Guide to General Luna and South Siargao
Getting to and around Siargao
Getting to Siargao
While Siargao is a bit of a remote island, it’s actually quite accessible due to its increasing popularity. There are two ways to reach the island:
By plane: The fastest and easiest option is to fly to Siargao. Siargao has a domestic airport, and you can fly there from Manila or Cebu. One-way flights can be as low as $35 and as high as $200. Booking flights in advance can end up saving you quite some money.
By ferry: You can take a 10 hour overnight ferry from Cebu to Surigao City, followed by a 2 hour boat ride from Surigao City to Siargao.
The overnight ferry departs Cebu at 9pm and arrives Surigao City at 7am. You’ll have a small bunk bed and fresh linens on the ferry. I’ve taken it twice and found it fairly comfortable to sleep on. Tickets cost 1600php ($28) and can be purchased online.
Once you arrive in Surigao City, exit the port to the right and you’ll see the next ferry port immediately which will take you to Siargao. You can buy tickets here in-person for the next available ferry, no need to buy tickets in advance. The cost is 200php ($3.50) and takes about 2 hours.
Getting to General Luna from the airport and ferry port
From the airport: You can rent a scooter at the airport and drive yourself to town, take a tuktuk, or take a shared AC minivan. It’s about a 45 minute drive. Tuktuks fit 2-3 people and cost ~800php ($14). A shared AC minivan costs 300php ($5) per person. When you arrive at the airport, you’ll find plenty of options for all three.
From the ferry port in Dapa: You’ll need to take a tuktuk to reach General Luna from the ferry port. There aren’t any scooter rental places there. A tuktuk to General Luna costs about 300php ($5) and can fit 2-3 people. The drive takes about 30 minutes.
Getting around General Luna and the south of Siargao
You’ll definitely need a scooter to get around and explore Siargao. Within General Luna, it’s possible to pay for tuktuk rides to get around, but it will be much more convenient to drive yourself. I would highly recommend Morenta Scooter Rental. They have a large selection of good quality, new scooters for the best price I found. The daily rate is 350php ($6) and if you rent for 1+ week, you can usually get it for 300php per day. Monthly rates are around 7000-8000php per month ($120-$140).
When to visit Siargao
Siargao weather and seasons
Season is very important to consider when planning your visit to Siargao. Note that Siargao does NOT follow the same weather patterns as the rest of the Philippines! Siargao has a very heavy rainy season from December to February, and does not have a full dry season. Instead, the rest of the year sees a dry and rainy mix, with generally sunny skies and occasional rainshowers scattered throughout.
For best weather, the best time to visit Siargao is between April and November. Siargao’s high season is April and May.
Visit April and May to be around the most people, June to August to be around the least people, and September to November for the surf season. Avoid January and February, when rainfall is at its heaviest.
Siargao surf season
The peak season for Siargao surfing is from September to December. However, the surf here relies on irregular typhoons and storm systems that aren’t clockwork. Sometimes you can get normal 1+ meter waves for weeks, and then suddenly they turn into a mega overhead set that lasts 48 hours. Other times, it’s the other way around. For advanced surfers looking for the biggest waves, the best season to visit Siargao is during peak surf season.
Aside from peak season, you can still surf Siargao almost year-round. There’s rarely a totally dead time. Spring and early summer (March to July) generally has nice, mellow waves, perfect for beginners and intermediates. July to August sees the flattest waves of the year, though you’ll still have occasional good days.
Where to stay in General Luna (South Siargao)
Click here for a map of areas around General Luna.
The main town of tourism in Siargao is General Luna, located in the south. General Luna is a very busy and bustling small town lined with hip restaurants, cafes, bars, and surf shops. There are 3 main areas in the General Luna area:
Main General Luna area – The busiest area where lots of restaurants, cafes, bars, and shops are located. You should stay here if you don’t drive a scooter and want to rely on being able to walk places, or prefer to be right in the heart of the action. Most people don’t prefer to stay here, as it is a very busy area and can feel overwhelming to spend all your time in.
Catangnan & Cloud 9 area – Still busy, but much less so than the main General Luna area. It’s a bit more peaceful here with still plenty of restaurants and cafes around. Most people prefer staying here for this reasn. Going between Catangnan area and the main area is very easy by scooter. Stay here if you want a bit more space and peace, can drive a scooter to easily get around, but still want to be close to everything in the main area.
Santa Fe – About 10 minutes north of Catangnan area. There’s a nice, small community here near the Ocean 9 surf break. This is noticeably more removed from the General Luna area, though still not too far and has a few of its own restaurants and cafes. This is a good area for people that want even more peace and quiet, while still being accessible to General Luna for food and nightlife options.
