Guide to Surfing in Siargao

Contents

Siargao surf seasons

Beginner surf spots: Jacking Horse | Giwan, Union, Secret Spot | Ocean 9

Intermediate surf spots: Daku Reef | Cemetery | Bumee | Salvacion | Stimpy’s | Rock Island

Advanced surf spots: Cloud 9 | Tuason's Point | Quicksilver

North Siargao surfing

Surfing by season

Peak season (late September to early December): waves working everywhere!

All spots are working! At this time of year, the winds are light or offshore and Siargao receives a good ground swell resulting from storms in the Pacific. This is the time of year when you see those pictures of perfect, barreling Cloud 9. The average surf is about shoulder to head high and every couple weeks when a storm develops it can get up to double overhead or more. However, it can still occasionally go flat or very small during this time.

• Beginner: Jacking horse, Giwan, Ocean 9, Secret Spot

• Intermediate: Daku, Cemetery, Salvacion

• Advanced: Cloud 9, Stimpy’s, Rock island, Tuason, Pacifico

Winter (late December to mid-March): rainy season with windy weather

Starting in the beginning of December the winds pick up and turn onshore. This means a lot of the usual spots like Cloud 9, Tuason, or Cemetery won’t be working. Luckily, there are quite a few protected spots in Siargao so you can always find somewhere to surf. During winter, there’s always swell, so you can expect 3 or 4 months of non-stop waves, even if it is a little messy. There are occasional days when the winds drop and you can surf any of the spots, but in general it’s pretty windy everywhere. One thing to be careful of is the jellyfish, or blue bottles, that blow in on the winds during this time of year. Especially in January and February, people like to wear a long sleeve rash guard and watch out for jellyfish in the water. They are not super dangerous but the sting does hurt quite a bit.

• Beginner: Giwan, Secret Spot, Union, Pilar

• Intermediate: Salvacion, Tangbo

• Advanced: Stimpy’s or Rock island

Spring (mid-March to mid-June): the 2nd surf season (but smaller)

By mid-March, winter is ending and winds are starting to die down. This ushers in the 2nd peak surf season. Winds drop and there is still some good swell. Waves won’t be gone until almost June. So during spring, you can expect to find nice, clean, waist to head high waves for a couple months. In general, it’s great for intermediate surfers or someone who doesn’t need huge waves to have fun. It’s also good for beginners looking to learn during this time, as it also coincides with Siargao’s high tourism season.

• Beginner: Jacking Horse, Cemetery, Daku

• Intermediate: Salvacion, Quiksilver, Tuason

• Advanced: Cloud 9, Stimpy’s, Rock island

Summer (late June to early Sept): low season, quite small everywhere

If you’re an advanced surfer looking for good waves, summer is not the time for you. But if you’re a beginner or wanting to learn how to surf, summer can be a great time. The waves are generally around waist high, sometimes a bit smaller, sometimes a bit bigger. The summer months in Siargao are hot and sunny and you’ll find longboarders of all levels out enjoying the surf.

• Beginner - intermediate: Anywhere that’s working: Cloud 9, Tuason, Cemetery

• Advanced: Sorry, not much working for you

Beginner surf spots

Jacking Horse

This is an ideal spot for beginners just learning how to surf. The waves are soft, usually no more than chest high, with a mellow take-off. It’s also easily accessible right off the beach by Cloud 9, and there are plenty of instructors waiting to take you out.

• Direction: Right

• Best tide: Mid to high tide

• Best for: Beginners learning to surf, or those that want fast and easy access to the waves for a quick surf

• Surf season: Year-round

• Crowd factor: Medium - high. It’s conveniently located on the beach in the busy Cloud 9 area and is a great spot for beginners so it does get quite crowded.

• How to get there: Jacking Horse is located at the North end of the Cloud 9 beach area. The wave can be accessed by entering the main gate of Cloud 9, going to the beach, taking the small foot path on the left and walking along until you see the surfers in the water at the end of the path, that's Jacking Horse.  

