My Siquijor Island Philippines Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know in 2025

By now, I’ve written quite a few articles about Siquijor Island Philippines, sharing stories from my own trip, helpful tips, and honest thoughts on what’s actually worth doing. But since this little island ended up being one of my favorite places in the Philippines, I figured it deserved a full, all-in-one travel guide.

Siquijor is easily one of the most beautiful islands I visited, lush, wild, and full of white sand beaches, hidden waterfalls, and cliff spots that look like something out of the Mediterranean.

But what really sets it apart is the island’s atmosphere. It’s got a bit of mystery to it. Known as the “Island of Fire,” Siquijor has a long-standing folklore around healers, Siquijor witches, and spirits that locals still believe in today. Whether you buy into that or not, it gives the island a vibe I haven’t found anywhere else in the Philippines.

This travel guide pulls together everything I think you should know before visiting Siquijor. If you’ve got time, I’ve written deeper articles on pretty much every topic here, but if you just want the essentials in one place, this is it. How to get there, where to stay, what to do, and a bunch of personal tips I picked up along the way. Let’s get into it, here’s everything you need to know about Siquijor Island.

Why I Love Siquijor Island Philippines – My Experience

I visited Siquijor in April 2025, right around Holy Week, which, as I quickly learned, is one of the busiest travel holidays in the Philippines. Schools are out, families go on vacation, and everywhere gets packed. I love that Filipinos travel their own beautiful country (as they absolutely should!), but I just wasn’t prepared for how hectic it would get. Finding accommodation was tough, and the island even had some power issues during the week. So yes, things were a little chaotic, but I still had a great time.

First tip? If you’re planning to visit during major Filipino holidays like Christmas or Easter, be ready for things to book out fast. It’s not the time to wing it.

I arrived in Siquijor straight from Bohol, which was super easy. I booked the ferry directly with OceanJet, about a two-hour ride from the Bohol port to Siquijor, smooth as usual. From there, it was a 20-minute tuk-tuk to my little homestay in San Juan. No hassle at all.

What struck me right away about Siquijor was how different it felt. The whole island is a bit rougher around the edges, in the best way. It’s less built up, less touristy, and way more low-key than places like Siargao, Bohol, or Boracay. And honestly, I loved that. My days were spent exploring waterfalls like Cambugahay Falls, relaxing at Paliton Beach, and jumping off the cliffs at Pitogo Cliff.

In between, I’d ride my scooter through palm-lined roads, stop for lunch somewhere random, and end the day with a cheap rum and one of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve seen in the Philippines.

Siquijor doesn’t have many fancy resorts or trendy cafés, and that’s exactly why it stood out to me. It felt more raw, more real. So if you’re after something a little less polished but full of character, this might just be your favorite island too.

Where is Siquijor Island Located & How to Get to Siquijor Island Philippines

Siquijor Island is in the Philippines, obviously, but to get specific, it’s just off the coast of Negros Island, near the city of Dumaguete and it’s part of the Central Visayas Region. That probably doesn’t mean much unless you’re already in the area, but from Dumaguete it’s only about a 1-hour ferry ride. So if you happen to be nearby, it’s an easy jump.

More likely, though, you’re coming from Cebu or Bohol. Siquijor is closest to those two popular tourist spots, and that’s where most travelers come from. There’s no airport on Siquijor, so ferry is the only option and most routes go Cebu → Bohol → Siquijor. Even if you book a direct ferry from Cebu to Siquijor, it’ll usually stop in Bohol on the way. That’s why so many people visit both Bohol and Siquijor, it’s an easy combo trip.

Expect to pay around ₱1,600 for the ferry from Cebu to Siquijor, and about ₱800 from Bohol. The ferries are honestly fine, air-conditioned, fairly comfy seats, and usually on time.

The only real headache I had was the ferry terminal in Cebu. It’s chaotic, and the lines for tickets can be painfully long. I highly recommend booking your ticket online either through oceanjet.com or klook.com. It costs the same as buying it at the terminal, but it’ll save you hours of standing in line. (The ticket counters in Bohol and Siquijor are much more chill, by the way.)

The Best Time to Visit Siquijor

I’ll keep this one short and to the point: the best time to visit Siquijor is during the dry season, no surprise there. You’ll get blue skies, hot beach days, and the waterfalls will look their best (since there’s no rain washing dirt into them).

