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12 Things to do in in Siquijor, the Philippines

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Siquijor is a wonderfully relaxed island south of Bohol in the Philippines. By motorbike you will get to beautiful places in Siquijor, but you can also have ultimate relaxation on the beautiful beaches. Below we answer the question “what are the best things to do in Siquijor?” with the 12 best activities in Siquijor.

1. APO Island snorkeling tour

One of the best things to do in Siquijor, and for us the highlight, is the APO Island Snorkeling Tour. During this tour to APO Island from Siquijor you will snorkel at beautiful places and have a very good chance of seeing turtles, how cool is that!

It is magical to swim along with the turtles or watch them nibbling on the algae. A visit to APO Island is really a must as far as we are concerned when you are on Siquijor. Unfortunately, this often also means that the biodiversity of the underwater world is not well cared for. The many tourists trample the coral and trap the turtles (sometimes unknowingly) preventing them from swimming away. Always keep enough distance from wild animals and also make sure that there is an exit route for them so that they are not trapped and stressed by this.

Turtle APO Island The Philippines
Turtle APO Island snorkeling

2. Diving at APO Island from Siquijor

In addition to the snorkel tour, you can also dive at APO Island from Siquijor. Again, you will encounter a bizarre amount turtles and of course many beautiful fish and coral. Walk in to one of the many diving schools on Siquijor and enjoy some great diving.

3. The most beautiful beach in Siquijor: Paliton Beach

Siquijor is not an island where you will find many paradise beaches, but there is one that meets the conditions, which is Paliton Beach. Therefore, this is by far the busiest beach, but oh so nice to enjoy. Definitely add this to your list of things to do in Siquijor.

Drink some fresh coconut water, take a swim and watch the sun set under the palm trees. Paliton Beach is the ultimate place to relax in Siquijor.

Paliton Beach Siquijor

4. The magnificent waterfalls of Siquijor

Siquijor has quite a few nice waterfalls that you can visit. Many waterfalls are still unknown to most tourists, so take advantage of them and enjoy the tranquility. Read all about the waterfalls on Siquijor below.

5. Cambugahay Falls

These are by far the most famous waterfalls in Siquijor. Cambugahay Falls consists of three different levels, with the lowest level being the busiest. Here, for a fee of 50 PHP, you can also use a swing to jump into the water. The enthusiastic Filipino tour guides – for an additional fee – can also take fun videos of you trying to mimic a human drone. The waterfalls feel like a heaven on earth with the super blue lagoons and the green surroundings. Don’t miss it, it is one of the best things to do in Siquijor.

Cambugahay Falls Siquijor blue water
Cambugahay Falls Siquijor blue

Admission to Cambugahay Falls is 50 PHP (€0.80) per person. You don’t need a tour guide to get to the falls. Just follow the steps down and you’re already there. However, it may be wise to put on good water shoes or sandals that will give you plenty of grip. The Cambugahay Falls are Siquijors most famous waterfalls so it is wise to get there early. If you arrive here at 08:00 you will still have the falls (reasonably) to yourself. Any later than 10:00 and it gets very crowded.

Cambugahay Falls Siquijor

6. Kawasan Falls & Cave

These falls are very quiet, but also very small. There is a natural pool you can swim in, but otherwise there is not much to do. When visiting Kawasan Falls, it is mandatory to hire a guide, even if you hike an easy route to the falls.

7. Long Falls

We really liked these waterfalls. The water is beautiful blue and there are nice swings you can have fun with. It is a small pool, but definitely fun to visit in Siquijor.

Waterfall Siquijor fun
Swinging waterfall Siquijor
Swing waterfall Siquijor

8. Lugnason Falls

This is the only waterfall located near San Juan (the area of Siquijor where you are probably staying). Despite this, Lugnason Falls are not touristy at all, a hidden gem on Siquijor in other words.

The water is beautifully clear blue and there are several rope swings that you can have fun with. In addition, you can also jump off the large waterfall. A visit to Lugnason Falls is guaranteed to be a fun activity in Siquijor.

Waterfall Siquijor

9. Salagdoong Cliff Jump

The Salagdoong Beach Resort is located all the way in the northeastern part of Siquijor. You can enjoy the relaxing beach here, or seek some adrenaline with a 10-meter high cliff jump. You can only do the cliff jump at high tide, and it is not open in all seasons. Check the reviews on Google Maps to be sure in advance, or come to Salagdoong to enjoy the beautiful beach.

