This guide will cover some of the best things to do in Moalboal, the average cost, where to eat, where to stay, and how to get around Moalboal. Moalboal is a great escape from Cebu City and a short distance from the airport. However, given Cebu’s horrendous traffic, it requires at least three hours by car to get from Cebu to Moalboal.

The Best Things to Do in Moalboal, Cebu

Hang out at Panagsama Beach

Panagsama is the main strip in Moalboal and where pretty much everything is located in town. Most restaurants, tour operators, accommodations, and bars are located here. The town is not very charming and centers around one dirty, noisy street.

There are not a lot of beaches here as it’s mostly retaining walls and a reef. However, it’s a sweet spot for a swim, and this is where you can find the famous bait balls that used to run around Pescador Island.

Water clarity is relatively weak for snorkeling. Many algae, jellyfish, rubbish, and sand are floating around the water; however, if you are scuba certified or can freedive, the water clarity gets good around six meters in depth.

Other than chasing the bait balls right offshore, Panagsama Beach makes for a great place to enjoy the sunset and relax. There are even several beach bars to have a drink or San Miguel while you watch the day end. Or, if you want some more relaxation, there are numerous massage parlors and nail salons.

Earn Your Freedive Certification

Many of the great activities in Moalboal center around the ocean and its abundant marine life. For a long time, we had wanted to understand freediving principles. I know we mentioned freediving above to see the bait balls, and that’s precisely what we did while in Moalboal, as we knew it was the best way to get down deeper and be more comfortable in the ocean.

We took our introduction course at Freediving Planet Moalboal, one of the main places to get certified. Freediving relies on techniques that involve heart rate control and breath-holding to dive to depths of scuba divers and beyond. It’s an incredible sport with elements of meditation and body awareness to explore the ocean’s wonders.

It was just an introduction for us, but we’re eager to understand more about the dynamics of the sport in the future.

Scuba Dive at Pescador Island and The Bait Ball

One of the best things to do in Moalboal is go diving. Diving based out of Moalboal is considered some of the best diving in the Philippines from the inhabited islands. (It is essential to distinguish it from several famous dive sites that require taking a liveaboard in the Philippines.)

There are two well-known dive sites out of Moalboal and several decent dive sights along the coast with pleasant coral. We had enough time to spend one-day diving and went to the two most popular dive sites, Pescador Island and the House Reef, for the sardine ball. Both dives are wall dives with an abundance of coral and small fish.

If you want to find frogfish, nudibranchs, soft corals, and barracuda, Pescador Island is a great dive site. Then there is always the rare chance to spot the legendary thresher shark; however, if you want to see a thresher shark, head up to Malapascua Island, where it’s almost guaranteed.

If you dive in Moalboal, you must take at least one dive with the sardine balls right off Panagsama Beach. Although you can technically swim out and snorkel to see them, I assure you that the experience is ten times better underwater.

There are two dive shops that we can safely recommend in town. Our first choice is Cebu Dive Centre which is run by a welcoming American who had to turn us away as they were booked up for days.

The second choice is Savendra, a well-run dive shop right in the center of town; this is who took us diving. Our dive instructor was professional, and the gear in a modern dive shop was well maintained.

Book a  Whale Shark & Tumalog Falls & Sumilon Sandbar & Pescador Island with Sardines

Get Travel Insurance

Protect yourself from theft, injury, illness, or the unexpected. Heymondo has great short-term travel insurance plans! (World Pursuit Readers get 5% off!)

Find Your Insurance Plan

Cruise Around on a Motorbike

Whenever we’re in the Philippines or anywhere in Southeast Asia, we love to pick up a motorbike for transport. It opens up the ability to explore, and it’s fun to cruise around. We picked up a motorbike for two days and took to the roads to find some epic waterfalls.

Town prices start at around 200 – 350 pesos a day for a motorbike, which varies by the type of motorbike you want. Remember to wear a helmet – there aren’t any hospitals nearby should you hurt yourself! (We only took ours off for the photo above but wore ours the rest of the time).

Take a Boat out to Pescador Island

The most famous spot in Moalboal is Pescador Island, just a short longtail boat ride away from Panagsama Beach. You have two options for exploring the island – scuba diving or go on an island tour with snorkeling included.

