Digital Nomad in Siquijor: Is it Possible? My Honest Review on Remote Work in Siquijor in 2025

Alright, I figured I’d write this because let’s be honest, being a digital nomad or working remotely is booming. Everyone wants to work from somewhere tropical, and the Philippines is definitely having a moment with remote workers.

Naturally, I thought I’d share my honest thoughts for anyone eyeing Siquijor as a remote work spot. I’ve been working from my laptop while hopping around the Philippines for a while now, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that not all islands are made equal when it comes to working remotely. Some are great. Some are… not ideal.

So I figured it makes sense to write separate guides for each island I worked from, this one’s all about Siquijor.

In this guide I’ll go over the important stuff: the Wi-Fi (obviously), coworking options (or lack thereof), cafés I liked working from, the vibe, community (if there is one), and just how realistic it is to be based here if you’re working online. I’ll throw in a bit of comparison to other islands too, not to complain, but just so you get a sense of where Siquijor stands.

Alright, let’s get into it: my honest guide to being a digital nomad in Siquijor in 2025.

Can You Actually Work Remote in Siquijor Philippines – My Experience

I always like starting with my own experience, because I think, that gives you a way better idea of what it’s actually like than some generic, robotic guide about remote work in Siquijor.

I spent just over a week in Siquijor in April, and unfortunately, it happened to fall during Holy Week. For context, Holy Week is Easter in the Philippines and one of the biggest national holidays. Locals travel, islands get packed, accommodations book out, and in our case, Siquijor had to deal with load shedding.

That meant the power was being turned off and on all day on a 3-hour rotation. Three hours of no power, three hours with power, repeat. And that went from 8am to 10pm. Honestly, even if I wasn’t working, that would’ve driven me nuts. They were doing it because the grid just couldn’t handle the amount of visitors on the island.

I’ll try not to let that color my review too much, because obviously, that’s not an everyday thing. Just bad timing on my part.

That said, I knew going in that Siquijor wouldn’t be the easiest place to work remotely from. I came straight from Siargao (which is amazing for digital nomads) and then Bohol (also pretty decent), so I had a feeling Siquijor would be more of a challenge, and it was.

Most of the work I actually got done was from the little desk and chair in my room at the place I was staying. At the time, there were no coworking spaces on the island, though I believe one has opened since, I’ll get into that later. Wi-Fi across the island also wasn’t great. A few places had Starlink, but when the power went out, so did the internet.

That said, there are a couple of good cafés to work from. I went to Fig Café a lot, also Kape de Guyod and Jungle Kingdome Café. They all had Wi-Fi and really nice views, which made it a bit more enjoyable.

So overall—yes, I made it work. But I’m freelancing, and I can be super flexible with when and how much I work. If you’re on a full 9-to-5 remote job though, I’ll be honest with you, Siquijor is not it.

Is There Good WiFi in Siquijor?

Well… Siquijor is trying. From what I’ve seen, the island is working on expanding its internet coverage to attract more visitors, and most hotels and cafés seem to rely on the standard Wi-Fi setup from local providers. But here’s the thing, that’s basically the same network your SIM card runs on, which doesn’t make much sense to me.

In Siargao, almost everyone has figured out that Starlink is the way to go, and I completely agree. For remote islands like most of the Philippines, it’s a total game changer. You get high-speed internet no matter where you are, and if you hook it up to a solar panel, even power cuts won’t take it down.

Unfortunately, most of Siquijor hasn’t caught on to that yet. So, the Wi-Fi overall just isn’t that great. It’s okay. It worked for me because I was mainly doing writing work and uploading photos. I didn’t have any Zoom calls or big uploads, so it was manageable. But if you’re on a proper 9-to-5 with regular video meetings, I’m not confident it would hold up.

One major issue is that when the power goes out, the Wi-Fi usually does too, unless the place you’re staying has a generator (which isn’t super common here). And yes, power cuts do still happen fairly often, not just during Holy Week.

The place with the best Wi-Fi I found was Jungle Kingdome Café, a little spot up in the hills behind San Juan. They’ve actually got Starlink and solar, so I could get real work done there. That said, it’s not really set up as a workspace, the seating isn’t the best to be sitting at your laptop, but it was perfect for me at the time.

Best Places to Work from in Siquijor ( Where to Stay in Siquijor for Digital Nomads )

Okay, so this section is basically just the cafés I found that were actually decent to work from, because honestly, those were the only real options. I also recommend booking accommodation with good Wi-Fi (ideally with a desk in the room or at least a decent lobby/workspace) and, if possible, a generator. That way, you’ve at least got a fallback if you need to get some work done from your hotel.

Two places I’d recommend for solid internet from where you’re staying:

• Sand 1 Hostel – A great option for budget travelers. They’ve got a stable connection and a generator, so it’s surprisingly good for working.
  
• White Villas Resort – A more upscale choice, and they offer Starlink, which makes a massive difference if you’re planning to actually get stuff done.
  

Here are the cafés I liked working from:

• Fig Café – Air conditioning, solid Wi-Fi, comfortable chairs, and good coffee. It’s a bit small though, so getting a table isn’t always easy.
  
• Kape de Guyod – More spacious, also with A/C and reliable Wi-Fi. The coffee’s good too, and I never felt awkward about taking up a table to work.
  
• Jungle Kingdome Café – This one has Starlink and solar power, so the connection is super reliable even during outages. It’s all outdoor seating, which can get hot, but the views up in the hills are incredible, worth it for a change of scenery.

Coworking in Siquijor – Does It Exist?

