The Best of Siquijor Island With (Or Without) Kids!

Courtesy of Evie Farrell

Siquijor Island is one of our favourite spots to visit in the Philippines. It’s the perfect tropical island combination of natural beauty and mystical reputation – one that kept visitors away for decades. You can easily visit Siquijor with or without kids as the island is very relaxed, compared with some of the more popular Philippines destinations. But that doesn’t mean there’s little to do, in fact it’s quite the opposite. Siquijor is bursting with tourist spots from marine reserves to waterfalls, palm fringed white sand beaches and underground caves and rivers. It has super friendly people, beautiful Spanish churches, amazing fresh water holes and great food. We’ve been there three times now and we love it.

In colonial times Siquijor was known as the Isla de Fuego – the Island of Fire – by the Spanish who built some beautiful churches here as they converted the locals to Catholicism. Siquijor was known for its bolo bolo white magic, and still is, although now it’s seen as intriguing rather than concerning. Visiting a Bolo Bolo healer is high on many tourists list of things to do in Siquijor.

Siquijor is also a smoke free island! There is no smoking in public. It’s also plastic bag free. How awesome is that. I love that this little island is so advanced in protecting the environment.

Rope swings at Cambugahay Falls. Courtesy of Evie Farrell

Before You Go

Get a VPN If you’re traveling to Siquijor (or anywhere really) I recommend getting a VPN to protect your data and enable to you access the sites you want to. Here’s why you should get a VPN when traveling overseas and grab a month – or more – from Express VPN.

Travel Insurance As the saying goes, if you can’t afford travel insurance you can’t afford to travel. Always read the Product Disclosure Statement – we’ve been caught out before. I’ve used Cover-More for 23 years and recommend them – as long as you read the PSD to make sure you are covered for what you need.

What to Pack Read our Philippines packing guide which lists everything we’ve needed on our two months in the Philippines.

Please note that while you won’t have to use squatters here, toilet paper goes in the bin, not in the toilet!

Getting to Siquijor

You can fly to Siquijor by plane from Cebu with CebGo with flights as cheap as $60 return and taking only 40 minutes. Air Juan also flies here from Cebu.

The most popular way to get there is by OceanJet ferry. The ferry from Cebu takes around four hours via Bohol and arrives at Larena Port. The ferry from Dumaguete takes 45 minutes and arrives at Siquijor Port. Ferries run many times a day – you can check timetables and book tickets online here. If you book online make sure you get your TICKET number as well as your booking number as you need both when checking in at the terminal, otherwise you can buy your tickets at the terminal. There are a few other routes from southern Cebu – you can check ferry timetables here.

Ferry time – up a steep ramp! Courtesy of Evie Farrell

Getting Around Siquijor

Its super easy to get around Siquijor. The island’s main road, the Circumferential Road, runs around its coastline, and there are a few roads that criss-cross its interior.

Motorbike It’s heaven if you ride a motorbike here. The roads are smooth, easy and quiet. You can hire motorbikes anywhere really – all guesthouses and hotels have them, and there are many roadside stalls – but it’s easiest to grab them at the ferry terminal. When you get out at the terminal in Larena and walk out off the jetty, you’ll find a long line of motorbike hire places along your left. You can also find bikes at Siquijor Port on arrival too. It’s around 350 into San Juan where most people head. Your guesthouse can also organise a pick-up for you.Rates are around 300 pesos a day. Always wear a helmet.

Habal-Habal A motorbike taxi – just jump on the back and set off to your destination. Most will carry a passenger helmet. Make sure to use it!

Tricycles Tricycles are ubiquitous and cheap, and you can find them along the main roads or your guesthouse can call one for you. There’s tuk tuks – called tricycles in the Philippines – and are the most convenient way to get around if you’re not riding a bike. On arrival at Larena walk past the motorbikes and a bit further down on your right is your tricycle hire.

Cars are more expensive but convenient if you have a group. They’re not necessary really but available if you need.

Courtesy of Evie Farrell

Jeepney You can also grab jeepney style buses that loop around the Circumferential Road. It’s super cheap and you just squeeze in the back and pass our money up to the driver. We’ve done this in Cebu City but not in Siquijor, but it’s super easy.

How Long to Stay For?