The majority of visitors opt for a tour on a long-tail boat. Most tours begin early to beat the heat and ensure calmer seas that can pick up with the wind later in the day.

During the tour, you’ll make several stops; one is along the coast for snorkeling, and one is at Pescador Island. You can expect to find several reef wall coral spots for snorkeling with an abundance of fish and sea turtles, plus a chance to see the sardine bait ball!

The sardine ball was once located around Pescador, but after a typhoon disrupted the ecosystem, they moved to the coast right off on Panagsama Beach.

Go Canyoneering at Kawasan Falls

One of the best things to do in Moalboal is see Kawasan Falls! If you want to find the most beautiful waterfall in the Philippines, you can make an argument for Kawasan Falls. The falls are one of the most well-known attractions on Cebu island, with picture-perfect turquoise blue water.

The waterfall is a breathtaking sight and is well worth a visit – if you time it right. Crowds here are bordering on out of control, and if you visit in the middle of the day, you probably won’t have a great time. Get here before 7 am for the most peaceful and crowd-free time.

Instead of going to Kawasan Falls, opt for the canyoneering trip in the river just above the falls. It’s a favorite activity and very popular, but once you leave the entry point of the falls, groups spread out, and you can enjoy the beautiful water and canyon with just your group.

Canyoneering is a thrilling experience that involves cliff jumps from 7, 10, and 14 meters along with a rope swing. If you want to enjoy the tour, you don’t have to take on the big jumps as the largest one required to complete the journey was only a couple of meters.

It’s all pretty safe, too, guides watch out for the dangerous points, and everyone must wear helmets/life vests. We found our tour company extremely friendly and professional.

Check prices for this tour

Kabutongan Falls

Cebu has much more than Kawasan Falls, and one of our favorite waterfalls is Kabutongan Falls. To reach the falls, follow a small trail across a canyon filled with blue water. You’ll find the scenic waterfall and a cave at the end of the course.

The trail is pretty short and easy for anyone of average fitness. It goes up and down small ravine walls and several large boulders. However, we had no problems finding the route and making it to the waterfall.

A pair of water shoes like Tropicfeels would be handy as you must cross the stream multiple times. It’s 100 Pesos to access the falls and includes a life jacket, but if you’re a strong swimmer, I don’t think a life jacket is necessary and would only get in the way.

Once you reach the falls, you can get the best views if you head up the hill to the left, where you can cliff jump into the pool below. The cliff jump is about 8-9 meters, and the water is deep enough down below to jump.

I took a swim in the water with our diving mask, and the whole bottom is free of debris at about three meters deep. However, it’s best to check for yourself as things can always change, and no one is responsible for your safety but you.

Once you’re in the pool, you can swim underwater and into a small cave. The cave is incredible, and the water is super refreshing. It was a pretty long haul down to the waterfall from Moalboal, about a 1.5-hour drive, but it was more than worth the effort.

White Beach

White Beach is a famous beach on Cebu Island, and it’s known to draw a bit of a crowd. It’s a short 15-minute ride on a motorbike from Panagsama Beach, so it’s worth checking out while you’re there.

White Beach makes for an excellent early morning swim if you like to snorkel, as the coral is in much better shape than Panagsama. Be prepared for the weekend crowds as the beach is popular with locals who love big picnics and loud karaoke.

Lambug Beach

Still wondering what to do in Moalboal? Head to Lambug Beach! This beach is pretty similar to White Beach, but it’s much smaller, with fewer people and filled with cottages.

The sand is perfectly white and surrounded by palm trees, and the snorkeling is excellent. It’s a great little escape from the main tourist points and takes about half an hour via motorbike.

Party the Night Away

There are a lot of bars around Panagsama Beach, and after sunset is when the area comes alive. Just take a walk down the main/only street to find one that fancies you. It’s not our thing and had a younger vibe, but it would be fun with a group!

Have a Smoothie Bowl at Shaka Cafe

There are only a few spots we found delicious food around Moalboal. The stand-out would have to be Shaka Cafe, like on Siargao. It’s a small chain of smoothie bowl restaurants with a few locations throughout the Philippines.

