apo island tour siquijor

Apo Island Tour From Siquijor: The Ultimate Guide

Apo Island is known for its rich marine life and biodiversity and attracts snorkellers and divers from all over the world.

This complete guide will tell you everything you need to know for an unforgettable day trip from Siquijor, updated for 2024.

This post may contain affiliate links. This means that I earn a small commission if you purchase through a link on my site. Don’t worry, this is at no extra cost to you .

A successful community-led initiative, the Apo Island Marine Sanctuary is an underwater gem waiting to be explored.

Known for its abundant fish and coral species, Apo Island is one of the best dive sites in the world.

Attracting divers, snorkellers, and environmental enthusiasts alike, Apo Island is also one of the best places to swim with sea turtles in the Philippines .

But what if you don’t want to make the trip from Dumaguete?

Coco Grove Beach Resort offers an amazing day trip from Siquijor Island, with everything included.

This is one of the best day trips we took in the Philippines and one of the best things to do in Siquijor.

In this post, we will cover everything you need to know about the Apo Island tour from Siquijor with Coco Grove, including how to book, what to expect, and the cost breakdown.

Where is Apo Island located?

Apo Island is located about a 1-hour boat ride from Siquijor . The map below shows the location of Apo Island, as well as its Beach Resort where you will have lunch.

I have also highlighted the location of Coco Grove Beach Resort in Siquijor as this is the meeting point for the tour.

How to get from Siquijor to Apo Island?

The best way to get from Siquijor to Apo Island is to take the organised tour run by Coco Grove Beach Resort.

Taking the tour with Coco Grove is totally hassle-free as your transport there and back is included in the price. The meeting point is Coco Grove in Siquijor at 8 a.m.

When you set off, you will be taken to the Tambisan Port via minivan which takes about 15 minutes. Here you will board the yacht and embark on the 1 hour journey to Apo Island.

On the way back, you will depart from Apo Island at about 3 p.m.

When arriving back at the port in Siquijor, you can ask the minivan driver to drop you back at your hotel if that is more convenient than Coco Grove Resort.

From Dumaguete

You can also book an Apo Island Private Tour From Dumaguete if this is more convenient.

This tour includes roundtrip transportation, entrance fees, and lunch. It costs 3750 PHP ($67) .

You can also opt for a DIY tour from Dumaguete. Taking a DIY tour is usually one of my top tips to save money traveling .

However, in this instance, a DIY tour isn’t much cheaper and the experience is not half as special as with Coco Grove.

If you do choose this way, you will have to take a half-hour jeepney from Dumaguete to Malapatay Port, which is where the boats depart from.

Here, you can hire a boat for 3500 PHP ($61) for 3 people – this is for the round-trip.

When you arrive at Apo Island, you will pay the entrance fee ( 150 PHP ) and additional fees for snorkelling, diving, a guide, and equipment.

Embrace jungle living and surround yourself with nature in these rustic treehouses.

Stay near all the main Siquijor tourist spots and enjoy your breakfast to the sounds of birds from your private balcony.

How to book the Apo Island tour from Siquijor

To book your day trip to Apo Island from Siquijor, simply head to the Coco Grove Resort a few days before to reserve your spot.

Whether you’re snorkeling or diving, there has to be a minimum of 15 people for the tour to go ahead.

If you’re not going to be in Siquijor a few days before, you can book through Coco Grove Beach Resort online for peace of mind.

Philippines Essentials Packing List

• Microfiber Quick Dry Towel
• Waterproof Dry Bag (With Waterproof Phone Case)
• Universal Travel Adapter
• Lightweight Waterproof Packable Rain Jacket
• Reef Safe 98% Organic Sunscree n
• High-Speed Charging Battery Pack

Apo Island day trip from Siquijor: What to expect

The journey.

The tour from Siquijor to Apo Island is fantastically organised from start to finish. You will make the 1-hour journey to Apo Island in style on Coco Grove’s yacht.

The yacht is spacious and glamorous, with space to sit either inside or outside. Coco Grove also provides clean towels and fresh drinking water on the way there.

On the way back, they treated us to beer and snacks such as fruit, nuts, and crisps. This was all included in the price.

Must Read: Top 13 BEST Things To Do in Siquijor

Snorkeling with turtles at Apo Island

If you want to see sea turtles in the Philippines, then a day trip to the Apo Island Marine Sanctuary will not disappoint.

When you arrive, you will be instructed to leave your belongings at Apo Island Beach Resort’s private beach. Don’t worry, this is linked to Coco Grove and your stuff is safe with the staff.

You will be split into small groups or pairs and assigned a guide, who will be your eyes and ears on the lookout for marine life below the surface.

You are also provided with a snorkel and water shoes if you don’t have your own.

I was blown away by how many turtles we saw and the trip exceeded my expectations.

The green sea turtle is a notable species protected by the sanctuary and we got to see about 7 in total when snorkelling.

It was so tranquil to see them grazing in their natural habitat and a real once-in-a-lifetime experience.

On top of that, it was some of the most vibrant coral I’d ever seen and we got the chance to see so many fish and even water snakes!

The guide was super knowledgeable and pointed out all the different species of starfish, sea cucumber, plants, and fish.

Related: ULTIMATE SIQUIJOR TRAVEL GUIDE 2024: Budget & Itinerary

Diving at Apo Island

Coco Grove also offers diving trips at Apo Island. The divers and the snorkellers depart on the same boat and form part of the same trip, but split when arriving at the island.

Although we only snorkelled, we heard that diving was such an incredible experience. As one of the best dive sites in the world, the biodiversity in the turquoise waters is unmatched.

As the island is volcanic, you also have the chance to swim through the bubbles coming up through the sand.

The deep canyon walls and unique rock formations provide a dramatic backdrop for your dive.

Coco Grove offers both fun dives and scuba dives. You can contact them for their latest prices here .

Have you packed your Reef Safe 98% Organic Sunscreen?

You will eat lunch outside on the private beach – this is included in the price. The view and atmosphere whilst you eat are truly idyllic, as you have the whole beach to yourselves.

The lunch is buffet style with generous portion sizes. There is such a variety of food that there is something for everyone to enjoy. The assorted fruit plate was my favourite part.

After lunch, you have some time to chill and paddle before heading to the final snorkeling/dive spot.

Siquijor to Apo Island: Cost breakdown

The price for the day trip to Apo Island and snorkeling with turtles was 2735 PHP ($48) with everything included .

This was one of the pricier things we did on our trip to the Philippines, but it was worth every penny. Being able to swim so close to so many turtles was a real once-in-a-lifetime experience.

From traveling in style on the yacht there to lunch on Coco Grove’s private beach, the day was fantastically organised and the experience exceptional.

Must Read: Top 5 MOST BEAUTIFUL Waterfalls in Siquijor

What is Apo Island known for?

With over 650 species of fish and over 400 of coral, Apo Island is famous for its abundant marine life.

The Apo Island Marine Sanctuary is also a heartwarming success story. After fishermen noticed a decline in fish stocks, they began a community-led initiative to protect the marine ecosystem.

Almost completely led by local fishermen, the Apo Island Marine Sanctuary has not only boosted the biodiversity of fish and corals but is also vital to the livelihood of the locals.

Apo Island now attracts both divers and environmental enthusiasts from all over the world and ecotourism has become a new economic driver of the community.

Entrance fees are used to fund the marine protected area and the priority is to conduct tourism in a sustainable manner.

Can you sleep on Apo Island?

If you are interested in Apo Island accommodation overnight, you can book through the Apo Island Beach Resort .

This resort is the sister of Coco Grove and is where you will have lunch as part of the tour. If you decide to stay overnight at the resort, simply let the staff know at Coco Grove when booking.

They will then organise your transport back to Siquijor the following day for you. You will stay in one of the cottages on the hillside of the private cove overlooking the ocean.

Visit the main Siquijor highlights including Salagdoong Beach, Cambugahay Falls, the Old Balete Tree, and Paliton Beach.

This full-day tour includes roundtrip transportation from Dumaguete, entrance fees, a private guide, and lunch.

Where to stay in Siquijor

The best area to stay in Siquijor is San Juan. This is the main tourist hub and where you will find all of the main bars, restaurants, hostels, and guesthouses.

Stella’z Guesthouse

Best low-budget option with a choice of dorms or private rooms, centrally located in San Juan.

Each room comes with an aircon, a mini-fridge, a kettle, and a hot shower. Each room also has a private terrace area with a table and drying rack. Reasonable scooter rental.

Prices start from  $7.00  for a shared dorm room and  $29.00  for a private room per night.

Mandala Tribe Treehouses

One of the most unique and one-of-a-kind accommodations in Siquijor. A great option for couples.

Embrace jungle living in these rustic treehouses surrounded by nature. Excellent location near Paliton Beach and all the main Siquijor tourist spots.

Treehouses come with an outdoor shower, air conditioning, and a little balcony. Breakfast is included and served on a little tray to your door each morning.

Private cabins start from $60 per night.

Coco Grove Beach Resort

The best luxury Siquijor resort. Centrally located in San Juan on 800 meters of private beach.

A choice of native-style cottages or villas set in lush gardens or on the beachfront. Amazing sunset views.

The resort has three swimming pools, a beachfront restaurant and bar, and a spa. Coco Grove offers many amazing tours and recreational activities.

Prices start from  $100.00  per night.

Well, that’s it! This post has detailed everything you need to know about the Apo Island day trip from Siquijor with Coco Grove.

If you liked this post and you will be sticking around in Siquijor for a while, then feel free to check out the following –

• ULTIMATE SIQUIJOR TRAVEL GUIDE 2024: Budget & Itinerary
• How To Get To Siquijor Island 2024: A Step-By-Step Guide
• Top 13 Best Things To Do In Siquijor
• Kawasan Falls: The Complete Guide To Siquijor’s Best-Kept Secret
• Top 5 Most Beautiful Waterfalls in Siquijor
• Where To Eat: The Top 10 Best Siquijor Restaurants
• How To Get From Moalboal To Siquijor: Schedule & Fare 202 4

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How to Get from Siquijor to Apo Island? The Best Kept Secret to Know (2022)

Siquijor is only a short ride away from Apo Island. But not many people know how to get from Siquijor to Apo Island. It’s a better and more enjoyable route to take than going through Negros. Plus, it’s really not as complicated as it seems.

Taking a day trip from Siquijor to Apo Island is an amazing addition to your itinerary. Apo Island is a beautiful marine sanctuary with sea turtles and a lot of different fishes (including dolphins!) from varying breeds. Now Siquijor isnt your typical jump off point to Apo Island, usually, it’s Negros. Here’s why and how to get from Siquijor to Apo Island.

Contents hide Why Take a Day Trip from Siquijor to Apo Island How to get from Siquijor to Apo Island Our Final Thoughts

Why Take a Day Trip from Siquijor to Apo Island

It’s way less crowded to travel from Siquijor and the experience is more authentic. The tours from Negros are super touristy and overall, it’s not as enjoyable.

Taking a day trip from Siquijor to Apo Island is a more luxurious activity that you won’t regret. It will allow you to have an intimate experience in seeing the dolphins and sea turtles within the surrounding areas of Apo Island. The lunch buffet is also better tasting and happens in a secluded resort to the west of Apo Island.

The boat ride is also more of an experience, with the waters more tranquil and serene in the Siquijor to Apo Island route. Above all, you won’t be sausaged into a boat with a million other people. Our boat only had 12 people and a double deck roof as it was a yacht.

How to get from Siquijor to Apo Island

The best kept secret on how to get from siquijor to apo island.

So how to get from Siquijor to Apo Island? The best kept secret we discovered is to take the island trip with Coco Grove Beach Resort . 

This trip is the best tour we’ve had in the Philippines. It comes at a price of 2750 pesos or around 45 euros , but that price is so worth it if you want to have the best island experience. If you think about tours in Palawan, they cost as much as this but there’s way more people and it’s not as authentic.

The tour from Negros to Apo Island is also only a bit cheaper at around 30 EUR, but again, it’s more crowded and not as authentic. 

You can also choose to stay at Coco Grove Beach Resort , which is a lovely resort, with a secluded white sand beach, a romantic overall vibe, and palm trees all around. It’s every travellers dream for an the off-the-beaten and relaxed vacation.

To describe the experience, our tour with Coco Grove Beach Resort to Apo Island was amazing – the boat was a yacht, we were offered free snacks (carrot and banana cake) and beer on board, had the opportunity to stop and see dolphins, were taken to an isolated resort ( Apo Island Beach Resort ) for the lunch buffet, and provided with individual guides for the snorkelling experience to see turtles and marine life.

You can book online here or visit the resort to book a day ahead . It will also give you the opportunity to walk around and discover the resort grounds of Coco Grove Beach Resort if you don’t have the chance to stay at the hotel.

Our Final Thoughts

So there you have it! We hope this helps answer your question on how to get from Siquijor to Apo Island.

It’s a route we definitely recommend if you’re planning to go straight to Siquijor. You will be able to avoid the crowds and really enjoy an authentic experience in discovering the sea turtles and vast marine life of Apo Island with Coco Grove Beach Resort. 

If you know of any other best kept secrets on how to get from Siquijor to Apo Island that we have not tried out, we’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

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Apo Island, Dumaguete: Your Complete Travel Guide

If I were a mermaid, I’d be living near Apo Island. The coral reef and marine life surrounding the island is beyond amazing! And the best part is their turtles.

Just south of the Negros island, you will find Apo island. Tourists flock to here to see the resident turtles and rich marine life. If you love to snorkel or dive, you will surely love it here!

If you’re going to Apo Island soon, use this travel guide to help you plan the perfect itinerary!

Do you have travel insurance? This is something you should have but wish you never want to use. Accidents can happen anytime and having travel insurance can save you a lot of money in case something goes wrong during your travels! Never travel without one. Get a free quote here.

Before your trip…here are a few useful things to know.

Table of Contents

Getting There

The nearest airports to Apo island are Dumaguete, Cebu or Bacolod.

Travel Tip: Check schedules and availability of buses, ferries, taxis or flights to book online with 12Go Asia.

From Bacolod

• If you’re coming from Bacolod, ride a bus heading to Dumaguete and follow the steps below.

From Dumaguete

• Depending on where you availed of your tour package, you’ll either have the transportation from Dumaguete to Malatapay covered or not.
• If not, you can simply commute by riding a tricycle to Siaton then riding a jeepney heading to Malatapay.
• Once you’re in Malatapay, you can ride a boat going to Apo island for around P300 (6 USD) per head.
• Problem is, according to the locals, there’s rarely any boat going back to Negros unless you charter a private boat to bring you back for around P1,500 (25 USD).
• You can also opt to charter a private boat to Apo island and bring you back to Negros for around P2,500 (45 USD).

In Dumaguete, you can book snorkeling tours from Harold’s Mansion for only P1,200 (24 USD) per person. Payment includes lunch, boat fees, as well as transportation from Harold’s Mansion to Malatapay.

Dumaguete has cheaper tours compared to Siquijor probably because the travel time from Dumaguete to Apo Island is shorter.

From Siquijor

• From Siquijor, you can join a day tour going to Apo Island.

Coco Grove Beach Resort in Siquijor offers diving and snorkeling trips to Apo island for P1,950 (39 USD) per person for snorkeling and P2,500 (50 USD) per person for diving.

If you have kids from 5 to 11 years old with you, you’ll only have to pay P975 (20 USD). Payment includes snacks, water, life vests, boat, lunch in Apo island, access to Coco Grove’s Sister resort ( Apo Island Beach Resort ) entry fee, snorkeling fee and guide.

Note: Ocean Explorer 3 is also offering a tour to Apo Island for P1,750 (35 USD) per head.

• If you’re coming from Cebu, you’ll have to ride a ferry going to either Siquijor or Dumaguete at Liloan Port. Then, follow the listed steps above.

Snorkeling Tour

Since we were already in Siquijor, we booked our tour at Coco Grove Beach Resort and had a blast! Starting from going to Apo island to getting back to Siquijor, we were pampered with unlimited snacks (carrot cake & banana cake), as well as free-flowing drinking water.

And by the time we arrived at the island, we were directed to the Apo Island Beach Resort where we ate lunch after snorkeling around the turtle sanctuary. This resort is located on a private cove where you can snorkel right in front or just laze around so that was a big plus.

The lunch served is buffet style. It was awesome. Lots of food equals happy Johanes. Nyehe.

Anyways, our itinerary went like this.

• 8:00 AM: Siquijor to Apo Island
• 9:30 AM: Stop by Apo Island Beach Resort to drop bags and prepare for snorkeling
• 10:00 AM: Snorkel at the turtle sanctuary
• 12:00 NN: Lunch
• 1:30 PM: Snorkel at Apo Island’s Marine Sanctuary
• 3:00 PM: Back to Siquijor

Snorkeling with the turtles

The turtles we saw at the sanctuary were huuuuge! And guess what you can see one just a few meters from the beach. When we were getting ready to snorkel, we saw a turtle near us and checked to see if it really was a turtle. Turns out, it was! I was internally screaming with excitement.

Ryk thought I was joking when I told him there was a turtle. After all, we had to snorkel a few hundred meters in Masasa in Batangas and Moalboal in Cebu to get a glimpse of this beautiful creature. Yet here it was just minding its own business just eating away.

Unlike in Moalboal where the turtles tend to shy away from the tourists, the turtles in Apo island literally don’t care about you.

So when snorkeling with the turtles, there’s only one rule you absolutely have to follow: DO NOT TOUCH THE TURTLES.

That’s the first thing your guide will tell you so better keep that in mind even though the turtle was kind of daring me to touch it.

The turtle sanctuary apparently had more to offer than just the turtles. The marine life and coral reefs here were majestic it reminded me of our snorkeling trip in Isla Verde in Batangas . Prepare yourself to see colorful fishes and corals.

Snorkeling at Apo Island’s Marine Sanctuary

So after our lunch, and lazing around by the beach for an hour, we proceeded to the Marine Sanctuary. This was where I swam with only my snorkeling mask with me and graduated from wearing lifevests.

It was when I understood exactly why people loved swimming in the sea. The feeling of weightlessness was incredible. Hopefully, with bits of practice, I can also try free diving next time.

The marine sanctuary boasts of all sorts of fishes and corals. From the deep waters, you’ll be snorkeling towards the island where you can get a closer look at the corals and marine animals.

By the time we started swimming back to the boat, I was feeling a bit accomplished but sad. I think I left my heart at Apo island’s marine sanctuary.

Here are some other fees you have to keep in mind. If guide fees aren’t included in your tour, you’ll have to pay for your guide.

• mask and snorkel – P100 (2 USD)
• fins – P100 (2 USD)
• booties – P100 (2 USD)
• life vest – P100 (2 USD)
• guide (for 4 person) – P300 (6 USD)

Where to stay

• Apo Island Beach Resort
• Liberty Lodge and Dive
• Mario Scuba Diving and Homestay
• Ronor’s Lodging – +63 915 775 2422
• Mary’s Homestay – +63 906 823 4932

For Siquijor, I’d recommend for you to book rooms in San Juan town since this is where most restaurants are and where most of the resorts offering tours are located.

• Glamping Siquijor (where we stayed) – You can either book via Agoda (for discounted rates) or Airbnb ( here’s a P2,200 or 44 USD travel credit/discount from us! )
• Toris Backpackers Paradise – Check Price and Availability
• RhenMart Inn – Check Price and Availability
• Love Shack Hostel – Check Price and Availability
• Tropicasa Siquijor – Check Price and Availability
• Tropica Fun Ta Sea Rentals – Check Price and Availability
• Descanso En Paraiso Resort – Check Price and Availability
• Mandala Tribe Treehouses – Check Price and Availability
• Coco Grove Beach Resort – Check Price and Availability
• Infinity Heights Resort – Check Price and Availability
• Kawayan Holiday Resort – Check Price and Availability

Here are accommodations you can book in Dumaguete that are near Malatapay where you can ride the boat to Apo Island.

• Kavs Beach Resort – Check Price and Availability
• Allura Resort Dive and Spa – Check Price and Availability
• White Chocolate Hills Resort – Check Price and Availability
• Acqua Dive Resort – Check Price and Availability

Aside from hotels and resorts, you can also opt to stay at an Airbnb .

Get your P2,200 ($44) Airbnb discount here!

What to Pack for Apo Island

• Eco-friendly Reusable Water Bottle
• Light Rain Jacket (especially from June to November) 
• T-shirts, a nice top, and a long-sleeved shirt
• Power Adapter
• Universal Waterproof Phone Case
• Packing Cubes
• Microfiber Towel
• Travel Insurance
• sneakers, hiking shoes (if you’re planning to hike) and some flats
• reusable straw and reusable bag (no to single-use plastic!)

Related Article:  The Only Travel Packing List You’ll Ever Need (Trust Me)

Our Camera Gear

• Mirrorless Camera: Fujifilm XT3
• Lenses: Fujifilm Fujinon kit lens (18-55mm) | Fujinon 35mm f2 | Fujinon 50mm f2
• Drone: DJI Mavic Pro 2
• GoPro: GoPro Hero Black 7
• Power Bank: Romoss Powerbank
• Camera Backpack: Case Logic Camera and Laptop Backpack
• Monopod: Ifootage Cobra 2 a180
• Mic: Rode VideoMicro
• Gimbal: Zhiyun Weebill-S

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• 30 Crazy Fun Things To Do In Cebu, Philippines
• Malapascua Island: A Travel Guide For Non-Divers
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Philippines Travel Guides

Don’t miss!

