill.
6 locals recommend
Siargao Wakepark
As an athletic alternative to surfing, hit the wake park for a couple of hours. It is pretty chill.
Another diversion from surfing if you get bored. It has the feel of the 'tourist machine." You have to follow very specific instructions, pay for your boat ride, SUP rental, kayak rental, etc. You have a limited amount of time to spend there and then you must leave for the next set of groups coming. OK for some, cheesy for others. Depends on your travel experience.
25 locals recommend
Sugba Lagoon
Another diversion from surfing if you get bored. It has the feel of the 'tourist machine." You have to follow very specific instructions, pay for your boat ride, SUP rental, kayak rental, etc. You have a limited amount of time to spend there and then you must leave for the next set of groups coming. OK for some, cheesy for others. Depends on your travel experience.
Sohoton Caves & Natural Bridge Park
fuel
Petron gas station
There are several small gas stations and Petron available.