Accommodation recommendations
Vedya Hostel – Beautiful space and a little pocket of peace amidst hectic General Luna. Still a social place, it’s good for travelers that want a more peaceful vibe while still being able to connect with other travelers. Also connected to Vedya Cafe, one of my favorite cafes.
Sunlit Hostel – Nice hostel with friendly staff and a social crowd. There’s a new pool and rooftop bar with billiards and ping pong tables. They do family dinners and host events regularly. This is a good hostel if you want a social environment that’s not a full party.
Ilakai Hostel – Nice hostel with a homey social atmosphere and friendly staff. There’s even a gym there!
Tropical Temple – Beautiful place but not the most social. Good to stay here if you want a pleasant and comfortable place to stay at a cheap price, but are okay with finding your socializing outside of the hostel.
Harana Surf Resort – Beautiful property with private rooms and dorm rooms. Good if you’re looking for more luxury while still being around other backpackers that value the same type of comfort.
Hostels me or my friends have stayed at that are decent, but not my top recommendations:
Sinag Hostel – Friendly staff and nice guests that all create a homey, social atmosphere. Very large and comfortable dorms.
Dawn Patrol – Decent place and nice staff, but not the most social - people didn’t really just hang out there. A totally okay option for a few nights but don’t expect the best hostel experience.
Single Fin – There are a few private rooms and a dorm room surrounding a pool on beautiful grounds. Not really a social hostel, but if you’re looking for a nice, peaceful place to stay while you do your own thing, this would be a nice place. Also good for couples looking for a good private room option.
Yellow Banana – Perfectly decent place with friendly staff and guests. Not a bad place to stay but also didn’t stand out.
Wayans Homestay – Located in Malinao, a 15 minute drive from General Luna. If you’re visiting Siargao for a short time, chances are you won’t stay here. But if you’re looking for somewhere more calm and peaceful but still accessible to General Luna, Malinao is a great option. This homestay is absolutely perfect - large and comfortable guest rooms, nice property, friendly staff, and good price.
What to do in south Siargao
Go surfing
One of the things Siargao is most known for, is surfing! General Luna is home to the world famous surf spot, Cloud 9, the break that put Siargao on the map. But whether you’re just learning, an intermediate, or a pro, there will be something everyone can enjoy most times of the year. See my full guide to surfing in Siargao here (coming soon).
Go on an island hopping tour
Siargao is surrounded by many other beautiful small islands, and an island hopping tour is a wonderful way to experience them. My friend went on an island hopping with Kuya Loloy (+63 905 503 2181) and highly recommended it! They visited 3 islands: Naked, Daku, and Guyam Islands on a day trip.
Magpopongko Rock Pools
These are a series of natural pools surrounded by rugged rock formations. The pools are revealed during low tide to create swimming areas. It’s best to visit during low tide when the tide pools are exposed. During high tide, the waves crash over the tide pools, making it difficult and dangerous to explore the area. In the middle of the main tidal pool is a massive rock, which serves as a popular cliff-diving spot.
Beto Cold Spring
Many of the cold springs in the area feel over-touristy and developed, but Beto Cold Spring was one that was not too touristy and surrounded by nice nature. It makes for a very refreshing cold dip on those hot Siargao days!
Maasin River Bridge
A popular spot to take a dip along the Maasin River. There’s a platform you can jump from and kayaks you can take to explore down the river. It’s a decent spot for a swim but very popular, so expect crowds! (I personally much prefer Beto Cold Spring for a cool dip, but put this on here as many people still enjoy it)
Coconut Plantation View Point
A nice stopping point for a very nice, expansive view over tons and tons of coconut trees.
Drive around the island and visit the north
Siargao is a seriously stunning and lush island. It’s green everywhere with so much untouched beauty, and one of the best things you can do is just drive around the island and take it all in. If you’re not planning to stay in the north (which you should), you should at least do a daytrip to see the landscapes along the way and to get a little bit of a vibe of the north. It’s worth a trip up to at least Pacifico to see the beach and experience the town.
Secret Beach
About a 15 minute drive from General Luna, Secret Beach is a nice beach to lounge at if you’re wanting to escape the bustle of General Luna. It’s a pretty average beach and doesn’t stand out in beauty, but’s nice to explore away from the crowds.
Ocean 9 Beach
Ocean 9 is a large expansive beach and also a popular beginner to intermediate surf spot. It’s in Santa Fe, about a 10 minute drive from General Luna, and is a very nice beach to lounge at. It’s beautiful and peaceful, away from crowds of General Luna. You can only swim (and surf) at mid to high tide, otherwise you’ll be met with a lot of exposed reef.
Sunset spots:
There are a few small “bars” around the Cloud 9 and Jacking Horse area with small seating areas on the beach. It’s a nice spot for a sunset beer. My favorite place was Pop Up Bar.