• BORACAY: A First-Timer’s Guide to Boracay Philippines
• CEBU: 30 Crazy Fun Things To Do In Cebu, Philippines
• SIQUIJOR: 10 Unforgettable Things To Do In Siquijor
• DUMAGUETE: 26 Can’t Miss Things To Do In Dumaguete: Ultimate Travel Guide
• MANILA: 16 Things To Do In Manila That You Shouldn’t Miss
• LA UNION: 32 La Union Tourist Spots: What To Do In La Union
• BAGUIO: Baguio Travel Guide (According To A Local)
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• BATAD RICE TERRACES: Batad Rice Terraces and Tappiya Falls: First Timer’s Budget Travel Guide
• PALAUI: Palaui Island Budget Travel Guide (Sta Ana, Cagayan)
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• SAGADA: 10 Top Sagada Travel Tips (From A Local)

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1 thought on “Apo Island, Dumaguete: Your Complete Travel Guide”

Hello thank you for your tips and explanation, it was useful. To update your data regarding Apo Island, as of today the prices have increased: Boat in Malatapay min 3,500 pesos for 3 pax then 4,000 pesosup to 6 pax, 5,000pesos for 9 pax + 5 pesos terminal fees. We took the bus from Dumaguete terminal to Malatapay flea market return 110 pesos. Last but not the least, the location of the Snorkeling gears with a guide 300 pesos per person (no change for admission fees) . Also, the price for 4 pers & above with Harold Mansion is 2,100pesos. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience

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Here’s Your Ultimate Dumaguete-Siquijor-Apo Island Itinerary

Want to experience an ironic laid-back city life? How about to relax at the beaches of an island known for its witchcraft and healers? Or swimming with the sea turtles at a volcanic island? These are just some of the exciting things you can do in Central Visayas! If you want to explore the places we’re talking about, then make sure you bookmark this ultimate Dumaguete-Siquijor-Apo Island itinerary (with a bonus side trip to Manjuyod Sandbar)!

How To Get To Dumaguete

There are daily flights from Manila or Cebu to Dumaguete City via Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines. This is, of course, the fastest and most convenient way albeit expensive. Get the early flight, so you’ll have enough time to roam around Dumaguete. If you are coming from Cebu City, there are also cheaper alternatives that involve traveling by sea. Although, these options will take you roughly four to five hours to get there.

Day 1 in Dumaguete and Siquijor

Known as the City of Gentle People, Dumaguete is an unassuming travel destination in the Philippines. Here, you’ll be surprised to see a mix of various nationalities who have eventually found a home in Dumaguete’s metropolitan-yet-relaxed atmosphere. Experience the city yourself as you start this Dumaguete-Siquijor-Apo Island itinerary right here!

1. Begin your day by eating breakfast at Sans Rival Bistro.

Arrive in Dumaguete as early as possible for breakfast for you to have enough time to see the city. From the airport, ride a tricycle to Sans Rival Bistro in Rizal Boulevard. A special trip from the airport to the restaurant costs PHP 150.

If it isn’t obvious enough, Sans Rival Bistro is popular for their sans rival . But equally popular is their best-tasting silvanas , which many people take home as pasalubong . If you’re down for a silog breakfast, order the no-fail  tapsilog ! Another must-try in Dumaguete is their bodbod suman with sikwate , which is basically a variant of a Filipino sticky rice cake enjoyed with hot chocolate. Sans Rival Bistro offers this as well, and it’s called Dumaguete Breakfast on their menu.

PHILIHAPPY PRO TIP: Buy boat tickets to Siquijor at the port before proceeding with this itinerary. It’s better to do something while waiting for your boat to arrive. Scroll down to see our guide on how to get to Siquijor from Dumaguete City. Just be sure to be at the boat terminal 30 minutes before ETD!

2. Stroll around Silliman University.

After buying your ticket, you can proceed to your sightseeing. First stop is the Silliman University. It is regarded as the largest campus in the city and must be included on your list to visit when in Dumaguete. This university boasts of its Old American structure and is one of the top universities in the Philippines that made it to the Top 300 Universities in Asia.

Not only is it a great university, but it also houses a hospital within its campus grounds, the Silliman University Medical Center . Accordingly, this hospital has also earned an outstanding reputation !

3. Explore Dumaguete Cathedral and the Belfry Tower.

Also known as the St. Catherine of Alexandria Church , Dumaguete Cathedral is the oldest stone church in Negros island . Originally, it was built in 1754, and in 1776, it was finally finished and has been the city’s most visited cathedral since.

Adjacent to the Cathedral is the Belfry Tower . Here, visitors can light a candle and pray a little prayer. It has stood for over 200 years and served as a watchtower during the World Wars . More so, the Belfry Tower has protected all the Dumagueteños and the entire city against pirates in the olden days.

4. Snack on some street food.

Before hopping on your boat to Siquijor, make sure you fill up your tummies with some snacks. Think of it as an excuse to avoid seasickness on your boat trip to Siquijor.

The most popular street food in Dumaguete is tempura , a deep fried fish cake ( kikiam ) dipped in spicy sauce. Here’s the fun part: If you are to buy tempura in Silliman University, you get to choose from its five levels of spiciness! You can also buy  bodbod   suman for baon while on the boat.

PHILIHAPPY PRO TIP: Withdraw cash before heading to Siquijor because banks are not aplenty on the island. If you really find the need to withdraw in Siquijor, you can find ATMs at Larena. But whether they’re working or not on your day of travel, that is a risk you should be willing to take.

How to get to Siquijor from Dumaguete

Take a tricycle to the port which will cost around PHP 8–10 per person if doing a shared ride. You may either take Oceanjet bound for Larena or GL Shipping Line bound for Siquijor town, the capital of Siquijor province. The duration of the trip is a little over an hour. Here’s our say on choosing which boat to take:

Oceanjet has more comfortable seats, faster (it’s a high-speed boat), and even has a business class (with A/C). For these conveniences, just be ready to shell out a little more for a ticket. Price starts at PHP 210 per person as opposed to GL Shipping Line at PHP 130 per person. Note that Larena is still around 45 minutes away from San Juan where most hotels are. GL Shipping Line is, well, uncomfortable, and we know this because we tried it. Although, they have boats leaving every hour. Also, be prepared to pay for a small terminal fee (PHP 15), which is required just as in any other port.

While you’re at it, check the ferry schedule going back to Dumaguete to plan your return accordingly. The schedule for Oceanjet is posted on their website.

5. Eat late lunch at your hotel in Siquijor.

Upon arrival at Siquijor town, take a tricycle to your hotel. A tricycle ride will cost you around PHP 250 at the port exit. However, if you walk to the nearby local market, you can get a tricycle at PHP 25 per person going to San Juan . San Juan is where most hotels and restaurants are.

After checking in at your hotel, either arrange your next-day tour with your tricycle driver or ask your hotel or nearby shops for motorcycle rental . A whole-day tour via tricycle will cost around PHP 1,200 inclusive of pick-up and drop-off. This is not inclusive of entrance fees, though.

When all has been finalized, you are now ready to settle in and enjoy your first meal on the island!

6. Relax for the rest of the day at Paliton Beach or Solangon Beach.

Choose a hotel along Solangon Beach ! We recommend White Villas . It has a small pool that’s perfect for dipping. Solangon doesn’t get deep enough for swimming, but it has white sand to compromise. Paliton Beach , which is just a few kilometers away from Solangon, is a quiet and smaller beach.

7. Have some dinner and drinks at Baha Bar.

Order their best-selling sizzling bulalo paired with some craft beer on tap! If you’re up for an adventure, try their crocodile steak . Baha Bar has live entertainment—live music, and sometimes, even fire dancers!

Day 2 in Siquijor

Your Dumaguete-Siquijor-Apo Island itinerary continues with a full day ahead! Get ready to see the beauty of mystical Siquijor island. Make sure you grab a quick bite for breakfast or bring some snacks with you. You don’t want hunger to ruin your day! Also, you might want to arrange a late checkout if possible, because we bet you’ll want to stay on this island longer, if not forever!

1. Get a foot spa at the Old Enchanted Balete Tree.

Located in the town of Lazi, this  Balete tree looks so grand and eerie that you could only imagine yourself terrifyingly passing here late at night! But who would want to do that? During the day, you can treat yourself to a fish spa here for a small fee.

2. See the old architecture of San Isidro Labrador Parish Church and Lazi Convent.

Built in the 1800s, San Isidro Labrador Parish Church (aka Lazi Church) boasts of beautiful baroque architecture. It was declared as a National Historical Landmark and National Cultural Treasure . Across the church is the Lazi Convent , said to be the largest convent in the Philippines and in Asia. The convent houses the Siquijor Heritage Museum , which you can enter for a small fee.

3. Jump into the waters at Cambugahay Falls.

This could be one of the most popular among the spots mentioned in this Dumaguete-Siquijor-Apo Island itinerary. The swing and its clear waters alone might have lured you into visiting Siquijor.

When you get here, you’ll be asked to pay a parking fee. Some tour guides-slash-lifeguards may offer their services in exchange for a tip. Although, you won’t really need one because the place is very easy to find. Just go down the steep and slippery steps, and shortly, you’ll find this beauty! Jump off the edge of the cliff or swing yourself into the clear and cold waters of Cambugahay Falls ! You’ll spend almost a good hour here because it’s that fun!

4. Bask in the sun at Salagdoong Beach.

On your way to Salagdoong Beach, you will drive past the man-made Salagdoong Forest Reserve . When you reach the gate, you will have to pay an entrance fee. There’s one beach resort in the area with cottages, but anyone can enter the vicinity to enjoy Salagdoong Beach . The white sand beach is so small, so it can easily get crowded. If you aren’t tired enough from swinging and jumping at the falls, and if the tide permits, then you can also cliff jump here!

PHILIHAPPY PRO TIP: In case you were not permitted to have a late checkout, it would be best to check out first before proceeding with this Dumaguete-Siquijor-Apo Island itinerary.

5. Have a scenic lunch at Salamandas.

Salamandas is inside Coco Grove, a popular high-end hotel in Siquijor nestling on Tubod beach . Enjoy a sumptuous lunch here with the beach just a few steps away! This is a good way to spend your remaining hours on the island before heading back to Dumaguete. Make sure you check the ferry schedule while waiting for your lunch to be served, so you won’t miss your ride back to the city.

ALTERNATIVE: For a restaurant near Larena, where Oceanjet docks, try out TOTO’s aka the Little Molmol . They serve pretty good pizzas!

How to get to Dumaguete from Siquijor

It’s basically the same way you got to the island. Just have ample time to get to the port and buy tickets. Again, you’ll have to pay a small amount for terminal fee and you’ll have to be at the terminal 30 minutes before ETD.

6. Have a leisurely walk along Rizal Boulevard.

Rizal Boulevard is poppin’ come sunset! Besides being a good spot to watch the sunset and the pier nearby, locals and tourists gather here for the street food, and sometimes, even live music. It’s nice to see the place all lit up and lively with the crowd.

7. Try out the famous Chicken Inato at Jo’s Chicken Inato.

Jo’s Chicken Inato is conveniently located in Silliman Avenue near Rizal Boulevard, so it’s totally walkable! If Bacolod has chicken inasal , Dumaguete has chicken inato . The difference? Inasal is on the salty side while inato is slightly on the sweeter side. To make your dinner even better? Jo’s Chicken Inato offers  unlimited rice !

8. Check in at Pura Vida Beach and Dive Resort at Dauin.

When planning a trip to Apo island, it’s best to book through a resort or dive center. Pura Vida Beach and Dive Resort, and Vida Homes in Dauin are the best places to stay because it serves as a great jump-off point to Apo Island. You won’t have to think about waking up so early for the commute, boat arrangements, tour guide fees, and snorkeling and diving fees. Sea Explorers , Pura Vida’s Dive Center, will take care of your Apo Island day trip for you!

How to get to Apo Island from Dauin or Dumaguete

From Pura Vida Beach and Dive Resort, Apo Island is only 40 minutes away by boat. You will board Sea Explorers own boat and be joined by other guests and divers.

If you’re neither staying in Dauin for the night nor arranging your trip with a dive center, you’ll have to take a quick tricycle ride to Ceres Bus Station for PHP 8 (shared ride) in Dumaguete City. Then, hop on a bus bound for Bayawan City passing Malatapay Market. Ask the conductor to drop you off at Malatapay Market in Zamboanguita , which is the town after Dauin. A bus ticket will cost you PHP 50 (with A/C). Alternatively, you can also take the jeepney. The commute will take about 45 minutes.

Upon arrival at Malatapay Market, walk to the tourism office to rent a boat that will bring you to Apo Island. A boat good for four people is priced at PHP 2,000 for round trip while a bigger boat good for eight people is at PHP 3,000. Start your day as early as 7 a.m. if you choose this option .

When you get to Apo Island, you’ll have to pay an environmental fee of PHP 100 per person. Expect additional fees of around PHP 500 if you want to snorkel with the sea turtles and if you need to rent snorkeling gear. Furthermore, no boats are allowed to leave the island past 4 p.m. for safety reasons.

Day 3 in Apo Island

A piece of paradise for all divers and snorkelers, Apo Island is sure to give you an amazing and unforgettable experience. This volcanic island is very small yet blessed with beautiful marine life. For this, it is easily one of the top diving destinations in the Philippines and a must on our Dumaguete-Siquijor-Apo Island itinerary. There’s nothing much to do here besides enjoying the waters. Also, there are very limited options for food, so better to just bring baon  (packed lunch) for the trip.

1. Dive or snorkel with the charming sea turtles.

Sea Explorers stops at great dive and snorkel spots for the enjoyment of their guest divers and non-divers alike. If you are lucky enough, you will spot one or two pawikans (sea turtles) in their natural habitat! This experience is even better than seeing these creatures in shallow water. Plus, you won’t have to pay for a snorkeling fee at the marine sanctuary on the island anymore, unless you want to see more sea turtles. Nothing wrong with that! Just a reminder, though: You are not allowed to touch the sea turtle; you have to be at least five meters away.

2. Have brunch and relax at the beach.

Being in the water for that long will certainly get you hungry! Upon arrival at Apo Island, set up a spot for you to have your packed lunch. Apo Island Beach Resort is actually the only decent beachfront property on the island where you can do just that. Here, you can lounge and order a few drinks by the beach. They do serve food, too, but don’t expect a lot. Also worth noting is that there’s no electricity in Apo Island during the day . The island only has electricity from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Extend your trip: Day 4 in Manjuyod Sandbar!

But wait, this Dumaguete-Siquijor-Apo Island itinerary does not strictly have to end at Apo Island! Since you’re already in Negros Oriental, why not extend your trip to the famous Manjuyod Sandbar and do some dolphin watching?

When you get back from your Apo Island day trip, you can take the bus or jeepney going back to Dumaguete City. Afterwards, book a night in a hotel here because you won’t head to Manjuyod just yet! It is advisable to visit Manjuyod Sandbar early in the morning when the tides are low, for you to see the reason why it has been dubbed the Maldives of the Philippines .

PHILIHAPPY PRO TIP:  From this point, you may already pre-book a boat for your next-day tour to Manjuyod, especially if you’re going there during the peak season. You may try contacting the Manjuyod Tourism Office at +63 35 404 1136, or the Bais Tourism Office at +63 35 402 8338.

From Dumaguete City, the nearest jump-off point to Manjuyod Sandbar is a two-hour bus ride away. Take a Ceres bus bound for Bais City ; this will cost PHP 55. Upon arrival at the town center of Bais City, hop on a tricycle to either Canibol Wharf or Capiñahan Wharf . Canibol Wharf is up north, and here, you can rent a privately owned boat for your tour. On the other hand, Capiñahan Wharf is in the south, and here, you can rent a government-operated boat. Boat rental rates start at PHP 3,500 for a boat good for 15 people. This already includes a whole-day tour to Manjuyod Sandbar, the bird sanctuary, and the mangrove forest. Don’t forget to bring your packed breakfast or brunch because there’s no restaurant at the sandbar!

Philihappy Pro Tips

• If you’re heading to Siquijor from Dumaguete, be sure to buy your tickets at the port before roaming around. Be at the boat terminal ahead of time, at least 30 minutes before your departure.
• When heading to Siquijor, bring enough cash with you. Banks on the island are only a few. Better be prepared!
• Remember to use reef-friendly sunblock when going snorkeling or diving!
• Respect marine life! Do not touch the sea turtles, and do not step on the coral reef.
• Book your Manjuyod boat tour ahead of time if possible.

Are you excited yet? Hopefully, this Dumaguete-Siquijor-Apo Island itinerary helps you in your adventure of discovering these golden spots in the Philippines. And when you do go on that adventure, do us a favor and hold on to your dear heart, for you will surely fall in love with all these places!

Tell us which destination in this itinerary you are most looking forward to by commenting below! Please do tag us on your photos over at Instagram @Philihappy . We love seeing your travel adventures!

DISCLOSURE:  Special thanks to  Pura Vida Beach and Dive Resort , Vida Homes Condo Resort , and Sea Explorers  for hosting our trip to Apo Island. For reservations and inquiries, you may contact them at any of these numbers: +63917 320 2284 (Pura Vida), +63917 531 7864 (Vida Homes), +63917 303 8065 (Sea Explorers).

• Siquijor Itinerary: 4 Days on the Island of Witches

by Julie Mar 27, 2024 Itinerary , Philippines , Travel

Are you planning a trip to the Philippines?

Wondering what to do on the island of Siquijor?

In this post, I’ll share with you EXACTLY how to spend your time in Siquijor. This 4-day Siquijor itinerary allows you to experience the island’s most popular waterfalls and beaches (including a secret beach), visit a shaman, and swim with turtles.

I recommend spending 4 days in Siquijor. It’s enough time to relax on the beach, see the most popular spots, and also explore some off-the-beaten-path places. This post also includes valuable info on how to get to Siquijor and how to get off the island to continue your Philippines travels.

Check out my Philippines itinerary that focuses on Cebu and surrounding islands. If you’re looking for where else to travel to in this beautiful country, check out my 15 favorite places to visit in the Philippines .

You can also find ALL of my Philippine posts on my Philippine travel guide page .

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate and a Bookshop.org Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  Please see this website's  Disclosure for more info.

In This Siquijor Itinerary, You’ll Find…

• About Siquijor – The Island of Witches
• Siquijor Itinerary Day 1 – Arrival + Tubud Beach
• Siquijor Itinerary Day 2 – Island Tour (Waterfalls & Beaches)
• Siquijor Itinerary Day 3 – Apo Island
• Siquijor Itinerary Day 4 – Countryside Tour + Departure

Siquijor Travel Guide & FAQs

About siquijor: the island of witches.

Siquijor (pronounced Seekeehor). The Spanish called it Isla del Fuego , the Island of Fire. There were so many fireflies on the island that at night it appeared as if the island was on fire. Unfortunately, I didn’t see any during my time on the island.

However, Siquijor has another more mysterious name: The Island of Witches.

During colonial times, the Visayas (the area where Siquijor is located) was a popular trading area for the Spaniards. When sailors got sick, they’d stop off in Siquijor to get treated . But once they figured out how they were actually being treated (shamans and sorcerers), they gave the island the name “Island of Witches.” Even now, the island has become known for its witchcraft and sorcery .

Siquijor doesn’t have any witches like you’d find in a Grimm’s Fairy Tale. At least I don’t think it does.

It does have shamans or faith healers . These are people who use herbs, faith, and other unorthodox methods like water and stone or blowing down the back of your shirt to cure people’s ills, ward off evil spirits, or make others fall in love with you.

My guide says that locals, including himself, really do go to these healers when they are sick or when they need some luck.

Can foreign travelers to Siquijor visit a shaman?

I did! I’ll tell you later in this Siqujior itinerary how you can visit one and whether it’s worth it.

You’ll find the small island of Siquijor stuck between Bohol, Cebu, and Negros . You can reach it from either of those islands, which you can read about in the section below on How to Get to Siquijor and in my Bohol Itinerary post .

When I first saw Siquijor on a map, it looked small compared to its neighbors. So I expected it to be easy to get around on foot.

Boy, was I wrong!

When you get there, you realize it’s a lot bigger than it looks. It can take you 3-4 hours by motorbike to make it around the whole island . Your butt can get really sore sitting on a motorcycle during those 3-4 hours! And getting from Larena port to the main tourist area can take 45 minutes.

Several small towns dot the coast of Siquijor. The main ports are in the towns of Larena and Siqujior . Most people arrive at the port of Larena. The Siqujior port is used more for tour boats.

Here are some of the main towns:

• Larena: the main port for boats to Bohol and Lilo-An; Sandugan Beach, and some resorts
• Siquijor:  the main port for boats to Dumaguete; some good resorts and beaches
• San Juan: Tubod Beach and Marine Sanctuary; lots of hotels here
• San Antonio:  located in the interior/ it’s where you can find shamans
• Lazi : famous for its Spanish colonial church and Cambaguhay Falls
• Maria:  the closest town to the cliff diving on Salagdoong Beach; check out Kagusan Beach

PRO TIP: No one likes to think about insurance, but accidents do happen. I highly recommend getting travel insurance. During my travels over the past 2 years, I've been using SafetyWing for my insurance. They're very affordable for all ages, and digital nomads can use their insurance long-term.

Siquijor Itinerary Day 1

The following itinerary for day 1 in Siqujior is EXACTLY how I spent my time on the island. You don’t have to follow my itinerary exactly. Just use it to give you some ideas on how you can organize your time on the island.

• Getting from Bohol to Siquijor by ferry
• Getting to your hotel and checking in
• Tubud Beach and Marine Sanctuary

Stop #1: Getting to Siquijor by Ferry

I got to Siquijor from Bohol by ferry, leaving at 10:00 am and arriving at noon at Larena Pier. My hostel picked me and other guests up in the back of a pickup truck. It was an hour drive from the port to the hostel near Tubud Beach.

You can find ferry schedules and book tickets on 12Go

Here are all the different ways in getting to Siquijor. Some are easier than others.