They serve beautiful smoothie bowls and coffee for a 300 Peso combo ($6 USD). We visited Shaka almost daily in Panagsama Beach and their other Siargao locations. My personal favorites are the Cloud 9 Kook, ¡¡Bom Dia!!, and Bakunawa Bowl.

Things to do in Moalboal Map

What to Budget for Traveling Moalboal, Cebu?

You can expect to spend anywhere from $30 to $75 a person in Moalboal. It’s one of the more affordable destinations in the world, and I’m sure a backpacker or someone on an extreme budget could come in under $30.

On average private rooms range from $15 to $75 a night. Food is affordable and can go anywhere from $2 to $10. Food choices range from cheap local dishes to Western meals.

Activities vary in price, but they’re all very affordable when compared elsewhere. We paid $65 per person for two boat dives with equipment, about $30 a dive. A motorbike rental ranges from about $5 to $10 daily, depending on quality and haggling. In contrast, a boat tour for island hopping comes to around $25 a person.

How to Get to Moalboal from Cebu?

Cebu City operates as a helpful hub in the Philippines with a new international flight terminal and dozens of domestic flights. From Cebu City, you have a multitude of destinations you can reach on Cebu Island via bus or Taxi along with neighboring islands such as Bohol via ferry.

Moalboal is 92 km Southwest of Cebu City on Cebu Island and travel time there varies from two and half hours to six, depending on traffic.

Bus:

From Cebu City, you must head to the South Bus Terminal, where there are departures every 30 minutes to Moalboal. The best bus line for travelers is the more comfortable yellow Ceres Bus Line, which costs one way 110 PHP. Travel time to Moalboal via the bus is three hours, but that can take significantly longer, with Cebu traffic typically around four hours. If coming from the airport, don’t forget to factor in time to the bus terminal. Altogether, it may take around six hours, if not more— which for 92 km, that’s pretty crazy.

Once you reach Moalboal, you’ll need to hire a tricycle or motorbike to take the 3-4 kilometers to reach Panagsama Beach or White Beach. The typical fare is around 100 – 200 PHP. If you’re a foreigner, expect to pay about 200 PHP.

Taxi:

This option is the easiest, and it’s how we made our way to Moalboal. The average price for a taxi from Cebu Airport is 2000 PHP to 2500 PHP. We paid 2500 and thought it was more than a fair price when we got stuck in four hours of traffic. In an ideal world, it should take two and a half hours with no traffic.

Transfer:

If you’ve booked a dive package or resort in Moaboal, many of them will arrange a private transfer for you. These are convenient and can save some time, but they do cost more, and considering the ease of a taxi, we would not recommend going this route. The going rate for transfers is around 2800 PHP to 3000 PHP—a slight upcharge from the standard taxi price.

When is the Best Time to Visit Moalboal?

The best time to visit Moalboal and Cebu would be from December to March. This is when you can expect sunny days and warm temperatures. Like all beach destinations, you want to enjoy the sunshine and take in the beach.

Cebu and the Philippines, for that matter, experience only two seasons – dry and rainy seasons. October to May is the dry season with only occasional rain showers. At the same time, the wet season is from June to August, with frequent downpours that last for days. The end of the dry season also happens to be the “summer months,” with March to June building up in heat and humidity.

We visited in mid-May, and it was hot and humid, but we rarely saw rain.

An island filled with rolling hills, white sand beaches, world class surf spots, and an endless amount of palm trees – what is not to love? Here is your epic list of things to do in Siargao. Let’s dig in!

Best Things to Do on Siargao

1.) Catch Some Waves at Cloud 9

This surf break is widely considered one of the best in the world and it is Siargao’s claim to fame. Not long ago Siargao was only a small hamlet in the outer reaches of the Philippines with a legendary surf break that attracted determined surfers. As the years passed on the secret got out from the surfers about the beauty of Siargao in the last few years tourism has picked up fast.

There are a lot of surf breaks around the island, and board rentals are cheap and plentiful, with a nice selection of sizes. Even if you’re a larger guy, you’ll likely be able to get your hands on a surfboard. There are a plethora of breaks around the island outside of Cloud 9. Here are a few of the most popular areas.

