The Best Filipino Island Siquijor – Known for black magic and voodoo, Siquijor is a little remote island located in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines. But don’t let the witchcraft scare you, this island is actually one of the more relaxed and chilled places we visited in the Philippines. A quick pit stop from Bohol, or Dumaguete, this island is easily accessible and a breeze to navigate. With just one motorbike you can easily ride around the entire island in one day!
The two of us traveled to Siquijor from Moalboal and had quite a full day of travel. One bus, two ferries, and a taxi ride later we had arrived to Siquijor ready to explore. For such a small island, we definitely thought there was enough to see and do. Below is our little breakdown of some of our favourites!
The Best Filipino Island Siquijor
Things To DO
Lungnason Falls “Zodiac Falls”
This was the first waterfall we visited on the island. We woke up super early one morning to explore and felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. The hike itself was fun because it is filled with a number of small waterfalls, each named after a difference astrological sign. The two of us had a blast navigating our way through the forest looking for our signs (Scorpio and Gemini). Once you reach the end of the hike you arrive at Lungnason Falls where you can actually strip off into your bathing suit and take a swim in the cool water!
Mysterious Balete Tree
Siquijor is home to one of the oldest Balete Trees in the Philippines. At 400+ years old, this tree is believed to be enchanted by the locals.
Cambuganay Falls
The Cambuganay waterfall has some of the bluest water we have ever seen! However, this is a popular tourist hang out spot, so get there early for the good photos. That being said, we had such a blast swinging off the rope swings and swimming. The water at these falls are actually quite warm and really enjoyable to swim in especially on a hot day.
Salagdoong Beach
This is a small little coved beach where you can swim and lay out in the sun all day. They also have nice picnic tables where many of the locals like to sit and enjoy picnics by the water. This beach is also where the infamous rock diving board is! At 35ft high, you are allowed to jump off at high tide. It is a bit scary, but worth it for an awesome Instagram.
Paliton Beach
This was our favourite beach on the island simply because it was big enough to have your own space and not feel too crowded. The beach has super nice white sand and clear blue water. We waded in the water all afternoon. There is also plenty of little snack stands just off the beach so you can enjoy a day tanning with all the essentials.
The Best Filipino Island Siquijor
Where To Eat
Local Bakeries
Since we are on a budget, the two of us went to the local bakery nearly every morning to buy some pastries to snack on throughout the morning and afternoon. They were really good and super cheap. Our favourite stand was in Lazi.
Aloha Grill
This was a very popular local spot. When you arrive you walk up and choose your seafood, meat, or veggies and they grill it for you right then and there. They also have a variety of side dishes and drinks to choose from to add to your plate. It was very yummy!
D’Barkads Haus
This was our go to restaurant! Located right next to our homestay we pretty much ate there every day for breakfast and dinner. It is extremely cheap and the portion sizes were good. We recommend their chicken curry and for breakfast beans on toast, or the banana pancake!
Monkey Business
We have to give this spot mixed reviews. We ate there on our first night and enjoyed it. They also had a great live music band playing. However, the next time we went they didn’t have half of the things on the menu and the service was a bit slow. Overall, it seemed to be a pretty popular hangout amongst the westerners and the food was decent.
The Best Filipino Island Siquijor
Where We Stayed
Hanna’s Place: Now we won’t lie… we totally choose this place solely for the name! Nevertheless, these rooms were super nice! Each room had aircon, hot water, and a cute little balcony to sit on in the mornings, or evenings. The staff there was also phenomenal. They hooked us up with a motorbike and provided us with hot water for our ramen noodles! They also had cute little puppies to play with, which we loved.Not to mention it was also in a really prime location- a close walk to the popular restaurants and beach. Overall, we would definitely recommend this place to anyone. Book your stay at this amazing guest house here.
Overall we both were pleasantly surprised with Siquijor. There is a very easy go nature on this island and both of us felt and enjoyed it. For anyone who is venturing south of Cebu or Bohol, definitely check out the island of Siquijor.
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