• Ferry from Bohol to Siquijor
• Ferry from Cebu to Siquijor
• Ferry from Dumaguete to Siquijor
• Ferry from Liloan to Siquijor

Ferry: Bohol – Siquijor

Ferries leave from and arrive in Bohol from the port in Tagbilaran . For info on traveling around Bohol, check out my Bohol Travel Guide .

Ferries to and from Bohol arrive at and depart from Larena Pier in Siquijor or the Siquijor Pier.

First, try buying from the 12Go website . If they’re sold out on the website, try to buy them at the Tagbilaran Pier in Bohol.

Departure Times from Bohol:

• 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm (Larena Pier) – US$12
• 3:20 pm – 5:20 pm (Siquijor Pier) – US$16
• 10:00 am – 12:30 pm (Larena Pier) – US$13

I took the 10:00 am ferry.

Ferry: Cebu – Siquijor

There’s now a direct ferry from Cebu City to Siquijor. Ferries usually leave from Pier 1 in Cebu .

First, try buying them from the 12Go website . If they are all sold out, check at the pier in Cebu.

• 1:00 pm – 6:20 pm – US$35 (Arrives at Siquijor Pier)
• 1:00 pm – 11:00 pm  – US$15 (Arrives at Larena Pier)

And if you’re coming from Manila, you’ll still need to fly into Cebu. For info on traveling in the capital, read my Manila itinerary post and my Tips for First-Timers in Manila .

Ferry: Liloan – Siquijor

If you’re trying to get from Moalboal or Oslob to Siquijor, you’ll want to leave from the Pier in Liloan on Cebu Island.  The ferry company that plies this route is Maamyo Lines.

First, take a bus from Moalboal Town to Batu and then a tuk-tuk to Liloan.

The problem is that there’s only one ferry on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and it leaves at 2:00 am and arrives at 4:00 am. There’s a 7:00 am ferry that leaves on Sundays.

You can’t buy tickets online. Expect to pay around US$5.

Read more about how to get to Siquijor from Liloan here .

Ferry: Dumaguete – Siquijor

Dumaguete is another departure point for those coming from Moalboal.

You’ll need to first take a bus from Moalboal town to Bato and then a tuk-tuk to Liloan Pier. But you’re not done. Next, take a ferry to Sibulan Port. Finally, a tuk-tuk to the Dumaguete Pier.

First, try buying your ticket online from 12Go website . If it’s sold out, go directly to the Pier.

Ocean Jet Ferry

• 7:20 am – 8:20 am (Siquijor Pier) US$8
• 7:10 pm – 8:10 pm (Siquijor Pier) – US$8

Montenegro Shipping Line

• 7:00 am – 8:30 am – US$2.30
• 10:00 am – 11:30 am – US$2.30
• 12:00 (noon) – 1:30 pm – US$2.30

Aleson Shipping Line

• 5:30 am – 7:00 am – US$2.70
• 10:30 am – noon – US$2.70
• 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm – US$2.70

Check this websit e for further information on more ferries from Dumaguete to Siquijor.

PRO TIP: ALWAYS contact your hotel or hostel before arriving to find out the best way to get from the bus station/train station/ferry port to the hotel/hostel. They usually know the ins and outs of the public transportation system and they know the most current and best way to get somewhere compared to a guide book, another traveler on a forum, or a blog post. Sometimes newer places or more corporate places don’t know (like Crazy Bears Hostel in Moalboal gave me the wrong information).

Stop #2: Check into Your Hotel

The next step on this Siquijor itinerary is to get to your hotel and check-in. Larena Port is quite far from where most people stay on the island. Siquijor also has no public transportation except for tuk-tuks and motorcycles, so it’ll be hard to get from the port to your hotel.

I recommend messaging your hotel or hostel before arrival to arrange for a pickup at the port. That’s what I did. It cost me US$5.

I stayed at TAGBALAYON Lodging House , right across from Tubud Beach and Marine Sanctuary (you can snorkel off the beach). Luckily, this place survived the Pandemic. It’s still highly rated on Booking.com at 9.4/10 and on Agoda it’s also a 9.4 . The hotel has dorm rooms and private rooms. The dorm was clean, the staff was friendly, the location was superb, and they offered an inexpensive breakfast. I loved how the staff greeted every guest by name every day. My only complaint was the showers flooded and the dorms had too many beds.

If dorms and budget hotels aren’t your thing, Siquijor has lots of other wonderful hotels. For a medium-priced hotel try Isla de Paz Beach Resort . It’s right on the beach , gets great reviews, and is at an affordable price. Check reviews and prices on Booking.com or Agoda .

Across the road from my hostel was The Coco Grove Beach Resort . This gorgeous hotel is right on the beach ! There’s also a swimming pool. I booked my Apo Island tour through them, so I got to experience a bit of its luxury service. Check reviews and prices on Booking.com or Agoda .

Stop #3 Tubod Beach and Marine Sanctuary

After checking into my hostel and having lunch at the hostel, my first stop was Tubod Beach and Marine Sanctuary, which was across the street from my hostel and in front of the swanky Coco Grove Beach and Dive Resort.

The best part of Tubod Beach is that a Marine Sanctuary is in front of the beach. 

I had to pay 50 pesos (US$1) to swim in the Marine Sanctuary and 100 pesos (US$2) to rent masks and snorkel . I paid the entrance fee at a  little hut right before entering the beach area.

You can also rent gear from the Coco Grove Dive Center , toward the back of the beach. Rumor has it that their equipment is better than the stuff at the Marine Sanctuary.

The water in front of the beach was as calm as a pond . There wasn’t a wave or even a ripple on the surface.

There is a lot of coral close to the shore , so you can easily swim out to it or even walk out to it and swim around. The coral is pretty healthy, so you should be able to see lots of colorful coral fish. 

Unfortunately, you need to be careful of j ellyfish .

PRO TIP: Make sure to buy water shoes for your trip to the Philippines. The bottom of the ocean is rocky and it’s easy to cut yourself or break your toe or foot while walking in the shallow part of the ocean.

Stop #4 Dinner at a Pop-Up Restaurant

I hadn’t been very lucky at finding good food in the Philippines up to that point, but dinner on day 1 of this Siquijor itinerary was fantastic . There is an outdoor pop-up restaurant along the ocean . It’s kitty-corner to Casa Miranda Hostel (just tell the tricycle driver that you want to go to Casa Miranda Hostel) on the road that runs around the island.

The people who ran the place set up a food cart with trays of food and a barbecue grill on Lalao Bridge (or near it). The food in the trays had already been cooked, but they grilled chicken and fish in front of you. You pointed to what you wanted and servers put the food on individual plates and then brought them to your table. They recorded what you ordered in a notebook and added up the bill at the end of the evening.

The food was fantastic and reasonably priced . They had potato salad, green beans, grilled fish, grilled chicken, fried bananas, mango cake, spring rolls, noodles, and choco balls covered in bits of coconut. Most of the dishes were vegetarian.

This is a place you want to go to with other people.

A bonus was that you could watch a stunning sunset over the ocean while you waited for and ate dinner.

The restaurant disappeared at the end of the evening until the next evening. I didn’t see it on my third evening on the island, though.

I don’t know what the name of the place is, but you can’t miss it. You’ll see a long line of foreign tourists along with a few locals. It’s not far from the Aloha Restaurant.

How to Get Around Siquijor

Like most tourist places in the Philippines , there are no public buses. On Siquijor, you mainly have to rely on tricycles (tuk-tuks) and motorcycles or scooter s. Tricycles are expensive. Expect to pay at least 150 pesos (US$3) for a 5- or 10-minute ride somewhere.

You can rent a motorcycle or scooter from your accommodations or at the port for 300 pesos (US$6) a day.

But if you don’t know how to ride a motorcycle or scooter, you can hire a guide and driver to take you around. That’s what I did. I paid 300 pesos (US$6) for the motorcycle plus gas and 500 pesos (US$10) for the guide per day . He drove the motorcycle and I just sat on the back of it. I got to go to places that I would not have found on my own.

Getting from the port to your hotel can be costly . I’ve been told that there are jeepneys that do the route, but I didn’t see any. I arranged a pickup through my hostel. It cost me 250 pesos (US$5) for the pickup. I can’t remember the price for a tricycle, but I know it was at least 500 pesos (US$10) .

Siquijor Itinerary Day 2: Island Tour

You shouldn’t skip day 2’s itinerary. Compared to everything else on the island, this is the best part of the Siquijor itinerary.

The key to having a great island tour is to start REALLY early because some of these sights are pretty popular and they can get quite busy . But even if you can’t leave early, don’t fret. You’ll still have a fantastic time. I started my itinerary at 9:00 am, but I would have liked to have started at 8:00 am.

• Balete Tree
• Lagaan Falls
• Lazi Church and Convent
• Cambugahay Falls
• Monkey Beach (Secret Beach)
• Cliff Jumping at Salagdoong Beach
• Paliton Beach

How to Do This Tour?

To do this Siquijor Island tour, you’ll need some wheels. There’s no public bus system on Siquijor.

• Rent a Scooter or Motorcycle – The most popular way to do this Siquijor Island Tour is by renting a scooter or motorcycle.
• Hire a Motorcycle Driver – If you can’t drive a scooter or motorbike, don’t worry. You can hire a guide and rent a motorbike. He or she drives the motorbike while you sit on the back of it. This is what I did, and it worked out well because my driver took me to some places that I would have had a hard time finding on my own. My hostel arranged everything for me. It cost me 300 pesos (US$6) to rent the motorbike , 500 pesos (US$10) for the guide , and around 300 pesos (US$6) total for gas for the whole day.
• Join a Tour: If you’re coming from Dumaguete, you can join a day tour of Siquijor.  You’ll see some of the same sights that I saw on day 2 of my Siquijor itinerary.

Stop #1 Balete Tree

OPEN: 6:00 am – 6:00 pm | COST: 20 pesos + 5 – 10 pesos for parking | LOCATION: Google Maps

The first stop of the day 2’s Siqujior itinerary is a 400-year-old tree called the Balete Tree.

There’s a little pool in front of the tree where you can soak your feet in and have fish nibble on your dead skin . It’s supposed to be therapeutic.

Stop #2. Lagaan Falls

COST: 50 pesos + 10 pesos for parking | LOCATION: Google Maps

The next stop on day 2 of this Siquijor itinerary is Lagaan Falls. Several waterfalls dot the island of Siquijor. When I was there in February (the height of the dry season), though, only 2 waterfalls had water . One of the better waterfalls, Lugnason Falls , was dry.

Lagaan Falls is harder to get to than the more popular, Cambugahay Falls. It’s over a bumpy unpaved road. After you park your bike, you have to walk along a path without signage. It’s a small waterfall, but it’s not crowded. When I was there, there was only one other group of tourists. There is a rope that you can use to swing and jump into the water . You can also slide down the waterfall.

Stop #3. Lazi Church and Convent

OPEN: 7:00 am – 5:00 pm | ENTRANCE FEE:  20 pesos (convent) free (church) | LOCATION: Google Maps

The third stop on day 2’s itinerary was at beautiful Lazi Church and Convent, called the San Isidro Labrador Parish Church and Convent .

Both the church and convent were built in the 1800s, and both were made out of coral . You can tour both the church and the convent.

The convent has now been turned into a museum . The museum houses some old but uninspiring artifact s. I recommend entering the convent, taking a photo of the staircase inside the entrance, and then leaving. Skip the rest of the museum.

Stop #4. Cambugahay Falls

OPEN: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm | ENTRANCE FEE: 50 pesos + 10 pesos for parking | LOCATION: Google Maps

The highlight of this Siquijor itinerary is Cambugahay Falls. It’s a beautiful waterfall and a lot of fun to spend an hour or two hours swimming, swinging from a rope, or just relaxing. The other great thing is that you can easily get to the falls by tricycle. 

This is a multi-tiered waterfall. Each tier has pools that you can swim in. One pool has a rope that if you’re patient enough to wait in line, you can swing from.

There are also these smaller pools that are like sitting in your own natural jacuzzi .

Stop #5 Monkey Beach (Secret Beach)

ENTRANCE FEE: free | LOCATION: Google Maps

The last stop before lunch was at Monkey Beach. This is the beach that backpackers talk about as the mysterious “Secret Beach,” where locals go. If you’re on your own, it might be hard to get t o. BUT it’s not impossible to find as Monkey Beach is on Google Maps and there are signs pointing the way after you make the correct turnoff from the main road.

After you follow the directions on Google Maps, you’ll come to a forest on your left and a restaurant on your right. There is a sign and a  stuffed monkey nailed to a tree pointing in the direction of Monkey Beach. You can drive your scooter through the forest until the road becomes impassable. You can also park it next to the sign with the monkey. Keep on walking until you come to a cliff. Go down the rickety old stairs to the beach.

You are now at Monkey Beach / Secret Beach. To be honest, I wasn’t that impressed . It’s a quiet beach. Just two other groups of travelers were there. What I didn’t like was that the waves were pretty rough and the ground was very rocky so swimming wasn’t much fun here. The beach was also strewn with lots of seaweed and other debris from the ocean.

If you don’t ever make it here, don’t sweat it. It’s not THAT great.

Stop #6. Lunch

By now, we were pretty hungry so my guide took me to Chef Joe’s Cuisine in Maria.

My guide promised to take me somewhere local and inexpensive. I’m pretty sure Chef Joe’s Cuisine was NOT where locals usually go because the only people at the place were foreign tourists. The prices were typical foreign tourist prices, but it wasn’t overly expensive.  The menu was a mix of Chinese and Western dishes, and overall it was decent . 

By the way, they have WiFi. Just ask the staff for the password.

I paid for my driver’s/guide’s lunch. 

Stop #7. Cliff Jumping at Salagdoong Beach

OPEN: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm | ENTRANCE FEE: 50 pesos + 20 pesos for parking | LOCATION: Google Maps

Guidebooks and some travelers rave about Salagdoong Beach. But I found it be the worst beach on Siquijor . It’s overdeveloped and small, and you have to pay to enter.

The main reason for going to Salagdoong Beach is to do cliff jumping. You climb up this rock or tiny hill where you’ll find two platforms for diving. One platform is at a lower height than the other. This lower one is sometimes closed when the tide is out.

I didn’t want to jump but my guide chose to do it twice! When you’re standing up at the top of the rock and looking down, it looks pretty far and scary. But when you’re standing on the beach and looking up at the rock, it looks pretty tame.

It’s a small and rocky beach. If you’re not into cliff jumping, you can easily scratch Salangdoong Beach from your Siquijor itinerary. 

Stop #8 Paliton Beach

Luckily, day 2 ended with the most beautiful beach on Siquijor –  Paliton Beach. It’s also quite popular.

Like Tubod Beach near Coco Grove Beach Resort, the water at Palliton Beach is as calm as the surface of a glass of water. Not a ripple or wave . The beach is long and wide . You’ll also find places to eat and drink.

It’s a great beach for watching the sunset.

I would have liked an extra day during my stay in Siquijor just to hang out on this beac h during the daytime. I was there pretty late in the afternoon.

Siquijor Itinerary Day 3: Apo Island

One of the top 3 things I did in Siquijor was to visit Apo Island and snorkel with the sea turtles. Don’t skip this part of your Siquijor itinerary. 

A couple of places offer island hopping trips to Apo Island to snorkel with the turtles. Coco Grove Beach and Dive Resort offered turtle tours of Apo Island for 1,950 pesos (US$35). Another place that offered tours was Ocean Life Explorers for 1,750 pesos (US$31). Prices in 2024 are higher than when I went. You’ll most likely pay over 2,100 – 2,750 pesos (US$37 – $49). It’s still a good deal considering other places in the world.

I tried to book a tour with both places. At first, when I tried to book with Coco Grove on day 1, they were full, so I put my name on a waitlist. On day 2 of my Siquijor itinerary, I tried to book with Ocean Life Explorers, but they were also fully booked. Luckily, a seat opened up with Coco Grove the night before.

Stop #1 Departure for Apo Island

My tour started at 7:30 am from the lobby of the Coco Grove Beach and Dive Resort where we met our guides and got into a van to go to the Siquijor Pier.

The above picture on the left is the luxury boat that we took to Apo Island. The boat on the right is a typical island-hopping boat in the Philippines. This was the fanciest boat I’d been on in the Philippines. The interior was just as nice. 

There must have been over 30 people on this tour from as young as under one year old. I was the only solo traveler. And probably the only one who slept in a dorm room the night before! 

It took an hour (8:30 – 9:30) for our boat to get to Apo Island . Apo Island is a tiny volcanic island (716 inhabitants) with an area of 74 hectares. When I first saw it from the boat, I was quite disappointed. From the Siquijor side, it looked like one massive rock. It was not until we got to the other side of the island that I could see a beach, buildings, and a lot of boats.

In 1982, the sea around Apo Island became a marine sanctuary . Since then, no one has been allowed to fish using dynamite or cyanide or the banging of rocks to scare fish into nets. As a result of this protection, the coral around Apo Island is very healthy. There are 650 species of fish and 400 species of coral . This makes it a great place for snorkeling and diving.

Stop #2 Snorkeling in the Coral Garden

I was surprised by the snorkeling that we did. I thought the boat would anchor near some reef and then we would freely snorkel around the boat, get back on the boat, go for lunch, drive to another reef, and then snorkel some more. It wasn’t at all like that.

Instead, our beautiful yacht anchored off the coast of the island and then we swam to the island in groups of 4 . Each group had their own guide, who had a life preserver.

The tour leaders took our bags to the island on a small boat.

The problem with the whole experience was that the water was rough and the current was strong and against us. As a result, we couldn’t stop and observe the turtles . We had to keep on swimming and swimming to get to shore. And it was a long way to shore. If you go to the Galapagos , you’ll also swim with lots of sea turtles but you’ll get to take your time and observe.

It was called a coral garden because there were massive mounds of coral . I’d never seen such huge coral. It wasn’t brightly colored coral like I saw on Pamilacan Island.

Most importantly, I saw lots and lots of turtles –  around 10 turtles that morning. Apo Island has so many turtles because this is where the female turtles go to feed. Since it’s been a marine sanctuary for so many years, the turtles have no predators here and there’s lots of food for them to eat.

The turtles were massive. I think some of them were the size of a dining room table that could seat six – even bigger than the turtles I saw on my Galapagos cruise .

There are two kinds of turtles on Apo Island: green turtles (actually brown colored) and hawksbill turtles . The Hawksbill turtles have these pointy beaks and shells that look like puzzles.

They would swim right next to us or right under us, completely unafraid of us humans. They’re not scared of humans because as a protected area, there are no human predators here, just a lot of annoying but innocuous tourists.

Stop #3 Lunch

We swam to the shore and rested on the beach. Unfortunately, it was difficult and painful to walk on the beach as it was full of broken coral . Luckily, I had sea shoes on. You can also have your guide tie your flip-flops to the life preserver.

The Resort gave out beautiful fluffy towels to everyone that you then had to put in your dry bag so that you had it when you get back to the boat.

Now lunch was another sign that I was traveling among people who weren’t budget travelers. The meat and vegetables were good quality.   I hadn’t tasted food like that since I left the United States. I think I’d been spending too much time in cheap restaurants in the Philippines. We also had fancy silverware that you would never get in all the cheap restaurants I had been frequenting.

Stop #4 Snorkeling back to the boat

In the afternoon most of us snorkeled back to the boat, while a handful of people went off diving. We saw the same kind and amount of turtles and coral in both.

I’d say we saw around ten turtles that afternoon .

Siquijor Itinerary Day 4: Countryside Tour

My final day on Siquijor was spent touring the interior part of the island. Most people do not get to see this part of the island. They focus more on the coast.

I was lucky to have found a great guide who was available to take me to see a more off-the-beaten-path part of Siqujior and to visit a Shaman.

The tour of the countryside took from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. I spent the afternoon buying tickets and departing from Siquijor.

• Kamp Aninipot
• Secret Lagoon
• Cantabon Cave
• Mt. Bandilaan
• Buy Tickets for Fery to Liloan
• Depart Siquijor

Stop #1 Kamp Aninipot

ENTRANCE FEE: 10 pesos | LOCATION: Google Maps

Our first stop on the last day of my Siquijor itinerary was Kamp Aninipot (Camp Fireflies).

Kamp Aninipot is a campground with a restaurant and accommodations overlooking Siquijor and the ocean. The views are gorgeous . I’m sure the sunsets are as well.

The campground has (also called Hobbit Huts ), small huts that look like they come from Lord of the Rings. There’s also an Airbnb that’s a treehouse .

Stop #2 Secret Lagoon

The best thing I can say about Secret Lagoon was that we passed some scenic rice paddies on the way up to the place.

The Secret Lagoon is just a pond. It’s pretty but nothing out of this world.

Stop #3 Shaman

The part of this itinerary that I was most looking forward to turned out to be one of the strangest things I did in the Philippines.

Arriving at the shaman’s residence, we were greeted with two signs in English. On the one hand, seeing the name of the famous Ponce family, I felt assured that I was getting a legitimate shaman. On the other hand, was the sign in English an indication that this was a tourist trap? But then again almost all signs in the Philippines are in English.

Two young children, a boy and a girl, were home. But no shaman. She (not a he) was out grocery shopping. Why weren’t the children in school? I had noticed this many times in the Philippines. Young children out on the street or in their front yard during school hours.

The house was a wooden shack strewn with garbage and empty beer bottles . We took off our shoes even though the floor looked like no one had ever cleaned it.

We decided to wait amongst the empty beer bottles and trash. And then my guide saw a dilapidated karaoke machine from the 1980s and got the bright idea to sing karaoke right there at the home of this shaman. My guide sang a love song about forbidden love in Tagalog or the local Cebuano (there were English subtitles).

Was he singing it to me?

