The best travel route for El Nido, Siquijor, and Siargao is to go:
- El Nido
- Siquijor
- Siargao
Hereβs how!
π¬ Getting to El Nido
Direct Flights
βοΈ Direct from Manila | 1.5 hours | (Air Swift)
via Puerto Princessa
βοΈ Flight from Manila or Cebu to Puerto Princessa | 1.5 hours | (Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, Air Asia)
π Van or bus to El Nido | 5 – 6 hours | (book online)
Notes:
- Direct flights to and from El Nido are expensive, which is why a lot of travelers prefer to fly into Puerto Princessa instead.
- There are countless vans and buses going from Puerto Princessa to El Nido, it’s very easy to get on one.
- Many vans can also pick you up at your hotel in Puerto Princessa.
- If you want to see schedules or book in advance, you can book a van from the airport, the terminal, or even at your hotel here.
π El Nido Sample Itinerary
Sample only! See my El Nido travel guide for more info
Day 1: Tour A
Get php200 off Tour A when you book online here!
π£ Swim and Kayak in Big Lagoon
π€Ώ Snorkel on Shimizu Island
π Explore Secret Lagoon
ποΈ Chill or play volleyball in 7 Commandos Beach
Day 2: Explore Land Spots
πΈοΈ Taraw Cliff Canopy Walk and Spiderwebs (book online)
π¦ Dip in Nagkalit-kalit Waterfalls
β±οΈ Chill and watch the sunset in Nacpan Beach
Day 3: Tour C or Scuba Diving
Get php200 off Tour C when you book online here!
π Helicopter Island
β©οΈ Matinloc Shrine
ποΈ Secret Beach
ποΈ Talisay Beach
ποΈ Hidden Beach
β‘οΈ El Nido to Siquijor
Fast Route
βοΈ Direct flight from El Nido to Bohol | 1.5 hours | (Air Swift)
πΊ Tricycle or van to Tagbilaran Pier | 30 minutes
π₯οΈ Ferry to Siquijor | 2 hours | (book online)
Notes:
- Direct flights from El Nido to Bohol are expensive, which is why a lot of travelers prefer to travel via Puerto Princessa.
- There are 2 main companies with fast crafts from Tagbilaran to Siquijor, OceanJet and Apekop. I recommend riding with OceanJet since they dock in Siquijor Port, which is near the main tourist zone in San Juan. Apekop docks in Larena, which is much farther. You can check schedules and book online here.
Cheap Route (via Puerto Princessa and Cebu City)
El Nido to Cebu City:
π Van or bus to Puerto Princessa Airport | 5 – 6 hours | (book online)
βοΈ Flight to Cebu City | 1.5 hours | (Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines)
Notes:
- There are dozens of vans and buses going from El Nido to Puerto Princessa airport. You can check schedules and book online here.
Cebu City to Siquijor
Fastest Route
π Taxi to Pier 1 | 30 – 45 minutes
π₯οΈ Ferry to Siquijor via Bohol | 4.5 hours | (book online)
Notes:
- This route is the fastest and most straightforward way to get to Siquijor from Cebu. However, it’s also the most expensive option. You can check the schedule and buy tickets online here, or you can also buy at the port.
- This route has a short stopover in Tagbilaran, Bohol. It’s about 15-30 minutes.
Direct Ferry
π Taxi to Pier 1 | 30 – 45 minutes
π₯οΈ Direct ferry to Larena Pier | 10 hours | (book online)
Notes:
- This is the only direct ferry from Cebu City to Siquijor. It leaves 3x a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. You can find updated schedules and book online here.
- Larena Port is farther away from San Juan (Siquijor’s tourist zone) than Siquijor Port (which the other travel options dock on). Nonetheless, there are plenty of tricycles or motorcycle taxis outside Larena Pier that will be happy to take you there.
Direct Bus
π Taxi to South Bus Terminal | 30 – 45 minutes
π Direct bus from South Bus Terminal, Cebu to Siquijor | 7 – 8 hours
Notes:
- The bus drives to Liloan Port, gets on the boat, and continues its journey around Siquijor. You can stay inside the bus while it’s on the boat, or you can get out.