Giwan, Union, Secret Spot

This is a set of 3 spots that are very similar and very close together (only few hundred meters from each other): Giwan, Union, and Secret Spot. Everything described applies to all three spots. Located a 15 minute drive from General Luna, these are beautiful spots where you can enjoy amazing views of the island while you surf. These are great beginner spots during the winter when it’s too big everywhere else. In the rest of the year, it’s often flat and too small to surf.

Under normal conditions, the wave is knee to shoulder high and a good place for beginners and intermediates. The take off is fast and hollow so it's still a tricky wave even though it’s small. We call it a ‘beginner’ wave just because of its small size compared to other waves, but actually a complete beginner would have a difficult time making the take-off here. So your typical Giwan is a knee-shoulder high fast-breaking wave, good for a beginner looking to challenge themselves and an intermediate looking for solid practice.

• Direction: Longer lefts, shorter rights

• Best tide: High tide

• Best for: Beginner to intermediate surfers

• Surf season: Winter

• Crowd factor: High. This is one of the few spots suited to beginners and has beautiful scenery. In the winter, this is a favorite spot for instructors to take their students when other spots are too big.

• How to get there: It’s located here on Google Maps, and here’s a map showing the 3 spots.

Ocean 9

Located over the Catangnan Bridge in Santa Fe, Ocean 9 is a great spot for beginner and intermediate surfers. It’s a long, gentle, rolling wave, perfect for practicing green waves and for longboarders. It’s a very long paddle out, so do keep that in mind!

• Direction: Longer lefts, shorter rights

• Best tide: Mid to high tide

• Best for: Beginner to intermediate surfers and longboarders who are prepared for a long paddle out.

• Crowd factor: Medium. While there can be a lot of people, it’s a wide wave with multiple sections giving people ample space to spread out.

• Surf season: Works best in spring and fall when the wind is good. It can still be surfed in the winter, it’s just a little messy.

• How to get there: Ocean 9 is located in Santa Fe, about 10-15 minutes north of General Luna. Drive to this parking spot, take the short path to the beach, and you’ll be at Ocean 9. You can rent boards directly on the beach there.

Intermediate surf spots

Daku Reef (beginner to intermediate)

Daku is a perfect beginner/intermediate/longboard wave offering a soft take-off into a decent sized right-hand wave that goes on forever, in absolutely stunning scenery. It breaks over a deep reef, delivering a soft, long cruisey ride. An intermediate favorite. These conditions are most often seen in the peak season (Sept to Dec) and in spring. The break sits in front of Daku Island, just south of Siargao and a short boat ride from General Luna. It can get quite busy here due to its popularity with beginners and instructors, but time it right (go very early) and you’re guaranteed a fun session.

• Direction: Right

• Best tide: Mid to high tide

• Best for: Beginner to intermediate surfers who can catch waves on their own. Also fine for complete beginners with an instructor.

• Crowd factor: Medium. Can get very crowded at times, one of the most popular spots when the conditions are good.

• Surf season: Spring and fall peak season (Sept to December). It’s too choppy and windy in winter, and too flat in summer.

• How to get there: Go to the General Luna Port, where you can hire a boat to take you to Daku. It takes about 15 minutes each way and the driver will wait for you (or surf with you) and take you back. Go with a group, as a boat costs ~1500 php ($25) for the roundtrip ride. This makes it expensive to go unless you have a large group. Here’s a map of Daku.

Cemetery (intermediate)

Probably the most beloved waved on Siargao. Cemetery is fun for all skill levels and is a longboarder favorite. The wave is generally very forgiving with many peaks, and although it can get big, it’s a softer wave with an easier take-off than most other waves in Siargao. While it’s a reef break, it actually acts more like a patch of peaky beach breaks that sit far out.

• Direction: Mostly lefts, some rights

• Best tide: Cemetery can be surfed at any tide but is best around low tide. However to avoid crowds you can go at high tide but the waves will be a bit smaller & fatter.

• Best for: The intermediate surfer looking to nail some big but manageable waves. Surfers of all levels during summer when most other spots are flat.

• Crowd factor: Medium. Cemetery is a very popular spot when it’s working, but because it’s actually several peaks over a long stretch of reef, everybody gets spaced out and you can find somewhere to sit in the line up without too many people around.