Unfortunately, the karaoke machine wasn’t in the best condition, so it was screeching and scratching. The whole experience that should have taken place in a karaoke bar was so out-of-place in this idyllic countryside setting.

Before my guide could finish his song (thank God!), the shaman returned from shopping. She was a short, unsmiling middle-aged woman.

The shaman had me sit in the middle of a dark room, whose walls hung pictures of Jesus and Santa Claus .

She felt my pulse for five seconds, massaged my shoulders neck and arms, and blew down the back of my shirt . The whole treatment or exam lasted more or less ten minutes.

After finishing, the first words out of her mouth were a disappointing sales pitch, “You want a potion to ward off evil and bad things?”

“How much?”

“1,000 pesos.”

(That’s US$20.)

“No, thank you. So, what’s wrong with me? What are my ailments? Did you find anything wrong?”

Her assessment of one of my chronic ailments was surprisingly spot-on. But she didn’t offer any medicine for it.

She also said I hadn’t had a massage in a while. Very true.

Shamans can’t charge for their services directly. Instead, you give a donation. My guide was of little help.

“Give whatever you think.”

I’m bad at assessing prices. I usually give too much or too little. Using Lonely Planet as my guide, I gave 200 pesos (US$4) . I’m not even sure she was worth that much. I think you can get an hour-long massage for 300 to 500 pesos.

You can buy other kinds of potions. The potions are herbs that are encased in stone and then hung around your neck (see photo above).

The potion to ward of evil comes in two sizes. The small one is 500 pesos (US$10) and the big one is 1,000 pesos (US$20). There’s also a love potion to get others to fall in love with you. Maybe I need that one I thought. But it’s 1,000 pesos as well.

We thanked the sorceress for her time and then got back on our motorcycle. So that was a shaman. It all seemed more like a scam to get money out of tourists than something real. I had a hard time accepting that this was someone that locals really went to. Maybe I got the foreign tourist treatment, while locals get something more authentic.

Read More Articles on the Philippines:

• First-Timer's Guide to Getting Around Manila
• El Nido Itinerary: Plan Now! Go Later!
• Best Places to Visit in the Philippines

Stop #4 Cantabon Caves

ENTRANCE FEE: 20 pesos + 500 pesos for a guide + equipment fee | LOCATION: Google Maps

The next stop on my last day in Siquijor was a visit to the Cantabon Caves. I’m not a big cave person. There are bats in caves and bats have been known to be the origins of many of today’s deadliest diseases like Ebola and not to mention COVID-19. However, reviews of the caves on Trip Advisor were very positive, so I decided to go.

Unfortunately, the reviews and my guide didn’t mention that the water in the cave goes up to your waste . I hadn’t dressed for that much water. So, we didn’t go into the cave.

If you do want to explore Cantabon Cave, first go to the ticket office to pay the fee and get your guide and gear (helmet and lights) before proceeding to the cave, which is several meters away. You need to hire a g uide for 500 pesos and pay the entrance fee of 20 pesos . It costs 30 pesos to rent a light, 50 pesos for shoes, and 50 pesos for a ziplocklock .

Stop #5 Mt Bandilaan

ENTRANCE FEE: Free | LOCATION: Google Maps

The highest point on Siquijor is Mt. Bandilaan, at 632 meters above sea level. You can see 360-degree panoramic views of the island.

There are two ways to get up to the top. 

• A stairway built into the side of the mountain
• A pathway that is lined with stations of the cross. 

We took the stairs.

At the top of the hill is a viewing tower. It’s ok. I wouldn’t go out of my way to see this place.

Stop #6 Buying Tickets to Lilo-An and Lunch

I ended my trip to Siquijor by purchasing ferry tickets to Liloan, where I would get a bus (turned out to be a taxi) to Moalboal.

I had lunch at the highly recommended Aloha Restaurant. It wasn’t very good. I think it was the worst food I’d eaten in the Philippines. The only good thing about this place was the stunning view from the restaurant.

Stop #7 Departing from Siquijor

I took the ferry from Siquijor to Liloan at 5:00 pm . We got to Liloan at 8:00 pm. Several people in Liloan told me that the last bus to Moalboal had left at 7:00 pm. I’m not sure if this was true. However, it was late, so I decided not to try my luck at the bus station and instead, looked for a taxi.

Luckily, I found a couple from Germany, and we hired a taxi for 1,200 pesos (US$24) .

Looking for more off-the-beaten-path destinations?

• Sibaltan Tour: Finding Your Secret Paradise in Palawan, Philippines
• Port Barton Itinerary: What to do for 3 Days in Port Barton
• Bohol Travel Guide: Exploring the Natural Wonders of the Philippines
• Where to stay in Siquijor?
• When to visit Siquijor?
• What’s Siquijor like for Solo Travelers?
• What to pack for Siquijor?

Where to Stay on Siquijor?

Most travelers stay on the southwest coast of the island in San Juan . This area of the island has the nicest beaches–the water is smooth and calm, really great for swimming and snorkeling. The sunsets are amazing!

I stayed at Tagbalayon Lodging House ( Booking.com | Agoda ) a hostel directly across from Tubod Beach and Coco Grove Beach and Dive Resort in San Juan. Perfect location!

The people who own the place were wonderful. I liked how the people who worked there always greeted me by saying my name despite that there were so many other people saying there.

The dorm rooms are kind of tightly packed and the showers flooded, though. I often found myself walking over everyone else’s backpack to get anywhere in the room.

There’s a nice common area on the second floor with comfy couches and lounge chairs. The hostel has a decent restaurant with an inexpensive buffet and more expensive dishes from a menu. There’s also a little grocery store for you to buy snacks and drinks.

Another great budget option is Fable Hostel ( Booking.com | Agoda ). It gets terrific reviews (9.7/10), and it’s near the best beach in Siquijor, Paliton Beach !

For those who want a budget hotel but don’t want a hostel, check out Chekesh Casa ( Booking.com | Agoda ). It gets great reviews and is near Tubud Beach.

For a medium-priced hotel try Isla de Paz Beach Resort . It’s right on the beach , gets great reviews, and is at an affordable price. Check reviews and prices on Booking.com or Agoda .

The Coco Grove Beach Resort  is right on the beach ! There’s also a swimming pool. Check reviews and prices on Booking.com or Agoda .

When to Visit Siquijor?

From  January to May,  the island is at its driest . This can be both good and bad. The good is obvious, but the bad is that some waterfalls are empty. Siquijor gets more rain from June to November.

It is coolest from December to March with temperatures averaging 28 degrees Celsius (83 degrees Fahrenheit) . The hottest time is from April to November with the average temperature being 33 degrees Celsius (91 degrees Fahrenheit) .

Siquijor seems to be more popular with Europeans than local Filipinos. Keep in mind that Europeans like to travel from December to March  when their own countries are at their coldest. So, during these times. you’ll find a lot of the more popular places booked.

What’s Siquijor Like for Solo Travelers

Siquijor is a good place for solo travelers.

As a female traveling solo, I felt quite safe.

If you’re on your own and you don’t drive a motorcycle, you can hire a guide/ motorcycle driver for 500 pesos (US$10) a day plus for the motorcycle 300 pesos (US$6).

You can get more tips and insider info on what it’s like to travel alone in this beautiful country in my Solo Travel Guide to the Philippines. 

What to Pack for Your Trip to Siquijor

Full face snorkel mask.

Waterproof Dry Bag

Water Shoes

Final Thoughts on this Siquijor Itinerary

There you have it! I hope this travel guide helps you in planning your trip to Siquijor.

So, did Siquijor live up to my expectations? Hiring a guide and driver was the best decision I made. I got to go to places like Monkey Beach and experience seeing a shaman which I wouldn’t have done on my own. And US$10 a day for a guide is a pretty good deal. You’d spend twice that at a restaurant in the United States.

I would have liked to have stayed a day longer on Siquijor, visiting a few more beaches.

Since it was the dry season, some of the waterfalls were dry, so I couldn’t see them.

Siquijor is a great place to add to your Philippines itinerary ! It’s a great place to visit after a trip to Bohol . 

Is it touristy? It’s less touristy than some of the other places I’ve been to in the Philippines. 

By the way, if you’re looking for more info on the Philippines, check out my Philippines Travel Guide page .

Best Resources for Planning Your Trip to the Philippines

Book your flight to the philippines.

Use Skyscanner to find the cheapest flights to the Philippines. They will turn up results for all airlines including major ones and local airlines. You’re going to find EVERYTHING that’s available and thus get the cheapest price.

Book Your Accommodations for the Philippines:

The best hotel booking sites for the Philippines are Agoda and Booking.com . Both sites have the biggest selection, and they consistently churn out hotels and hostels at the lowest prices of any other booking site. Another website for backpackers and budget travelers is Hostel World .

Book Your Tours for the Philippines:

The three best tour booking sites for the Philippines are Viator and Get Your Guide . Viator has the biggest selection. Get Your Guide has terrific customer service. They will help you if you have trouble with your tour, especially if the tour company cancels your tour or doesn’t show up. I also like using Klook for booking tours in Southeast Asia.

Buy Your Ferry and Shuttle Tickets for the Philippines

Check ferry and shuttle schedules and buy your tickets on 12Go . It saves you from having to trek all the way to the ferry terminal or bus station to buy your ticket.

Stay Connected When in the Philippines:

To have access to the internet while you’re out and about in the Philippines, get a physical SIM card or an eSIM. I was very happy with the eSIM that I used from Airalo , so I can highly recommend them. Their instructions weren’t the most user-friendly, but the eSIM worked as well as any physical SIM card I used.

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More Travel Guides for the Philippines:

• Learn how to take public transportation and a Grab and taxi around Manila -  First-Timers Guide to Getting Around Manila
• Manila Itinerary: 2 Days Exploring the Culture and History of Manila  - In this guide, you'll get a detailed step-by-step itinerary for seeing the sights in Manila.
• Port Barton Itinerary: What to do for 3 Days in Port Barton  - Find out how to discover the most beautiful beach in the Philippines.
• One of my favorite experiences in the Philippines was an island-hopping tour of Sibaltan. Get the details here:  Sibaltan Tour: Finding Your Secret Paradise in Palawan, Philippines
• El Nido Itinerary: An Adventure of a Lifetime - Learn where to go, what to eat, where to see, and of course, what to do in El Nido.
• Bohol Travel Guide: Exploring the Natural Wonder of the Philippines will tell you exactly what to see and do in Bohol, how to get there, where to stay, and much, much more!
• Siquijor Itinerary: Exploring the Island of Fire will give you the skinny on everything you need to know to travel to Siquijor.
• Malapascua Itinerary: Plan Now! Go Later! will help you plan your trip to Malapascua and Kalanggaman Islands.
• Find out what my 15 favorite places to visit in the Philippines are.
• Solo Travel Guide for the Philippines will give you some pointers on how to best travel solo in the Philippines cheaply and safely and still have a kick-ass time!

17 Comments

This is a pretty budget friendly trip! You did an amazing job breaking down all possible details to be considered for planning!- Pinned for our future philippines trip!

Thanks! I hope you make it to Siquijor!

I am so happy I found this guide! It’s so detailed and covered everything I could want to know. Im hoping to visit next year and island hop for a couple of weeks!

Thank you! I’m glad that you found it helpful.

Wow Siquijor sounds like a really special place which I would love to visit.did u find fireflies ? Thanks for sharing this itinerary

It’s a great place to visit. Nope! No fireflies!

Looks magical! Will definitely hire a driver when I go, thanks for the tip! Beautiful post!

Siquijor seems like a peace of heaven on earth. When I read that it’s name may come from fireflies I thought it was a small and magical location but the reality is that it is much larger than I thought with plenty of activities. And the beaches are so beautiful! And good to you for cliff jumping, even once, I don’t think I would have done it!

I never actually went cliff jumping. Too chicken. My guide did, though. Twice.

Can’t wait to go back to the Philippines! So many islands to explore and they all have such beauty. You’ve added Siquijor to my list!

Wow! This looks so beautiful! Thanks for the super useful information about transport. I am looking into a solo trip to Asia later this year or 2021, and I appreciate your insight into Siquijor as a solo female friendly destination.

Great info! I want to stay in a Hobbit Hut!

You had me at waterfalls and the marine sanctuary! Wow this seems like such a gorgeous place.

It is totally gorgeous!

Thanks for sharing this, Julie. There are so many islands in the Philippines that it’s difficult to pin down which ones to visit. This comprehensive guide to Siquijor tells me all I need to know.

You’re welcome! I hope you get a chance to visit some day!

This place looks heavenly. I chase waterfalls everywhere we go, your long exposure capture of the falls is SO GOOD. How does the full face snorkle mask work? Does it fog up easily/get filled with water?

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3 Day Siquijor Itinerary – The Ultimate Guide

When planning your Siquijor Itinerary, there are many awesome things to do and see including epic waterfalls, white sand beaches, awesome cliff jumps, and more !

I have put together this easy-to-follow 3 Day Siquijor Itinerary which includes all of the best tourist spots around the island.

Also, at the bottom of this post, I’ve included useful information on how to get to Siquijor, where to stay, how to get around, and the best time to visit.

Table of Contents

OVERVIEW – SIQUIJOR ITINERARY

Below is an overview of an ideal 3 Day Siquijor Itinerary  in this exact order.

• Paliton Beach
• Lugnason Falls
• Century-Old Balete Tree
• Lazi Church
• Lagaan Falls
• Cambugahay Falls
• Tubod Marine Sanctuary
• Man-Made Forest
• Talisay Beach
• Salagdoong Beach
• Butterfly Sanctuary
• Quisol Mountain View
• Apo Island day trip

SIQUIJOR ITINERARY – DAY 1:

Paliton beach.

The first thing that should be on the top of your itinerary is to hit the beach!

Paliton Beach is rated as one of the best beaches in Siquijor for its glistening white sands and palm tree fringed shoreline.

It’s located in the main tourist area of San Juan, so you’ll be within walking distance if you book your stay in this area.

There are a few oceanside cafes and beach bars dotted along Paliton Beach serving up cold brews and delicious meals.

Most have happy hour between 4 pm and 6 pm, so make sure to get there around this time if you want to score some cheap drinks and watch the sunset!

If you visit Paliton Beach during the day it’s just as good. You can find a number of tree swings tied to bent palms where you can swing out over the water’s edge!

Apart from that, there isn’t a whole lot more to do other than go swimming in the ocean, lay in a hammock underneath the coconut palms, or read a book by the beach.

Full Blog Post → Paliton Beach Siquijor

LUGNASON FALLS

Lugnason Falls, also known as Zodiac Falls, is one of the top 3 waterfalls in Siquijor .

Lugnason Falls is located in the main tourist area of San Juan. From Paliton Beach, it’s approximately a 15-minute drive inland to reach this popular tourist spot.

The entrance is free though you may be asked to pay a small parking fee of 10 pesos.

From the jump-off point, it takes around 15 minutes to walk along a dirt trail through the forest to reach Lugnason Falls.

Lugnason Falls features a 5-meter waterfall and a large spring filled with blue Gatorade-colored water.

It’s an adventurer’s playground and reminded me of the blue-ass water that I found at Kawasan Falls in Cebu .

Lugnason Falls is a great spot to hang out and go swimming under the falls to cool off. For thrill-seekers, jumping from the top of the falls into the catch basin below is a lot of fun too!

Don’t end the adventure here as there are more unique spots to be found in the same valley as Lugnason Falls.

Follow the jungle trail downstream where you will find man-made aqua ducts and an epic cold spring perfect for swimming!

Full Blog Post → Lugnason Falls

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CENTURY-OLD BALETE TREE

The Century-Old Balete Tree is one of the most visited tourist attractions on the island and it’s easy to see why!

This 400-year-old tree is worthy of a quick stop during your stay.

Century-Old Balete Tree is located in Lazi on the south coast. From San Juan, it’s approximately a 20-minute drive to reach this ancient tree and the entrance fee is only 10 pesos.

The 400-year-old  Enchanted Balete Tree in Siquijor has a very mystical and spiritual background.

It’s a place that local shamen use for sacred rituals, however, I didn’t see any witchcraft when I visited.

At the base of the Century Old Balete Tree is a small freshwater pond filled with fish that will nibble the dead skin off the soles of your feet if you dip them in.

Enjoy your fish foot spa while marveling at the thick canopy and huge vines that hang from the Old Enchanted Balete Tree.

Next to the Century-Old Tree in Siquijor, there is a restaurant where you can grab a meal with drinks and also a souvenir store selling all sorts of gifts.

Find All →   Hostels / Resorts / Hotels in Siquijor

VISIT THE LAZI CHURCH

Lazi Church, also known as San Isidro Labrador Parish Church, is a popular stop on most people’s Siquijor itinerary.

The Lazi Church is the oldest, largest, and most significant Roman Catholic Church on Siquijor Island Philippines.

Must Read: 21 Best Travel Accessories For Any Trip

San Isidro Labrador Parish Church is located in Lazi on the south coast. From San Juan, it’s approximately a 20-minute drive to reach this tourist attraction.

The construction of Lazi Church was completed in 1884 and was built mainly with stone and hardwood.

The bell tower attached to one side of the church was built one year later which is the most dominant feature on the outside.

Next to the church, you can also find a silent convent that acts as a museum that holds many old artifacts and antiques. The entrance fee at the museum is around 20 pesos.

Lazi Church also plays home to large masses and it’s possible to take a tour inside this century-old church with a priest.

LAGAAN FALLS

Lagaan Falls is one of the best waterfalls in Siquijor and a must-see during your visit!

Swimming holes, rope swings, rock jumps, and small caves are just some of the things you can expect to find at these falls.

But before you get to the falls, don’t forget to pack your Quick-Dry Travel Towel .

Lagaan Falls is located in Lazi on the south coast. From the main tourist area of San Juan, it’s approximately a 30-minute drive to reach the falls.

The entrance fee is 30 pesos and parking is free. Local guides will offer to take you down to the falls at the entrance, but this is not necessary as the trail is clearly marked.

However, I visited these falls on my own and decided to take a guide for good company and he asked for 50 pesos for his services.

It takes around 15 minutes to walk along a dirt trail underneath a dense rainforest canopy to reach t he first level of this Siquijor waterfall.

Some of the features you will find here are a large swimming hole, rope swings, small caves, rock jumps, and a wide set of falls. 

Don’t forget to follow the jungle trail upstream where you will find small freshwater rock pools and natural jacuzzis.

You could easily spend a few hours here jumping from pool to pool and swinging from the tree swings and not get bored.

Full Blog Post → Lagaan Falls

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CAMBUGAHAY FALLS

Cambugahay Falls is arguably the best waterfall in Siquijor that is most famous for its tiered levels and freshwater cascades that are surrounded by lush rainforest.

Cambugahay Falls is located in Lazi which is approximately a 30-minute drive from San Juan to reach the falls and the entrance fee is 20 pesos.

From the jump-off point, it takes around 5 minutes to walk down a set of concrete steps to reach the first level of Cambugahay Falls.

These epic falls feature a large natural swimming hole and some man-made structures including rope swings, bamboo rafts, and a wide set of falls. 

Besides the bottom swimming hole, there are a few more levels of the falls to explore.

Make sure not to forget your Waterproof Phone Case , it would be a shame not to take amazing photos on the way!

Follow the trail upstream and across the bamboo bridges where you will find more freshwater swimming holes, flowing rock pools, and several cliff-jumping spots.

Full Blog Post → Cambugahay Falls

SIQUIJOR ITINERARY – DAY 2:

Tubod marine sanctuary.

Day 2 of this Siquijor itinerary begins at Tubod Marine Sanctuary, a protected reef that is rated as one of the best snorkeling and dive sites on Siquijor.

Explore the beautiful underwater world that this location has to offer.

Tubod Marine Sanctuary can be found in front of Coco Grove Resort and just off the shore from Tubod Beach in San Juan.

From Paliton Beach, it’s approximately a 10-minute drive to reach Tubod Marine Sanctuary.

Must Read → 3 Weeks Philippines Itinerary

Colorful corals and an abundance of marine life flourish within this protected marine sanctuary so you are in for a real treat!

You can bring your own mask and snorkel with you or rent one from the resort and it’s a short-distance swim out to the reef.

There are minimal currents and waves at Tubod Marine Sanctuary and the waters are incredibly clear.

I recommend setting aside at least one hour of your day to enjoy snorkeling at this location.

MAN-MADE FOREST SIQUIJOR

The Man-Made Forest in Siquijor is similar to the Bilar Man-Made Forest in Bohol , though on a smaller scale.

A visit to this tourist attraction is worthy of a quick stop for a photo during your adventures around the island.

The man-made forest can be found in Maria on the southeastern corner of Siquijor Island. From San Juan, it is approximately a 45-minute drive.

This enchanting stretch of road is around 2 km long and lined with beautiful mahogany trees between the towns of Minalulan and Liloan.

When you enter this parallel tunnel of trees, you’ll feel like you’ve just entered another realm.

You will also notice the temperature drop drastically as you drive through the man-made forest because the canopy above almost completely cuts out the sun.

There is also a nearby beach just before you arrive at the man-made forest that is worth checking out for a quick photo.

TALISAY BEACH

Talisay Beach Siquijor is not as crowded and popular as Paliton Beach which is why you should definitely find the time to visit this underrated beach.

Talisay Beach can be found between Lazi and Maria which is also in the same direction as Salagdoong Beach.

There is no official entry point for Talisay Beach, you can just park your scooter on the side of the road and follow one of the dirt trails down to the shoreline.

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Emerging out of the jungle trail, you’ll step foot onto a white sand and coral cove that is stunning, to say the least.

Talisay Beach is best visited at high tide when the water comes right up to the palm-fringed shoreline, making it easier to go for a swim.

At low tide, you will have to walk across the rocky reef to find deeper water for a refreshing dip.