Dry season runs from November to May, so that’s your best window. But like I mentioned earlier, avoid peak Filipino holidays like Christmas, New Year’s, and especially Holy Week around Easter. The island gets busy, accommodations book out fast, and things can get a bit chaotic. If you do want to travel during that time, definitely book your stay well in advance.

Personally, I’d recommend March, great weather, smaller crowds or even early November or late October. If you get lucky, you’ll catch clear skies, no crowds, and waterfalls still full from the rainy season.

Where to Stay in Siquijor Island Philippines

I’ve written a full guide on where to stay in Siquijor that breaks down all the areas and includes some great hotel and resort options.

But to keep it simple: most of you will probably want to stay in or near San Juan. It’s the main tourist hub on the island but don’t worry, it’s nothing like General Luna in Siargao. San Juan is way more low-key. You’ll find a few nice beach bars, chill restaurants, and even some super cool live music spots, but it still feels relaxed and underdeveloped in the best way.

It’s also where you’ll find Paliton Beach, which was my personal favorite on the island. Plus, if you rent a scooter (which I highly recommend), San Juan is the perfect base for exploring the rest of Siquijor.

Here are a few of my personal favorite places to stay:

• Coco Grove Beach Resort
  
• Nakabalo Guesthouse
  
• Mandala Tribes Treehouses

Best Things to Do in Siquijor Philippines

I’ve written a full guide on this, but to give you a quick overview. Here are a few of my favorite things to do in Siquijor aka the best Siquijor tourist attractions:

First up: Cambugahay Falls. Easily one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Philippines. The turquoise water is unreal, and the rope swing here is so much fun, it launches you straight into the pool like a real-life jungle swing. Definitely worth it.

Another highlight for me was cliff diving at Pitogo Cliff. The water is crystal clear and that whole spot gave me Mediterranean summer vibes. There’s a proper platform for jumping, and it’s a fun, beautiful spot close to San Juan

Paliton Beach was my go-to for sunsets. It’s peaceful, scenic, and the light over the palm trees in the evening is just amazing.

Oh, and try the pizza at Dolce Amore. I’m serious. It’s honestly some of the best pizza I’ve had in my life. Not just in the Philippines. Ever. It’s just so good.

If you have some more time, visiting Salagdoong Beach and going cliff jumping there is also so much fun, it’s just a little further away from San Juan.

My Favorite Restaurants & Cafes in Siquijor

Siquijor doesn’t have the same food scene as Siargao—not even close, really—so it can be a bit trickier to find great food. But there are a few gems I found and kept going back to.

1. Dolce Amore – This Italian restaurant is owned and run by actual Italians, and they import a lot of their ingredients straight from Italy. The pizza is Neapolitan-style and absolutely amazing. We also tried the arancini and bruschetta—both were spot-on. Easily one of the best meals I had on the island.
   
2. Roadside Diners – Hands down my favorite Filipino restaurant in Siquijor. It’s super affordable and the food is packed with flavor. My go-to was the chicken inasal—grilled chicken that’s juicy, smoky, and perfectly tender. They also make great lumpia (Filipino-style spring rolls). Very simple but  just really good food.
   
3. Shaka Siquijor – I’m not usually a huge fan of the Shaka chain in the Philippines, but the Siquijor branch is in such a beautiful spot I ended up coming back a few times. Their vegan flat whites are actually really good, and the smoothie bowls are fresh and tasty. Great spot to chill for a while right on the beach.

How to Get Around in Siquijor

There are a few ways to get around Siquijor, but honestly, my top recommendation is renting a scooter, which is also my go-to for most islands in the Philippines. It’s super easy, gives you total freedom, and just makes the whole trip more fun.

Like most islands, you’ll probably base yourself in one town (in this case, San Juan), but all the cool stuff like waterfalls, the pristine beaches, cliff jumps, is spread out. Having your own two wheels lets you explore the whole island at your own pace without having to rely on anyone else.

Scooter rentals are also super cheap with around 300–400 pesos per day and gas is so inexpensive it’s basically free. And if you’re not super confident riding a scooter yet, I’d say Siquijor is actually a great place to learn. The roads aren’t too busy, especially around San Juan, and they’re in decent condition. I’m not saying you have to do it—but if you’ve been wanting to learn, this is a way better place than Bohol or Cebu, for example.

