Hapitanan: Siquijor’s Fun, Magic-Themed Cafe and Souvenir Shop

Ever dream of yourself flying through the pre-dawn skies on a broomstick?

You zip over the tops of trees, throw your head up against the luminous skies, and cackle with delight.

And then, you look downwards and smile as your friend snaps a photograph of you.

It’s a delightful photograph.

You with your hair flying back, your finger pointing at something magical in the distance, your eyes intent, focused, feral.

And you know what?

You can get a photo just like that.

Not only in dreams or imaginations. 

That’s right!

You on a broomstick, zipping through the sky, just like a real witch.

Welcome to Hapitanan, Siquijor. 

In this blog, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about this fun native stopover, cafe, and souvenir shop. 

4 Fun Facts About Hapitanan, Siquijor 

Hapitanan is a really fun place to visit.

Let’s make it even more fun with these 4 facts:

Hapitanan Fun Fact #1: It’s Fun for People of All Ages

Siquijor is known to be an island for the adventurous.

For solo backpackers and soul searchers who want to dive into the deep, cross rushing cave rivers, and jump down roaring waterfalls.

But hey, it has its family-friendly places too.

Hapitanan is one of them.

It’s easy to get to, sitting right by the side of the road.

It has a wide selection of food and drinks.

It offers swings for kids to play on, plus comfortable benches to lounge around for older people.

Pets are welcome too!

So if you’re traveling to Siquijor with the whole caboodle, Hapitanan is a fun, family-friendly place to visit. 

Hapitanan Fun Fact #2: It’s Full of Creativity 

Hapitanan is not your basic cafe, with a menu full of basic food. 

Well, I mean, the food is quite regular (like rice meals, ice cream, and drinks), but they have gone ahead and added a touch of uniqueness to everything.

For example, check out this fun sign outside the bathroom door. 

Right? (haha) 

The menu for food is also unique, with labels like “Something Refreshing,” “Something Sweet,” “Something Silog,” and “Something Awakening.”

I remember being there and smiling at every sign I read.

Really an uplifting place, if you ask me. 

Hapitanan Fun Fact #3: It Offers a Lovely View of Lazi Town

Hapitanan isn’t only a fun place.

It’s a beautiful place too.

As you sit and sip fresh coconut straight from its shell, or mix up a halo-halo, you can rest your eyes on the smudged purple outline of Lazi town.

Green leaves surround everything, and you can sit back and unwind after a long day diving or caving. 

Hapitanan Fun Fact #4: It’s All in the Name

In Visayan, “Hapitanan” means “somewhere to stop.”

It implies a resting place, an easy place to get to, and a stopover for a quick breather. 

And yes, Hapitanan is exactly that!

It’s right by the side of the road and offers food, entertainment, and relaxation for the busy adventurer. 

But you don’t have to stay at Hapitanan for only a few minutes.

In fact, you can stay there the whole day if you love fresh nature views, a cool breeze, and a wide selection of really affordable snacks. 

On the other hand, if you’re rushing and need a quick stopover, Hapitanan will also work wonders for you. 

Hapitanan: 3 Memorable Things to Do There

Hapitanan is a simple delight, but there are still a bunch of things you can do there.

Here are 3 I recommend: 

Fun Things to Do in Hapitanan #1: Fly on a Witch Broom!

This is the highlight of Hapitanan.

There are a ton of other lovely cafes in Siquijor, but only one place you can have photos of yourself flying on a real broomstick.

So, here’s how it works.

You stand in line for the platform and place your donation in a box. 

When it’s your turn, you climb the steps to the platform.

(The platform is made of wooden boards and faces the soft green of hills and trees.)

A broom will be provided to you, and the attendant will tell you how to position it between your legs.

Ready…Steady…JUMP!

You rise into the air just as the attendant snaps a photo of you with your phone.

If you want, you can have other versions of the photo taken.

(Yourself pointing, your hair up or down, anything you can think of!)

The results are quite cool.

The platform will be completely out of sight, so it’ll look exactly like you’re zooming through the sky on your broomstick. 