Click here to check the tide times in advance.

Talisay Beach is also a renowned spot for snorkeling in Siquijor, so make sure to bring a mask and snorkel set with you down to the beach.

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SALAGDOONG BEACH & CLIFF JUMP

Salagdoong Beach is hands down one of the best beaches in Siquijor, which is most famous for snorkeling around the colorful reefs, relaxing on the secluded beaches and epic cliff jumping!

Salagdoong Beach is attached to Salagdoong Beach Resort on the far east corner of Siquijor Island in the town of Maria.

From San Juan, it’s approximately a 50-minute drive to reach Salagdoong Beach and the entrance fee is 30 pesos per person plus an additional 20 pesos for parking.

Salagdoong Beach boasts two beautiful coves lined with coconut palms and white sand shorelines.

Just off the shore is a colorful reef that is great for snorkeling and swimming. 

I would have to say the slippery slide and cliff jumping at Salagdoong Beach is the main attraction and one for thrill-seekers!

Make sure you must visit during high tide to do these activities.

The cliff jumps at this beach were definitely up my alley! There are two diving boards here, one is around 5 meters and the other is 10 meters.

I recommend spending around 1 or 2 hours at Salagdoong Beach before continuing on to explore the rest of the island

Full Blog Post → Salagdoong Beach & Cliff Jump

SIQUIJOR BUTTERFLY SANCTUARY

The beautiful butterfly sanctuary in Siquijor was one of my favorite stops during my Siquijor trip and I recommend checking it out for yourselves.

The Siquijor Butterfly Sanctuary is located close to the highest point on the island at Cang-apa village between Lazi and Larena. From San Juan, it is approximately a 40-minute drive.

The butterfly park is run by a local man who welcomes guests to walk around the gardens and interact with the butterflies and other bugs inside his sanctuary.

It’s worth a quick stop to have a poke around and grab a fresh buko (coconut) before continuing on to the next spot!

QUISOL MOUNTAIN VIEW

Quisol Mountain View boasts one of the best panoramic viewpoints which overlooks Siquijor Island and its pristine coastlines.

This epic viewpoint is an off-the-beaten-path adventure that is easy to find and far away from the crowds at other tourist spots.

Quisol Mountain View is located at the top of the hill between Lazi and Larena.

It is approximately a 40-minute drive from San Juan to Quisol Mountain View. Here is the exact pin location on Google Maps.

There is no official parking lot or tourist desk at this location, so you will have to park your scooter on the side of the road and find the entry point which isn’t too hard to find.

You will see a large sign with the words ‘Quisol Mountain View’ written on it and make-shift stairs cut into the land leading up to the viewpoint. See the image below for reference.

It takes around 5 minutes to walk to the top of the mountain, and you’ll be rewarded with extensive views of Siquijor Island.

Unfortunately, it was a bit cloudy on the day I visited, but on a nice clear day, you will be able to see the neighboring islands of Cebu , Negros, and Bohol .

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SIQUIJOR ITINERARY – DAY 3:

Day trip to apo island.

On the last day of your Siquijor itinerary, I highly recommend heading over to the incredible Apo Island , a volcanic island located 30 km off Siquijor’s southern coastline.

Notorious for its dive sites and snorkeling, an Apo Island day trip is one of the top-rated things to do.

To book an Apo Island Tour you can pop into one of the many dive shops and resorts located along Paliton Beach in San Juan and organize your trip through them at least one day in advance.

The Apo Island tour is an entire day of snorkeling with sea turtles, fish, sea snakes, and hundreds of colorful corals.

There are also a few small mountain peaks on Apo Island that you can hike.

Related Article → Dumaguete Travel Guide

WHERE IS SIQUIJOR ISLAND?

Siquijor Island is located in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines.

Click here to see the location on Google maps.

Siquijor is very close to the neighboring islands of Cebu, Bohol, and Dumaguete which can be easily reached by plane or ferry.

HOW TO GET TO SIQUIJOR

There are two ways of getting to Siquijor, one is by plane and the other by ferry.

BY PLANE: 

There are weekly flights to Siquijor connecting domestic travelers coming from Manila, Cebu, and Dumaguete.

The only airport on the island is Siquijor Airport.

Search All: F lights To Siquijor

By ferry: .

Dumaguete to Siquijor ferry

One of the most common routes is the ferry from Dumaguete to Siquijor, which takes approximately 1.5 hours and the cost is around 500-600 pesos depending on the star rating of the ferry.

There is also an additional 20 pesos terminal fee.

There are daily ferries departing from Dumaguete Port in Negros Oriental and arriving at Larena Port in Siquijor.

Book Now: Dumaguete To Siquijor Ferry

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Cebu to Siquijor ferry

If you happen to be in the very south of Cebu and heading to Siquijor from here, there are only two ferry departures per day leaving from Liloan Port in Cebu at 7 am and 7 pm, bound for Larena Port in Siquijor.

The ferry from Cebu to Siquijor takes approximately 1-2 hours and the cost is around 200 pesos.

You can purchase your tickets at the Liloan Port at least one hour before departure.

Book Now: Cebu To Siquijor Ferry

Bohol to Siquijor ferry

The ferry from Bohol to Siquijor is also a common route for travelers and this is the exact route that I took.

The cost for this journey is around 900 pesos plus an additional 20 pesos terminal fee.

There are daily ferries departing from Tagbilaran Port in Bohol and it takes approximately 2 hours to reach Larena Port in Siquijor.

Book Now →  Bohol To Siquijor Ferry

WHERE TO STAY IN SIQUIJOR

Siquijor has hundreds of accommodation options to choose from, so I have narrowed it down to a few of the best places to stay to fit the needs of budget backpackers, luxury travelers, and everyone in between.

See the list of accommodations below that I personally recommend:

Luxury:  Aloha Seaside Resort

Mid Range:  Nakabalo Guesthouse & Restaurant

Budget:  JJS Backpackers Village

FOR ALL OTHER PLACES TO STAY,  SEARCH ON BOOKING.COM

Getting around siquijor island.

There are a few different methods of transportation for getting around the island and they are by scooter, habal habal, tricycle, or Jeepney.

You can rent a scooter for as little as 250 pesos per day and make your way around Siquijor Island at your own pace.

When you arrive on the island by ferry, you’ll find that there are half a dozen scooter rental stores located at the Larena ferry terminal which is super convenient.

You can pick up a set of wheels for the time you plan to spend on the island.

Suppose you are not confident driving a scooter, the other option is to hail down a Jeepney, tricycle, or habal habal (motorbike taxi) along the main road in Larena and get a ride to San Juan, the main tourist hub on the island.

The cost depends on how good your bartering skills are, though for a 40-minute drive from Larena to San Juan in a Jeepney should be around 100 pesos, in a tricycle 500 pesos and habal-habal 350 pesos.

Note that these prices are rough estimates.

BEST TIME TO VISIT SIQUIJOR

Weather-wise, the best time to visit Siquijor is between April and July when temperatures are hot and barely any rainfall.

This is also high season in Siquijor, so expect to see many tourists during these months.

I recommend visiting on the shoulder months of the high season between November and March, which sees a bit of rainfall but usually only lasts for a couple of hours and the rest of the day is sunny.

Try to avoid the typhoon season in Siquijor which is between August and October.

WHAT TO PACK FOR THE PHILIPPINES

When visiting the Philippines, here is a list of items I highly recommend bringing with you.

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More Philippines Travel Guides

Click the button below to view all articles related to the Philippines!

FINAL THOUGHTS – 3 DAY SIQUIJOR ITINERARY

I hope you enjoyed reading this article and if you have any questions at all about this Siquijor Itinerary, please leave me a comment below this post and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

For a quicker response, be sure to join Jonny Melon’s Travel Tribe on Facebook and post your questions or recommendations to our awesome community.

TRAVEL RESOURCES FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or it’s your first trip overseas, here are some useful travel resources to help you kick-start your next adventure!

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Siquijor Travel Guide: The Mystique Island

Discover the mystical island of Siquijor and be awed with the surprises this small island offers. From its white sandy beaches, century old churches, beautiful waterfalls and other natural wonders and heritage, Siquijor is a promise of paradise.  This Siquijor travel guide will come handy for everyone planning to visit or revisit the Island of Fire. Provided in this guide are relevant information that will make it easier for your to plan your trip. Know the updated travel requirements, information on getting there, accommodation, activities, sample itinerary, budget and more. 

Welcome to Siquijor

Siquijor is nested in the western corner of Bohol Sea and surrounded with the bigger islands of Visayas and Mindanao. It is a small island that offers big surprises.

Formerly called “ Isla de Fuego ” or Island of Fire during the early Spanish era, Siquijor used to be a town of Negros Oriental until it became an independent province in 1971. It is the third smallest province in the country with a total land area of only 343.5 square kilometers.

Siquijor today is fast becoming a tourist hot spot in Central Visayas due to its natural beauty and distinct charm. Its white sand beaches, century old churches, amazing dive sites, beautiful waterfalls and other natural wonders are among the magnets that keep attracting people to uncover the island’s mystique.

A small yet bountiful island, Siquijor is a synergy of nature’s beauty and mystery, a bliss waiting to be explored. Come and experience the mystique charm of paradise that is Siquijor.

How to Get to Siquijor

From dumaguete city.

Dumaguete City, the capital of Negros Oriental, is accessible from Manila via Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific . From Dumaguete Airport in Sibulan, ride a multican to take you to the downtown. The Port of Dumaguete is at the northern end of the Boulevard.

At the Port of Dumaguete, there are numerous departures of fast craft and ferry to Siquijor daily starting at 5:45 AM and as late as 7PM. Fast craft rate is P160 one-way, travel time is one hour. RoRo ferry rate is P115 one-way with almost two hours of voyage.

You can book a ferry from Dumaguete to Siquijor below.

BOOK YOUR FERRY FROM DUMAGUETE TO SIQUIJOR

From Cebu City, Oslob, Tagbilaran and Iligan

The ports of Cebu, Tagbilaran and Iligan have direct links to Siquijor by ferry or boat. Meanwhile, Oslob in South Cebu, has a direct link to the town of Larena, Siquijor.

You can book a ferry from Cebu, Tagbilaran and Iligan to Siquijor below.

BOOK YOUR FERRY FROM CEBU TO SIQUIJOR

BOOK YOUR FERRY FROM TAGBILARAN TO SIQUIJOR

Where to Stay in Siquijor

While Siquijor can be toured on a day trip if you are based in Dumaguete City, it is still a best to stay in the island to better appreciate the place.

Coco Grove Beach Resort is a popular choice for tourists spending the night in the island. The beach front resort offers offers native style cottages and villas for as low as P2,700.00 good for two (2) persons per night.

For backpackers and budget travelers, among the favorites are JJ’s Backpackers and  Lorna’s End of the World Beach Resort which offers basic and budget-friendly accommodation for as low as P400 per person per night. JJ’s Backpacker’s is located along the beach in the town of San Juan.

Coco Grove Beach Resort Address: Tubod, San Juan, Siquijor Contact: +63915-2535130/+63939-9155123/+63-035-2255490/+63-035-4229663

JJ Backpackers Address: San Juan, Siquijor Contact: +63918-670 -0310

Lorna’s End of the World Beach Resort Address: Lala-o, San Juan, Siquijor Contact: +63917-3816377

Top-Rated / Highly Recommended Accommodations in Siquijor

Top-rated budget accommodations in siquijor.

Other notable places to stay are:

Salagdoong Beach Resort and Hotel Agripino Address: Olang, Maria, Siquijor Contact: Provincial Tourism Office at +63-035-344-2088/+63-035-480-9173/+639187714714/+639102002552 (Hotel Agripino) Email: [email protected]

Salamangka Beach and Dive Resort Address: Buhulisan, Catulayan San Juan, Siquijor 6755 Philippines Contact:+63-035-3442088, +63-035-480-9173 Email: [email protected]

Where to Eat in Siquijor

There are restaurants and eateries scattered along the islands. Some of the favorites are Luca Loko, Baha Bar, Tomato & Basil, Rastaman Grill, Marco Polo Italian Restaurant and Sunset Restaurant of San Juan, Siquijor.

What to do in Siquijor

• Visit the century-old churches St. Francis of Assisi of Siquijor and St. Isidore de Labrador and its convent in Lazi
• Cool off at Capilay Spring Park and Guiwanon Spring Park
• Checkout Cambugahay and Lugnason Falls
• Go beach hopping at Salagdoong Beach, Kagusuan Beach, Siquijor Beach, Paliton Beach and San Juan Beach
• Cliff jumping at Salagdoong Beach
• See the century-old Balete Tree
• Explore the unspoiled underwater of Siquijor. Dive or snorkel on more than 20 dive sites surrounding the island including the famous Tulapus Sanctuary, Daquit Shoal, Tonga Point, West Point, Paliton, Lala-o Sunken Island, Solangon, Tubod Marine Sanctuary, Salagdoong, Candapino Point and Tambisan among others.
• Drop by at Butterfly Sanctuary
• Visit Cantabon, Eugenia, Dacanay, Tagmanocan and Baljo Caves
• Trek Bandilaan National Park, the highest point in the island

Sample Dumaguete-Siquijor Itinerary

Day 1: chasing waterfalls in valencia.

1000H: Arrival in Dumaguete Airport / Sea Port / Proceed to Hotel 1100H: Check-in / Rest 1200H: Lunch at Casa Blanca / Proceed to Valencia Jeep Terminal 1330H: Depart for Valencia 1415H: Arrive in Valencia / Motorbike to Twin Falls (Red Rock Falls) 1445H: Red Rock Falls 1600H: Depart Red Rock Falls / Drop by Smokey Mountain 1700H: Arrive Valencia / Jeep to Dumaguete 1800H: Back in Dumaguete / Proceed to Hotel 1830H: Wash-up / Rest 2000H: Dinner at Sans Rival

Day 2: Apo Island

0700H: Call Time / Breakfast 0800H: Apo Island Day Tour: Scuba Diving or Snorkeling 1700H: Back in Dumaguete / Proceed to Hotel 1730H: Wash-up / Rest 1800H: Dinner at Hayahay Tree House

Day 3: Siquijor

0400H: Call Time / Snacks / Proceed to Port 0500H: Dumaguete to Siquijor 0630H: Arrival in Siquijor / Proceed to Hotel / Breakfast 0800H: Siquijor Island Tour: St. Francis of Assisi, Lazi Church and Convent, Cambugahay Falls, Paliton Beach, Salagdoong Beach, Capilay Spring, Balete Tree 1700H: Back in Hotel / Wash-up / Rest 1900H: Dinner

Day 4: Dumaguete City

0700H: Call Time / Breakfast / Proceed to Port 0900H: Siquijor to Dumaguete 1100H: Back in Dumaguete

• Siquijor can be explored on a day trip, check out my Siguijor in a Day blog
• Best time to visit Siquijor is during summer or dry months of November to May
• There is an ATM in the island
• Major credit cards are accepted in major establishments

First Published: 13-Feb-2011 | Updates: 20-June-2015; 07-Dec-2017; 09-Jul-2019; 30-Apr-2020

[…] Dumaguete’s proximity to Cebu makes the city speak Cebuano which is a totally different language from Hiligaynon spoken in Bacolod City and most of Negros Island. As the capital of Negros Oriental, it serves as gateway to famed dive sites of Apo Island, Mount Talinis, Manjuyod Sandbar, Balanan, Balinsasayaw and Danao Lakes, Niludhan Falls, Casaroro Falls, Red Rock Hot Spring, Pulangbato Falls and other attractions of the province as well as the mystical province of Siquijor. […]

I recommend kuya rolly siquijor tour guide……tricycle driver……0906-580-6033…..

helo po…eto po ang pinaka gustong gusto kong etanong…sana masagot nyu po… merun po bang ferry from iligan to siquijor? plsss answer po…salamat

Hi, Meron bang siquijor to oslob na ferry? Among schedule? Thanks.

Hi! I would like to ask if anyone knows any backpackers’ inn that can let you check-in even late at night. We will arive in Larena Pier around 11:30pm from Bohol and we do’t know where we can spend the night. Please help 😢 Thanks!

meron bang byahe sa roro bus direct to siquijor? at ano ang skedyul?

Hi. I would like to ask and I hope you can answer my query.

Does the Ferry takes car frieght? And do you have a contact number that I can ring to ask about their rate for the frieght.

Also, are there any camping grounds in Sequijor?

Regards, Cora

Hello po meron po ba kayong contact number nga Salagdoong Beach Resort at Hotel Agripino? 🙂 Kasi punta kmi ng mga kaibigan ko this April 30-May 1 sa siquijor 🙂 Salamat po

hello Jassel? hows ur trip in siquijor?

what is the earliest ferries that can take us from dumaguete to siquijor?

Very Informative post (as always). I am more than excited to visit this paradise soon. I just need a little help because we will be in Siquijor this coming May 1-6, And we’re planning to visit Bohol as well. May I know how much is the travel time from Bohol-Dumaguete, so we can plan ahead, to avoid the hassle of missing our flight back to Manila. hehe Salamat po and keep us posted on your travel! I’m a big fan of yours!

how do we get from Larena to Siquijor? kasi ang flight naming from Manila to Dumaguete will arrive by 4pm and hindi na kami aabot sa last trip to Siquijor and our only option is ferry to Larena.

Larena is just a tricycle away from Siquijor, Siquijor. 🙂

Why not spend the night in Dumaguete? Go for a food trip, there are lots of good restaurants in the boulevard. Check out Harold’s, they have budget rooms. Then take the first ferry to Siquijor the next day. 🙂

Hi. Meron bang fast ferries plying the route of Siquijor-Tagbilaran and vise versa? Ano name ng ferry?

Oceanjet po….everyday po ang byahe nila….

How do you get to Siquijor from Oslob? What is the fastest route and do you know where I can find the ferry times?

Mr. Lakwatsero,

Gud day, l’ll be in siquijor this coming jan. 18, 2016. I’ll be there for 2 months, now I’m looking for an apartment or a room to stay.

Nka hanap na po kau ng apartment……….

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Most Known Beaches in Siquijor Island, Philippines

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Credits: Philippines FIRST Ever Protected Island!!.. (Since 1991) by FinnSnow , Siquijor + Apo Island Snorkeling! Coco Grove Beach Resort by Christian Cenabre , Coco Grove Beach resort and Diving Apo Island by Aloof Nerd

If you happen to have your vacation in Siquijor Island or Dumaguete City, might as well make the most of your vacation by visiting the neighboring island, the Apo Island.

From Siquijor Island, some resorts offer a trip to Apo Island. But if you are from Dumaguete City, it is budget-wise to commute (take a Ceres Bus) to Malatapay Port , Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental. From there, you can rent a boat or just sign up as a joiner for an Apo Island tour if you are alone.

This island has a rich marine life protected by their marine sanctuary. You can see a variety of corals, schools of fishes, and even swim with sea turtles! Not knowing how to swim is not a problem because life jackets are provided. If you didn’t bring your own snorkeling paraphernalia, rentals are available in the island. Just be sure to wear proper swimming attire to avoid excessive exposure under the sun.

A guide is provided for every 4 snorkeling tourists to ensure everyone’s safety. They also offer to take pictures and videos while you’re enjoying the sight underwater. There are few rules to follow to maintain the peace underwater, and the guides are sure to explain them and answer questions if you have any.

It is also wise to bring your own food because food in the island is a bit costly for the locals buy their supplies from the Negros Island. Or if you don’t want any hassle preparing food and carrying them, just inform some eateries located along the beach, in advance for them to have time to prepare your food. 

It is really fun to explore everything, most especially those underwater. But may we all be mindful to our actions for they may have a long-lasting effect on our environment. Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints and kill nothing but time.

When in Siquijor Island, Oceanlife Explorers Dive and Coco Grove Beach Resorts are offering a day tour trip for Apo Island and back.

For Details, just visit the information desk of the resorts or you may contact them @ :

Coco Grove Beach Resort Tubod, San Juan, Siquijor Contact No’s: +63917 314 1415 (Globe) +63-35-527-1538 +63-35-421-2271 web: https://www.cocogrovebeachresort.com

Oceanlife Explorers Dive Resort Tambisan, Siquijor, Siquijor Email: [email protected] Contact No: +639264887882 Fb: https://www.facebook.com/OceanlifeexplorersSiquijor Web: https://www.oceanlife-explorers.com    

Photo Credits To:   Allen Valladares

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SIQUIJOR TRAVEL GUIDE with Sample Itinerary & Budget

“It’s safe here,” our tricycle driver shared proudly. “You can leave your luggage in the tricycle. No one’s gonna take it.”

That would have been comforting, except he added, “They’re afraid of the needle .”

And just like that, my friend Grace was overtaken by fear. LOL. By reputation, Siquijor is a land of witchcraft and black magic, something that my companion was awfully aware of. But I have traveled long enough to know that a place’s reputation doesn’t always match reality, a view I have explained thoroughly to my friend to blow her doubts away.

But five minutes into this trip, our trike driver filled her mind with images of mysticism. “It’s real,” he said. “I can even take you to a village here so you could meet one.” He was probably referring to the faith healers.

Any other day, I would have said yes as it is something that has always tickled my curiosity, but Grace was quick to steer the conversation away from the topic. “Let’s stick to the beaches!”

Ah beaches. Yes, like many other remote corners of the Philippines, Siquijor too is bursting with something equally magical — natural beauty. This travel guide will allow you to explore beachy side of the province, not much the witchy side. (Sorry if that’s what you’re after. LOL.) And to be honest, that’s probably the only sorcery you’re gonna need.

WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS GUIDE?

