The Siargao Guide

The Six Regions

The island is not one place. It is six, and they open in order. Start at the gate, take a boat, go quiet, read the tide, take the long road, and one day earn the caves.

One · Home ground

The Breakwater

General Luna, Catangnan and Cloud 9. Where you arrive, where the gate is, where the island first asks what you came for. Surf culture, the boardwalk at dawn, the long road of cafes.

• Cloud 9The boardwalk and the wave. Go at sunrise before the crowd, go at sunset for the sky.
• CatangnanOur barangay. The lot, the tide five minutes down the road, the Guild's fishermen.
• The tourism roadCafes, surf shops and the evening walk. Barefoot is fine.

Two · A boat day

The Three Isles

Guyam, Daku and Naked Island. One banca, three stops, a crew that has to decide things together. Bring water, bring nothing to prove.

• GuyamThe small one with the palms. First stop, swim, go.
• DakuThe big one. Grilled fish from the family huts, the long nap.
• Naked IslandA sandbar and the sky. Nothing else, which is the point.

Three · Go quiet

The Green Labyrinth

The Del Carmen mangroves and Sugba Lagoon. The largest mangrove forest in the country. Paddle softly, follow the guide, leave it as you found it.

• Del Carmen boardwalkWalk out over the roots at low light. Birds, crabs, silence.
• Sugba LagoonThe green water between the islets. Paddleboards, the jumping deck, the rain that comes and goes.
• The guidesDel Carmen's own. They know which channel is open today.

Four · Read the tide

The Tidal Gate

Pilar and Magpupungko. The rock pools only exist at low tide. Check the chart, go at the right hour, and the map changes under your feet.

• MagpupungkoNatural pools in the reef. Low tide only. Jump from the rocks if the locals are jumping.
• PilarThe quieter town on the way. Lunch stops that are not on anyone's list.
• TimingLow tide is the whole trip. We will tell you the hour at the gate.

Five · The long way

The Northern Wild

Pacifico, Burgos, San Benito and Santa Monica. The road north under the palms, surf breaks with nobody on them, the island before it was discovered.

• PacificoThe far side. Right-handers, a few huts, a long empty beach.
• BurgosThe shrouded coast. Cliffs, the lighthouse road, weather that arrives from nowhere.
• The roadTwo hours by bike, longer than the map says. Fuel up in Dapa.

Six · When you are ready

The Deep Archive

Socorro, Sohoton and the cove-and-cave world of Bucas Grande. A full day and a trained boatman. The Guild opens this one on the longer stays.

• Sohoton CoveCaves you swim through, a lagoon of stingless jellyfish. Go with the cooperative's boats.
• SocorroThe jump-off town. Early boat, late return.
• The ruleNot for the first visit. Some places you earn.

Tides & getting around