• Surf season: It usually works well from spring to fall, but is too windy during the winter. In spring and fall, the waves can get big but they are still a slower take-off, easy to surf wave. During summer, it’s small but good for beginners or anyone just looking for a spot that’s working.

• How to get there: Follow the dirt road across Siargao Corner Cafe to the beach, to get to the boat station on Tourism Road. From there, it’s a short boat ride and costs 150php ($2.50) per person for the roundtrip ride. There are constantly people coming and going, so you can immediately hop on the next boat going out. During low tide, you can also walk over the reef to Cemetery. If you want to walk, it’s best to go out an hour before low tide so that you can still walk back at a decent tide level.

• Special note: Cemetery right! This is actually a recently discovered wave and most people still consider Cemetery to be only a left-handed wave. When the boats drop you off, paddle out to the right instead of left and you’ll find Cemetery right. This is actually a super fun and easy right handed wave to surf.

Salvacion (intermediate)

Salvacion is a great intermediate wave. It’s typically shoulder-high, glassy, and good, clean fun. It’s a little fast on the take-off, but still manageable and good for the intermediate looking to improve. Because it’s protected from the wind, it’s popular in the winter when other spots are too messy to surf. You can go to Cloud 9 to check the size, and Salvacion will be about half the size. During smaller swells, Salvacion can be knee - waist high, good for beginners. During big swells, can go to Salvacion and find overhead waves.

• Direction: Right

• Best tide: Mid tide

• Best for: Intermediate surfers looking for decent sized waves without big crowds.

• Crowd factor: Medium. Salvacion is a bit further away than other spots so it’s usually less crowded.

• Surf season: Year-round except summer. Salvacion is medium sized in spring and fall, small during summer, and can be massive during winter. This spot is protected from winds and most crowded during the winter when other spots are too messy to surf.

• How to get there: Salvacion is about a 25 minute drive from General Luna. You can map Salvacion Elementary School. Once you reach the town, take a left into the village and find your way to the pier, there’s really only one main road through town so it’s easy. Once you reach the pier, you will need to take a short 5 minute boat ride to the break. It costs 250php ($4) per person for a roundtrip ride. The boats run a little strangely. They’re small boats that must take 3 people. So if you have less than 3, you’ll have to wait for someone to join or pay for 3 people. If you have more than 3, you’ll have to split into two boats.. and again if the 2nd boat isn’t full, you’ll have to wait for joiners or pay for 3 people. It’s a bit annoying, but worth it for the great wave.

Bumee (intermediate)

Bumee is a realtively easy to surf, uncrowded, left-handed wave. Even when it gets big, the drop is quite easy to make so it’s a good place for intermediates looking to challenge themselves in bigger waves. This is also a great spot for a beginner looking to challenge themselves with more forgiving intermediate waves. The wave isn’t too long, but can still be very fun especially on big, clean days. It’s not great during smaller swells, so it’s better to wait for good sized swells when it’s getting scary at other places.

• Direction: Left

• Best tide: Mid to high tide

• Best for: Intermediate surfers looking for decent sized waves without the crowds.

• Crowd factor: Usually low, because you need a short boat ride to get there or a long paddle out from Cloud 9.

• Surf season: Spring and fall (peak season). It’s firing during peak season in the fall and also has nice conditions in the spring, It’s too windy to surf in winter and too small in the summer.

• How to get there:  You can get to Bumee by boat or by paddling out.

  • By boat: Go to Kanaway Snack Bar in Catangnan to find the boat launch spot. The cost is 200php ($3.50) per person for a roundtrip ride with a 2 person minimum.

  • Paddling out: Go to Cloud 9. Look out way behind the Cloud 9 surf spot into the Ocean. You see a breaking wave out there? That’s Bumee. It’s about a 15 minute paddle out from Cloud 9. Here is map of Bumee.

Stimpy's (intermediate to advanced)

Stimpy’s is a high-quality, left-handed, intermediate to advanced wave. While it’s not as fast or heavy as Cloud 9, it’s still worthy of respect and you need to be decent to surf here. It’s usually around head-high, but it can get much, much bigger if there's a good swell. Catching the wave is fairly easy and the take off is about medium-speed.