Sunset Bridge – Siargao’s most iconic sunset spot. You’ll see Catangnan Bridge lined with food vendors and people at sunset time. It’s not my favorite place because of the crowds, but it’s a very lively spot to check out.
Ocean 9 Beach – A very nice sunset spot on the beach that’s more peaceful and secluded.
How long to spend on Siargao
South Siargao only: 5 days
If you’re only going to visit the south of Siargao (General Luna), spending 5 days gives you enough time to do some day trips, explore around the south of the island, take some surf lessons, and just lounge around the area.
South and north Siargao: 10+ days
If you want to visit both the south and the north of Siargao, which I would highly recommend, you should take at least 1 week. If you only want to see the highlights of both parts of the island, 1 week could be enough, with 3-4 days in the south and 3-4 days in the north. But if you want to take it at a more leisurely pace (which you will especially appreciate in the north), I would recommend at least 10 days. You could spend 4-5 days in the south, and 5+ days in the north.
There are plenty of things to do and see all around the island. In both areas, you’ll be able to take surf lessons and enjoy great surf. You’ll also be able to drive around the island soak in the scenery from everywhere. In the south, you’ll get to enjoy a lively nightlife scene, have the energy of a lot of people around, and enjoy plenty of good food options. In the north, you’ll be able to relax, cook, spend the day at a cafe, and soak it all in.
The ultimate Siargao itinerary
5 days in south Siargao
Day 1 – Assuming you only have a half-day, get lunch in General Luna, visit Ocean 9 beach to relax and catch sunset or go for a surf. Dinner in General Luna, followed by drinks if you’d like.
Day 2 – Brunch at Cat & Gun or Vedya, check out Cloud 9 area and go for a surf or surf lesson, visit Cloud 9 area again or Sunset Bridge for sunset and drinks, have dinner in General Luna.
Day 3 – Go on a day trip island hopping tour, dinner in General Luna.
Day 4 – Explore around the island - visit Magpopongko Rock Pools, Beto Cold Springs, and Coconut Plantation Viewpoint. Sunset at Cloud 9 area for a relaxing drink on the beach after a long day of exploring. Dinner in General Luna.
Day 5 – Have a last brunch at your favorite spot (mine are Cat & Gun and Vedya) and get ready to leave. If you want to explore somewhere new, I recommend Shanty Shanty, a very nice cafe just a little bit out of town.
10 days in south + north Siargao
Same as Day 1-4 above.
Day 5 – Have a last brunch at your favorite spot. Mine are Cat & Gun and Vedya, but if you want to explore somewhere new, I recommend Shanty Shanty, a very nice cafe just out of town. Drive or take a tuktuk to the north. Depending on time, go to Coconut Nut for a nice cafe on the beach, or catch sunset at Das Monument. Dinner at Beshies in Burgos for delicious, cheap local food.
Day 6 – Go for a surf or take a surf lesson. Lunch at Kolekbibo, a nice cafe overlooking the beach. Relax for the day. Dinner at Coconut Nut for pizza on the beach (last call for food is at 7pm), or Gala for local food.
Day 7 – Catch another surf! Or, go to North Dirty Kitchen for brunch with the best food and views, and spend the day relaxing at the beach. Dinner and live music at Lokal Hub on Friday and Saturday nights.
Day 8 – Explore the north - drive south to Pacifico and have lunch there and visit the beach. Or, drive north to Secret Beach, all the way around to Santa Monica and San Benito to get a real taste of local life. Then, loop back around through Pacifico, stopping to check out the cute surf town, before making your way back north.
Day 9 – Enjoy brunch/coffee at Coconut Nut, Chill Out Cafe, North Dirty Kitchen, or Kolekbibo. Go for another surf or visit places in the north you didn’t go to yesterday. Or, simply enjoy the day relaxing at the cafe or beach. Or, go get a massage! Catch sunset at Das Monument or Secret Beach. Dinner and live music at Kanaway (on Wednesday nights), or at Beshies for the classic go-to.
Day 10 – Enjoy your last morning in the north! Visit your favorite brunch spot and get ready to go.
Where to eat and drink in General Luna
Coffee, breakfast, lunch
Sizzling fish at Nattribu, my favorite dish!
Kinilaw at Nattribu, another winner
Vedya – Delicious breakfast and lunch food in a very nice environment. A peaceful respite within General Luna, I love to go here when I want nice breakfast food in a peaceful, slower surrounding.
The Cat & Gun – They have a large menu of bagels, sliders, and a few other items. Everything I’ve tried has been very good. My favorites are the falafel sliders, fish and chip sliders, and dirty matcha. Highly recommend for lunch!
Shanti Shanty – Very nice cafe with good food in a nice setting. Owned by a French guy, so you know they have their bread and pastries down! They make their own bread (and are one of the main bread suppliers to other restaurants in General Luna), and have a delicious menu of breakfast and lunch items. The upstairs space is very comfortable to relax and spend a few hours at.