Jacking Horse: This may be the most popular spot on the island as it is prime for beginners and most lessons occur here. It can have a pretty strong current, and a reef break like many on this island, so come prepared to put in some work with risk. It’s best to head to this spot around mid-tide and then ride through the high tide.

Tuason’s Point: This point break delivers a consistent left-hand tube and is a popular spot for advanced and intermediate surfers. Of course, the ability depends on the swell because, in high season, the waves are known to be heavier than Cloud 9 with breaks over a shallow reef. The paddle out is easy, but be careful when entering the water as there are a lot of sharp rocks.

Stimpy’s: This is an expert’s only surf spot and is accessed via a short boat ride. It costs about 200-300 pesos a person for a ride out to this perfect tube over shallow water.

Caridad – Great spot for barrels when in the season if you’re looking to escape the more popular surf spots.

Cemetery: This break takes its name from being located right in front of the General Luna Cemetery with a wave that breaks both left and right.

Pilar: This is a bit of a long haul as it’s a 1.5-hour boat ride from General Luna. It’s pretty quiet and has two left reef breaks that are best during the Northeast swells.

Daku Island: This is the same island that is popular on the island hopping tours, but the surf break is typically quiet. You’ll need to pick up a ride from General Luna Dock for around 250 pesos a person.

Pacifico: It’s a long haul up from General Luna and Cloud 9, but it’s our favorite beach on the island and has a great big break in peak season.

Guyan: This is a short drive out of General Luna and requires crossing some “no-trespassing” signs. However, it’s a nice break when the swells are too big for beginners. When swells are low it’s not worth bringing a surfboard as it’s almost flat.

Location: Cloud 9 Surf Break

2.) Watch Sunrise or Sunset at Cloud 9 Pier

While the surf is an amazing facet for many travelers, not everyone surfs. For those who aren’t ready to take on heavy reef break swells, you can catch some amazing views from the pier.

It is built for easy access to the break for surfers and operates as the best place to catch views of the surfers competing for one of the most consistent surf breaks in the world. Views from the pier are amazing and the structure is unlike any pier we’ve ever seen.

It’s a great spot for sunset, but it gets pretty crowded. If you want our opinion get out with some of the surfers and catch the sunrise for a more quiet experience with epic views. There is an entrance fee to go out on the boardwalk of 100 pesos. We arrived in the evening and early morning so we never ended up paying as the booth was unmanned.

Location: Cloud 9 Pier

3.) Get Healthy at Shaka Cafe

After catching the waves or watching surfers at Cloud 9, you should check out Shaka Cafe. It’s a small chain of smoothie bowl restaurants with a few locations throughout the Philippines.

They serve up a delicious combo of a smoothie bowl and coffee for 300 Pesos ($6 USD). We visited Shaka almost daily in Siargao and their other location in Moalboal. My personal favorites are the Cloud 9 Kook, ¡¡Bom Dia!!, and Bakunawa Bowl.

Location: Shaka Cafe

4.) Sun Bathe on Pacifico Beach

Once you escape the madding crowds of General Luna, the island returns back to what it was not long ago. Siargao so far has almost entirely escaped development and throngs of tourists. Granted that may all change in the future, for now, Pacifico remains a large beach with one backpacker resort and a few little shops/restaurants for surfers.

It’s a gorgeous untouched beach with white sand and lined by palm trees that make it the best beach on the island. There is one small resort and a number of small homestays/restaurants. It’s a crusty little town with some great surf and the perfect spot to relax for an afternoon or catch some waves.

Location: Pacifico Beach

5.) Dive into the Sugba Lagoon

This is widely considered one of the best day trips on the island; if you have more than a few days, it’s more than worth your time. It’s one of the most popular things to do in Siargao, and it’s a pretty easy day trip to arrange from General Luna.

Sugba Lagoon is a spectacular lagoon surrounded by mountains and features a lagoon that is a myriad of shades of blue and green. In the center of the lagoon is a hut with a diving board and rentals such as kayaks and SUP boards.

