Siquijor: The 12 Best Things to Do.

Siquijor island is an absolute hidden gem found in the Philippines, and by far my favourite place we visited. From pristine, crystal clear beaches, to stunning waterfalls, incredible food and amazing sunsets, this island has it all!

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Fun Fact: Siquijor island is often referred to as Isla de Fuego (the island of fire). This is due to the glow produced by swarms of fireflies in its forests at night.

And trust me its hard not to miss them! They literally hit us in the face multiple times while out on our bike lol. But even if you are walking you will see them glowing throughout the bushes at night.

The Best Things to do in Siquijor

Although the island is quite small (you can get around it all in approximately 2 hours on a motorbike), you will never be stuck wondering what to do. Here are some of the best things to do:

1. Cambugahay Falls Siquijor

Cambugahay falls is one of the most famous tourist attractions on the island. And after visiting I can see why. This three-tiered waterfall is a nature lovers heaven and an adventure seekers paradise.

At each tier you will find a pool of turquoise waters. So, you can swim in the pool, or if you’re an adrenaline seeker like me, you can choose to swing into the pool using one of the rope swings.

There are ropes at various heights, so if you are nervous you can choose to use one of the lower swings. Of course I had to try out the highest one there! We were actually the only people there that opted for the highest one.

I have to say the afternoon we spent here was probably the best day of my entire Philippines trip!

However, there is a small entrance fee to the waterfall, 20 PHP (30 cent) per person, and then if you want to use the swing ropes its an additional 50 PHP (83 cent) per person. Once you pay you can swing off the ropes as many times as you like!

2. Lugnason Falls Siquijor

Another stunning waterfall on Siquijor island is Lugnason Falls. This is a lesser-known waterfall, so it is ideal for those looking to escape the big crowds. Although it is much smaller than Cambugahay falls, you can have just as much fun (if not more) here.

This waterfall is quite tall, and if you’re brave enough, you can actually jump from the top of the waterfall into the turquoise blue water below. Here you have the opportunity again to swing from a rope into the pool. But be prepared this rope swing is the highest one I’ve seen! As much of an adrenaline seeker I am, I couldn’t build up the courage for this one.

The locals also hang-out here and you will see them swinging from the ropes doing all sorts of tricks! It was pretty impressive.

3. Paliton Beach

If you’re a beach lover like me, Paliton beach is a must-see while visiting Siquijor. Famous for its white sand beach and crystal-clear waters, it is the perfect place to spend the day sunbathing, swimming and snorkelling.

It is very similar to White Beach in Boracay, just smaller and less crowded (which I loved!). And if you stay for the evening, you will catch the prettiest sunset.

4. Explore Mount Bandilaan

If you’re looking for the best viewpoint on the island, Mount Bandilaan is the place to go. It is the highest point of the island, offering a full 360 panoramic view of the area.

We took a motorbike from San Juan to Mount Bandilaan and it was about a 35-minute drive. Be prepared the roads are quite windy and unpaved the higher you go, so if you’re not an experienced or confident driver maybe take a pass on this one lol. Or book a guided tour that will take you there.

Tip: Check the weather in advance!!! We were silly and went up on the one and only cloudy day of our whole trip. And guess what, we seen nothing. To make it even better were inside a cloud. Yes, you heard me inside of a cloud!!

5. Tubod Beach

Tubod beach is another stunning white sand beach lined with palm trees and crystal-clear water. Home to Tubod Marine Sanctuary, this beach is filled with colourful fish and beautiful corals. It is one of the best places to go snorkelling on the island.

The only downfall here is the water is quite shallow, and the corals are very close to the shore. So, you need to be careful not to step on the reefs and damage them. Also be prepared to see lots of spiky sea urchins!

However, if swimming and snorkelling isn’t for you, it is a fantastic beach to lie out on and sunbathe. And then catch a beautiful sunset later in the evening.

6. Coral Cay Beach

This beach is more of a hidden gem. If you want a beach with no crowds, Coral Cay is for you. We literally had the beach to ourselves with probably two people passing up and down while we were there.

Again, it is a stunning white sand beach, filled with palm trees and crystal-clear water. You can relax on the beach, go for a dip and enjoy a drink at Coral Cay Resort’s beach bar, just like we did.

7. Enjoy the sunset at BU Café

So, we actually stumbled across BU Café on our way home from visiting Mount Bandilaan, and we were not disappointed.

This is a cute café built into the side of the mountain, where you have a full panoramic view of the island. This time we were not in the clouds lol and we actually got to see the amazing view!

Here you can sit out on a hammock, watch the sun go down and enjoy some snacks from the café. The menu was sooo good! They had snacks such as chicken dippers, empanadas, smoothie bowls and insane shakes. And if you’re extra hungry you can get a full main course such as stir-frys, pastas, burgers and much more.

The shakes were on average 200 PHP (€3.30), and they were sooo big (perfect for sharing) and beautifully decorated. I highly recommend stopping here to watch the sunset. It is located just 10 minutes on motorbike from San Juan.

Sad note: my phone died just before sunset (typical) but I promise the view of the sunset was amazing. The sky was a stunning mix of pink and purple colours.

8. Eat at Luca Loko

Luca Loko deserves its own paragraph on here because it was that good! The menu was very me. From insane smoothie bowls to Asian classics, a wide selection of vegetarian options and fresh seafood. It seemed to be one of the most popular places to eat on the island.

I had the tuna and salmon poke bowl for lunch one of the days and it was 11/10.