- You still have to pay the boat fare. In total, you’ll spend about php650 (roughly 400 for the bus, and 250 for the boat)
- When the boat docks, the bus will loop around Siquijor Island. So if you’re staying in San Juan (Siquijor’s main tourist zone), just tell the conductor to drop you there.
- This is a fairly new route by Ceres Bus Liner, and it currently leaves every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 8 pm, and 1 am on Sundays. You can check their Facebook Page for any updates.
Alternative Route
π Taxi to South Bus Terminal | 30 – 45 minutes
π Direct bus to Dumaguete City | 5 – 6 hours
π₯οΈ Ferry to Siquijor | 40 minutes | (book online)
Notes:
- This is probably the worst route to Siquijor. However, because the other routes are either slightly expensive or not available every day, many travelers still do this route.
- Buses to Dumaguete City leave South Bus Terminal in Cebu every hour starting at 6 am. Like the direct bus to Siquijor, you still have to pay your boat fare.
- From Dumaguete Pier, there are about 6-7 different ferries to take you to Siquijor. The Fast Crafts are owned by OceanJet, and they leave twice a day. Click here to see schedules and book online. The slow boats can only be booked at the pier.
π Siquijor Sample Itinerary
Sample only! See my Siquijor travel guide for more info
Day 1: Explore San Juan
π€Ώ Snorkel in Tubod Marine Sanctuary
π© Swim in the green Lugnason Falls
β² Relax in Capilay Spring Park
π Watch the sunset in Paliton Beach
Day 2: Explore Lazi
π³ Foot spa in the Old Balete Tree
π§ “Witch” jump shot in Hapitanan
π¦ Jump into Cambugahay Falls
π¦ Swim through the Sambulawan Underground River
βͺ Visit the Lazi Church and Convent
Day 3: Explore the Mountains
β°οΈ Visit the Mt. Bandilaan view deck (tallest point in Siquijor)
π¦ Go spelunking in Cantabon Cave
π½οΈ Eat in Larena Triad Coffee Shop
π¦ Visit the butterfly sanctuary
πΊοΈ Try to find Cangbangag Falls
β‘οΈ Siquijor to Siargao
Step #1 – Siquijor to Cebu City
Fastest Route
π₯οΈ Ferry from Siquijor Port to Cebu City via Bohol | 4 – 5 hours | (book online)
Notes:
- This is the fastest and most convenient way to get from Siquijor to Cebu City.
- The ferry has a short 15 – 30 minutes stopover in Tagbilaran, Bohol.
Direct Ferry
π₯οΈ Ferry from Larena Port to Cebu City | 10 hours | (book online)
Notes:
- This ferry leaves from Larena Port, NOT Siquijor Port where the fast crafts leave from.
- This ferry only leaves every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7 pm. You can check for schedules and book online here
Alternative Route #1
π₯οΈ Ferry from Siqujor Port to Dumaguete City | 40 minutes | (book online)
π Bus or tricycle to Sibulan Port | 15 minutes
π₯οΈ Ferry to Liloan Port | 30 minutes
π Bus to Cebu City | 4 – 5 hours
Notes:
- This route sounds complicated, but there are so many buses and ferries plying this route, it’s very easy.
- There are fast and slow boats from Siquijor to Dumaguete. Fast boats take around 40 minutes, while slow boats take 1.5 hours. The most popular operator for tourists is OceanJet. You can check their schedule and book online.
Alternative Route #2
π₯οΈ Ferry from Larena Port to Bato, Cebu | 3 hours
π Bus to Cebu City | 4 – 5 hours
Notes:
- The ferry from Larena Port to Bato in southern Cebu leaves 3x a week at 1pm, and takes 3 hours to arrive. You can find updated schedules on Maayo Shipping’s Facebook page.
- This route has less waiting time in piers, but the trip from Larena Port to Bato is potentially longer than going through Dumaguete.
Step #2 – Cebu City to Siargao
By plane
π Taxi to Cebu Airport | 30 – 45 minutes
βοΈ Flight to Sayak Airport, Siargao | 1 hour | (Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines)
π Van to General Luna | 45 minutes | (book online)
Notes:
- This is the fastest way to get from Cebu City to Siargao.
- General Luna (the main tourist town in Siargao) is about 45 minutes away from Sayak Airport. You can get on a shared van on the spot, or book ahead here.