Day trips to the lagoon can be arranged in General Luna and run around 2000 pesos a person ($30 – 40). We paid for a tour from General Luna at Kermit’s that included a basic lunch and had a great experience.

However, it’s very easy to do it yourself for cheaper and has the exact same experience. Afterward the tour, we wish we had done this. It’s extremely easy especially if you are a group and can hire out your own boat.

The lagoon trip has been organized by the local community, so boat drivers charge a flat fee of 1600 pesos per boat and each visitor is responsible for a 100 peso environmental fee. It’s super easy to set up by getting yourself to the tourist office/pier in Del Carmen. The boats line up and serve first come. With six people per boat, you could easily get the price down to around 350 pesos a head.

It’s a super popular spot on the island so don’t expect to get the lagoon to yourself unless you’re the first or last boat to arrive (thankfully we were the first). We had about 10 minutes until the crowds started coming in. Even with a fair amount of people, the lagoon is plenty large enough to find some space away from others if you rent a kayak or SUP.

Location: Del Carmen Pier

6.) Cliff Jump at Taktak Waterfall

This is one of the only waterfalls on the island, and don’t expect to have your socks knocked off. By the standards of the Philippines, it’s pretty underwhelming. However, if you take the time to drive up to the Northern section of the island, it’s worth taking a dip to cool off and wash off the dust.

As an added bonus, you can also do some cliff jumping and explore the verdant cliffside around the waterfall. The drive from General Luna takes about 1.5 hours, so be prepared for a full day of riding.

However, it’s worth adding it to a tour around the island, and Alegria Beach is close to the waterfall. We went on a weekend, and it was pretty packed with locals enjoying the refreshing water. I imagine if you go on a Monday afternoon, it will be far less busy.

Location: Taktak Waterfall

7.) Catch Low Tide at Magpupungko Rock Pools

The most popular spot on Siargao is only accessible during low tide, so you must time your visit right. Because of this, it can get very busy. Despite the slight crowds, The Magpupungko Rock pools are still one of the best spots on Siargao, and we had a great morning here until the tide came along.

The pools are a series of tidal pools with large rocks that are about a few meters tall, and you can jump off the small cliffs while exploring the tidal pools, coves, and small caves.

It’s not all there is to the site either, as there is a beautiful beach with facilities and a handful of restaurants. It should be noted there is an entrance charge to the beach of 50 pesos ($1), a small price to pay for a great experience. Oh, yea – and don’t forget to bring water shoes here. Seriously the rocks are very sharp, and I was so thankful to have mine!

Location: Magpupungko Rock Pools

8.) Swim with Jellyfish in Sohoton Cove

This awesome spot is not on Siargao but on its neighboring island of Socorro. Reaching the island is pretty easy as there is a ferry that leaves from the town of Dapa. Once you’ve arrived on Socorro, you have to charter a long boat to take you out to Sohoton Cove.

The central piece of Sohoton Cove is the Blue Lagoon (Titikan Lagoon). It is similar to many of other famed lagoons in the Philippines that feature beautiful cloudy blue water with dramatic cliffs. It’s an amazing day trip and arguably the best on the island and one of the best in the Philippines.

Location: Socorro Island

9.) Gaze Across the Coconut Trees

We stopped at this spot several times while touring around Siargao. It’s not an official spot – at least not one with a name. However, the viewpoint affords visitors epic views of the island’s wild landscape with endless palm trees.

The landscape is halfway between General Luna and Magpupungko Rock Pools, so you’ll likely pass this spot while on the island. It’s near impossible to miss as the view is impressive.

We drove by the viewpoint multiple times while on Siargao and stopped every time to stretch our legs and take in the viewpoint. A few families have also set up shop with as small vendors so you can stop and enjoy a coconut with the view.

Location: Coconut Trees View Deck

10.) Swing into the Maasin River

This river made a bunch of lists, and it looks like a pretty awesome spot, but so many photos we saw of the river were edited to make the water look extremely blue. We came expecting an awesome spot but found that those bloggers/Instagrammers had photoshopped a normal brown river to blue, go figure.

