Here’s the thing with Siargao:
If all you want to do is surf all day long, go for it!
Surfing is hands down the BEST thing you can do in Siargao. Everything else is secondary.
That said…
If surfing isn’t your cup of tea, or if you want to switch things up a bit, there are plenty of interesting spots all around Siargao.
From the super popular Tri-Island hopping tour to the far and unknown Taktak Falls, here are 13½ Siargao tourist spots you should check out!
Best Tourist Spots in Siargao (13½ Things to do in Siargao)
Here are my favorite things to see and do in Siargao!
- Cloud 9 Surfing Spot
- Magpoponko Rock Beach
- Sugba Lagoon
- Maasin River
— Maasin River Firefly watching - Tri-Island Hopping (Naked, Daku, and Guyam islands)
- Coconut Trees Viewdeck
- Sohoton Cove
- Shaka Fruit Bowls
- Roadtrip around the whole island
- Taktak Falls
- Kermit Pizzas
- Other Surfing Beaches
- Tayangban Cave Pool
Let’s take a look at each one.
Tourist Spots in Siargao #1: Cloud 9 Surfing Area
I’ll say it again:
The BEST thing you can do in Siargao is to surf.
This is the one thing that makes Siargao so special, so why miss out?
There are great surfing spots all over the island, but Cloud 9 is the most accessible.
If you don’t know how to surf, there are plenty of guides here who can give you lessons. These lessons go for php500/hour.
And you don’t need to worry about drowning or anything since the lessons area is quite shallow.
Aside from surfing, Cloud 9 is a must-visit for its famous boardwalk.
There used to be a famous tower at the tip of the boardwalk that was blown away by a typhoon. However, when we visited, it was getting built back up again!
Coming here during sunrise or sunset to watch surfers break the waves is a great way to spend your time in Siargao!
Fees: Cloud 9 has an entrance fee of php75 ($1.5) except during festivals.
You can rent a surfboard for php200 ($4) or can get lessons for php500/hour ($10).
How to Get Here: You can hail a tricycle anywhere in General Luna to take you here. There’s no official price, but you shouldn’t have to pay more than php50 ($1) for the trip.
Tourist Spots in Siargao #2: Magpoponko Rock Pools
Say you want to do more than just surf… where else should you go?
One of the best things you can do is to visit the Magpoponko Rock Pools.
At first glance, all you’ll see is a beach. A very beautiful beach at that, but just another one of the many beautiful beaches in Siargao.
But then you’ll notice that off to the left, there are rocks. Walk over these carefully, and you’ll get to a unique spot – the rock pools.
The water inside the rock pool is crystal clear, it almost feels like it’s glowing.
And these aren’t small and shallow rock pools either.
It’s big and deep enough, you can almost call it a lake! Only the movement of the tide to and from the pools makes it different from any lake you’ve ever seen.
Warning! The rock pools only come out during low tide! I used this website to time my visit perfectly.
Fees: Magpoponko Rock Pools has an entrance fee of php75 ($1.5). When you turn in from the highway, you’ll find a small tent that collects this fee.
There’s also a parking fee of php20 ($.40).
Hint: don’t stop at the first parking! The people there will make you think that’s the only parking spot. Instead, drive all the way to the entrance gate so you can park closer.
How to Get Here: Public transportation around Siargao is almost non-existent. That’s why you’ll either need to rent a motorbike or join an organized tour to get here.
Google Maps works for the rock pools, and Siargao Land Tours always include this spot!
Tourist Spots in Siargao #3: Sugba Lagoon
Home of the infamous dive board, Sugba Lagoon is one of the most recognizable spots in Siargao.
To get there, you’ll have to drive about an hour from General Luna to the port of Del Carmen.
Then, you’ll get on a small boat that’ll take you through the awesome mangrove forests. The ride is about 20 minutes before you finally arrive at Sugba Lagoon on Caub Island.
The first thing you’ll notice is how magical the water looks. It’s a luminescent green, and is super inviting!
The dock you arrive on is quite small, so you’ll almost be forced to go swimming or try some activities.
