The Philippines' 'surfing capital', an island off north-eastern Mindanao: the Pacific break at Cloud 9, boat trips to the three islands of Naked, Daku and Guyam, the clear water of Sugba Lagoon, the Magpupungko rock pools, coconut forests and rivers. The hub is the village of General Luna — small restaurants, cafés and surf schools, with a laid-back pace. Best for young travellers and couples who love surfing, nature and adventure; the beaches and lagoon suit families too, though medical care and infrastructure are limited. No direct flights from Ulaanbaatar — fly via Seoul or Hong Kong to Cebu, then about 1 hour on to Siargao (IAO). Mongolian citizens get 30 days visa-free.
🛂 Visa: Visa-free · 30 days✈ Flight: 16h☀ Best months: March, April, May, June
Orange — daytime average, blue — night, grey bars — rainfall, green — sea temperature. Best months: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October.
Things to see (12)
📍🧸 for kids
Cloud 9 boardwalk and surf break★ 4.6 (55)
BeachBoardwalk ≈₱100; surf lesson ₱500–800Daylight hours; best at sunset
The hollow, barrelling wave that put Siargao on the map — it breaks over a coral reef, so it is for experienced surfers only. From the viewing deck at the end of the wooden boardwalk you watch the surfers up close; the boardwalk was washed away by the 2021 typhoon and rebuilt. Beginners take lessons with an instructor on the gentler waves around General Luna. The Siargao International Surfing Cup is held here every September–October (24–31 October in 2025).
BeachIncluded in the tri-island tour (shared ≈₱1,500–2,000 per person)≈5:00–17:00
Travel guide
Like a well-travelled friend for a first-timer: before you go, landing, SIM, transport, money, food, safety, manners, apps, leaving — step by step.
🧳Before you goNo visa needed, but reaching Siargao takes two connections — plan flights, cash and the season ahead.+
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30 days visa-free
Mongolian citizens may stay in the Philippines visa-free for up to 30 days. Your passport must be valid for more than 6 months beyond departure, with a return or onward ticket. Mongolia's consular list still shows 21 days under the old agreement, so if you stay longer than 21 days be ready to show your ticket to immigration.
Everyone arriving in or leaving the Philippines completes the free eTravel at etravel.gov.ph and gets a QR code; submissions earlier than 72 hours are not accepted. Beware of 'agent' sites that charge a fee.
Tip: Fill in the departure eTravel within 72 hours of leaving too.
In 2026 there is no direct flight from Manila to Siargao — fly via Seoul or Hong Kong to Cebu, then about 1 hour on Cebgo, PAL Express or Sunlight Air to Siargao (IAO). If your tickets are not on one booking, leave plenty of time in Cebu. The best time is March–October; surf peaks August–November, and November–February is very wet.
🛬Landing and getting to your hotelSayak Airport is in the west of the island, a fair way from General Luna; by ferry you land at Dapa port.+
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Airport to General Luna
Sayak Airport is 49 km from General Luna, 45–60 minutes. A shared van is ₱300–500 per person, a private van ₱2,500–4,000 per vehicle; extra luggage is charged separately. Many hotels offer pick-up — book ahead.
Evaristo & Sons fast craft leave Surigao City for Dapa port at 6:00, 10:00 and 13:00, taking about 90 minutes for ₱420–520; RORO ferries are slower but cheaper. The Coast Guard halts sailings in rough seas, so keep a spare day.
Tip: From Dapa port take a tricycle or van to General Luna.
If your phone supports eSIM, install a Philippines eSIM before you go — there are few places to buy a SIM on the island. Otherwise buy a Globe or Smart SIM at Cebu or Manila airport or in a shop in General Luna; by law it must be registered with your passport.
Tip: Signal is weak in the north of the island and on trips to Sugba and Sohoton — download the map in Google Maps for offline use.
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Wi-Fi
Most hotels and cafés have Wi-Fi, some via Starlink, but it drops out with rain and power cuts. Keep flight tickets and your eTravel QR code saved on your phone, and carry a printed copy.
🚇Getting around the islandNo Grab or taxis — use scooters, tricycles, habal-habal and tour vans.+
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Scooter rental
Most visitors rent a scooter: a basic automatic is ₱350–600 a day. An international driving permit and a helmet are a must; roads are slippery in the rain and dark at night. If you can't ride, hire a tricycle or habal-habal instead.
Short hops around General Luna by tricycle cost ₱20–50; for far-off sights (Magpupungko, Pacifico) hire a tricycle or van for the day. Agree the fare before you get in.
The tri-island tour leaves from General Luna's port, Sugba Lagoon from Del Carmen, and Sohoton from Dapa or General Luna. A shared tri-island tour is ≈₱1,500–2,000 per person; island fees are extra. Book through your hotel or a licensed agency.
The currency is the Philippine peso (₱, PHP). Tours, small eateries and tricycles are mostly cash only. ATMs exist only in General Luna and Dapa (BDO, DBP, Euronet), charge ₱250 per foreign-card withdrawal and run dry over holidays and peak season, so bring enough cash from Cebu or Manila.
