Visayas & more

Siargao is a teardrop-shaped island in the northeast of Mindanao — and the undisputed surfing capital of the Philippines. Here, the famous Cloud 9 wave breaks, attracting surfers from around the world since the 1990s: a perfect, hollow barrel breaking over a shallow reef, regularly voted among the top 10 waves on the planet. Since 2019, Siargao has been a venue for a World Surf League event.

But Siargao is not just for pro surfers. There are numerous beginner breaks: Jacking Horse and Stimpy near Cloud 9 are gentler and more forgiving. In General Luna, the tourist center, surf schools line up (lessons from 500 PHP/~8 € including board). The island's vibe is laid-back, creative, and young: yoga studios, vegan cafés, open-air cinemas, and rooftop bars on the beach.

Beyond surfing, Siargao offers:

• Magpupungko Rock Pools: Natural rock pools that appear at low tide — with crystal-clear water and shallow entry. Accessible only at low tide, check the tide table beforehand!
• Sugba Lagoon: Emerald lagoon amidst mangrove forests. Kayak and paddleboard rentals available on site.
• Island Hopping to Naked Island, Daku Island & Guyam Island: Three different islands — one bare and white (Naked), one with palm trees and BBQ (Daku), one tiny and photogenic (Guyam). Day trip from 1,200 PHP.
• Sohoton Cove (Bucas Grande): Enchanted lagoons with non-stinging jellyfish you can swim through. Day trip from Siargao (3,000–4,000 PHP).

Siargao has its own airport (Sayak Airport) with direct flights from Manila (Cebu Pacific, from 1,500 PHP) and Cebu. The best surf season is August to November, when the Pacific swell hits the east coast. In the dry season (March–May), the waves are smaller, but the weather is perfect for non-surfers.

Siquijor is the most mystical island in the Philippines — a place that evokes superstitious fear in many Filipinos. The island is famous for its Bolo-Bolo healers (traditional folk healers), who work with herbs, prayers, and ritual practices. During Holy Week, the healers gather on Mount Bandila-an to collect ingredients for their remedies — an event that has been taking place for centuries, surrounding the island with an aura of mystery.

Behind the mystical image lies a beautiful, relaxed island that can easily be circumnavigated in a day by scooter (72 km). The highlights:

• Cambugahay Falls: Three-tiered cascades with turquoise water and a Tarzan vine for jumping in. The most beautiful waterfall in the Visayas.
• Salagdoong Beach: Cliff diving from 5 and 10 meters into crystal-clear water.
• Lazi Church & Convent (1884): One of the largest monasteries from the Spanish colonial period, UNESCO tentative list.
• Century-Old Balete Tree: A giant, 400-year-old Balete tree (strangler fig) with a natural fish pond at its roots, where doctor fish exfoliate your feet.
• Paliton Beach: Quiet beach with coconut palms — the most photogenic spot on the island.

Siquijor is small, quiet, and affordable. There are no chain hotels, no nightlife (except for a few beach bars), no hustle and bustle. That's exactly what makes it appealing. The island is reachable in 45 minutes by FastCraft from Dumaguete (200 PHP).

Dumaguete is the "City of Gentle People" — a university town on the southeast coast of Negros Oriental, popular with expats and long-term travelers for its relaxed lifestyle and low cost of living. The Rizal Boulevard promenade is the meeting place in the evening: street food, strollers, sunsets, and live music.

The main reason to visit is Apo Island — a tiny volcanic island, 30 minutes by boat from Malatapay (Zamboanguita). Apo Island is a Marine Sanctuary and offers one of the best turtle experiences in the Philippines: While snorkeling, you are almost guaranteed to encounter green sea turtles feeding on seagrass and swimming calmly beside you. The surrounding reef is spectacular — over 650 fish species and 400 coral species in a small area.

Additionally: Twin Lakes (Balinsasayao & Danao), two idyllic crater lakes in the highlands of Negros, surrounded by dense rainforest. Kayaking on the quiet lake, bird watching, hiking — a perfect half-day trip. And the Casaroro Falls — a narrow, 30-meter-high waterfall plunging into a natural pool, accessible via 300+ steps through the jungle.

For travelers seeking paths less traveled, Bantayan Island and Camiguin are two gems not yet reached by mass tourism.

Bantayan Island

This flat island off the northwest tip of Cebu is what Boracay was 20 years ago: dazzling white sand, turquoise water, and hardly any tourists. The Sugar Beach (also Paradise Beach) is one of the most beautiful beaches in the Philippines — powder-fine, endlessly long, with a sandbar that stretches to the next island at low tide.

Bantayan is known for its fishing culture and the production of "dried fish" — the smell is omnipresent and takes some getting used to for sensitive noses. The island has a charming old town with the Sts. Peter & Paul Parish Church (1580), one of the oldest churches in the Visayas. At night, there is silence — only the sound of the waves and the chirping of crickets.

Getting there: Bus from Cebu City to Hagnaya Pier (3.5 hours), then ferry (1 hour). Accommodation from 600 PHP/~10 € for a beach house.

Camiguin — The Island of Volcanoes

Camiguin is a pear-shaped volcanic island off the north coast of Mindanao with one of the highest volcano densities in the world: seven volcanoes on 238 km². The island is green, mountainous, rich in hot springs, and surprisingly diverse:

• White Island: A snow-white sandbar off the coast, fully visible only at low tide. Bangka boat transfer (200 PHP) and snorkeling included.
• Sunken Cemetery: A cemetery submerged in the sea — pushed underwater by a volcanic eruption in 1871. A large cross marks the spot. Snorkeling over the gravestones is surreal.
• Katibawasan Falls: 76-meter-high waterfall plunging into a natural pool.
• Ardent Hot Springs: Natural hot springs of volcanic origin — perfect after a hike.
• Mt. Hibok-Hibok: Active volcano (1,332 m) — the climb (4–5 hours) rewards with a crater view and hot springs at the summit.

Camiguin is accessible by plane from Cebu (Cebu Pacific, irregular) or by ferry from Bohol (2.5 hours). The island is compact enough to explore by scooter in 2–3 days.