During ideal conditions, you can get long, left-handed rides. And when the swell is big and winds off-shore, there are plenty of barrels and big waves to drop-in on. The water is deep enough and the wipe-outs are usually quite mellow (except when it's huge). There are some big waves coming through, so try not to get caught inside too often. There's a big rock down in the bottom and towards the inside to watch out for (you can see it at low-tide). Overall Stimpy's is great for people who can throw around a short board. When it's chest to head high, it's pretty mellow and a great wave to have fun on. When it's overhead or more, it's a good wave to challenge yourself on.

• Direction: Left

• Best tide: Low to mid tide. Can work at high tide on bigger swells but it’s usually is too fat and hard to catch then.

• Best for: People who can shortboard reasonably well and like left-handers. During massive swells, the expert goofy surfers go here to get big, fat barrels.

• Crowd factor: Medium - high.  Gets very crowded at times, one of the most popular spots for big, left waves. However sometimes you get lucky and it's empty. I don’t how it works really… one day it’s packed full of people and the next day it's empty! If you really want to avoid the crowd, try going closer to high tide.

• Surf season: Year-round except summer. During peak season (Sept to Dec), it’s often off-shore and pumping with head-high to double-overhead waves. It’s also a popular spot in the winter because it’s one of the few wind-protected spots. Spring is great as well with more manageable size waves good for the intermediate surfer. In the summer, it's too flat.

• How to get there: Go to Kanaway Snack Bar in Catangnan to find the boat launch spot. The parking is the dirt lot just past the snack bar. It takes about 15 minutes by boat to the spot, and the driver will wait for you there and take you back. The cost is 250php ($4.50) per person for a roundtrip ride with a 2 person minimum. Stimpy's and Rock Island are just a couple minutes by boat from each other so you can check both out before deciding which one to surf. Here is a map of Stimpy’s.

Rock Island (intermediate to advanced)

Rock Island is similar to its neighbor, Stimpy’s, but is a right hander and a bit of a trickier wave to surf. It’s an upper intermediate to advanced wave where the wave moves pretty fast and the drops are steep. It can be a perfect, long, right-handed wave with both hollow (or barreling) sections and stretches of wide-open face to carve around on. When the swell is big, it can be head-high to double-overhead. If the swell is small, there’s not much going on here.

Be aware of a difficult current that forever tries to pull you from the take-off zone to the inside, where it’s hell to get out from. If you make a wrong move (falling on the drop, getting caught inside), you'll end up down in the wash out and it's a frustrating paddle back out to the channel. Try not to sit too deep (closest to the rock) and don't drop in on waves that you know are going to close out or that you don't think you'll make.

• Direction: Right

• Best tide: Mid tide. Low tide is fine but a little shallow. At high tide it’s fat and harder to catch, but works during bigger swells.

• Best for: Experienced surfers looking for a fast drop, thick wall, and hollow barreling end section.

• Crowd factor: Medium. When it’s working well, you can expect to see quite a few boats when you arrive at the spot. However, if the swell is really big there, won't be too many people crazy enough to surf there. And if the conditions aren't quite right, a lot of people stay away so that may be a good time to surf uncrowded but tricky waves.

• Surf season: Year-round except for summer. It’s often off-shore and pumping during peak season (Sept to Dec) with head-high to double-overhead waves. It’s also popular during winter because it’s one of the few wind-protected spots. Spring is great as well with more manageable size waves for intermediates. In the summer, it's flat.

• How to get there: Go to Kanaway Snack Bar in Catangnan to find the boat launch spot. The parking is the dirt lot just past the Snack Bar. It takes about 15 minutes by boat to the spot, and the driver will wait for you there and take you back. The cost is 250php ($4.50) per person for a roundtrip ride with a 2 person minimum. Stimpy's and Rock Island are just a couple minutes by boat from each other so you can check both out before deciding which one to surf. Here is a map of Rock Island.