Spend as much time as you can in Siquijor – you won’t run out of things to do. This time we stayed three weeks and we could have stayed longer. We will be back soon to keep exploring. I would suggest a minimum of five nights if you can, and much longer if possible.

What to do in Siquijor? The Best Tourist Spots in Siquijor

There is just so much to do when you visit Siquijor with kids and for couples, groups of friends and families, but it’s also the perfect place to relax. Do as little or as much as you like!

Explore Siquijor Island on Your Bike

Just take off and ride – there are so many palm-lined roads to find, beaches to explore, little restobars to stop at and caves and jungle. It’s the perfect island to ride around – calm, quiet and safe with excellent roads and very little traffic.

Side saddle on the tricycle. Courtesy of Evie Farrell

Diving

Diving in Siquijor is very popular for its multiple dive sites with macro life, bountiful healthy reefs and big fish. There are a number of dive centres in Siquijor around the San Juan area like Apo Divers, Sea Pearl Divers and Last Frontier Divers. and Coco Grove Resort has its own dive centre too where Emmie did a Discovery Dive down to 12 metres with Nok Nok.

Emmie’s first scuba. Courtesy of Evie Farrell

Snorkeling at Tubod Marine Sanctuary

Tubod is just outside of San Juan – if you get to Coco Grove Resort you’ve gone a little too far so just wander back a bit and you’ll see the public entrance to the beach. It costs 50 pesos to snorkel here and you can buy lunch at Coco Grove’s Salamander or Sunset restaurants. Keep to the public beach as the Coco Grove beach is private, but there is more than enough beach and the snorkelling and corals are beautiful and the fish abundant.

San Juan Town and Public Pool

The public pool in San Juan town is amazing – its water is green and pure as it flows down from the mountain. The pool is free, it’s un a little green park with seats and shade and its lovely for a swim. If you cross the road and go to your left you’ll see the public laundry and baths. It’s a long concrete pool that the water flows to once it’s gone through the swimming pool. People here are washing their clothes and bathing. I just love how Siquijor is still so untouched in comparison to other islands.

The town has some great restaurants (see below) a beautiful church and religious statues in little alcoves in the forest and the rocks. You can find local food here, lechon – roasted pig – and little beachside bars and restobars.

Fab little fresh water public pool. Courtesy of Evie Farrell

Visit Salagdoong Beach

This beautiful curved beach is about 90 minutes from San Juan. The closest town in Maria and it has a smattering of basic accommodation. There’s a lot of restobars on the beach. Make sure to time your visit here for high tide so you can jump from the rocks and use the slide into the water.

Courtesy of Evie Farrell

Day Trip to Apo island

You can see Apo Island from the west coast of Siquijor. It’s a little closer to Dumaguete than Siquijor but you can take day trips out to the island from here. It’s known for its turtles and diving, and you can stay a night or two there also and snorkel, swim and relax. The resort here does fabulous food.

Beautiful Apo Island. Courtesy of Evie Farrell

Visit Paliton Beach

Just outside San Juan you’ll find Paliton Beach. It’s close enough to walk to from the northern accommodation and is worth at least one visit. Swing on palm tree swings and float in the ocean. The beach has white sand and is lined with palm trees. There are a few beachside food stalls where you can grab a meal and a beer and watch the sun set.

Cambuguhay Falls

These falls are so beautiful with its three levels and gorgeous blue green water. We first visited here in 2016 and it was just a simple waterfall, just existing in nature with one rope swing hapngin from a tree. It’s sure evolved since then, with huge bamboo structures with massive rope swings, pathways, little stalls selling food and chairs and tables. It’s still great, but a reminder of the speed of change.

Cambugahay Falls. Courtesy of Evie Farrell

Entry here is 20 peso per person. You don’t need a guide really unless you’re traveling alone as it’s a simple walk in (possibly not easy as it’s around 100 steps down and back up!) but there are guides at the top where you arrive and if you feel like it using a guide for a small amunt of money is a nice way to contribute to the community. Rope swings cost 50 pesos a person for all day use. Some people complain about this but its entrepreneurial for locals and it costs tourists less than the price of one beer so I reckon, suck it up.

You can also visit Kawasan (near Lazi) and Locong Falls (on the way to Cambugahay) too.