UNDERSTANDING SIQUIJOR

When the Spaniards first set foot in the island, they were captivated by fireflies swarming around molave trees, hence the nickname “Isla del Fuego” (Island of Fire). As one of the first provinces reached by the clutches of Spain, Siquijor has Roman Catholicism deeply rooted in their history and culture. In fact, most of the island’s manmade attractions are religious structures.

In terms of land area and population, Siquijor is the third smallest province in the country. It’s so small, you can see most of its key tourist spots in one day or two, although we urge you to stay longer.

• Language : Cebuano. English is widely understood.
• Currency : Philippine peso (PhP). PhP100 = USD2, EUR 1.65, KRW 22000, JPY218
• Mode of payment : Cash. There are a few ATMs in the island so if you’re coming from Dumaguete or Cebu, it would be more convenient to withdraw money before your visit.

WHERE TO STAY IN SIQUIJOR

If you’re strapped for cash, you’ll find several accommodations for less than P1000 a night, with some going as low as P300, especially at town centers and port area. However, note that many of them are basic fan rooms with barely any amenities.

But if you want more comfort, you can stay at a guest house. If you have more funds, staying at a beach-front resort would be ideal. The following are the top options on Agoda, ranked by reviews. Here are the top rated properties on Agoda.

Top Guesthouses in Siquijor

• Swaki-Han Guest House. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Serbab Guesthouse. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Stella’z guesthouse. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Zosimo’s. Check Rates & Availability! ✅

Top Siquijor Resorts and Inns

• Infinity Heights Resort. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Coco Grove Beach Resort. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Tropicasa Siquijor. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Tropical Fun Ta Sea Rentals. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Aquamare Beach Camp Resort. Check Rates & Availability! ✅

Search for more Siquijor Hotels!

How to get to siquijor.

Siquijor doesn’t have its own airport, but it is easily accessible from Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental. Access from ferry is also possible but it takes hours.

MANILA TO SIQUIJOR

If you’re coming from Manila, you have to fly to Dumaguete or Cebu first. Between the two, Dumaguete is the faster, cheaper, and easier option.

• Fly to Dumaguete City . Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air carry passengers from Manila to Dumaguete in about 1.5 hours. You can look for flights at Traveloka.com .
• Take a tricycle to Dumaguete Sea Port (near the boulevard). Travel time: 15-30 minutes. Fare: P120-150.
• Buy a ticket and board a ferry to Siquijor . Travel time: 1 hour. Fare: P136 to P360, depending on the destination port, class, and liner. Several shipping lines ply this route so you’re sure to find one every 2 hours. Options are fewer on Saturdays, though. You also have to pay the terminal fee, P25.

Note : The island has two main sea ports, though: one in Siquijor (the town) and the other in Larena. Choose the one near your resort or hotel.

CEBU TO SIQUIJOR

If you’re in Cebu or you want to visit Siquijor as part of your extended Cebu trip, here’s how to get there.

• Make your way to Cebu South Terminal . If you’re coming from Mactan airport, board the myBus outside the domestic terminal to SM City. There’s a bus leaving the Mactan Airport every 30 minutes from 7am-11am, and every 20 minutes from 11am-9:30pm. Fare: P25. Then take a cab to the South Bus Terminal. Outside these hours, you may take a cab, Uber or Grab straight to the bus terminal. Fare is between P230-P300, depending on traffic.
• Hop into the bus bound for Liloan (in Santander Municipality). Travel time: 4-5 hours. Fare: P162 (ordinary), P200 (air-conditioned).
• Board the ferry bound for Sibulan (in Negros Oriental). Travel time: 20-25 minutes. Fare: P50 (ticket) + P10 Terminal Fee + P2 Municipal Fee.
• At Sibulan Port, ride a jeepney or pedicab to Dumaguete City . Jeepney fare is P12. Pedicab is P10 per person.
• Once in Dumaguete City, take a tricycle to Dumaguete Port . Fare: P10.

HOW TO GET AROUND SIQUIJOR

Upon disembarking at either Siquijor or Larena Port, you will be greeted by tricycle and multi-cab drivers, enticing you to get their services. These are legit. (At least most of them are.) Not only can they take you to your resort, they can also tour you around.

Transportation options are very limited in the island. If you can’t drive a motorcycle, you have two main choices:

• Tricycle Tour : P1000-P1200 per tricycle. Up to 3 pax.
• Multi-cab Tour : P1800 per vehicle. Can accommodate 15+ pax.

According to our trike driver, the following are also available, although we never really saw any rental places.

• Van Tour : P2500 per vehicle
• Motorcycle rental : P350 per vehicle

In our case, we began our tour right away and decided to just drop our luggage at the reception of our resort along the way. This way, we get to maximize our day.

The itinerary isn’t fixed. Although your guide/driver will have their recommendations, you also get to choose where you want to go. For example, Kagusuan Beach isn’t part of the usual tricycle route but our driver agreed to take us there at no extra cost.

If you enjoyed your first day tour, hire your guide-driver for your second day so he could pick you up at the resort.

PLACES TO VISIT IN SIQUIJOR

There are two main tours in Siquijor: Coastal Tour and Mountain Tour. The Coastal Tour will show you around the island, making stops at beaches and churches among others. The Mountain Tour will take you deeper inland to Cantabon Cave and Bandilaan Park.

To maximize your time, choose your stops well. Siquijor has a lot of wonderful spots to offer, but to be honest, there are some that can be a bit underwhelming. For example, the Old Balete Tree and Capilay Spring Park can feel like tourist traps at first glance and they pale in comparison to Aurora’s greater balete tree and Camiguin’s hot springs respectively. But here’s the thing: they are legit attractions among locals , who were the original patrons. Context. But feel free to skip them if you feel like you’re not into them. This way, you can have more time for other sites.

Coastal Tour (aka Land Tour)

• Salagdoong Beach . Perhaps the most popular beach on the island. Great for cliff-jumping. Entrance fee: P30. Parking Fee: P40.
• Kagusuan Beach . A short stretch of sand concealed in between rocks.
• Cambugahay Falls . A small, three-tiered waterfall. Perfect for a quick freshwater dip and a mandatory Tarzan rope swing (jk, it’s not mandatory). Entrance Fee: P10. Unli-Swing: P20. Parking Fee: P20.
• Lazi Church and Convent . More formally known as San Isidro Labrador Parish Church, a Baroque structure which was declared a National Cultural Treasure.
• Siquijor Church . Aka St Francis de Assisi Church. Standing right next to the port.
• Capilay Spring Park
• Enchanted Balete Tree. Entrance fee: P10.
• Paliton Beach
• Guiwanon Spring Park

Mountain Tour

• Cantabon Cave . Great for spelunking newbies. It’s not that challenging, but there are curious rock formations and refreshing pools inside. This was the highlight of our stay in Siquijor! Tour Fee: P500 for 3 pax, including guide fee and rental of helmet and flash lights.
• Mt. Bandilaan Park . Perched atop a hill, offering a walking trail and a view of the province and nearby islands.

SAMPLE SIQUIJOR ITINERARY

Below is a sample overnight itinerary with cost breakdown for a group of three. You may pattern your own itinerary after this. Just adjust it according to your needs.

You can book a tricycle or multi-cab tour of the island as soon as you arrive in the island. If your resort is along the way, you may ask the driver to make a quick stop there to check in and leave your bags at the reception before continuing your tour.

The Island Tour mentioned below would take you to key tourist spots in Siquijor including Cambugahay Falls, Salagdoong Beach, Lazi Church and Convent, Siquijor Church, Ecnchanted Balete Tree, and Capilay Spring Park.

Day 1: ARRIVAL + COASTAL TOUR 09:00 am – ETD Dumaguete Port – P25 Terminal Fee 10:00 am – ETA Siquijor Port – P250 Fare 10:20 am – Start Tricycle Tour – P334 (P1000/3pax) 12:30 nn – Lunch – P150 02:00 pm – Continue Island Tour, Total fees: P100 05:30 pm – Back at the resort, rest 07:00 pm – Dinner – P200

Day 2: CANTABON CAVE SPELUNKING 07:00 am – Begin Mountain Tour – P400 (P1200/3 pax) 07:30 am – Cantabon Cave Spelunking – P167 (P500/3 pax) 10:30 am – Bandilaan Park 12:00 nn – Lunch – P150 01:50 pm – ETD Siquijor Port – P250 02:40 pm – ETA Dumaguete Port

The itinerary above will cost you P2100 (USD 42, SGD 57, EUR 37) excluding airfare and accommodations.

If you’re a group of 3 and you have P1500 hotel budget, prepare to shell out P2600 .

Note that we also allotted P150-P200 per meal. That’s more than enough if you decide to eat at cheap eateries around town centers. (That’s what we did.)

Most travelers visit Siquijor as part of a bigger Negros Oriental-Siquijor journey, which also includes Dumaguete City, Apo Island, and sometimes Manjuyod Sandbar. We’ll be providing a sample itinerary for that soon so be sure to check back.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

When is the best time to visit siquijor.

January to May is the best time to visit Siquijor.

Weather-wise, the months of February to May are the driest, which means there’s very little chance that unexpected showers would ruin your itinerary. However, it is also considered high season (peaking during Holy Week)!

Is Siquijor safe?

Yes, Siquijor is generally safe.

But it’s always best to keep an eye on your belongings and don’t leave them just anywhere.

What type of power plug / socket is used in Siquijor?

Electricity Info: 220V, 60Hz. Plug and socket Type A.

What is the tipping custom in Siquijor?

Just like in other places in the Philippines, tipping is not mandatory in Siquijor. Restaurants at resorts usually include a service charge but it does not always go to the servers.

If you enjoyed the service, feel free to tip. A tip of 5-10% of the bill is generally well-appreciated.

Are there ATMs in Siquijor?

There are a few ATMs in the island so if you’re coming from Dumaguete or Cebu, it would be more convenient to withdraw money before your visit.

Updates Log

2020 March 8 – Added newly implemented entrance fees

More Tips on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️

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Welcome to Apo Diver Beach Resort

Diving in siqujor island, scuba diving, welcome to apo diver.

Apo Diver Siquijor is a world-class beachfront diving resort situated along the pristine and powder-like white sand coastline of San Juan, Siquijor Island, Phillipines. We offer the ultimate island life experience that best cater to your wanderlust.

Hop on our motorbikes and fill up the andrenaline junkie in you seeking waterfalls and jumping off of cliffs all day long.

Swim with the gentle giant turtles and jolly fishes in the underworld with our friendliest and experienced scuba instructors and local dive masters to dive through., and when the daylight comes to a close, there is no need to chase for the sunset on a mountaintop because the best spot to catch it is nowhere than here in apo diver beach resort. with your toes burried deep into the sand while devouring a  fresh cocktail..

Apo Island tour

Php3,990 per person minimum of 10 pax.

Introduction

Experience our  Apo Island tour  with its friendly sea turtles, beautiful corals and plethora of marine life. It is one of the most popular snorkeling and diving sites in the Philippines. Go snorkeling and see the colorful corals with different shapes and sizes that will surely amaze your eyes. Relax under the sun and enjoy the small but tempting shoreline. The beach and water is clean which will give you the desire to go for a swim for a second time and have a good time after the sea turtle encounter. And if the swimming and snorkeling is not enough you can go hiking around Apo Island at the Habagat trail line, and see the unique landscape of the Island on top of a hill. 

Private car or van Private boat Food for lunch with drinks Entrance fee Guide at Apo Island Cottage at Apo Island Free Mask and Alcohol

Recommended Itinerary

To receive the best deals please fill up the form correctly

After sending your reservation our travel agent will contact you soon through text, call or email as we receive your  reservation. If your having any difficulty sending your reservation please send e-mail at travistraveltours@gmail .com

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Updated Guide to Apo Island (Negros Oriental): Snorkel with Turtles!

Definitely one of the best activities in the Visayan region involves snorkeling in Apo Island.

Apo Island is a small volcanic island located at the southeastern tip of Negros Oriental. Its surrounding marine habitat is a marine preserve, with about 400 species of corals and 650 species of fish. It’s also a popular sighting spot for sea turtles!

Apo Island is also one of the best eco-tourism sites in the Philippines . It’s one of the few places to create a balance between tourism and conservation . In fact, tourism revenue benefits the local families in the area.

For casual tourists, Apo Island is mostly known for its sea turtle sighting, but I find the snorkeling experience in its coral gardens just as equally amazing. Here’s my experience at Apo Island in Negros Oriental!

Swimming with turtles

Snorkeling in wide coral gardens, how to get to apo island, joiner tours, where to stay in apo island, apo island travel tips, what to read next:, my snorkeling tour in apo island.

I was staying in Dumaguete City and only planned for a day tour in Apo Island. Since I was alone and didn’t want the hassle of looking for other tourists for boat sharing, I signed up on a joiner tour to Apo Island via Harold’s Mansion.

We rode a jeep to Zamboanguita. From there, we transferred to a boat which then took us to Apo Island.

We stopped several meters from the shore of Apo Island, where the sea turtles can be spotted. We were divided into groups of 4 and assigned a single guide. Our guide beckoned us to follow him as he looked for sea turtles.

We immediately saw one near the shore, but there were too many people so we went a little further. At one point we saw two sea turtles together. The other one — which is the biggest one that I’ve seen, with head the same size as a human’s, if not bigger — stopped to eat some sea grapes. We had time to watch it and take photos and videos.

We weren’t allowed to touch the sea turtles and advised to keep our distance, but it was still amazing. We were so close with them I resisted the urge to hug one (probably a bad idea anyway).

There are also manta rays in this area of Apo Island, but they are in the deeper parts of the sea, about 20-30 meters down.

After the waves had gotten stronger, we went next to two snorkeling sites. I must say, Apo Island features the best underwater scenery I’ve seen as of yet, better even than the Coral Garden in Coron . The corals are diverse and massive and there are all sorts of sea vegetation.

You need to freedive to see the best sights. I’m a modest swimmer and can easily tire, so I stayed on my lifevest and floated from above. Our guide stayed by me and was very enthusiastic to capture the underwater tableau, volunteering to take my GoPro as he dived smoothly down to the ocean floor. I appreciated this gesture immensely, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to see what it’s like at the bottom.

As I was later browsing the videos, I was blown away. It seemed like a natural setup for an underwater-themed magazine. There’s so much sea plants and marine creatures I hadn’t seen before. In fact, halfway through making screenshots from the videos, I stopped and thought, there is too much beautiful in here it was actually tiring.

These are some of my GoPro shots. I just enhanced them a little, but honestly it’s close to the raw photos. I showed some to my friends and they were also amazed.

Honestly, with its underwater grandiose, Apo Island should be one of the highlights of visiting the Philippines .

If these photos aren’t convincing enough, here’s a short video of my snorkeling/freediving adventure in Apo Island:

Apo Island is accessible from Dumaguete City. Here are the commute directions:

• From anywhere in Dumaguete City, ride a tricycle to Siaton. From there, ride a jeepney to Malapatay, Zamboanguita. (Total travel time is 20-30 minutes.)
• Walk toward the port and rent a boat to Apo Island (boat ride 30-45 minutes). You can also look for other joiners to share costs with you.

If you’re going to join a package tour, transportation is usually already covered via a private jeep.

How to book tours in Apo Island

The tour in Apo Island is reasonably priced, especially given the great experience. A day tour covers the turtle sightseeing spot and two other snorkeling areas.

NOTE : Rates are updated as of 2022.

If you’re solo, I recommend signing up for a joiner tour as I did. I only paid a little more than I would if I did it DIY, and the convenience and helpful guides from the dive center were all worth it. In fact, I’d definitely recommend going for a joiner tour, especially for solo travelers.

I booked the tour from Harold’s Mansion.

• Package inclusion : return transfer from Harold’s Mansion in Dumaguete to Zamboanguita, boat ride, fees, lunch, use of lifevest and snorkeling gears
• Schedule : 6AM up to 3PM
• Rate : P1200 per person

Tip : Make sure to reserve in advance to get a confirmed slot.

Hotels and beach resorts also offer tours, but they are usually expensive. I’ve seen prices ranging from P2000 to P3000 per person. Your best option is to look for budget-friendly travel agencies in Dumaguete City.

You can also book an Apo Island tour via Klook!

If you’re planning on doing it DIY, here are the current rates in Apo Island:

Here are the places you can stay at in Apo Island:

• Apo Island Beach Resort
• Liberty Lodge and Dive
• Mario Scuba Diving and Homestay
• Ronors Lodging House
• H-H Rooms for Rent

There are also regular and dive resorts which are close to Apo Island by boat, located at either Zamboanguita or Dauin. Some of these are:

• Allura Resort Dive and Spa . Located in Zamboanguita, this is a highly rated resort that is close to Apo Island. Book here .
• Thalatta Resort . Located in Zamboanguita, this is another good option especially for divers. It has its own beach and is close to Apo Island. Book here .
• Acqua Dive Resort . Located in Zamboanguita, this is a peaceful resort where you can hang out at the pool or garden or take a boat trip to Apo Island. Book here .

If you’re only on a day tour, it’s best to stay in Dumaguete since it’s the gateway to other attractions in the region. Book discounted rooms in Dumaguete .

• Make sure to bring reef-friendly sunscreen !
• Don’t forget to bring a bottled water, as the activity can get pretty tiring.

Here are important contact details:

• Joiner tour : Harold’s Mansion – Facebook | 09173024455 or 09173024455
• DIY tour : For reservations, you may contact Ate Mila at 09066891049. Walk-ins are also allowed.

Click here to book an Apo Island tour via Klook.

That’s it for our travel guide to Apo Island, Negros Oriental. What do you think about snorkeling and swimming with turtles in Apo Island? 🙂

• Dumaguete and Siquijor Itinerary
• Travel Guide to Siquijor

Are you into snorkeling and freediving? Check out these places:

• Pagkilatan (Batangas)
• Apo Reef (Mindoro)
• Apo Island (Negros Oriental)
• Moalboal (Cebu)
• Best snorkeling spots in Southeast Asia

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Katherine Cortes is a long-time backpacker and a freelance writer/editor. She likes beaches, snorkeling trips, and relaxing staycations (preferably with bath tubs!).

18 Comments

Hi. Is the tour from Harold includes the tour to Rock Formation in Apo Island?

Not sure what place you’re referring to. Maybe you can ask them directly.

Hello thank you for your tips and explanation, it was useful. To update your data, as of today the prices have increased: Boat in Malatapay min 3,500 pesos for 3 pax then 4,000 pesosup to 6 pax, 5,000pesos for 9 pax + 5 pesos terminal fees. We took the bus from Dumaguete terminal to Malatapay flea market return 110 pesos. Last but not the least, they offer a package Snorkeling gears with a guide 300 pesos per person (no change for admission fees) . Thank you for taking the time to share your experience

Katherine Cortes

Hello! Thank you so much for providing updated rates for Apo Island. <3

Hi Kat,just wanna ask. Is it a whole day tour?

Hi Wanglee. We started in the morning up to about 3PM iirc.

Hello guys, thank you for this wonderful blog and lovely photos. Keep going 😉

Cheers, Philippe

You’re very welcome and happy travels. 🙂

hello! when you say 1200php covers everything, does it include the 100php entrance fee to the island and the guide? thanks!

Yes. Everything means everything. 🙂

Mike Clegg - Travel and Destinations

Looks absolutely incredible and super impressed you managed to get such good photographs on your GoPro! You must have had good light down there! My underwater shots are always quite hit and miss.

Thanks, Mike! I honestly don’t know what you mean by good light underwater though, I would love to know more about this. From experience the clarity of the water makes or breaks the underwater shots. 🙂

Leslie Price

“There is too much beautiful here”- I know the feeling! Sometimes you just have to put your camera down and take it all in! I commend your restraint, however- I would never have been able to stop myself from hugging that magnificent turtle.

When In My Journeys

Wow! Just Wow! I think that snorkeling in Apo Island is absolutely amazing. You’re right when you said that the photos were like pages from an underwater-themed magazine. They’re so alive and inviting. I know how to swim but not that confident underwater. And a post like yours (and Adrenaline Romance’s 🙂 ) just wants me to overcome that fear more and more.

Alyssa Jaren

Beautiful photos! and I love turtles!!! I spent a month in the Philippines but didn’t managed to explore the Visayas region more. Should definitely return again one day!

There’s a lot of good places in Visayas… and Mindanao (although a lot of provinces in there aren’t safe for tourists, which is too bad because they have some of the most unique, untouched attractions in the country). Hope you can visit Apo Island if you decide to come again. 🙂

Adrenaline Romance

Very beautiful photos. We scuba dived in Chapel Dive site (where the corals are), and the reef’s raw beauty blew our minds. And our divemaster said that this is just the “normal” beauty. Which means, the other sites around Apo Island are even more magnificent.

Apo Island is among the best dive sites in the world, and we’re planning to make more dives there this year. 🙂

I kinda figured there are more snorkeling/diving sites in Apo Island. I read in your blog it’s home to 650 species of fish. 🙂 I’m interested in particular to how they preserve the sites.

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• Siquijor Day Tours

The tiny island of Siquijor is one of the many islands in the Visaya Region, easily accessible from Cebu, Bohol or Dumaguete. Its small size doesn’t project on the large number of attractions waiting for you there. There are plenty of hidden beaches, the most beautiful sets of waterfalls, and also healers and witches as the local folks believe.

Another great benefit of Siquijor’s small size is that you can easily explore the island without spending long hours of traveling. You can circle the whole island in only a few hours. Therefore the tours we offer below are packed with a relatively high number of activities in each. Also, because of it, some of our clients prefer to rent a motorbike and follow our tour itineraries in a “do it yourself” fashion instead. Inquire Now About These Tours Our Siquijor tours include the best available transportation and most professional tour guides. We aim to deliver the best experience of this island. You’ll also notice that some tours include the same spots, like Mt. Bandilaan for example. As some attractions are on the way to several others we might include the same place in different itineraries, as we realize that most people won’t take all the Siquijor tours we offer, but we’d like to give a broader experience still. If you notice that it’s the case with your chosen tours, please notify us and we could cut one of the itineraries a little short, to allow you to spend more time in other locations.