Advanced surf spots

Cloud 9 (expert)

When you mention surfing in the Philippines, this is what usually comes to mind. The most popular wave in Siargao that put the Philippines onto the surfing map, Cloud 9 is ranked as one of the top ten waves in the world.

Cloud 9 is a steep, fast, heavy, hollow wave that breaks over shallow reef to form perfect, consistent barrels. A fast, steep drop straight into a perfect top to bottom barrel with a smooth exit. If it were possible to engineer the perfect barreling, right-hand wave this would be it. Of course, that is under perfect conditions (mostly from Sept to Dec). On smaller days, such as in spring season, you may hear the spot being called it’s alter ego – “Crowd 9”. It seems every tourist needs to say they’ve surfed Cloud 9, and on smaller days when the wave is more beginner-friendly, the place is awash with 40+ people.

• Direction: Right

• Best tide: Mid to high tide

• Best for: Expert, pro, crazy, insane...well you get the idea. 

• Crowd factor: High. Being an internationally famous spot, it's the dream of anyone who comes to Siargao to get barrelled at Cloud 9. It’s also easily accessible and a favorite spot among locals as they don’t have to pay for a boat to get out. Cloud 9 is free, easy to get to, and world famous.. how could it not be crowded? To avoid the crowds go out at first light (around 5:30am).

• Surf season: Year-round except winter. During peak season (Sept to Dec), you can expect double-overhead, barreling, offshore, perfection. If you're a good surfer coming specifically to surf Cloud 9, this is the best time to come. In the winter, it’s too exposed to winds, making it too messy to surf. In spring, wind and swell size drops, making it manageable for an intermediate surfer.

  In the summer, Cloud 9 is one of the only spots that picks up enough swell to be surfed. So while other spots are totally flat, there are usually at least knee-high waves here, a great time for beginners to learn.

• How to get there: Easy peasy. Walk out to the Cloud 9 pier and paddle out to the right from there. Here’s a map of surf spots around Cloud 9.

Tuason (intermediate to advanced)

Tuason can be heavy, barreling perfection during the peak season. One of Siargao’s scariest and most technical waves. What Cloud 9 is to rights, Tuason is to lefts. However, that’s under 'ideal' conditions, and ideal conditions are not common at Tuason. Tuason is rarely clean. It's usually a bit messy with a lot of close-outs. So unless you have straight off-shore winds, it's going to be a bit messy. Another important point, is that it breaks extremely fast over very shallow water. This means you need to be prepared for steep, fast drops. Even at high-tide, the water is only about chest to head deep, and it quickly drops after high-tide. By mid-tide, it's already too shallow to consider going out. The average wave is steep and fast breaking over very shallow water and closing out fast. It’s one of the most technically difficult waves to surf but if you can handle it, you’ll be able to have some epic sessions here.

• Direction: Left

• Best tide: High tide

• Best for: When it's working well (big swell/off-shore) Tuason is for advanced surfers looking for big, fast, scary lefts. However during average conditions, Tuason has 3 peaks, each growing in size and skill level. Intermediates to experts can find their place in the line-up. During the summer months Tuason is very small but the wind is good so it is one of the few spots working and suitable for beginners.

• Crowd factor: Medium. Not as busy as its neighbor, Cloud 9. During the summer when it’s small, it can get quite crowded. During bigger swells in peak season, only the bravest go out. During a head high swell, the crowd is ‘medium’.

• Surf season: Year round except winter. During peak season (Sept to Dec), the size varies greatly but winds are off-shore so it'll be surfable no matter the wave height. Expect anything from shoulder high to double overhead during this time. It’s too windy to surf in the winter. It’s nice again in the spring with more manageable wave size. In the summer, Siargao is usually flat but Tuason is one of the three surfable waves (Cloud 9, Tuason, and Cemetery).

• How to get there: Tuason is just off the beach in the Cloud 9 area. Driving to Cloud 9 from the main GL area, Tuason is just past Harana Resort on the right side of the road. Enter the driveway to Harana Resort and Zicatela / Loose Keys Bar & Restaurant. You can park your bike there and walk to the beach.