You can swim, jump from the diving board, snorkel around, or go kayaking or paddle boarding around the lagoon.
There’s no food or drinks for sale in Sugba Lagoon, so make sure you bring some snacks along (note: plastic bottled water is not allowed in the area, so bring your own bottles!).
In three hours, your boat will come back to pick you up and head back to the mainland.
Fees: The boat rental to/from Sugba Lagoon costs php1,600 ($32), good for 6 people.
You can also rent snorkels for php200 ($4) – but I don’t actually recommend this since there isn’t much to see underwater.
In the lagoon itself, you can rent a paddleboard or kayak for php300 ($6). This one I highly recommend doing!
Finally, when you dock back in the Del Carmen port, they’ll give you Sugba Lagoon postcards with your picture in them. You don’t have to take these, but if you want, they cost php50 ($1) a piece.
How to Get Here: For drivers, search for “Port of Sugba Lagoon.” That’s where you can get a boat to the spot.
When choosing a land tour, make sure you choose one with Sugba Lagoon (like this one). There are some land tours that don’t include this spot.
Tourist Spots in Siargao #4: Maasin River
One of my favorite spots in Siargao has to be the Maasin River.
Before Typhoon Odette ravaged Siargao, this place was famous for its bent coconut tree and Tarzan swing.
The tree is still there now, but the swing is gone. Instead, they built a 20-foot diving board, so you can still enjoy the thrill of jumping into the river!
Aside from that, you can also take a little tour to a “secret lagoon.”
The water of the secret lagoon is cold, refreshing, and crystal clear. But it’s quite small.
Your guide can climb the nearby trees and take “drone shots” of you in the lagoon as well.
All in all, the lagoon is nice. But the journey there is what makes this trip special.
The canoe taking you there is super small, so you’ll be so close to the water. You’ll pass through untouched river banks all around you, and you can even spot some bayawaks (monitor lizards) chilling by the river.
Fees: The tour to the secret lagoon costs php500 ($10) for 3 people.
If you want to use the diving board or take pictures on the raft, they cost php20 ($.40) each.
How to Get Here: Google Maps pin for the drivers, Siargao Land Tour for the tour joiners!
Tourist Spots in Siargao #4.5: Maasin River Firefly Watching
Here’s something unique!
You can come back to the Maasin river at nighttime for one of the most surreal Siargao experiences ever: firefly watching.
At nighttime, hordes of fireflies gather at the mangroves of Maasin.
Your guides will take you down to the darkest parts of the river to see these glowing creatures in all their glory.
You’ll find that it looks like the trees are breathing in and out, in and out, as the lights shine and dim.
Note: Maasin River is quite far away from General Luna, so be prepared to be driving in the dark, DARK streets of Siargao!
Fees: Before getting on the boat, make sure you agree on a price! There is no set fee for this tour yet. We paid php1,500 ($30), which I felt was too expensive, so make sure you strike a deal first!
Tourist Spots in Siargao #5: Tri-Island Hopping (Naked, Daku, and Guyam Island)
Another super popular tourist activity in Siargao is going on the Tri-Island hopping tour.
The first island you’ll visit is Naked Island.
As the name implies, this island is literally just a pile of sand all alone in the sea.
Swimming here is a must since there are no buildings, no trees, and NO shade! So prepare to bask in the sun for about an hour before heading to the next destination, Daku.
Daku Island is the largest of the three islands (Daku means “big” in Bisaya).
The star of Daku Island has to be the food!
This is where you’ll be served the famous Siargao boodle, complete with rice, pancit, shrimp, grilled pork, adobo chicken, eggplant omelet, grilled tuna, watermelon, pineapples, and lots of mangoes!
Aside from that, the beach in Daku is also quite picturesque, with coconut trees and powdery white sand.
You can go snorkeling here. There aren’t many fishes or corals, but the underwater grass and rocks are pretty interesting.
Then there’s Guyam Island, which was my favorite of the trip.
Guyam is the most chill island of the bunch.
Unlike Naked Island, there are plenty of trees here. Our tour guide gave us a mat, so we could rest in the shade.