Lugansen Falls

These falls look amazing but when we went they were dry as the water had been diverted to the famers rice crops. Check before you go – ask around – as your tricycle driver may not tell you as ours didn’t! There are some man made pools below which are nice but it’s a disappointment to rock up to dry waterfalls!

Lugnasen Falls back up plan. Courtesy of Evie Farrell

Balette Tree

This ancient towering tree is 400 years old and has a natural spring at its base where little fish will nibble your toes! It costs 10 peso to enter, and is an easy stop on your wayback from Cambugahay Falls. I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit but it’s a nice stop if en-route to the falls of caves.

The ancient balete tree. Courtesy of Evie Farrell

Lazi Church and Siquijor Churches

Lazi is a small town you will drive through on your way to Cambugahay Falls. The church here San Isidro Labrador Parish Church was built in 1884 and made of coral stone and hardwood. The convent across the road is one of the largest built during the Spanish Colonial era and is now the Siquijor Heritage Museum.

Lazi Church. Courtesy of Evie Farrell

You will pass here on your way to Cambugahay Falls and its well worth a visit.

There are so many churches to visit in Siquijor island. We love the one in San Juan, and in Siquijor town the “Welcome to Siquijor” sign is right near the old Saint Francis de Assisi church.

St Francis of Assisi. Courtesy of Evie Farrell

Watch a Barracuda Tornado

Tulapos Marine Reserve is about 30 minutes from Larena. We visited when we were staying at Casa de la Playa so it was only about a 10 minute drive. The beach here is just beautiful and out in the deep water a huge school of barracuda twists and truns as it swims together in beautiful formations.

It costs 100 pesos to swim here and 250 for a compulsory guide (for two people max). We had our own snorkel gear but you can hire it here – I suggest hiring the fins so you can go down deep with the school. I wish I’d worn some.

We were the first to arrive that day (not that its very crowded) so we swam around with our guide searching for the barracuda. It was easier for the people who arrived 30 minutes after us when we’d found the barra – they just swam straight to us!! I don’t have any pics but it was AMAZING!

It’s an awesome experience and one you should definitely do while you’re in Siquijor.

Such a beautiful white beach here. Courtesy of Evie Farrell

Visit a Bolo Bolo Healer

When we were first on the island in 2016 it was quite difficult find a healer but now most guesthouses will be able to arrange it for you, or tricycle drivers will be able to take you. Just ask to see a bolo bolo healer and keep an open mind and enjoy this mystical experience.

Caving and Underground Rivers

Siquijor has a few amazing underground rivers and caves. They’re around 800 metres to get through and can be tight in places. The two main ones are Cantabon Cave near Siquijor and Sambulawan near Lazi. Your tricycle drivers will know how to get there or if riding a bike just check google maps. We were planning to do this but after the Taal Volcano erupted and a few tremors in the area we decided against it. Next time for sure.

Watch a Sunset

Sunset in Siquijor is amazing. Paliton Beach and Tubod Marine Sanctuary are great spots to watch it, but of course anywhere along the west coast will give you amazing views like this.

Sunset at Casa del la Playa. Courtesy of Evie Farrell

Island Trip

Many of the tricycle and van drivers will take your around the island on a day-long island adventure. You can talk to them abut what you’d like to see. I’d definitely include as much of the above as possible

Where to Eat

You can find street food or small restobars in most towns, and your guesthouse should also offer meals. The below restaurants are in San Juan or close by.

U Story Divine food in a Balinese setting on the cliff tops, this is a divine location with delicious food and vibes. Make sure to make a reservation as it is usually booked out for dinner.

Courtesy of Evie Farrell

Loca Loco Such yummy food here. We had the tuna and it was delish. They also had wine by the glass and beer. So nice.

Coco Grove Resort There are three restaurants at Coco Grove and they serve delicious local and international food. It’s a reliably yummy place to eat, and you’ll usually get entertainment too. You can eat breakfast, lunch and dinner as a resort guest, but you will be unable to use the facilities unless you are staying at the resort. Emmie LOVES the roast chicken…I love it all!

Marco Polo Delicious Italian right on the palm-lined white sand beach. Eat your pasta and pizza and watch the sun set. So good.