Quicksilver (advanced)

While not as big as Cloud 9, don’t let it fool you. Some say Quicksilver is the hardest break on the island. During peak season, it’s a very big and heavy wave, and is actually faster and more technically difficult than Cloud 9. Speed is the main issue, as the take-off is steep and wally and drops you into a very fast right hand section that can turn into an overhead (or even double overhead) barrel. Add the fact that the local guys are always out there rippin' and you'll understand why it's hard to have a good time at Quicksilver. But, if you are a good surfer and can compete with the locals, then you might just get the barrels of your life. It's a beautiful, perfect, right-handed barrel when it's head to double overhead high. During off season, Quicksilver can be small enough to learn to surf on (as with Cloud 9) or just a fun-sized waist - head high wave.

• Direction: Right

• Best tide: Mid to high tide.

• Best for: In good conditions Quicksliver is best for serious surfers who know how to catch and ride a super-fast, barrelling right-hander and don't mind competing with the locals. In the summer, it’s very small and good for beginners and longboarders.

• Crowd factor: High. Due to its easy accessibility from the Cloud 9 pier, this break is a local favorite. Because it's a bit smaller than Cloud 9, more surfers have the ability (or think they do) to surf Quicksilver.

• Surf season: Peak season (Sept to Dec) and spring. Quicksilver works best in the peak season. It’s not surfable in the winter due to high winds. When the winds return to off-shore in spring, it’s again nice for a few months before turning flat in the summer.

• How to get there: Easy peasy. Walk out to the Cloud 9 pier and paddle out to the left from there. Here’s a map of surf spots around Cloud 9.

North Siargao surfing

Surfing in the north of Siargao is my favorite of all, and is actually where I live part-time now! There are absolutely beautiful waves that are infinitely less crowded than in the south. To preserve our uncrowded lineups and these hidden gems of Siargao, I’m going to leave out all but the most popular spot of the north: Pacifico. However, if you’re coming to the north and would like some info and tips on where to surf, I’d love to help you out personally! Feel free to send me a dm @turtlephd.

Pacifico: Big Wish, Bamboo (beginner to advanced)

There are actually 2 different breaks in Pacifico. There’s Big Wish, off the main Pacifico Beach, and Bamboo, across from Pipeline Burgers. When people talk about Pacifico, they’re generally referring to our famous wave, Big Wish. Big Wish may actually be the biggest and best left-handed wave in Siargao. Although Cloud 9 gets more attention, Pacifico can actually be bigger than Cloud 9 and it’s a much longer ride. In peak season, Pacifico is a single to double overhead barrelling left-handed wave. It is big, strong, and powerful. However, in smaller swells, such as during spring time, Pacifico is a fun head-high wave with a long shoulder to ride without much danger.

Just down the street in Pacifico, Bamboo is a smaller and softer wave, popular with longboarders, beginners, and intermediates. It’s a long stretch of wave that almost acts like a long beach break with multiple sections, allowing the lineup to feel pretty spread out. During peak season, it can still get pretty big here, but there’s a gentler take off and mildly less powerful wave compared to Big Wish. During spring time when the swell is less powerful, it’s a great beginner/intermediate/longboard wave.

• Direction: Left (Big Wish), both left and right (Bamboo)

• Best tide: Mid tide

• Best for: In peak season, Pacifico is best left for advanced surfers looking for a beautiful barrel with minimal crowds. In spring time, Pacifico is perfect for the intermediate surfer looking to either cruise on a longboard at Bamboo, or catch some fun, steeper (but manageable) waves at Big Wish. During small swells of spring and summer, it’s also a good spot for beginners.

• Crowd factor: Low to medium

• Surf season: Year round except winter. During peak season (Sept to Dec), it’s on fire and can reach double or even triple overhead with massive, beautiful barrels. In spring, it’s makes a great intermediate wave, and in summer, it’s one of the few places that still picks up enough swell to surf (waist high waves good for beginners). In the winter, it’s too messy to surf.

• How to get there: For Big Wish, park along the road right outside Pacifico Beach. For Bamboo, map Pipeline Burgers. Across the street from that, you’ll see a small parking area that looks out over the wave.