Siquijor: Slow Travel Edition

Let’s be honest: Siquijor is no longer the “hidden island” travel bloggers were gushing about five years ago. The secret’s out and so are the scooters and tripods. But here’s the thing: if you slow down, stay longer than a two-night stopover, and take your time not just to tick-off the viral TikTok spots, Siquijor still casts its spell.

1. Visit Waterfalls

Waterfalls are easily the island’s crown jewel. You’ll pay a small entrance fee in most places, but every cascade has its own personality. Instead of racing around to tick them all off, pick one or two and soak them in. If you get FOMO like I do, here are the ones to see so you’ll be satisfied:

Cambugahay Waterfalls are the most famous and probably the most crowded on the island. They are perhaps also the most impressive and nice looking so they are still worth visiting. Arrive early to avoid the crowds (ideally leave around 10-11am) and don’t stall at the bottom of the waterfall for too long. The entrance costs 50 PHP per person and you pay extra for swings, rafts, human drone services etc.

Cabugsayan Falls are lesser known waterfalls where you can get the most out of the FREE swinging activity without a queue (or with a minimal waiting time) considering the place is less visited. It is a charming waterfall that feels way more tranquil in comparison to its bigger brother. There are two ways to get here:

• from the official entrance (where the Google Maps pin is) with a bamboo raft (cost is at about 100 PHP);
• from the entrance to the Firefly Treehouse Bar (highly recommended to make a stop for breakfast / lunch here and take private stairs to go down to the waterfalls for free).
  
  

The rangers might ask you for a small fee at the entrance. In our case we were only asked to put our names into the guest book and we didn’t pay the fee, as we arrived from the private entrance. I suspect the fee might only be taken if you arrive from the official entrance, but cannot confirm.

2. Exploring the underwater world.

There are several snorkelling and diving spots on the island (free and paid) which give you a possibility to explore its beautiful coral reefs and encounter its inhabitants, like fish, crabs, sea snakes, nudi branches and turtles. 

We visited two marine parks in the south of Siquijor and both were great:

Tubod Marine Park is one of the most popular snorkelling spots on the island, which is marked off by the swimming buoys. The cost of swimming is 20 PHP and 100 PHP for snorkelling in the zone. However, once you swim outside of the marked buoys, the entrance fee is no longer applicable (in case of doubt just ask the rangers at the ticket office, they will give you guidance – that’s what we did).

If you choose to swim in the free zone, you may get disappointed by the corals – you will have better chances to see beautiful side of them in the paid zone. If you are more after fish and turtles – well, good news is that they do not recognise the difference between the paid and free zones, so you have an equally good chance to see them in both 🙂 Here we did see a turtle! The rangers might offer you to bring you to the turtles against a fee, but we took our chances and were in luck. Watch for the seagrass patches – that’s where they love to be 🙂

Talalyonag Marine Park is a little known diving spot, where the dive starts straight from the shore. We chose just to snorkel, and it was amazing – the most fascinating marine life here is visible at depths of 2–5 meters. We first had lunch at the Lazy Beach Resort and the staff was kind to look after our personal belongings while we were out snorkelling. You will find the entrance into the water which will lead you right to the reef just in front of the resort.

An amazingly beautiful reef with lots of fish! I even saw several sea snakes, which freaked me out – but keep your distance and you’ll be fine 🙂

I chose not to take my phone with me when we snorkelled here, so, unfortunately, no images to show you the reef but sharing the view of the resort in front of it instead 🙂

Tulapos Marine Sanctuary was on my list – a marine park in the north of the island – but we didn’t get a chance to visit that side so cannot tell anything about it, but looked great from the pictures and reviews. Snorkelling fee is at 100 PHP per person. Frequently reported sightseeing of turtles, reef sharks and barracudas. 

$MONEY SAVER:
Bring your own mask and snorkel to avoid daily rentals.

3. Find Your Quiet Beach

Siquijor’s beaches range from party spots to wild hideaways. Here are two picks that I can recommend:

Great for combining snorkeling with downtime, though it does get busy. Walk further down the shore and you’ll find quieter spots (we headed West). Watch for the sandflies when sunset time is approaching!

We had the whole beach to ourselves. Absolutely not a touristy spot, no infrastructure in the immediate vicinity (closest restaurant is Saba Beach Resort – haven’t tried it though). The waters are very shallow at low tide, so swimming was difficult but still fine for a quick dip. The beach is in the living area of the local fishermen, so respect their privacy. 

Most of the guides would mention Paliton Beach, often dubbed the “Maldives of Siquijor.” It is an extremely popular place, especially as a sunset spot, with many food stalls present on the beach. Expect crowds, trash and stray dogs (based on the Google reviews) and an entrance fee of 25 PHP to pay. We steered clear from this place as on top of all of that it offers little shade possibilities. As an alternative, you can check out a free public Solangon Beach with a wide stretch of sand, very chill. Perfect for slow evenings with a cold San Miguel in hand.

4. Spa session and dinner with a view

I didn’t get the chance to try this one (it was fully booked when I checked – lesson learned: reserve early!), but everything about Secret Siquijor Resort & Spa screams hidden gem.

This boutique spot combines rustic-chic vibes with stunning ocean views, and from what I’ve read and heard, it’s one of the best places on the island for a slow dinner. Prices are surprisingly affordable for a resort setting, and reviews consistently rave about both the food and the panoramic sunset views.

If you’re looking for a special evening that doesn’t break the bank, this seems like the place. Next time I’m on Siquijor, it’ll be the first reservation I make.

5. Rent a Scooter & Just Wander

The best way to enjoy Siquijor slowly is on two wheels. For around 350-400 PHP a day, you get the freedom to stop at roadside eateries, chase random viewpoints, or discover empty coves that don’t have a name on Google Maps.

This is exactly the method we used to explore hidden beaches and tiny local stores, pass by the rice fields and make random lunch stops with greatest meals.

6. Book a Tour

If exploring the island on your own feels too overwhelming, or you simply would prefer a company and not think about organising your own transport, one of these tours could be the perfect solution for you:

Final Thoughts on Siquijor

Siquijor might not be the untouched paradise it once was, but it is still a magical place, especially if you let it slow you down. Don’t come here for a two-day checklist. Stay 5-7 days. Find your favorite waterfall and return to it. Watch the sunset from the same beach twice. Talk to people.

The real beauty of Siquijor isn’t in the Instagrammable spots, but in the pauses between them.