Siquijor Day Tours Quick Facts

• Prefect for : Nature lovers, families with children
• Best time to visit : During the rainy season (May-October)
• Tour packages include : Transportation, guide
• Starting point : Hotel pickup.
• Duration : Half day to whole day
• Things to bring : Swimsuit, towel, money

What to do?

Siquijor offers a lot of activities within the island itself. One of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Philippines, Cambugahay Falls makes an amazing few hours stop. Mt. Bandilaan (632m) is the tallest mountain on the island and offers great views from the lookout point on its peak, after an easy hike. There are many small beaches, perfect for a swim and sunbathing, including two cliff jumps of 7 and 11 meters. If you want to experience some of the local “mysticism”, visiting a bolo-bolo healer, a term for a local witch doctor/shaman that has healing powers and more, is an interesting cultural experience.

Siquijor doesn’t have any island hopping tours, so leave these for other destinations in the Philippines . We do offer one trip outside of Siquijor, and that is a day trip to Apo Island . This tour isn’t always available, so it’s best to coordinate it as early as possible. We offer it only to clients who purchase a full package from us, that include all accommodation, transportation and tours.

Siquijor Island Tour

This tour is one of the two whole day trips we offer in Siquijor Island. It takes you into the island itself, and leaves Siquijor’s beaches out. As it’s a whole day trip, from 9:30am to 4:00pm, we’ll be able to cover all of the best spots of the island. We find this tour the best for you if you’re planning to take only one tour in Siquijor because you lack the time, or want to explore Paliton and Salagdong Beaches on your own, on another day.

We’ll take you to see the Old Enchanted Balete tree, a local ficus that is believed to be 400 years old, and is said to be inhabited by spirits. From there we’ll visit the biggest convent in Asia, St. Isidore Church and Convent in Lazi, before we’ll arrive in the famous Cambugahay Waterfalls where we’ll have lunch and swim. Cambugahay waterfalls are among the most beautiful in the Philippines. We’ll then visit Cantabon Cave, full of stalagmites and stalactites and even an underwater stream, upon returning to your hotel.

An optional stop which we think is highly worthwhile is to a Bolo-bolo Healer, also called locally as herbolario. If the local shaman will be available, and you will want to make the stop (which costs an additional “talent fee”, you’ll undertake a purifying ceremony that supposedly cures you from ailment, jinxes and the evil eye. We will also visit minor spots as listed in the short schedule below:

Inclusions: Best available transportation, driver/guide, entrances and fees. Exclusions:  Tip

Price: from 60 USD per person. (must be 8 persons to book this price - for more info kindly send us a message)

Siquijor Coastal Tour

This is the second whole day tour we offer in Siquijor, and as you could see, it overlaps in some parts with the Siquijor Island Tour. Therefore it will be redundant to combine these two tours, and it’s better to choose one of the whole day tours, with another short tour below instead. The Siquijor Coastal Tour with another short trip to Cantabon Cave will grant you the ultimate Siquijor experience.

The tour starts the same as the tour above, with visits to the Enchanted Balete Tree and St. Isidore Conven, and then a trip to Cambugahay Waterfalls. After Cambugahay we will visit the Traditional Healer if wanted and available, and then we will visit Salagdong Beach, where you could experience the 7 and 11 meters tall cliff jumps, and swim around in this popular beach. Then just before coming back to your hotel, St. Francis of Assisi Church, similarly to the tour above.

Inclusions: Best available transportation, driver/guide, entrances and fees. Exclusions: Lunch, Tip

Price: from 25 USD per person. (must be 8 persons to book this price - for more info kindly send us a message)

Cambugahay Waterfalls Short Trip

This trip is more suitable for people on a short vacation who don’t have much time. Or if you just want to visit Cambugahay Falls without anything else, this is also a great tour for you. As the name of the tour implies, this tour is shorter and starts at 1:30pm, when we’ll pick you up from your hotel, and take you to the Old Enchanted Balete Tree and St. Isidore Church and convent. Then we’ll go to Cambugahay Waterfalls until 4:30pm, when we’ll start to head back to your hotel.

It is possible to leave for this tour earlier, and spend more time in the waterfalls for an additional 10 USD per hour. Please let us know in advance that this is your intent, so we could make sure that you’ll get the most out of this short trip. The time frame of this tour is already the shortest we recommend in order to enjoy Cambugahay Falls, and shortening it isn’t an option.

Price: from 15 USD per person. (must be 8 persons to book this price - for more info kindly send us a message)

Cantabon Cave and Mt. Bandilaan Trip

This is another short trip we offer in Siquijor, and is perfect in combination with the Siquijor Coastal Tour. Combining these two will cover all the best spots in Siquijor, and will take only one and a half days, leaving you enough time to relax and enjoy your resort. We’ll start at 1:00pm from your hotel, and go directly to Cantabon Cave, where we’ll explore its huge chamber and witness its wonderful stalactite and stalagmite formations and the underground water stream.

Be sure to bring proper shoes or hiking sandals, as well as a swimsuit. After we finish the caving activity, we’ll go to Mt. Bandilaan Peak (a short hike is included), enjoy nature and get a great view of Siquijor Island.

How to plan my Siquijor tour package

We think that you should spend about three nights in Siquijor, and take one of our longer tours (either the island or coastal tour). After you decide which longer tour you prefer, you can add a short tour to Cantabon Cave or to one of the many beaches Siquijor has to offer. In our opinion, the Coastal tour combined with the short Cantabon Cave tour is the best combination, but we are aware that you might have different preferences, and therefore offer a wider range of tours you can choose from.

Even though it might seem complicated, Siquijor is a small island, and covering all attractions should be rather easy, even if you have only 2 nights on the island. Feel free to consult with us if you want us to arrange your Siquijor Tour Package by inquiring. Siquijor Island is usually best combined with nearby islands such as Cebu or Bohol , but it can be a part of any vacation to the Philippines.

You could read our guide for planning your vacation in the Philippines , or inquire immediately and let us build a custom itinerary just for you.

A guide to Apo Island – Snorkeling & Diving with the turtles

As we were getting close to the end of our one month in the Philippines, there was one activity left on my bucket list – swimming with the turtles at Apo Island. Observing these fascinating creatures from up close was a dream of mine for a long time.

I’m always very cautious when it comes to animal encounters. I’ve read many horror stories about how the animals are exploited for tourism purposes and I definitely didn’t want to be a part of that.

I did my research and I was happy to find out that at Apo Island I’ll get the chance to swim with happy, wild turtles. Seeing these creatures in their natural habitat was one of the best experiences of my life and I’d recommend it to everyone.

I’ll share with you everything you need to know when visiting the beautiful Apo Island. This guide is full of valuable information and tips & tricks to make your life easier. 

1. About Apo Island

This beautiful volcanic island is home to a community of a little over 700 people . The island itself is quite small too and is covered with rocky formations (the highest point is 120 meters). 

On the eastern part of the island, there are two lakes but the city itself is located on the western part of Apo Island. When we arrived, I couldn’t stop thinking about the people of Apo Island. They live in such a beautiful place, in the arms of mother nature. 

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Every day they get to experience views that others only dream of. They can swim with the turtles and explore the marine life whenever they want but I am sure that living on Apo Island can be challenging too.

Living on such a remote island, away from big cities, makes everything more difficult. The people on Apo Island mostly rely on fishing.

There are no paved roads on Apo Island and given the size of the island, nobody needs cars. Although I haven’t seen any motorbikes, some of the locals who live in the small communities in the northern part of the island might own some.

Apo Island is the definition of “exotic island” and is world-famous due to the surrounding reefs that can be explored and its residing turtles. There are currently around 60 turtles living near Apo Island in the wild. Also, here you can find over 650 species of fish and 450 species of corals .

The turtles are protected and whoever touches them can get a fine. Whenever I go snorkeling I try not to touch the marine life (the fish, turtles, or the corals). I try to be as responsible as I can because I want future generations to be able to enjoy these beauties.

2. Things to know before planning your trip

How long to stay on apo island.

If you have limited time, you can visit Apo Island as a day trip. We chose this option because we took a tour to Apo Island on our last day on Siquijor Island. Most of the people visit Apo Island from Dumaguete but you can also visit it from Siquijor (more details about this below).

However, you can definitely spend a few days on this beautiful island, especially if you want to take your PADI Certification . There are several hotels and resorts on the island, offering great facilities for tourists.

When is the best time to visit Apo Island?

If you plan to visit Apo Island for snorkeling and diving, I recommend the months of October and May. Try and avoid June to September at all costs – this is the monsoon season when the waves and currents can be pretty strong.

Another thing to take into consideration is that at Full Moon the currents are very strong, no matter the season. Make sure to check out the current before going in.

Internet & electricity 

Internet on Apo Island is limited. If you’re one of those people who can’t live without internet connectivity, maybe planning an overnight stay on Apo Island is not a good idea. The best place to connect to the internet is at the beachfront. There are parts of the island with no internet connection.

It has been reported that Apo Island has electricity only from 6 pm until 6 am. In case you’re considering visiting this beautiful island for a few days, bring some portable power banks.

ATMs and prices 

There are no ATMs on Apo Island. Bring all the cash you need with you.

Being a remote island with just a few hundred people living here, prices on Apo Island are higher than in big cities in the Philippines. If you can, bring some food and snacks with you. If not, put aside a little more money for food and other expenses.

Apo Island fees

There is a fee of 100 PHP for every tourist that enters the island. Also, the fee for snorkeling is 50 PHP while the fee for diving is 300 PHP. 

When we visited, all these fees were included in the price of our tour. If you plan to book a guided tour, make sure to ask if these fees are included. 

3. Things to do on Apo Island

Yes, I know that Apo Island is a hot spot for snorkeling and scuba diving but there are a few other things you can do on this island. I will talk more about snorkeling and diving in the section below but here I want to share with you some other activities you can enjoy on the Island.

Explore the beaches

When you’ll arrive on the island, you’ll see the main beach, in front of the city. This is the most popular beach and the starting point for all snorkeling and diving tours. 

North of this island there are a few big rocks, with a small passage between them. If you pass that passage, you’ll get to Apo Island Beach Resort and one of the most beautiful beaches on Apo Island. Not many people know about this place.

There are also other beaches on the island but they are accessible only by boat.

Good to know – it is prohibited to take shells, coral pieces or stones from Apo Island.

Take a walk to the Lighthouse

Follow the trail to the Apo Island lighthouse and admire the views. The trek to the lighthouse will take around half an hour and you’ll pass by a few local homes. Bring plenty of water with you. You’ll need it.

Walk to Cogon

If you have plenty of time, walk to Cogon on the other side of the island. A small community of people lives here and the walk takes only half an hour. You will have to walk over two rocky hills but the good news is that there are concrete stairs. The views are pretty awesome and there are no tourists!

4. Marine life – what you can find here

The Apo Island Marine Sanctuary was established in 1982, after many years of destructive fishing. Fishing is an important part of Apo Island’s economy and it’s still practiced today. However, the local community protects the sanctuary.

The Apo Island marine life includes over 450 species of corals that act as a nursery for many threatened reef species. There are also over 650 species of fish here. You can find sea snakes, parrot fish, trevallies, jacks, moorish idols, puffer fish, trigger fish, and many more.

However, the main attraction of the island are the sea turtles. They are a very important part of the ecosystem. The turtles feed on harmful macroalgae that can affect the reefs. They also eat seagrass, keeping it in check.

Please, don’t forget that all the marine life shouldn’t be touched! Don’t touch the corals, the fish, and especially don’t touch the turtles. They are wild animals and they surely don’t want to be harassed by the hundreds of tourists that visit Apo Island daily. Be respectful to the marine life so that future generations can enjoy it too.

5. Snorkeling

Snorkeling at Apo Island was the highlight of my trip to the Philippines. Swimming with the turtles at Apo Island is one of the few ethical animal encounters you can have in Asia. You can get as close as you want to the turtles as long as you don’t touch them.

When the snorkeling tour starts, you’ll be assigned a guide that will look after you and other few tourists. The guide will take you to the places where you have the highest chance of seeing turtles so make sure to follow him!

Snorkeling at Apo Island is perfect for beginners. The water is very salty and you’ll float without struggling too much. You can see turtles pretty close to the shore but you can also swim where the water is deeper. It’s up to you and your guide.

You’ll notice that the turtles at Apo Island don’t seem to mind the tourists. They’ll do their thing, eating seagrass and swimming, while they’re surrounded by people. It’s fascinating to see them so relaxed in the presence of humans.

6. Scuba Diving

Apo Island is one of the top diving locations in the world. There are many diving sites at Apo Island and tourists from all around the world come here to explore the marine sanctuaries. Seeing the marine life at Apo Island is an unforgettable experience.

If you want to take your PADI Certification at Apo Island, it’s possible! There are a few diving centers on the island that offer this option at an affordable price. Here are some options:

• Apo Island Diving
• Bongo Bongo

The different diving sites around the island are perfect for both beginning and advanced divers. Here are the most famous ones: Coconut, Olo, Cogon, Mamsa Point, Kan-Uran, Marine Sanctuary, Rock Point East, Rock Point West, Katipanan, Chapel, Beluarte, and Largahan. To read more about these places, click here .

7. How to get to Apo Island 

There are several possibilities of transport. You can either get to this piece of paradise by yourself or you can choose a tour to Apo Island. 

If you’re planning a day trip to Apo Island, I highly recommend taking a guided tour. There are several tours starting from Siquijor and Dumaguete that include transport, lunch, and snorkeling or diving, all at an affordable price. Below are more details.

Siquijor to Apo Island guided tour

There is only one guided tour from Siquijor to Apo Island each day and it’s organized by Coco Grove Resort . To book your tickets, I recommend going directly to the resort’s reception a few days in advance. Usually, the tickets sell out pretty quickly.

The tickets from Siquijor to Apo Island includes transport to Apo Island, lunch, snacks on the boat, snorkeling equipment, island fees, and snorkeling or diving guides.

We took this tour and I can’t recommend it enough. The staff from Coco Grove Resort is super friendly and the tour was incredible. You’ll leave early in the morning from Tubod Beach and return in the afternoon.

• snorkeling – 1950 PHP
• diving – 3500 PHP

Dumaguete to Apo Island guided tour

If you want a hustle-free experience, I recommend booking your tour through Atlantis Dive Resort. The resort is located in Dauin, just 20 minutes away from Dumaguete.

Atlantis Resort organizes tours daily, starting at 8 am. Included in the price are breakfast at the resort, transport, diving gear, lunch, and park fees.

• snorkeling – 4095 PHP
• diving – 2300 PHP (without transport)

Dumaguete to Apo Island on your own

If you’d like to spend a few days on Apo Island, you can arrange your own transport. From Dumaguete, take a jeepney to Malatapay and then take a boat to Apo Island. 

• jeepney from Dumaguete to Malatapay  – 20 PHP
• boat from Malatapay to Apo Island – 2500 PHP

Apo Island is accessible from both Siquijor and Dumaguete. However, most tourists visit it from Dumaguete. Both options are great if you want to explore this exotic island and swim with the turtles.

8. Best hotels on Apo Island

Apo Island is a small island and there are just a few guesthouses there. Unfortunately, no guest house is listed on booking.com but you can book your accommodation here . One option would be Liberty Lodge. It has nice rooms, it’s clean, and it’s situated right on the beach. 

Another option is Mario homestay . The owner is super friendly and the rooms look nice. One thing is sure – don’t expect too much luxury on Apo Island. The guesthouses are basic but you’ll get to experience the island life first-hand.

Don’t forget! The internet on Apo Island is limited and electricity is available only from 6 pm until 6 am.

If you want a more luxurious experience, I recommend staying in Dauin. Here are the best hotels in Dauin:

• Mid – Budget – Liquid Dive Resort –  good location, beautiful garden and pool, clean rooms 
• Luxury – Sea Dream Resort –  beautiful pool, good location, huge & luxurious rooms, very clean, excellent amenities

Apo Island is one of the most beautiful places in the Philippines. With exotic beaches, an incredible marine life, and some of the best places for snorkeling and diving, this island is a true paradise.

If you’re planning a trip to Apo Island, you’re gonna have a lot of fun! I hope that this article helped you and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask me in the comments section below.

May the travel bug bite you!

Aurelia Teslaru is a professional travel blogger and the writer behind Daily Travel Pill. With a 4-year experience as a travel writer and photographer, Aurelia only shares travel guides about destinations that she visited.

She has been to more than 40 countries during the past 10 years and aims to explore 50 countries before turning 30 years old. Aurelia is a digital nomad who transformed her passion for travel into a lifestyle. Read more about her here .

To follow her adventures, check out her Instagram and Facebook pages!

Apo Island is one of the most incredible places I have ever visited. I loved snorkeling with the turtles and exploring this small paradise. Thanks for all your recommendations. They helped me plan my trip!

I can’t wait to go back for a second time. I have never forgotten the snorkeling or the polished coral and shells all over the beach. Truly unforgettable! We will be back in August!

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ADVISORY: Tumalog Falls is closed starting March 17, 2024 until further notice.

The best snorkeling is available at APO Island! It takes 30 minutes to travel south from Dumaguete to Malatapay, the departure point, where a pumboat will carry you to APO Island for a further 30 minutes. We’ll head to Turtle Point, where you may swim with turtles, pawikan, or simply observe them from the shore. Lunch is served at Liberty’s Resort or the quaint Apo Island Beach Resort. If you’re still up for the challenge, we’ll put you through a 30-minute hike to the Habagat Trail, where you’ll be rewarded with a sweeping panorama of the coastline and marine sanctuary. Swim, beachcomb, or simply relax at the white sand beach for the remainder of the day before returning to the mainland by mid-afternoon. We advise leaving early for APO on days when the waves are rough and choppy so you can get back to the mainland faster.

Trip Highlights

• Your snorkeling trip will take you to explore the Apo Island’s colorful coral reefs with an opportunity to spot sea turtles.
• A local tour guide will be with you during your tour. The guide can speak English or Tagalog.
• Pick-up and drop-off are included for hotels located within Dumaguete. There will be a surcharge for hotels outside the city.
• Set lunch will be served on the island. Participants are required to inform ahead for any dietary requirements. Complimentary tea, coffee, water, and bananas will also be provided.
• Entrance fees are already included. Snorkeling equipment and life jacket will be provided.
• Guests must bring swimming gear, extra clothing, sunscreen, and mosquito repellant.

Participants of the Apo Island Snorkeling Tour are required to follow the instructions of the local guide during the entire duration of the tour. The use of flash photography might be prohibited in some areas during your snorkeling and diving. If you are traveling alone and want to lessen your expenses, you can choose to participate in our  Join in Tour  package.

What to expect

Snorkeling with colorful corals reefs

White sand beach in Apo island

Snorkeling with the sea turtles

What is included

• Air-conditioned round trip land transfer
• Pick up and drop off within Dumaguete City
• Chartered boat
• Complete snorkeling gear (mask,snorkel and fins)
• Set lunch at the island
• Marine sanctuary and entrance fees
• Guide services

Not included

• Pick up and drop off outside Dumaguete City (subject of transportation surcharge)
• Tip to the driver and guide (It's customary to leave a tip for the driver and guide service)

Estimated Itinerary

• 7:30 AM – Pick up at hotel Transfer to Malatapay
• 8:30 AM – Boat transfer to APO
• 9:20 AM – Arrive APO Island Proceed to Turtle point for briefing Snorkeling
• 11:30 AM – Proceed to APO Island Beach Resort for Lunch
• 1:00 PM – Second round of snorkeling or swimming Or hike the Habagat trail or walk thru village
• 2:30 PM – Transfer back to Malatapay
• 4:00 PM – Drop off at hotel
• Avoid crowds on weekends and Philippines holiday
• Best time to book on dry season between March to June

Activity policy

Canceled due to bad weather.

There is a possibility that activity will be suspended due to unpredictable nature, inclement weather, and other environmental factors that are beyond our control. In such an occurrence, we regret to inform you that there will be no refund on the used transportation charges. 

Expect choppy and rough seas while crossing to Apo Island during Habagat Season – November to February.

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours prior to departure time, otherwise will be based on our  Terms and Conditions .

From ₱2,500 per person price per person varies by group size BOOK NOW

Booking Date dd/mm/yyyy

No. of Persons 12 years old & above

Child 5 - 11 years old

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Whale shark watching, cebu night tour, pescador island hopping tour, office closure advisory.

We want to inform you that the Island Trek Tours office will be closed on March 29, 2024 (Friday) .

During this time, online chat and calls are not accessible. But still, we will be providing email support on your immediate needs and concerns, should there be any. Kindly expect minor delays in responses during this day.

Online reservations for March 30 will still be accepted and arranged accordingly.

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Siquijor Island Adventure Tour

Explore Siquijor with this adventure tour.

Highlights of this Tour:

Old balete tree.

Your first stop is visiting the 4 century year old Balete Tree (or Banyan Tree) in the Philippines. Locals believe that this tree is inhabited by other spirits. The tree provides water to supply the village.

St. Isidore Church and Convent

Built by Spanish priest in 1884 in Lazi, it is the biggest and among the oldest convents in Asia and recognized as a National Historical Landmark.

Cambugahay Waterfalls

A three level waterfalls with refreshing water perfect for swimming.

Note: Bring a sarong or throw-over clothing as there is no change room at the falls.

Cantabon Cave

The most famous cave on the island. Inside the cave runs the subterranean stream while beautiful stalactites and stalagmites (icicle-shaped formations) hang from the ceiling of a cave’s chamber.

