While we were in Palawan, one of the tourists on the boat mentioned his great experience on the island of Siargao. He told us how much he wanted to buy property and live there. His enthusiasm convinced us to visit the island ourselves.
From Cebu, we took a flight to Siargao, which lasted less than an hour. Upon arrival, we joined a group heading in the same direction and rented a minivan. The ride cost 300 pesos per person and took about 45 minutes from the airport to our Airbnb in General Luna, where we planned to stay for a few days.
After dropping off our bags, we walked to the nearby market to buy groceries. Since we arrived in Poblacion late in the afternoon, many stalls in the public market were already closed. Hungry and tired, we decided to cook spaghetti for dinner—yum!
The next day, I wasn’t feeling well, so I let my children explore the town without me. My throat hurt, and I had bouts of coughing, so I took some medicine and rested while listening to music. When my children returned, they excitedly shared stories about the good restaurants and souvenir shops they had discovered. They also signed up for surf lessons after visiting the famous Cloud 9—the go-to spot for powerful waves and surfing.
On the second day, I was still feeling under the weather and decided to rest and recuperate. Since I couldn’t join them for their surf lessons, my children chose to reschedule with their instructor because they were worried about me. Instead, they looked for a laundromat, explored more restaurants, and even visited a tattoo shop. They came home with full stomachs and temporary tattoos on their arms.
By the third day, I felt much better. We took a tuktuk (tricycle) ride—less than 15 minutes—to visit Secret Beach. The pathway to the secluded beach was hidden behind tall bushes on one side and coconut trees and shrubs on the other. Near the entrance, two men were guarding a mansion.
At the beach, some locals were renting out kayaks, paddleboards, and other equipment to visitors. My children and I decided to relax in a shaded area under the trees. They read their books while I indulged in some peaceful time in the water. The shoreline had sharp rocks, so I kept my water shoes on while navigating the shore. The water was clear, warm, and calm—perfect for swimming. A few other people were in the water, but for long periods, I had the beach all to myself. While swimming, I spotted some fingerlings in the water. Eventually, my children joined me after finishing their books.
After leaving the beach, we headed to the souvenir shops along General Luna. I bought a T-shirt, while my children picked up gifts for family members. We then ate at Cosmic Siargao, a vegan restaurant, where I tried the porkless sinigang—it was delicious! My children also enjoyed their meals. For dessert, they had ice cream, while I treated myself to a creamy coconut smoothie bowl from Sanabowl Superfood Café.
On our way home, we picked up our laundry just before heavy rain started. Sitting inside the tuktuk, we watched the mesmerizing raindrops fall.
The next day, we returned to Cloud 9 for my children’s surf lessons. They both did great! Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to record their experience because their phone’s battery was low.
After their lessons, we enjoyed taho from a wandering vendor and later had pizza and French fries at a restaurant near the beach. The shoreline had soft, smooth sand, with scattered rocks both onshore and in the water near the boardwalk. We relaxed at the beach until the rain came.
Although we didn’t get to explore the rest of the island, we still had a great time in Siargao. My children even learned how to surf in the surfing capital of the Philippines!
The following day, we flew to Iloilo to continue our journey.