By ferry
π₯οΈ Ferry to Surigao City | 10 hours | (book online)
π₯οΈ Ferry to Dapa, Siargao | 1.5 hours | (book online)
πΊ Tricycle or van to General Luna | 25 minutes
Notes:
- This route is slower and cheaper, which is why many travelers prefer this route.
- There are two companies plying the Cebu City to Surigao City route, Starlite Ferries and Cokaliong Shipping. Starlite Ferries departs from Pier 3, while Cokaliong leaves from Pier 1.
- Both companies leave every day except Saturday. Cokaliong at 7 pm and Starlite at 9 pm. Schedules are subject to change, but you can see updated schedules and book online here.
- There are multiple ferries plying the Surigao to Dapa route. Most tourists ride the Evaristo and Sons fast craft, which leaves 3x a day. Check the schedules and book a ticket online here.
π Siargao Sample Itinerary
Sample only! See my Siargao travel guide for more info
Day 1: Explore the Island
Rent a motorbike here and go DIY, or book an organized tour here
π© Jump into the green waters of Sugba Lagoon
πͺ¨ Visit the Magpoponko Rock Pools
π¦ Jump into the Tayangban Cave Pool
π£ββοΈ Explore the Maasin River
π΄ Pictures at the Coconut Tree Viewdeck
Day 2: Island Hopping
Book a tour anywhere in General Luna or online here
β±οΈ Visit the Virgin Island sandbar
π€Ώ Snorkel and eat lunch on Daku Island
π΄ Chill on Guyam Island
Day 3: Surf and Chill
π Learn how to surf in Cloud 9 beach
π₯ Eat fruit bowls in Shaka Cafe
π Enjoy pizza in Kermit Siargao
Optional: ଳ Swim with jellyfish and explore Sohoton Cove (book online)
π« Exit From Siargao (General Luna)
Via Manila
π Van to Sayak Airport | 45 minutes | (book online)
βοΈ Flight to Manila | 2 hours | (Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines)
Via Cebu (flight)
π Van to Sayak Airport | 45 minutes | (book online)
βοΈ Flight to Cebu | (Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines)
Via Cebu (ferry)
πΊ Tricycle or van to Dapa Port | 25 minutes
π₯οΈ Ferry to Surigao City | 1.5 hours | (book online)
π₯οΈ Ferry to Cebu City | 10 hours | (book online)
π Taxi to Cebu Airport | 30 – 45 minutes
βοΈ Flight to Manila or outside the country
Notes:
- This route is slower and not that much cheaper, but many slow travelers prefer this route.
- There are two companies plying the Surigao City to Cebu City route, Starlite Ferries and Cokaliong Shipping.
- Both companies leave every day except Sunday. Starlite at 9 am and Cokaliong at 7 pm. Schedules are subject to change, but you can see updated schedules and book online here.
- There are multiple ferries plying the Dapa to Surigao route. Most tourists ride the Evaristo and Sons fast craft, which leaves 3x a day. Check the schedules and book a ticket online here.
Have questions? Shoot me a message below or send me a dm on my Instagram.
Hi my husband and I are planning to go to Philippines on Feb'25. We don't have much time due to job policy and limited holidays. We've got our tickets 13-Feb-25 fly from Bangladesh and return on 23-Feb-25, so 9 days only.
We want to visit both El nido and Siquijor. Can you please let us know how should we plan?
Note: We are non-swimmers, so not be able to participate in most of the water activities, but you can suggest which we can.
I am sharing our Tentative plan, we know it's busy but we are ok with it as long as it's realistic and doable. Please suggest.
Tentative Plan:
13-Feb
Dhk to manila
14-Feb
Manila to Puerto princia by air
Puerto prince- underground river
To Port barton by minivan
15-Feb
Port barton to El nido by minivan
El nido package A
16-Feb
El nido package C
17-Feb
El nido to coron (?) by ferri
18-Feb
coron explore
19-Feb
coron to cebu by air
Cebu beach or osmena (?)
Cebu to Dumaguete by night bus
20-Feb
Dumaguete Apo island
Dumaguete port to Siquijor port by ferri ( evening)
21-Feb
Siquijor Lugnason falls, Kagusuan beach
22-Feb
paliton beach, pitogo cliff nature park
Siquijor to Dumaguete
Dumaguete to manila by air
23-Feb
manila to dhaka back