🍜FoodCafés, restaurants and bars line Tourism Road in General Luna — this is Siargao's nightlife too.+
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What to eat
Fresh seafood, kinilaw (raw fish cured in vinegar), adobo, lechon, grilled chicken, mango and coconut shakes. Island-hopping tours include a 'boodle fight' lunch eaten by hand off banana leaves. General Luna also has plenty of smoothie bowls, pizza, tacos and Korean food.
Tip: Drink only bottled water; most hotels offer refills.
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Prices
A meal at a local carinderia is ₱80–150, at a mid-range café ₱150–250, at a tourist restaurant ₱500–1,000. Del Carmen is cheaper than General Luna.
Reef breaks like Cloud 9 are dangerous for beginners — learn with an instructor at a suitable spot. Visit Magpupungko only at low tide. In typhoon season follow PAGASA forecasts; Typhoon Odette in 2021 devastated the island, so take warnings seriously.
The island has only small hospitals and clinics; serious cases are moved to Surigao or Cebu. Get insurance with evacuation cover that includes surfing and diving. Clean coral cuts well and apply antiseptic. Drug laws are extremely strict.
🙏Manners+
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Friendly and relaxed
Filipinos are very friendly; saying 'salamat' (thank you) goes down well. Don't wear swimwear in villages or churches. Respect surf etiquette: the surfer closest to the peak has priority — don't drop in on others' waves.
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Respect nature
Don't lift starfish out of the water at sandbars and Secret Beach, don't grab the Sohoton jellyfish, and don't stand on coral. Take your rubbish back and use reef-safe sunscreen. Tipping isn't required but a little is left for guides and boat crews.
📱Useful apps+
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Official and flights
eTravel — the digital border registration (arrival and departure). The Cebu Pacific or PAL app — small-plane flights to Siargao often change with the weather, so turn on notifications.
Google Maps — scooter routes, offline maps. Surfline — waves and tides (check before Magpupungko). GCash — QR payments. Grab doesn't operate, so ask your hotel to call a tricycle or van.
Sayak Airport is 45–60 minutes from General Luna by van; the terminal is small and queues build up, so leave early. Allow plenty of time for your international flight in Cebu or Clark — rain and wind often delay the small planes.
Fill in the departure eTravel before leaving the Philippines. If your domestic and international flights are on separate bookings, you'll need to collect bags and check in again in Cebu.
AI answer: double-check anything beyond our researched facts with an official source.
A strip of white sand about 200 m long with not a single tree or building, surrounded by clear turquoise water. 20 minutes by boat from General Luna; the first stop on the tri-island tour. There is no shade at all, so bring a hat, sunscreen and water.
The largest of the three islands ('daku' means big): a long white beach with palm trees and local homes. It is the lunch stop on the tour — grilled fish and seafood eaten by hand off banana leaves as a 'boodle fight'. The water is shallow, so it suits children for swimming and snorkelling.
A tiny palm-covered 'postcard' island you can walk round in minutes, visible from the General Luna shore. Fruit shakes, a swing and beach volleyball; usually the last stop on the tri-island tour.
A clear turquoise-green lagoon ringed by mangroves and limestone cliffs. About 40 minutes by boat from Del Carmen port; from the floating platform you can swim, kayak, paddleboard and jump off the deck. The water is calm, so it suits families — put children in life jackets.
NatureEntry ₱50; guide ₱100–150Daylight hours, at low tide only
Clear natural pools that appear among the rocks on the Pilar shore at low tide — with fish and coral, and rocks to jump from. Come only at low tide, otherwise the pools are under the sea — check the tide table. The rocks are slippery and sharp, so wear shoes.
NatureEntry ₱50; bamboo raft ₱20; boat tour ₱600 per boat7:30–18:00
Famous for swinging into the river from a palm tree leaning over the water (the original bent palm fell in 2023 and a new swing has replaced it). From the bridge, paddle a bamboo boat or kayak along the river through green jungle. About 25 minutes by scooter from General Luna.
The famous spot beside the island's main road where a 'sea' of coconut palms stretches to the hills — one of Siargao's most photographed places. It is a roadside pull-off rather than a real deck, with stalls selling drinks and fruit. Combine it with the Maasin River.
A small adventure in Pilar: with a guide you wade and swim through clear water running through a cave, emerging at a jungle pool with a rock to jump from. The water is deep in places and the cave is dark — for older children and confident swimmers. Put your phone in a waterproof pouch.
A long, quiet white beach on the island's north-east, about an hour by scooter from General Luna. It has waves for experienced surfers and few people along the shore, so it is great for lounging in the shade of the palms. Stop at Magpupungko on the way.
NatureShared day tour ≈₱2,300–3,100 per person; eco fee ≈₱800Full-day tour (6–8 hours)
A hidden cove and green lagoons south of Siargao on Bucas Grande, entered through a narrow gap in the cliffs. Swim in a lagoon of stingless jellyfish, swim into Hagukan Cave and jump from the diving-cave platform — a full day by boat. Don't grab the jellyfish or lift them out of the water.
A small, quiet lagoon-like beach hidden among mangroves and rocks west of General Luna near Malinao — calm, clear water. The scooter ride ends on a dirt track; few people come, so go in the morning or at sunset. Pair it with nearby Malinao Beach.