Courtesy of Evie Farrell

Baha Bar Live music, buffet on Friday nights, boutique beer and a good vibe, Baha Bar is like a huge treehouse full of fun.

Monkey Business Money Business has yummy smoothie bowls and fresh juice (although none was available when we were there). Their chicken wings were yummy and they have swings that the kids love.

Courtesy of Evie Farrell

Best Siquijor Resorts and Guesthouses

Most visitors to Siquijor head straight to San Juan and its surrounds. It’s where the few (kind of )western bars and restaurants are gathered together in town. There’s a public freshwater swimming pool here and the beaches are lovely and palm lined. It’s also close to Paliton Beach and near enough to most everywhere else for daytrips.

In and Around San Juan

Near Paliton Beach, Mandala Tribe Treehouses is a popular place to stay with its beautiful treehouses and short walk to the beach. Nearby, Reaching Garden Guesthouse is a gorgeous clifftop guesthouse and has a lovely little spots to overlook the ocean and sunset. It doesn’t have access to the beach, but Paliton is close by, and it’s only around $35 a night.

Courtesy of Evie Farrell

Our favourite place to stay is Coco Grove Resort, just 10 minutes out of San Juan. It’s a beautiful resort on the Tubod Marine Sanctuary with three pools, a spa, restaurants and amazing BBQ dinners with entertainment from the staff. You can read more about it here and check prices here on Agoda or email them directly.

We love Coco Grove. Courtesy of Evie Farrell

There are many kinds of bungalows here, our favourite family bungalow is Coco Villa 4 (1 -3 are awesome also) as well as the twin Sampaguita 1 & 2.

Sunset at Coco Grove. Courtesy of Evie Farrell

Closer to San Juan, Tropical Fun Ta Sea is right on the beach and looked like a great place tasty with live music and people having a great time on the beach.

About 15 minutes out of San Juan we also stayed at Gold View Resort which has huge grounds, a fabulous pool and tennis court and a beachfront. The staff makes delicious Italian food, thanks to the direction of the resorts 87 year old Italian-Australian owner Don and his wife Faith. Gold View is about 15 minutes from Coco Grive on the way to Maria.

Gold View Resort Pic: @Siquijor_Aussie. Courtesy of Evie Farrell

Close by, Salamangka Beach Resort is a bit fancier, with a pool, stunning rooms and a gorgeous beachfront for around $100 a night. Another one that we will be trying out when we are back in town, and Islandia Beach Resort is a beachfront, no pool, but highly rates and has rooms for $50 a night.

Eastern Garan Seaview resort is close by to Coco Grove and Gold View and has amazing cliff top views. It’s also next to U Story – one of the best restaurants on the island. There are steps carved into the ricks down to the water and it’s an easy place to chill, and then wander to U Story for incredible food in a Balinese garden.

Eastern Garan Resort. Courtesy of Evie Farrell

A bit further away in Lazi which is close to Cambugahay Falls and Lazi Town, the Lazi Beach Club Resort has a pool and beachfront for around $50 a night.

In Salagdoong Beach, about an hour south of San Juan you can either drive there and find a guesthouse or choose from those online. With its own pool right on the water, Jelly Sea Resort is the more expensive option at around $100 a night, while Maria Nico Mystic Island Resort has a pool and a beautiful beachfront and is around $70 a night. It also has dorm rooms for around $40 a night.

In the north near Larena we stayed at the beautiful Casa de la Playa in a gorgeous beach-front room. The restaurant has excellent food here, Emmie ate the chicken curry every day. The snorkelling here is amazing. The corals are simply huge, however there are less fish here than Tubod – the water is quite warm which may have something to do with it. The huts here are adorable and right on the water. We adored our stay here.

You can check out lots of Siquijor guesthouses and resorts here on booking.com but just note that a lot of places don’t advertise online. Roam around and have a look if you’re not into booking before you go. We pre-booked Coco Grove but then found accom along the way for the other three weeks we there.

In Siquijor Town

Villa Marmarine Beach Resort looks beautiful and we will definitely be trying this hotel out when we are back on the island. It’s around $90 a night

I hope you LOVE Siquijor as much as we do. Enjoy!!!

This article was originally published on mumpacktravel.com.

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