Dinner
Nattribu – My favorite restaurant of General Luna. Very good local food and decent prices. Must try the sizzling fish, sizzling squid, veggie mango curry, and kinilaw. CEV (below) is known for its kinilaw, but I think the one here is better.
CEV: Ceviche & Kinilaw Shack – One of the most popular restaurants in Siargao - expect a wait! Very good ceviche and kinilaw (Filipino style ceviche).
Isla Panciteria – Pancit is a very traditional Filipino fried noodle dish. In most places, it’s a fairly ordinary dish. But here, they only make pancit and focus in on a few different styles, doing them exceptionally well.
La Carinderia – Good Italian food
Meze Grill – Very good mediterranean food, mezze style
Kurvada – Popular carinderia with good local food
Backside Burger – Casual spot for good burgers. Good for lunch, as a snack, or dinner
Alma – Very nice spot if you want a fancy, expensive dinner experience. Great food
Bars
Last Chance – Good cocktail bar, but pricey
Borracho – Popular live music bar
Strum Music Cafe – Popular live music bar. Sometimes when there’s too many people, I like to go across the street to Siargao Corner Cafe and get a drink on their balcony where I can still enjoy the music but from a bit further away.
Barbosa – Nice vibe rooftop bar. They have a big party once a week, but even besides then, it’s a nice spot for a drink.
Nightlife
The nightlife scene in General Luna is pretty unparalleled. There’s a party every night of the week at a different club in town, and the clubs all coordinate so that there’s a main party at each one and they’re generally not competing. The party here ends at midnight, and then everyone heads to Siargao Beach Club to continue the after party.
General Luna Party Schedule (as of April 2025):
Monday: El Lobo (pop edm), Mama Coco (retro night)
Tuesday: Barbosa (funky)
Wednesday: Goodies (techno/house), Mama Coco (reggaeton)
Thursday: Bed and Brew (top 40 and mainstream EDM)
Friday: Barbosa (mix of funk and house), Mama Coco (house/techno night), El Lobo (hip hop and top 40)
Saturday: Harana (2 stages: a top 40/hip hop stage and a house/techno stage), Siargao Beach Club (top 40 and pop EDM, followed by a foam party at midnight)
Sunday: Happiness (2 stages: a house/techno stage at their beach bar and a hip hop/top 40 stage across the street at their hostel)
Siargao Beach Club is open every day until 2-3am. One of the very few places allowed to be open after midnight so everyone usually goes there for the after party. Two Brown Boys is also an after party place.
Note that the party schedule changes once or twice a year, so check with your accommodation for the latest schedule.
Other useful Siargao information
Immigration
Many people end up staying in Siargao for a long time, which means eventually you’ll need to get your visa extended. There’s a Bureau of Immigration in General Luna that makes it quick and easy to do this. Remember to bring your passport and your most recent visa paperwork.
For Europeans and Americans, when you arrive in the Philippines, you are granted a 1 month stay. 1 week before your visa expires, you can visit any immigration office to get your visa extended for 1 more month. After your first visa extension, you then have the option to get your visa extended for 2 months at a time. So, 1 week before your next visa expires, you will again need to go to an immigration office where you can extend your visa for 1 or 2 months this time. Note that after you’ve stayed in the country for 60+ days (so on your 2nd visa extension), you’ll also be required to get an Alien Registration Card. This is not significant in any way, except that you have to pay extra for it with your 2nd visa extension.
Cash and ATM’s
Almost all places in Siargao take cash only, including places where you may run large balances, such as accommodations. You’ll need to go to the ATM regularly, but luckily there are ATM’s all over the place. In General Luna, there are ATM’s all over the place. In the north, there are ATM’s in the main towns of Pacifico, Burgos, and Alegria.
You’ll want to withdraw the maximum possible with each ATM withdrawal, to minimize the number of times you have to pay ATM fees. The standard maximum withdrawal on the ATMs is 10,000php ($170) and the fee is 300php ($5) for each withdrawal. If you’re from the US, I highly recommend the Charles Schwab checking account, which reimburses any ATM related fee from anywhere in the world. Not only are there no foreign transaction fees, you’ll also be reimbursed for any fee charged by an ATM, meaning you’ll have completely 0 ATM fees! Trust me, this has been a life changer for me abroad.
Power outages
Siargao experiences regular, but short, power outages that are more exaggerated during rainy season (January and February). Generally speaking, these regular power outages don’t interfere too much with your day since they are very short. However, there are occasional full-day power outages planned by the electrical company on the island. Accommodations usually try to warn guests of these. During the planned full power outage days, plan to go somewhere with a generator, or it’s also a great chance to go for a day trip outdoors.