9. Enjoy some amazing food

Siquijor had some lovely restaurants to enjoy a nice lunch or dinner in. Restaurants & cafés I highly recommend visiting include:

• Twenty 4 (Not far from Cambugahay Falls. Insane fish tacos!)
• Marco Polo (Pizza and pasta. The best pizza we had!)
• Monkey Business (a menu to suit everyone)
• Tagbalyon (filled with classic Filipino dishes at very cheap prices)
• Shaka Café (for smoothie bowl lovers)
• Luka Loko (mentioned above)
• BU Café (also mentioned above)

Be sure to try some Filipino classics. My favourites were chicken Adobo, Inasal and Sisig.

10. The Old Enchanted Balete Tree

Another really cool and unique thing to try while in Siquijor is having a foot spa at the Old Balette Tree. This tree is believed to be over 400 years old. At the base of the tree you will find a pool of fresh spring water filled with fish. Sit on the edge, throw your feet in and let the little fish nibble on your feet. This is one of the most unique and beautiful experiences you will find on the island.

11. Rent a motorbike and explore the island

I highly recommend renting a motorbike while visiting Siquijor. It is by far the best way to explore the island at your own pace. You can drive around the entire island in about 2 hours.

We rented ours from our resort, HenYuan Resort. It cost us 400 PHP (€6.65) per day. But there are many places on the island to rent a bike, you can even rent one at the pier as soon as you get off the ferry.

12. Go Snorkelling

And finally, you cannot visit Siquijor without going snorkelling at least once. The waters here were the clearest I have ever seen. No matter where you decide to snorkel you are guaranteed clear waters, lots of colourful fish and if you’re lucky you will even spot some turtles. Pack your own snorkelling gear (I highly recommend for hygiene purposes). Or if not you can rent some on most beaches.

Some of the best locations for snorkelling in Siquijor:

• Tubod Marine Sanctuary
• Palition Beach
• Salagdoong Beach
• Caticugan Marine Sanctuary
• Tulapos Marine Sanctuary

The Best of Siquijor Island Tour

You can also explore the best of Siquijor with a full guided tour. This is great for those who want to see all of the most popular destinations on the island, but don’t want to plan the route or drive themselves via motorbike. You can easily book the tour here.

The tour includes:

• The Old Enchanted Balete Tree
• Cambugahay Falls
• The Butterfly Sanctuary
• Mount Bandilaan
• Visiting a healer

Where to Stay in Siquijor

I would highly recommend staying in San Juan. It is the main tourist destination on the island. All of the restaurants recommended above are in San Juan. And all of the attractions are just a short distance away via motorbike.

We stayed in HenYuan Resort. It was perfect for us. This resort is not in anyway a luxury resort but it was in an ideal location and had everything we needed. It was a ran by the loveliest couple who were willing to help you in any way possible.

It also had two fantastic pools, and an area where you could walk into the sea to go snorkelling. This is where we saw some turtles! And watched the most beautiful sunset. We booked everything via Trip.com for the best prices.

Other popular hotels and beach resorts in Siquijor include:

• Coco Grove Beach Resort
• White Villas Resort
• Bermuda Triangle Bungalows
• Mad Monkey Siquijor (one of the most popular hostels in Asia)
• Glamping on the Beach

TIP: Book your accommodation for the Philippines in advance if you can because all of the good accommodation sells out early during busy seasons. We left it last minute and everywhere we really wanted was gone!

How to get to Siquijor

Although the island is small, and some-what off the beaten track, it is very easy to get to via ferry.

Cebu to Siquijor

OceanJet operates a direct fast ferry from Cebu Pier 1 to Siquijor Pier, which takes around 5-6 hours. This is the most convenient option coming from Cebu. We took this one back from Siquijor to Cebu.

Bohol to Siquijor

You can take a fast ferry from Tagbilaran Port (Bohol) to Siquijor Pier or Larena Pier in Siquijor. Multiple operators, including OceanJet and Apekop Travel, run daily trips. The ferry ride takes 1.5 to 2 hours.

There is also a night time ferry with Lite Ferries. This goes from Tagbilaran Port (Bohol) to Larena Pier (Siquijor). However, this takes a little longer (4 hours). We ended up having to take this one as all of the fast ferries were sold out. So be sure to book in advance!

Packing tips for Siquijor

Here are my recommendations of things to bring outside of your usual packing list!

• Snorkelling Gear: I highly recommend bringing your own snorkelling gear, just for hygiene purposes. I’m not a fan of using a mouth piece knowing it was stuck in someone else’s mouth before me lol.

• Sunscreen: I found that the sunscreen on the islands was often quiet expensive, so if you can definitely bring a bottle with you. It gets VERY hot! Check out my favourite travel pack here.

• Waterproof Dry Bag: Having a waterproof bag is a must went travelling anywhere in the Philippines. It keeps all of your belongings dry while taking any boat trips. Yes, the water does splash up into the boat lol! And there is often times on trips that you will swim through water. So, if you want to take your belongings and phone/camera with you its essential. We would have been lost without our dry bag!

Planning a trip to Siquijor

• Flying to Cebu or the Philippines? ✈️ To find the best prices on flights click here.
• Spending a few nights in Siquijor? 🏨 find the best hotel prices here.
• Do you want a guided tour in Siquijor? 🗺️ you can book the best guided tour here.
• Need the best sim card for travel? 📱 here you are!

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Affiliate Disclaimer: Some links in this post are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and participant in other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!