St. Francis of Assisi Church and Bell Tower

Located in Siquijor town, this is the first church you will see when arriving from Siquijor Pier. This is the first Parish Church on the island and was built in 1783.

San Juan de Capilay Lake

The nature spring water that flows through Capilay Lake serves as the local’s picnic area on most weekends.

About This Tour:

Number of People : This day tour run with a maximum of 8 people per vehicle.

How long is the tour: Approx. 5 hours (extension available)

What should I bring : Swimsuit, a hat, and a smile. Sarong or throw-over clothing as some locations do not have change rooms. Please bring your own towels. Bring a flashlight and be in sports attire when visiting the cave. Sports shoes or booties are advisable.

When Is It : The best time to go is during the months of November to May

Where Is It : Traveling around Siquijor.

Tour Inclusions : Transportation and friendly driver. Does not include entrance fees. Tour guide and/or packed lunch available at an additional fee.

Sample Itinerary

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Page last updated: February 20, 2021 All schedules, times, prices and content may be subject to change without prior notice.

For Reservations Contact:

0917 314 1415 - Siquijor

0969 521 5658 - Siquijor

0917 701 7152 - Dumaguete

0917 325 1292 - Casa Coco

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Apo Island Trip

An Apo Island Trip is on the schedule of most visitors of Dumaguete and Negros Oriental. This tiny Island just off the coast is known worldwide for its beautiful coral gardens and abundance of fish, not to forget the turtles which are just about everywhere in the waters of Apo Island. There are several options to get from Dumaguete to Apo Island , which belongs to the municipality of Dauin.

The most convenient way to get the Trip to Apo Island of your bucket list is to book it with a local travel agency. This might not be the cheapest option but everything is usually organized and one doesn’t need to think about anything, other than standing up in the morning and enjoying the day. However, it is also not that difficult to get to the Island by yourself or with your friends. The saved money can be spend on a couple of shakes, cold drinks or snacks.

Getting from Dumaguete to Apo Island

Starting from Dumaguete your first leg will be getting to Malatapay . The boats to Apo Island are starting from the famous Malatapay Market , so when you plan your Apo Island Trip on a Wednessday, you should start an hour or two earlier. That gives you plenty of time to stroll over the Market, enjoy the scenery and get some of the freshest and best lechon (roast pork) and other delights.

There are several options for getting to Malatapay.  You first take a tricycle to the jeepney station , which is across Robinsons Place on the south highway. Another option would be the Ceres Liner Terminal near the cockpit. A public trike should not cost you more than 15 Peso per person getting to either of them from within Dumaguete. Even as a private ride, where the driver is taking no other passengers one should be fine with 40 Peso.

Jeepneys to Malatapay leaving each 15 minutes and take about 45 minutes, depending how many times the driver stops. The price is 25 Peso only. Ceres Liner are a little bit faster. Just tell the attendant to stop at the Malatapay Market. Any Ceres bus heading south will pass the Market, so you have plenty of options.

Boats to Apo Island

Upon arrival you just head straight down to the beach. The boats run every day (Monday – Sunday) with the first trip around 7:00am , the last at 3:00pm in the afternoon. Residents of Apo Island pay 20 peso. Many times the boatmen give them a free ride if there is space on a boat.

As a group you may consider renting one of the pump-boats. For a day-trip to Apo Island a small banka, which is good for four people costs 3,500.00 Peso . This is a round trip from Malatapay port to Apo Island and back. A bigger boat good for 9 persons is 5,000.00 Peso . You can book the boats directly at the small pier at the waterfront. The coastguards from the Zamboangita Tourism Office are very friendly and helpful. They are controlling the lineup of the boats and write the logbooks with the passengers.

NOTE: As of now, only fully vaccinated guests can ride the boats to Apo Island. Simply present your vaccination card upon arrival or when asked by the coast guards.

Depending on the banka and the surface conditions the ride can take between 40 minutes and one hour . You may want to contact Manang Sabing  (contact numbers in the picture above) before you start your Trip to Apo Island to ensure that there are boats available. Plenty of people take the trip on weekends or public holidays. Also during fiesta times in Apo (April 4-5), Dauin or Zamboanguita bankeros are more into the celebrations than driving their boat.

Arriving on Apo Island

Now that you arrived, your first way is to the collector’s house of the Bantay Dagat , where you need to register as a visitor and pay your fees. The fees are different, depending if where you come from (Check below for the Apo Island Fees) . Residents get discounts on the regular fees. If you went on you Apo Island trip via a public boat, you want to make sure that you secure already your ride back.

If you don’t have mask snorkel and fins, don’t worry, you can also rent all needed gear there. With the new Snorkeling Guide of Apo Island, visitors can see the best areas of the reef to go snorkeling. The Snorkeling Guide Fee is good for 4 persons.

Enjoy your Apo Island Trip.

Swimming and snorkeling in the colorful coral gardens of Apo Island is of course the main attraction. However, you can walk through the village to the other side of the island or have a walk up the 369 steps to the lighthouse. If you haven’t brought your own snacks, you can buy food at different places on the island. Of course you should not forget to get a souvenir-shirt or a sarong from the ever friendly vendors.

Getting Back to Dumaguete from Apo Island

Your boat-ride back will go latest at 4:00pm in the afternoon. When you arrive from your trip to Apo Island in Malatapay, just walk the few minutes to the highway and wait for a bus or a jeepney. The waiting time will not be much longer than 10 minutes. There are plenty of busses and jeepneys in the afternoon going towards Dumaguete.

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Hello. Good day. Do the boats leave by exactly 4pm? I’ve read other blogs and they were saying that the boats can only stay up to 4pm. And also if we stay overnight, what is the earliest time we could depart from apo island back to Malatapay? Thank you. ?

Good Day Lakwatsero, The last trip of public boat is 4pm that is the time for both trips ,from Apo island and Malatapay. However going back to Malatapay early morning, you should ask the bantay dagat on duty,which boat is leaving early. If you went on your Apo Island trip via a public boat, you want to make sure that you secure already your ride back. The Bantay Dagat or collectors are friendly, and helpful, they are in the Bantay Dagat House, located in the seaport of Apo island. Public boat start at 8am. Some private boats are leaving starts at 6am you might ask if they can squeeze in.

Cheers, and Have a great trip!! DC-Team.

hello, what is the earliest departure time going to Apo Island?

Hello, Thank you for question, as stated in the article above, the first boat to Apo Island leaves at Malatapay normally around 8:00am. Best Regards DC-Taem

Hi! Once I arrive in Apo Island, do I have to hire a boat to get to the diving spots? Are there diving centers? I’ll be arriving after lunch because of my flight. Thank you!

Hi, the first thing you need to do is register on the Island. This is in a small office right where you are landing on Apo. There are dice-operators on the island. They offer some spots as shore diving, others are only accessible with the boat, which to our knowledge cost a few peso extra. All the best and have a great trip DC-Team

PS: don’t forget to link to us when you write your blog entry 😉

My friends and I are planning to go to Apo island from Dumaguete City. We would like to go snorkeling, is there a travel agency we can book?

Thanks, Jenyn

Good day, we can’t recommend a tour agency, as we simply do all the trips ourselves and would only recommend a agency we hsve own experience with.

I just want to make sure that I am reading the right information. A small banka is P2000 or P2000 per head? I’ve been reading different forms and they’re all different.

As a group you may consider renting on of the pump-boats. For a day-trip to Apo Island a small banka, which is good for four people costs 2,000.00 Peso. To bring you to Apo Island and back. A bigger boat good for 8 persons is 3,000.00 Peso. You can book the boats directly at the small pier at the waterfront. The coastguards and Yoyong the dispatcher from the Zamboangita Tourism Office are very friendly and helpful. They are controlling the lineup of the boats and write the logbooks with the passengers. please this article here. http://dumaguete.com/apo-island-trip/

If we tend to hire the small boat, will this exclude us from paying for the guide? Will that boat take us to the snorkeling spots in the area?

Also, is that contact number for yoyong still active as of the moment?

No. There are reasons why people need a guide there. too much damage done by unguided tourist who dont know the area

My girlfriend and I are going to Apo Island this June 25. Is it possible to join other people in renting the boat?

Hello! Thank you for your message. Yes , there should be no problem at all.

Hi, Any recommendations for hotels or a place where we could stay for a couple of night in apo island? Thanks!

There are a few places on the Island. They have different benefits as well as flaws. As we really don’t know what exactly you are looking for, we will not recommend any specific place. As it is a really small Island it never mattered for us where we stay, as our days were spent with SCUBA diving anyway. As long there is a bed we can sleep it didn’t make much of a difference to us.

Oh okay.. Thanks for the reply.

Hi, If we opt to dive, will there be someone to teach us how to perform it?

Good day, If you go independent to Apo Island and want to experience SCUBA diving you will need a Dive Master or Instructor to conduct a Discover SCUBA program. There are several dive-operators on the Island and you will have no problem to experience the underwater world below the surface.

Hi! My friends and I are going to Apo Island on October. We are planning to go Scuba Diving. How much is the cheapest rate for scuba diving? And is it worth it? Thank you

For the rates you need to get in touch with the dive operators. However, if you are not a certified diver you need to sign up for a course or a Discover Scuba program. Yes, it is worth it.

Hi! Do u have any local travel agencies that we can contact for an Apo Island day trip? We’re planning on going on October. Is the weather favorable at that times?

Hey Mary! Apo Island is worth the trip regardless the weather. During the month of October, the weather could change daily. However, there is a good chance that the weather is dry. Personally, we do not recommend any travel agency and we have never found a need for our travels. Enjoy your trip ahead!

hi! We will be traveling from Iloilo. If we bring private vehicles, do they have safe parking space at Malatapay pier? Thank you.

Hi Good day to you Grace Bajado, in this article we published number for Boat reservation, you might call that number and start negotiating how’s is it with the parking of your vehicle. since there also also some Bantay Dagat on duty you might ask them too regarding your concerns…

Regards DC Team.

dear sir: if we live Apo ,is there good snorkelling to everythere? thank you

Good day, Yes there is. The guides will show you the best spots

Hello! My friends and.i will visit dumaguete this oct. Will it matter if we go to apo island at 1pm? Or is there a preferred time to go there?

Hi Anne, the preferred time is always in the morning. However, if you stay overnight you will be fine.

Hi admin, I just want to verify if it is possible to avail of diving even if we don’t know how to swim? Thank you.

Any responsible PADI Instructor or Dive Master would not take you diving if you can’t swim. … and you should not do it, or try it without being able to swim. That would just be really stupid Snorkeling with a life-vest is the way to go

Hi. Going to Apo Island this December and availed the snorkeling tour through a local agency. Do we still have to pay the entrance and snorkeling fees even though we availed it through a local tour operator? Thank you.

You certainly need to pay the fee. If that is covered by the price you pay the local agency is something you need to ask the agency. We don’t know what is included in your booking. best regards DC-Team

Hi, planning to book a private boat tour with snorkeling for 26 pax, may I have contact numbers on who/where we can book?

The number for boat rental is on the picture in the article. However, you may want to get in touch with one of the resorts to cater the whole group also with rental gear, food and drinks. Pura Vida may be able to help you with that https://dumaguete.com/vida-homes-condo-resort/

Hello, How can I get to Apo island from Oslob, Cebu?

You can catch a ceres liner (big yeoow bus) to Dumaguere, transfer at the Dumaguete terminal to another Ceres going south, get off at Malatapay and take a boat to Apo Island

I have a question regarding a one way only travel from Apo island to Malatapay. This Saturday we want to go for a day tour from Siquijor island to Apo island and after the day activities we would like to jump on a boat from Apo Island to Malatapay in stead of going back to Siquijor island. Is this possible? Or can we book a boat in advance so someone from Malatapay can pick us up later that day?

Many thanks!

good day.. please check this link article regarding your questions, it has also the contact# of the boat going Apo island. https://dumaguete.com/apo-island-trip/

Have a great day!!!!

Hello I m in siargao nos and Will go To cebu and take an other flight to dumaguette (it seems the best option than bus + ferry). Is the public bus from malatapay is still 300 pesos in 2018? Did i need to pay the fees even if i m sraying 5 days in apo island? Many thanks and have a nice day

what is the contact number of yoyong?

pls read the articles here and look at the rates and contacts written on the photo. https://dumaguete.com/apo-island-trip/

Hi 🙂 I’m interested to go to Apo ISland this weekend. I want to ask if there’s more than 2 schedule for the public boat aside from the 8am and the 4pm trip? Thanks in advance.

please contact the provided mobile number on the banner in this article.

Hello, I want to stay a night in Apo Island, dive and go back to Dumaguete the next day- How do I book a budget accommodation in the island? I don’t want to arrive and discover only a luxury room is available (planning on the weekend) also, is booking the dive cheaper on the island or from Dumagete? Thanks

Good day, we are not aware of the price policies of the accommodation and dive operations on Apo Island.

Hi, good evening.

Hope all is well with you.

Is it allowed to bring food to Apo Island?

Thank you & God bless!

Good day, yes you can bring food there.

Hi i want to know is their a fee for snorkeling ?

Good day, The answer is given in the article, please scroll up.

Regards, Daisy

HI, We are visiting The Apo Island next month after our whale watching in Tanawan, Oslob. Can you pls advice us if it is better to do it with a tour operator that charge 1200 per head fetching us from Sibulan pier to Malatapay to Apo island w boat lunch . This is a two way trips for a day. For 5 people it will cost us 6k . or is it better to do it DIY ? Thank you.

Good day, It really comes down to your own preferences. While the trip can be organized DIY, it is certainly more convenient and less stressful using a tour operator. Have a great trip ahead. DC Team

good day! is it ok to bring kids going to apo island? are the swimming areas child friendly? thanks

Thank you for you comment. the people of Apo Island love children. However, there is no real kids playground on the island. Swimming in the Ocean for children is as safe as the parents make it, just like any other place in the world. Best Regards.

Hi good day! We are heading to Dumaguete this coming August 21-25 and plan to visit Apo Island. We are 2 pax only, are you entertaining joiners? How to go at Apo Island from Go Hotels Dumaguete?

Regarding your Apo Island trip, you may contact the boat personnel in charge named Yoyong. You may find the numbers in the picture in this article. According to the Agoda list of amenities, Go Hotels Dumaguete offers Tours and Shuttle Service. Please Contact them for assistance. There is also the option of going to the Ceres Bus Terminal located just behind Go Hotels Dumaguete. From there you can take a bus ride going to Malatapay Market in Zamboaguita for more or less Php 50. Hope this helped.

Best Regards, Daisy

Will it be possible to reach the airport by 4 p.m. if we go on a day trip to Apo Island? Alternatively, is there a way to reach Apo Island from Siquijor, but get a boat ride to Dumaguete afterward?

If you get a private boat, you can leave Apo Island to your convenient time to be at the Dumaguete Airport at 4pm. From Siquijor to Apo and direct to Dumaguete is no option. Regards

How about public boats from Apo Island to Dumaguete? Is it possible once we get to Apo via a private boat from Siquijor to secure a ride on a public boat from Apo to Dumaguete?

Dear If we hire the snorkeling guide,how long he will stay with us?

Thank you for your comment. For this question, please get in touch with Apo Island and their Bantay Dagat. Regards, Daisy

Yoyong number do not reply

Good day! I just called the two numbers and they are both working. Please try again.

Can we do overnight stay in Mt Apo? is there room for rental? restaurant?

Yes, there are several places on the Island to book a room for overnight stay and to eat and drink.

Hi! First of all, thanks for answering all the queries here. Good Job.

My question is : I will land in Dumaguete next 16th at around 16:25 . Do you think I would have time to go down to Malatapay and find people to share a boat? is it easy to find people waiting to share a boat? Or would I have to spend the night in Malatapay or around, and go to Apo next morning?

Thanks again for your replay.

Good day! The 16th of November might make the streets of Dumaguete a little busy since preparations will be done for the celebration of the City Fiesta and Charter Day. Getting to Malatapay Market from Dumaguete City will take roughly about an hour through a bus. By that time, it will start getting dark. Regarding your question of sharing boats, there is a possibility of availability. But it really depends on how the day runs and if the boats actually sail late in the afternoon.

I highly suggest spending a night at either a hotel in Dumaguete or an affordable and budget-friendly beach resort in Dauin. Wake up as early as six in the morning and take a bus to Malatapay. The first boat should leave around 7 or 8 (enough time for a quick bite-to-eat along the Malatapay Market). You can also contact the boat dispatcher (09061858074 or 09975623866). They are more than happy to make reservations and assist you through your trip. Hope this helps and enjoy!

Hi just wanna ask if there are yacht for rental going to apo Island and Oslob whaleshark? If none, what are the best companies/operator that offers a big boat going to Apo Island and to Oslob whaleshark?

Good day! We are not sure if there is any yacht rental that goes to Apo Island and Oslob Whale Shark. We also can not give you any suggestions for companies that do operates with big boats since there are so many hotels and resorts that offer such a service. Apo Island and Oslob Whaleshark can (possibly) be done in one day. However, we highly suggest making them a separate trip. If you are staying in a hotel or resort, ask them if they offer day-trips to these places. Hope this helps. Best Regards, Daisy

hi, i want to confirm the boat rented. is that the same boat to be used for snorkeling? thank you so much! really excited for the trip this first week of march.

Good day, You need to get in touch with the people you rent the boat from. If it is from a resort, it is used or snorkeling with a guide from the resort, If you just book for a transfer to Apo Island, you may probably need to go to the Island and register first. Snorkeling is done as a shore entry from the Island with a guide from there, which is mandatory.

Hi, Will there be a boat to Apo Islan on April 19th? Thanks.

Good day, you need to get in touch with the dispatcher for your reservation. The numbers are in the article above. Regards

Hi, just need your opinion if we go there at 2pm until 4pm is it good enough and what is the good time to go there?

Hello, this is a question we can’t answer. That depends on the type of traveler you are. If you are a “been there, done that” or “Europe in 10 days” kind of traveler, it certainly is enough. Then any time is good for that kind of traveling.

Goodeve po.. Ask ko lang kung yung price list na nasa taas ng page is updated po ba??? Thanks po.. 🙂

Yes, it is up to date. Regards, Daisy

Hi, I just want to know, if all the fees and information is up to date? Also, would it be advisable to go to Apo Island on July this year? Thank you! 🙂

Good day! Yes, they are up to date. The weather can change quickly nowadays. However, I do believe any time is the best time to visit Apo Island. Best Regards, Daisy

Do you organise trips to Apo Island for snorkelling from Siquijor?

Good day! NO, we do not organize trips! However, if you are in Siquijor, please contact different resorts and inquire if they make trips to Apo Island. Best Regards, Daisy

Good day! We are heading to Apo Island exactly a month from now (June 16, 2019). Any advice on whether I should call Mr. Yoyong ahead for the boat rental or will there always be a boat available once we got there? I will be travelling with 2 seniors and a 9-year old niece. I want to show them the beauty of Apo Island. Thanks!

Good day! There are daily boat rentals that leave to and from Apo Island. However, slots can easily be sold out. It is best to contact about a week before your planned date of departure. Then, call Mr. Yoyong’s number in the morning of June 16, 2019, again just to clarify that you guys are on the way. Best Regards, Daisy

hi.. are there restos or kahit anong tindahan where we could eat lunch on the island?just in case hindi kme makadala ng food..

Yes, there are some simple food options and small restaurants on Apo Island.

thanks.. oh and by the way, just contacted the number provided in this post.. the small boat for 3-4 pax is now 3000. i checked and said i thought it was just half of that price, but the owner of that fone number said it’s 3k.. well this is just an fyi.thanks.

Can you please tell if the prices are up to date? for example, one way on a public boat to Apo island is still 300PHP ?

Is there a way to pre order and save place on a public boat to and from Apo island a day or few before traveling? if yes, how can I do that?

Thanks, Nawi

Good morning! We just updated the boat prices on the page. As of now, there are no public boats available. You can however, still call the number in the article for your boat reservation and for further assistance.

Hope this helps. Good luck and safe travel! Regards, Daisy

Very helpful, thank you!

For more info about the boats to Apo, I have tried to use the numbers you have suggested.

I can’t find their WhatsApp, is there another way to contact them via the internet? (I have a problem with the calls since I’m calling from abroad).

In addition, do you usually need to reserve a boat days before, or they are usually available?

One more question please,

Are the shipment services work all the days of May or there are days where this option is not available?

There are only two national holidays in May for this year, Labour Day (May 1, 2022) and Eid al-Fitr (May 3, 2022). The rest of the month should be regular working days.

Good morning Nawi! The boat operator’s contact above is just a local cellphone number. We asked, and they have no other form of contact aside from the cellphone number above. Boats are usually available, however, it is best to make reservations are best 1-2 days before.

Hi! Is the price still the same or has it been updated? We’re traveling on the 1st week of December to DGT and wants to visit apo island for a day tour.

Yes, it is updated. We called just a month ago. However, feel free to contact the number found in the article to ensure your booking.

Hi, we would like to go to Apo Island in mid April next year with our kids. Can the water be rough at this time of year? I would be worried if there were lots of waves and bumps to get out there being in such a small boat for safety reasons?

Water can be rough all around the year. That is the beauty of nature, and it can change within a day. Depending on the age of the kids, we generally advise against bringing young kids to Apo Island.

Is December good for snorkeling in the island?

yes. However, it depends with what organizer you go. Many are lazy and go to exactly one spot, which can be pretty rough at times. Good organizers go to different spots, if the weather and the conditions of the ocean demand for it.

Hello. Can you confirm if the rates that are posted current?

Hello. Are the posted rates still current as of May 2023?

Are anglers allowed to fish in the island?

Hi! Are there public boats available?

Yes, but they are usually reserved for locals

Are there cottages and tables available for day trip visitors?

yes, but very few

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