Highlights
How to spend four nights in Siquijor Island.
Time of Visit: December 2024
Duration of Visit: Four Nights
Description
Siquijor is a sizable island about 45 minutes ferry ride from Dumaguete City, the closest commercial airport. The island’s tourism is booming and you will see no shortage of foreign visitors. However, it is not yet saturated unlike Siargao or Boracay such that you can still have a wonderful experience like we did, especially if you seek out to know the locals.
With four nights, you would be able to see most of Siquijor’s prime attractions such as Cambughay Falls and Little Boracay (Paliton Beach). Longer would definitely be better as we were only able to see a fraction of what this island offers.
Here we describe the places we were able to see during the four nights we stayed on the island. We also describe how to reach Siquijor, how to get around and where to stay to help you plan your own adventure.
Activities
You will need your own transportation to reach the places listed here. The easiest way is to rent a scooter on the island. Fortunately, there is no shortage of scooter rentals as the island is getting popular with international tourists.
CADEGS Farm and Vineyard
Not a lot of people know about CADEGS Farm and Vineyard, not even some of the locals. The farm is located in the town of Lazi, not too far from Cambughay Falls. The place is family owned and operated. Besides the grape fruits hanging down from trellises, the farm has dragonfruit trees and seasonal vegetables.
The grapes were just starting to develop during our visit. Mr. Richie, the owner, said the grapes would be ready for picking in a month or two. He also said that most international tourists visit the farm to see the dragonfruits. Unfortunately, it was not in season.
Perhaps the unique thing about CADEGS is the opportunity to try grape pizza. Their pizza is OK but where else can you see grapes on pizza. Only at CADEGS!
Cambughay Falls
Cambughay Falls is probably the island’s number one attraction. It is located in the island’s Southwest corner not far from the small community of Lazi.
Cambughay Falls has four waterfalls. Its water is jade colored and refreshingly cool. There are also rope swings that are popular with the younger generation. They hang on to dear life, swing to the middle of the pool and let go to plunge into the water.
Little Boracay (Paliton Beach) and Pontod Beach
Little Boracay or Paliton Beach is the island’s number one beach. It is located on the island’s Northwest corner in the town of San Juan. Though the place does not really look like the famous Boracay in Panay, it does have coconut trees, fine white sand and calm and clear water. However, the ocean floor near the beach is covered with sea grass so the water looks dark from the beach.
Shade is a premium at this beach. Arrive early if you want to secure a spot. Otherwise, the unrelenting sun can be brutal even in the winter season.
To the South of Paliton Beach is Pontod Beach. It is a small beach area with lots of coconut trees for shade and less busy. There is no entry fee unlike Paliton, but there can be fishing boats on the shore. So you would encounter mooring lines in the water while swimming. Still, it is a worthwhile tradeoff to be away from everybody else.
Pitago Cliff Nature Park
Pitago Cliff Nature Park is located on the island’s South side about 15 minutes scooter ride from San Juan. This park is privately owned and an entry fee is required.
The park is located at the ocean’s edge and sits about 50 feet above the water.The park used to allow cliff diving but no longer. Now visitors just go there for the high vantage point and picture opportunity.
Salagdoong Beach
Salagdoong Beach is located at the island’s East end. The beach does not have fine white sand but is still a popular destination because its water is calm and there are a couple of cliff jumping points. Separate entry and parking fees (minimal) are required.
Unlike Paliton Beach, the ocean floor here is mostly free of sea grass. So the water is turquoise in color and more inviting.
Secret Beach
We included Secret Beach here as a warning and we do not recommend going there. The beach area is small and gravelly. The water was rougher compared to the other beaches. Snorkeling is dismal at best as there are no corals.
Getting to Secret Beach is not easy (hence the name). You have to navigate a muddy and rutted road that would surely result in a scooter wipe out if you are not careful. Then you would have to trek down for about 10 minutes to get to the beach area.
How To Get There
To Siquijor Port
Siquijor does not have an airport. The only way to reach the island is by ferry. The shortest ferry ride is from Dumaguete City on the island of Negros.
We flew from Manila and landed at Dumaguete (airport code DGT) around 9AM. The tourist information desk said that we could either take the tricycles at the airport and pay a lot or walk five minutes to the main road and flag a tricycle there for a much cheaper fare.
At Dumaguete port, before going through the main gate, look for the ferry ticket counters on your left. You should see a number of people purchasing their tickets. Proceed to the ferry terminal with tickets in hand. Pay the port fee and get your seating assignment before boarding the ferry boat. The trip takes roughly about 45 minutes.
From Siquijor Port To San Juan
You can either rent a scooter just outside the Siquijor Port or you can ride a tricycle which is the island’s main form of public transportation. There are some jeepneys but those are few and have limited routes. With jeepneys, you may have to wait a while or they may not go where you need to go.
There are tricycles at the port gate but those do not go to San Juan. If your destination is San Juan (where most tourists stay), you have to walk about 10-15 minutes to the public market. If you are lugging a big suitcase, best to take a tricycle at the port to take you to the market. You will then find the tricycles going to San Juan at the public market.
Where To Stay
The largest town on the island is Siquijor where the port and the public market is located. However, the island attractions are far away so most tourists stay in San Juan. Lazi is another place to stay but getting there by tricycle would be a challenge as the tricycles leaving the public market at the port only goes as far as San Juan. You would have to rent a scooter so you can conveniently reach your accommodation in Lazi.
San Juan has scooter rentals, shops and many choices of restaurants. There are also many choices of accommodations in San Juan.
We stayed at the Jap Tourist Inn in San Juan. The units are clean and have AC and Wifi. More importantly, the inn has a generator which came in handy during an hour-long brown-out. It is also within walking distance to restaurants.
Getting Around
Renting your transportation is the most convenient way of getting around the island. The cheapest is a scooter. Some tourists rent a tricycle, including the driver, for the day while others rent the tricycle outright.
Expected Expenses
Costs are in PHP.
Tricycle from Dumaguete Airport to Dumaguete Port – 100 at the main road, 250 from the airport
Port Fees: Dumaguete – 15, Siquijor – 14
Oceanjet Ferry: From Dumaguete Port to Siquijor Port – 350 pp, from Siquijor Port to Dumaguete Port – 385 pp
Tricycle from Siquijor Port Public Market to San Juan – 50 pp
Scooter Rental – 400 to 500 depending on type of scooter
Entry Fees: Cambughay Falls – 50 pp, Paliton Beach – 20 pp, Salagdoong Beach – 50
Salagdoong Beach Parking Fee – 20
Summary
Siquijor Island is known for its natural beauty and peaceful atmosphere. The island offers white sand beaches, crystal-clear waters and picturesque Cambugahay Falls. There are many places on the island to go swimming, cliff jumping and nature exploration.
Siquijor used to be an off the beaten path destination. However, it has caught the attention of many international travelers. Roads are no longer empty and the peaceful tropical setting is slowly transforming to a buzzing and vibrant atmosphere. Still it has charms as it is not fully developed. Better enjoy Siquijor before it gets overrun by tourists like Boracay.