10. A day of relaxation at RUNIK beach club.

RUNIK is a lovely beach club in Siquijor. You can rent a bed for 250 – 500 PHP (€ 4 – 8) and enjoy the fine pool, jacuzzi and beautiful sea view all day. The food is also very good, just obviously a bit more expensive than other places. It is a perfect location to relax for a day and to unwind.

Runik beach club Siquijor
Runik beach club

11. Climb the viewpoint Quesol Mountain View

In the middle of the island of Siquijor, you will find the viewpoint Quesol Mountain View. You only have to walk up (steeply) for 5 minutes until you have a sweeping view of all of Siquijor, the surrounding meadows and the sea. A nice viewpoint in Siquijor to go to early in the morning, or at sunset.

Sunset Siquijor

12. Sambulawan Underground River

And so, we’ve reached the last activity on our list of things to do in Siquijor. The Sambulawan Underground River is a surprisingly fun activity in Siquijor, which is even fairly undiscovered. You pay 250 PHP (€4) entrance fee per person, which includes a headlamp and life jacket. You then descend over 100 steps into the cave and start swimming. Make sure you put on good sandals / water shoes, this is very important. In total you will spend 45 minutes swimming through the dark cave. A special experience and really a fun activity in Siquijor.

San Juan in Siquijor

San Juan is the base for your stay in Siquijor. Here, all the nice accommodations, tasty restaurants and cozy bars are located. Therefore, we definitely recommend staying in San Juan during your trip in Siquijor. From San Juan you can then easily travel by motorbike to all the beautiful places of Siquijor. Note that you officially need a motorcycle license to be insured should an accident happen. Read everything you need to know about renting a scooter in Asia here.

We are Leon and Noëlle, both (obviously) love to travel and have been traveling around the world indefinitely since September 2022! During this adventure we visit the most beautiful places on earth and we like to share this with you to inspire you and get the best out of your trip. If you need help with planning your trip do not hesitate to send us a message via email or instagram.

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Digital nomads, The World Trippers

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Accommodations in Siquijor

TAGBALAYON Lodging House

The staff at Tagbalayon is fantastic, they even remember your name and ask every day if there is anything they can do for you. The room is cleaned every day and you can contact them for all activities. Truly the best accommodation in Siquijor.

Rate per night from: €8 dorm €20 private room

Fable hostel

A super social hostel in a nice place in Siquijor. The family dinners are the perfect place to meet new people. The beds are comfortable and clean. It does sell out quickly so book a few weeks in advance!

Rate per night from: €17 dorm

Kahoy Cottages

A wonderful accommodation in Siquijor, near San Juan. You will need a motorbike to get anywhere, but that is also the case in San Juan itself. The hosts are tremendously nice and have great recommendations for Siquijor.

Price per night from: €40

How to get to Siquijor?

From Bohol, you easily catch the ferry to Siquijor. It takes 2 hours. You then get off at Siquijor harbor, after which you can take a tuktuk to San Juan (20 minutes). Do you want to go from Moalboal to Siquijor? Then you will have to take a bus to Bato early in the morning. Then from Bato you take the boat to Siquijor. It is also possible to travel to Siquijor via Dumaguete. The ferry from Dumaguete to Siquijor takes 45 minutes. It is always wise to check with your accommodation on how to get from A to B in the Philippines as this can vary depending on the season. The locals often know the current times of the buses and boats. For the ferry to and from Siquijor we recommend booking the boats of carrier Oceanjet. These are good boats, which (often) sail on time and where everything is well organized.

The best restaurants in Siquijor

  • Dolce Amore. This is by far our favorite Italian restaurant in Siquijor. The prices are quite high, but don't let that stop you from ordering a fantastic pizza here. Crafted by a real Italian.
  • Wonderland. A full vegan menu and yes, even non-vegans can eat delicious food here. It is a nice place to have breakfast or lunch while playing a game or just relaxing. In addition to being a restaurant, Wonderland is also a cozy hostel in Siquijor.
  • Luka Loco. One of the most famous restaurants in Siquijor. Whether you are in the mood for a tasty smoothie bowl, shakshuka or an amazing pumpkin gnocchi, you will find it all at Luka Loco. You can go here for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
  • Aroi Mamak Thai. Authentic Thai food in a beautiful seaside location. The curries are tremendously spicy though. When ordering, specify that you want the European version of no spicy, and they can make it less spicy for you.
  • Tipsy bar. We didn't think the food at Tipsy bar was great, but the sushi, on the other hand, is really very good. In addition, Tipsy bar is also just a very cozy place to have a drink in Siquijor or play a game.

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