There are also plenty of activities to try. Such as tightrope walking…
Swing surfing…
Balance boarding…
Basketball hooping…
If you’re hungry, you can also get burgers and drinks at this little cafe on the island.
Fees: Tri-Island hopping joiner tours cost around php1,300 ($26) per head, and are available every day due to their popularity.
Since they’re so popular, you can find tour providers all over General Luna. If you want to book online, you can do so over here.
There are plenty of other islands in the area you can visit such as Corregidor and Mam-on island. There are occasional tours to these places, but if you’re in a big group, you can always rent a private boat to take you there!
Tourist Spots in Siargao #6: Coconut Trees Viewdeck
Coconut trees are all over Siargao.
But there’s one spot where you can get a very scenic view of just how many coconut trees the island has!
Found on Siargao’s northbound road, the view you get from this hill is quite stunning.
You’ll see an endless sea of coconut trees wherever you look. It truly is beautiful.
There are also a few locals here who offer “human drone shots.”
They’ll take your phone, put it on video mode, and do all these funny runs and swirls. And when you watch the video back, it’ll look just like a drone shot it!
There isn’t too much to do in this view deck. I recommend coming here during sunrise or sunset to spend your time admiring the view and taking it all in.
How to Get There: The coconut trees view deck is the closest attraction of the bunch to General Luna. It takes roughly 25 minutes to get here by motorbike.
As always, this spot is also included in Land Tour Packages like this one.
Tourist Spots in Siargao #7: Sohoton Cove
Warning!
Sohoton Cove is NOT for everyone!
You’ll need to be pretty adventurous to enjoy this action-packed tour.
First, you’ll have to endure a grueling 2-hour boat ride from Siargao.
That’s right. Sohoton Cove is actually found in Bucas Grande. And it’s closer to mainland Surigao than it is to Siargao island.
You’ll arrive at a small port, then transfer to smaller boats which will take you through a low cave and into the heart of Sohoton.
Then there’s the jellyfish!
These stingless jellyfish are the highlight of Sohoton Cove. It’s probably the main reason people are attracted here in the first place.
There weren’t too many jellyfish when we visited. But I’m told that during mating season, the whole sea is PACKED with jellyfish.
Again, the jellyfish are only one part of Sohoton. After that, you’ll make your way to the secret cave!
The only entrance to this cave is underwater. So unless you’re good at freediving, your guides will have to push you down and into the mysterious cave.
Inside the cave, the water appears to glow, lighted only by the sunlight outside. It’s a very cool spot.
Then there’s the cave + cliff jump!
There’s one more dark cave to explore in Sohoton. Here, you’ll see some pretty cool rock formations.
The entrance to this cave is above water, so no need to dive. But speaking of diving, the only way out of this cave is by jumping from 15 feet!
That’ll conclude your Sohoton Cove trip.
But there’s more!
After exploring Sohoton, you’ll jump back into the main boat and head over to Tikihan Resort for lunch.
Then, you can spend the rest of your time jumping from their dive board, Tarzan swing, or use their slide!
It’s a very fun-filled resort. One that’ll make you want to stay much longer.
But alas! The trip home is another 2-hour boat ride, so best not to leave so late!
Fees: Sohoton Tours go for around php2,500 ($50) per head. Be sure to contact tour operators in advance, since this tour isn’t as popular as the tri-island hopping. You can also book online here.
Overall, Sohoton is pretty expensive and far.
If you ask me, I’d say only go if you’re a very adventurous person! Otherwise, it’s probably best to explore other parts of Siargao.
Tourist Spots in Siargao #8: Shaka Cafe
I don’t usually count restaurants as tourist spots.
But if there’s a place that is super popular among locals and guests alike, it’s only fair to include it.
That place would be Shaka Cafe, home of the famous fruit bowls.
Shaka is an outdoor cafe found right beside the Cloud 9 surfing area – which is partly why it’s so famous among tourists.
The other reason?
Their fruit bowls are just really good!
Fees: Most of Shaka’s fruit bowls cost around php300 ($6).
