Here’s the best things to do in Siquijor to make the most of your trip in Siquijor, Philippines.
I suggest staying in Siquijor for at least three or four days. With more time, you can also discover Bohol and Caminguin, two islands accessible by ferry. You can check out my article on Bohol here.
Siquijor is an island located in the center of The Philippines, in Visayas region, 2 hours of ferry south of Bohol.
Below you’ll find all the top things to do in Siquijor – from the best beaches to the most impressive waterfalls, including the best coffee and dinner spots.
The easiest way to reach Siquijor is by taking a plane from Manila to Panglao (Bohol), then a ferry from Tagbilaran Pier to Siquijor Pier (or Larena Pier). The flight is around one hour long and the ferry is a 2-hour journey. The ferry ride is enjoyable, with great sea views all the way. I would suggest the outdoor seats, as the AC is blasting inside.
Siquijor is a small island, you can easily drive around it in 2-3 hours. I’d suggest renting either a scooter, a car or even a tuktuk (truly a unique experience to drive your own tuktuk, 100% recommend) and exploring a different corner of the island each day.
If you want to rent a tuktuk (or a car), here’s the number of the Cee-K-Jor agency we used and absolutely recommend.
Our contact has been nothing but very helpful and accommodating, plus the tuktuk was in perfect condition.
On your first day, you can explore the South of Siquijor with Paliton Beach, a beautiful little beach with white sand and turquoise water.
Another great beach is Tubod Beach and its Marine Sanctuary.
This is a great snorkeling spot to see beautiful corals, many fish, and sea turtles.
There are a few fees to pay if you plan on snorkeling or swimming:
- Scuba Diving – 100 PHP per diver
- Snorkeling – 50 PHP per diver
- Swimming – 20 PHP per swimmer
If you are looking for more snorkeling spots, I can suggest the following spots: Catigugan Marine Sanctuary, Sandugan Marine Sanctuary, Tulapos Marine Sanctuary, and Olang Marine Sanctuary.
A short drive from Tubod Beach will take you to Lugnason Falls. This is actually a cluster of 12 waterfalls named after the zodiac signs. Lugnason is the most accessible one, and it did not disappoint. After a little walk in the lush forest, you will see the turquoise basin and its five-meter cascade :
Next stop I would recommend only if it is on your way, I wouldn’t personally make a detour for it. Balete tree is a (believed to be) 400 years old tree. Trusted to have supernatural powers, this is also where you can buy love potion and all sorts of similar pasalubong (souvenirs from the Philippines). At the feet of the tree is a basin with little fish, offering feet pedicure for those willing to try it.
For a second day, I’d suggest heading to the East starting off with Cambugahay Falls. Quite touristy, but definitely the prettiest waterfalls, with turquoise water and surrounded by lush greenery. Because the place is popular, I’d recommend going early morning to avoid crowds. After walking down the stairs, you will arrive at the lowest level of the waterfall. We found it best to walk up on the right to reach the two upper levels, with less people and perfect depth to sunbathe.
Next up is Secret Beach. As the name suggests, this beach is a bit of an off-the-beaten-path place, making it the perfect beach to relax far for the crowds. You’ll have to go down a series of stairs and you’ll reach this beautiful rocky beach:
If you are looking for an absolutely stunning (but very crowded and touristy) beach, head to Salagdoong beach. Blue and clear water, white sand, two sides of the beach, it is a beautiful place to spend a few hours. Known also for cliff jumping (two diving platforms of 7 and 10 meters), it is also perfect for swimming.
For a third day, head to the center of the island to discover the least visited frequented but tallest waterfall in Siquijor : Cangbangag Falls. With its 30 meters drop and small but deep pool at its foot, it makes it the perfect spot for deep in the heart of the rainforest. To reach it, you only need to hike for 15 to 20 minutes (picture 1 below).
In the same area, you can head to Mt Bandilaan National Park. The tower is the highest point of Siquijor, offering a breathtaking 360 view of the island. To reach it you have to climb 143 stairs, starting from the road to the tower. Be careful when going up in the tower as it is in poor conditions and could benefit some renovations. The area is a huge 212ha protected forest and the island’s biggest watershed (picture 2 below).
20 minutes from there, you can make a pit stop at Secret Lagoon (Lake Sinungkulan). It is a small pond with beautiful lotus flowers and surrounded by ricefield (see picture 3 to 5 below).
Lastly, if you are into caves, Cantabon Cave is definitely to add to your itinerary. You will navigate through stalactites, stalagmites, and natural pools.
On the road back to your hotel, you can stop at Batung Hakut, a healer that will let you know if you’re cursed or if you have a great energy!
Because you read this far, here’s a little secret spot, perfect for watching the best sunsets in this island. Go to the beach near Siquijor Island Mystica or Blue Joyz Marine Sports Resort. There is almost no one and the sky will never disappoint, I mean look at that:
Finally, if you want to explore the Northwest of Siquijor, you can take the road all the way to Larena. But there is not too much to see in the North to be frank. What’s convenient is that you can take the ferry back to Panglao from Larena Pier, for half the price and the crowd.
There are a lot of good places to enjoy good breakfast, lunch or even drinks. I’ll list here my favorite ones among the ones we tried during our stay.
For breakfast, I would recommend Wonderland Restaurant. This is the restaurant of the hotel we stayed at, they have great breakfast options and delicious mango shakes.
For a great Thai restaurant, I can suggest Aroi Makmak Thai Station Cafe And Restaurant . They have delicious pad thai, spring rolls, and currys. Bonus: they have amazing frozen mango margaritas.
For a wonderful dinner and drinks place in Siquijor with a stunning view at sunset, you can head to Bucafe (Bukid Cafe). The menu is quite diverse, and the food is really good (as well as the mango shakes).
Make sure to arrive from 4:30pm onwards to get the best sunset seats. They are also open for breakfast and lunch if you want to enjoy the view earlier in the day.
The alternative to this one is La Canopee just nearby, with a stunning view as well.
If you are looking for fresh fish and seafood, you can eat at Angel Wish Seafood
Lastly, for lunch or dinner you can try either Belle’s Beach Bar, Ocean Bowl Bistro Siquijor, El Monte Cafe & Restaurant or Twenty4 Cafe and Burger Bar which all have very good options.
That’s it for my Siquijor recommendations!
I hope this article gave you a better idea of what to expect from a trip in Siquijor, it’s definitely a place worth discovering and staying for a while.
If you plan on coming to Siquijor or The Philippines anytime soon you can check out my article regarding what to know before going to The Philippines here.
If you need a custom itinerary, you can fill this form and I’ll make your own personalised itinerary.