Yes! It finally does. When I was in Siquijor at the beginning of 2025, there wasn’t a single coworking space on the island. I had heard that one was going to open soon, but I left before it did, so I never got the chance to try it myself. Everything I’m sharing here is based on the research I did through their website.

The only coworking space in Siquijor (at least for now) is called Eden Coworking, and it’s the island’s first. It looks small and cozy, but it has the essentials: Starlink internet (huge win), air conditioning, and proper desks and chairs. It’s not a massive space, so I’d definitely recommend booking in advance if you plan to work there.

They also offer free water and coffee, which is always a bonus.

A day pass is around $10 USD, and a weekly pass is $45 USD which is pretty standard and fair pricing. I’ll link their site here as well so you can check it out yourself.

The only downside for now is that they don’t have solar or a generator yet, so if the power goes out, so does everything else. That said, they’ve announced that solar is coming soon, so keep an eye on that!

Cost of Living for Digital Nomads in Siquijor

I’d say living in Siquijor can be pretty cheap—definitely more affordable than places like Siargao. Food, accommodation, and general daily expenses are all on the lower end here.

For example, you can get a decent private room at a place like Sand 1 Hostel for around $25 USD per night. If you’re sharing that with a partner, you’re looking at just $12.50 each. If you plan on joining a coworking space, that’ll probably cost you another $5–10 a day, depending on the pass you get.

Same goes for working from cafés—you’ll obviously need to buy something (in my opinion, more than just a coffee if you’re staying a while), so that adds up to a similar cost.

Food and transport are both super affordable. You can rent a scooter for around 350 pesos (about $6 USD) per day. If you eat mostly local food, you can keep things cheap, but I usually do a mix—some café lunches, a few local spots, and the occasional nice dinner. So on average, I’d say I spend about $15 USD per day on food, bringing my daily total to around $35–40 USD. That’s roughly $1,200 USD per month.

Of course, if you prefer more comfort—like staying in higher-end accommodation, eating at Western-style cafés every morning, and avoiding local food altogether—you’re probably looking at closer to $50–60 USD per day.

Digital Nomad in the Philippines – What You Need to Know

Maybe you’re not even in the Philippines yet and you’re just scoping out options for where to go and work remotely. If that’s the case, let me say this: the Philippines can be great for digital nomads, but not every island is made for it.

You’ve probably figured out by now that I’m not the biggest fan of working remotely in Siquijor. It’s beautiful, yes, but the infrastructure just isn’t there yet. Siargao, on the other hand, is a completely different story. It has way more cafés with reliable WiFi, amazing coworking spaces, and a mini-Bali vibe, but without the chaotic crowds. I genuinely loved it there.

The visa situation in the Philippines is also a huge plus. You can arrive on a 30-day tourist visa and extend it pretty easily. In fact, you can stay up to three years in total, if you want. The longer extensions involve more paperwork, but if you’re planning to stay just 30–90 days, it’s super easy and pretty cheap. You can even do it online on their official site (click here).

Outside of Siargao, things get a bit trickier. Palawan wasn’t great for remote work. Siquijor, like I’ve said, has its challenges. Malapascua was a no from me. Bohol was actually okay though, better than I expected.

If it were me starting from scratch, I’d use Siargao as a base if you need to get real work done, and then plan your island-hopping trips around downtime, when you can afford not to be glued to a stable WiFi connection.

Honestly, it’s a bit like Indonesia: Bali and Lombok are remote-work havens, but once you get to Java, Flores, or Sumatra, working remotely becomes way more difficult. It’s just something to keep in mind when planning your stay.

Would I Recommend Remote Work in Siquijor Philippines?

I always do my own research and read other people’s blogs before going somewhere, and I was honestly surprised to see some recommend Siquijor as a great place to work remotely. A few even mentioned beachfront coworking spaces that… just don’t exist. So I’m not sure what was going on there, but based on my actual experience in 2025, I’d say Siquijor isn’t exactly ideal for remote work, but it depends!

If you’re doing a 9–5 from your laptop, need to be on video calls, upload big files, and want a stable connection plus a proper work setup, then no. Do yourself a favor and head to Siargao instead. They’ve got actual coworking spaces like Coco Space that are made for working remotely. You can settle in, be productive, and still enjoy the island.

However, if you’re freelancing a little or working a chill part-time gig, and your main goal is to travel the Philippines while getting a bit of work done here and there, then yeah, Siquijor can work. It’s not ideal, but it’s doable for a few days or maybe a week while exploring. Just go in knowing it’s more of a travel destination than a remote work location.

Final Thoughts on Being a Digital Nomad in Siquijor

So that’s it, my honest guide, thoughts, and personal experience of working remotely in Siquijor, Philippines.

I’m pretty set in my opinion, and I didn’t want to sugarcoat anything. I know some of you can work pretty much anywhere without a problem, but I’m the type of person who needs a stable WiFi connection, air conditioning, and a comfortable workspace to really focus and get quality work done.

I’m not saying Siquijor is a complete no-go. I did manage to get work done here and there, it was just more challenging. If you’re more easy-going or freelancing part-time, then yes, you can absolutely make Siquijor work. And to be fair, I can see the island slowly heading in the right direction. I wouldn’t be surprised if, over the next couple of years, more cafés pop up that are actually work-friendly, more places switch to solar or get Starlink, and a few more coworking spaces open up too.

So I hope this little guide on remote work in Siquijor gave you a clearer picture of what to expect and helps you decide if Siquijor fits into your digital nomad journey.

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