Really a great memory to hold on to, or even post on Instagram!

Fun Things to Do in Hapitanan #2: Drink Fresh Buko Straight from the Fruit

There are a lot of things to eat in Hapitanan (rice meals, ice cream, burgers), but the highlight is the fresh coconut juice.

One whole coconut costs only PHP40, and the attendant cleanly cuts open the top of the shell and plants a metal straw into it.

Sip, sip, sip!

Coconut water is delicious after a long, hot day.

Plus it’s a natural source of electrolytes, including potassium, magnesium, and calcium, so you’re left feeling energized (body and soul!).

Fun Things to Do in Hapitanan #3: Buy a Souvenir

Hapitanan isn’t only a fun cafe, it’s also a shop full of interesting native souvenirs.

You can buy a voodoo doll keychain.

A shirt with Lazi printed on the front.

A love potion in a glass bottle.

Whatever you’re looking for to take home with you as a souvenir, Hapitanan is sure to have it! 

How to Get to Hapitanan (The #1 Way I Recommend) 

The thing about traveling in Siquijor is that you really need to rent a motorbike. (This is my opinion.) 

Public transportation is limited and often only within towns, so I recommend renting a motorbike on your first day on the island.

Don’t worry.

It’s super easy to find motorbike rentals.

The moment you disembark at the port, you’ll be flocked by people trying to get you to their motorbike shop.

Choose a shop and motorcycle model, hand over your driver’s license and the payment, and you’re off!

So yes, the easiest and best way to get to Hapitanan is on your rented motorcycle.

Hapitanan is in Lazi town.

It’s right next to the road, so it’s impossible to miss.

Here’s the exact location on Google Maps: 

How Much You’ll Spend at Hapitanan (It’s Really Not a Lot!) 

Answer: you can visit the place for FREE!

There is no entrance fee, and putting a donation in the box to do the flying broomstick photo is completely up to you. 

(Although I do recommend giving a donation, if only a few pesos.) 

However, there are also things you can spend your money on in Hapitanan.

For example, food.

After a long, hot, fun day of exploring, you may feel hungry and thirsty.

No worries.

The food on the menu is super affordable. 

Here are examples of their pricing:

These are only some of the many things you can order under Hapitanan’s fun menu. 

Another thing you can spend on is souvenirs.

Of course, the pricing of souvenirs differs.

You can purchase a t-shirt for PHP 300-500 or a voodoo doll keychain for PHP 100.

In short, how much you spend is up to you, but you can absolutely visit the place for free if you want to.

How Long Should You Stay at Hapitanan?

I visited Hapitanan in June of 2024 with my 3 siblings.

I remember the day clearly.

It was a steaming, sizzling hot day.

We were sweaty and tired, having just visited a number of spots around the island.

When we arrived in Hapitanan, we were greeted with cooling shade and the whisper of a breeze through the trees.

We lined up for the broomstick photos, then scanned the souvenir baskets.

Since we had just eaten lunch, we didn’t order anything to eat or drink.

After around 30 minutes, we left the place.

Was it worth it?

YES!

It was fun, and we had a bunch of cool witchy photos to remember Siquijor with.

So my answer: even if you only have 30 minutes for Hapitanan, it’s more than enough!

Of course, there were other people there who seemed like they had been lounging about sipping drinks and chatting for hours.

So 30 minutes is the minimum for Hapitanan, but you can stay the whole day if you want to. 

Of course, you can’t stay past closing time (haha).

Hapitanan is open from 6:30 am to 5:00 pm Mondays to Sundays. 

Hapitanan: A Must-Visit for Siquijor Tourists

If you’re in Siquijor and want souvenir photos to take home with you, you shouldn’t miss visiting Hapitanan.

No, it’s not as adventurous as diving, caving, and chasing waterfalls.

It’s not as relaxing and scenic as Bucafe.

But…it’s super fun.

That’s what I can say about it.

And the witch-themed photos to keep forever and post on your socials?

The best. 

Enjoy!