If scooters aren’t your thing, no worries. You can still get around by tuk-tuk (tricycles), hire a private driver, or even join a minivan day tour if you’d rather explore with a group.

Nightlife in Siquijor Island Philippines

Siquijor definitely isn’t party central and to be honest, that’s not really why most people come here anyway. When I planned my trip, I didn’t even think about nightlife. The whole vibe in Siquijor is much more about relaxing, soaking up the island’s natural beauty, and slowing down a bit. It’s more of a detox destination, especially if you’re coming straight from the party scene in Siargao.

That said, there are still a few great spots to grab a drink, and the one I absolutely have to shout out is Baha Ba’r. I had zero expectations going in, we just went out for a couple of drinks after dinner one night because there was a power cut at our hotel and no AC in the room.

We ended up at Baha Ba’r and I was honestly blown away. The whole place is super well-designed with a really cool ambiance. The lighting, layout, and overall feel reminded me of bars in Bali. They also had live music that night, which they host on a proper stage and it was such a good time. Definitely recommend it for a relaxed night out with great vibes.

Other places that are supposed to be fun for late-night drinks include Monkey Business and Tipsy Bar. And if you’re a backpacker staying at Mad Monkey, the bar there has a bit of a reputation for being good fun too.

Can You Work Remotely in Siquijor Island?

Yes… and also no. I’m a bit on the fence about this one, and I actually go into way more detail in my full Digital Nomad in Siquijor guide with all the nitty-gritty and my honest take. But here’s the quick version.

Working remotely in Siquijor can be done, but it’s definitely not ideal,  at least not yet. Compared to places like Siargao, Siquijor is still playing catch-up. Internet can be a bit hit or miss, and there are still occasional power cuts that will have you staring at a black screen wondering what you did to deserve this.

That said, things are improving. There’s now an actual coworking space on the island called Eden Coworking, which is small but super cute and cozy. It has Starlink, air conditioning, and it’s brand new. Honestly, it’s such a game changer if you’re planning on working here.

Outside of that though, your options are limited to a handful of cafes, and even then, not all of them are ideal for working long hours. If you’ve got a full 9-to-5 setup with Zoom calls and tight deadlines, I’d probably steer you toward Siargao instead. But if you’re freelancing, working async, or just need to send off a few emails between swims, Siquijor can absolutely work.

Just don’t expect fiber internet and twenty different laptop-friendly cafés. It’s more of a work a little, beach a lot kind of place.

Little Travel Tips & Tricks for Visiting Siquijor Philippines

Rent a scooter – Just do it. It’s cheap, easy, and the best way to get around. Plus, the roads here are actually decent and traffic is super chill.

Book your hotel early if traveling during holidays – Christmas, New Year, and Holy Week get booked out quickly. Either plan around them or be prepared to splurge.

Buy a local SIM card – Globe or Smart are your best options. Globe seemed to work better in San Juan for me, but coverage varies

Don’t expect wild nightlife – It’s more sunset drinks and live music than shots and techno til 3am. Come to relax, not to rage.

Water shoes can come in handy – Some beaches and waterfalls have rocky or slippery bits, especially if you’re exploring a lot.

Start your days early – The island is super quiet in the morning, plus it’s cooler and better for chasing waterfalls without the crowds.

Power cuts happen – Not every day, but often enough. Pack a power bank and don’t rely 100% on Wi-Fi.

Locals are super friendly – Don’t be shy to ask for directions or tips. People here are genuinely kind and happy to help.

Final Thoughts on Visiting Siquijor Island Philippines

Siquijor is genuinely one of my favorite islands in the Philippines. I had an amazing time from the moment I arrived, even though the island didn’t exactly roll out the red carpet. Between the power cuts and fully booked hotels, it definitely made me work for it a bit.

But that’s kind of the beauty of Siquijor. It’s not trying to be perfect. You just have to take it for what it is and if you do, you’ll probably fall in love with it like I did. The beaches are stunning, the waterfalls are easily some of the best in the country, and the overall vibe is just so laid-back.

For me, Siquijor was a bit of a reset. I didn’t come here to party (even though you can), and I didn’t need nightlife to enjoy myself. My days were early, my nights were quiet, and honestly, that felt really good for a change.

I hope this little guide on Siquijor Island Philippines helps you figure out if Siquijor is the right island for you and if it is, I think you’ll have a pretty magical time.

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