Siargao Island calm and chaos

CEBU, Philippines - If you live somewhere within the Visayas and Mindanao area, you don’t need to go to far Baler to ride the waves. A quick hour-long plane ride from Cebu gets you to the Surfing Capital of the Philippines, almost as quickly as you can say “cowabungga!”

Siargao Island, a tear-drop shaped land mass off the coast of Surigao City, is characterized by extremes. On one hand, this one of the 7,107 islands in our archipelagic paradise pulsates with energy being the not-so-secret hub of surfers the world over. On the other, it’s a calm cradle of rest and relaxation entirely devoid of big city noise.

In Siargao, the dominant sound is the crashing of the waves.

With a stark combination of reefs crowding right at the edge of the Philippine Trench facing the vast Pacific, Siargao’s ocean swells come crashing unimpeded towards the island’s coconut-fringed shores.  The summer months are perfect for beginners trying to get a hang of surfing, but the monsoon months of September and October are perfect for the real challenge.

Beyond being the Mecca of extreme water sports enthusiasts, Siargao is Mindanao’s biggest mangrove forest reserve with hectares upon hectares of lush greenery best for stand-up paddle boarding on a full moon.  Then darkness falls to a free show of fireflies and bioluminescent planktons.

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Given its remote location, Siargao is easy on the pocket with local restaurants and surf camps around General Luna giving off a backpackers’ inn vibe.

Overall, Siargao offers the best of nature in two words: Calm and Chaos.

Travel Tips:

Getting there: Direct flights to Siargao are available at certain times of the week. Touch down is at Sayak Airport, around an hour from the Cloud 9 area where all the amazing surf camps are.

When to Go: The good time to go depends on what you want to do.  For those who are just learning to surf, around April and May is the time when the waves are relatively milder.  For the seasoned wave-riders and those who wish to kite-surf, September and October are great months to catch humungous swells and strong winds.  For simply hanging around with stingless jellyfish at Sohoton, by all means, June, July, and August are perfect.

Where to Stay: Surf Camps are easy on the pocket both in terms of accommodation and activities.  A personal favorite is Turtle Surf Camp at General Luna which is only a couple of kilometres away from Cloud 9.

Getting Around: Public transport, even trikes, is hard to come by so a visitor can either walk or rent a motorbike to get a hang of island life at its best and most unadulterated.  Walking is highly recommend, so you can soak in the sun, the fresh air, and just dilly-dally on your way to wherever.

What to Do:  One hasn’t truly been to Siargao without having tried surfing there.  It can be a bit tricky but when you get to stand up on that board and master the waves, you won’t want to go back to dry land just yet.  Cloud 9 may be the most famous simply because it is the most accessible and the most scenic, but there are other points around the island where to catch great waves.  It’s also good to try out kite surfing, which takes conventional surfing a notch higher.  Snorkeling at the Magpupungko Rock Pools during low tide, Stand-Up Paddle boarding at the mangrove lagoon, swimming with the stingless jellyfish at Sohoton after spelunking at the Crystal Cave, and finally chilling out and walking along Gen. Luna’s seashore for a glimpse of Siargao’s biggest mirror are just the tip of the iceberg.

Don’t Miss:  Surfing may be Siargao’s trademark must-do but a visit to the Magpupungko Rock Pools in Pilar is no less important.  It’s like a trip to the Mediterranean without really having to go to the Mediterranean.  When the tide is low, there are the mermaid pools as alternative.  But these rock pools vanish at certain times of the day.

Chow Time: Buddha’s offers home-cooked dishes in large servings enough to feed two hungry souls.  Kahilom is the perfect place to grab some of the island’s best pizza; its ambience is also priceless.

Take Home: A video of you surfing! 

Listen Up: Get into the island vibe by listening to Kolohekai’s Cool Down.