Tourist Spots in Siargao #9: Roadtrip Around the Whole Island
Another “spot” that’s not really a spot is the road!
If you have a day to spare, renting a motorbike and driving around the ENTIRE island is well worth the time.
But if you’re doing this, here’s a tip:
Don’t rush!
Take your time.
If you see an interesting spot, stop to get some pictures! Like in this sea of mangroves in Del Carmen:
Or this beautiful beach road in Santa Monica:
You can plot your trip to stop by famous tourist spots (like Sugba Lagoon or Magpoponko rock beach), however, I’d recommend visiting those spots on a different day.
Here are some maps to show you what I mean. If you want to visit Sugba Lagoon and Magpoponko, this is the route I’d take.
But if you’re going for a full island road trip like this:
It’s either you skip these spots, drive fast, or prepare for a pretty tiring day!
Note: one spot that other blogs mention is the Coconut Road picture spot. Sadly, this road was destroyed by typhoon Odette. Nowadays, the best place to take a “coconut road” picture would probably be right below the coconut tree viewdeck.
Where to Rent: If you’re flying into the airport, there’s these guys. If you’re arriving in Dapa Port, there’s a rental place right outside the port (just turn left once you exit and look for the flagpole). There are also rentals all over General Luna. Finally, you can book ahead online here.
All of these options will cost you around php300 – php600 a day depending on the bike.
Tourist Spots in Siargao #10: Taktak Falls
Taktak Falls ties in perfectly with the whole-island road trip.
Found in northern Siargao, these falls are a long way off the main tourist areas of the island.
It’s a nice, small waterfall. If you’ve been to a place like Siquijor, this one will pale in comparison to what you’ve seen there.
That’s why I don’t recommend coming here for the falls only – unless you have almost unlimited time in Siargao.
The best way to enjoy these falls is to tie it in with your whole-island road trip!
Fees: Entrance for Taktak falls costs php25 ($.5). If you go during a weekday though, there might not be anyone around to collect that (like when I went!).
How to Get Here: Most land tours do NOT include this spot! You can ask around different agencies (some have it in multi-day itineraries). However, if you really want to go, I highly recommend renting your own motorbike instead. Just search it on Google Maps and you’re good to go.
Tourist Spots in Siargao #11: Kermit Siargao / Gwapitos Apparel
Another restaurant worth mentioning is Kermit Siargao!
Found in the heart of General Luna, this place is world-famous for its incredible brick-oven pizzas.
Aside from the pizzas, they’re also famous for their cocktails.
And aside from those, they also have a full menu with sandwiches, pastas, soups, fish dishes, and many, many more.
Right beside Kermit, you’ll find the Gwapitos store, which is perhaps the most popular souvenir shop on the island.
Tourist Spots in Siargao #12: Other Surfing Beaches
Cloud 9 might be the most popular surfing area, but it’s far from the only one!
All along Siargao’s east coast, there is beach after beach after beach – all getting the same big waves that you can ride!
Pacifico beach and Burgos beach are some of the more popular ones, but you can find great surf spots almost anywhere!
Tourist Spots in Siargao #13: Tayangban Cave Pool
Just adding this one in!
Tayangban cave pool is a popular activity found up the road from the Maasin river.
I’m putting it down here just because I wasn’t able to try it!
Apparently, this is one of the most exhilarating activities to try on the island. It starts with a little adventure into a cave with bats.
Then at the end of the cave, there’s a cenote where you can jump into!
I really want to go back to Siargao to see this for myself. But for now, know that it’s a popular tourist spot on the island!
Which Siargao Tourist Spots Are YOU Excited About?
And there you have it!
13½ Siargao tourist spots that you should check out.
So…
What are YOUR plans?
Plan to surf all day every day?
Maybe a trip to Sugba Lagoon?
Or maybe the firefly watching at Maasin river sounds interesting to you?
Whatever the case, there’s no doubt that Siargao is an AMAZING island.
And if you have a trip to Siargao coming up.
Well… what can I say…
I’m SO jealous!
ENJOY!
Want to learn more about Siargao? Check out my travel guide here!