That being said, there is an awesome rope swing off a bent palm tree that makes for some fun photographs. The river is a magical place that makes for a worthwhile stop.

Location: Maasin River

11.) Chill Out on Doot Beach

This beautiful little beach is relaxed and sees few tourists despite being only a 10-minute drive from General Luna. The drive to the beach is down a dirt road that’s pretty rough but easy on a motorbike.

Once you reach the end, there are several signs that read “no trespassing;” however, we asked a few locals we saw walking past the sign, and they said not to worry as long as we were respectful. This could be bad advice, but no one seemed to mind, and it is a really amazing little beach to spend an afternoon.

Location: Doot Beach

12.) Take a Dip at Alegria Beach

Alegria Beach is far North of the island near Tak Tak waterfall. Since it’s a long drive up from General Luna, few visitors frequent the white sand beach. It’s perfect to relax if you want to sunbathe and need a break from the long motorbike ride up from General Luna. It’s super popular with locals on the island and gets a little crowded on weekends or holidays.

Like almost all of the beaches on Siargao, a surrounding reef makes swimming difficult. However, the water is deep enough to take a dip and cool off. We had a tricky time finding beaches on Siargao we could take a real swim on, but this is one where we could take a dip with no need for water shoes.

Location: Alegria Beach

13.) Island Hopping — Guyam, Daku, and Naked Island

Island hopping is THE thing to do in the Philippines. It is also one of the most popular things to do in Siargao. There are two basic itineraries for island hopping out of General Luna. The primary one visits three islands that are a short boat ride from the main dock in town. Naked Island, Guyam, and Daku are the three stops on tour, and each has its own vibe.

The basic itinerary includes a short stop at each island, lunch, pick-up, and drop-off, and costs around 1,000 pesos ($20) a person from tour operators. It’s super easy to do on your own, too, as boats operate on a set rate (1,500 pesos) and if you can get to the dock in General Luna. We picked up our own boat and some fresh fruit and did the whole thing for about 2300 for a private tour.

If you have a group of three or more, it would be easy to organize the whole thing for less than 1,000 pesos. If you are just one person, I recommend booking with a tour operator like Kermits in General Luna or waiting at the General Luna pier to find a group to tack onto.

Furthermore, if you’re looking for a fresh fish meal, you can ask your boat captain for help to pick up some fresh in the local market next to the dock.

Naked Island: This is the first island we visited on our tour, and its name is pretty easy to understand. It’s a small sandbar with no trees and surrounded by crystal blue water. There is ZERO protection from the sun, so make sure to pack sunblock and aim to arrive on the island early in the day.

Daku Island: The largest island on tour and probably the best for swimming. It’s a large forested island with a small village with several cabanas and tables/restaurants that will cook up any food you bring to the island, such as fresh fish. You’ll have to pay an additional charge to use these tables and also to have them cook the food you brought.

Guyam Island: This was our favorite island on tour, and thanks to being on our own schedule, we shared it with only a few other boats. It’s a tiny island that may be only 50 meters wide, filled with a small forest of palm trees and several hammocks.

Location: General Luna Pier

14.) Tayangban Cave Pools

With only a week on the island, we ran out of time to check this off the list, plus we knew it would be tough to grab any photos without a dry bag. For many, Tayangban is a highlight on the island.

It’s a great caving experience and gives a nice swim through a pitch-dark cave before opening up to a cave pool that features cliff jumps up to seven meters. It’s not too deep, and you can stand with the water up to your chest for most of the cave.

Location: Tayangban Cave Pools

15.) Drive Down the Palm Tree Road

Still, wondering what to do in Siargao? This spot is a great photo spot, and it’s an amazing place to take in the massive amount of palm trees on Siargao. We’ve seriously never seen as many palm trees as we have on Siargao.

This spot is famous on Instagram and in photos of Siargao as the newly paved road cuts straight through a dense forest of palm trees with no development. Taking a motorbike down this road is an awesome thing on Siargao.

Location: Palm Tree Road

16.) Rent a Motorbike

There are a few ways to get around Siargao. It’s possible to rent a bicycle, although sometimes the streets and sidewalks can be hectic. However, the most popular way to get from point to point efficiently and fast on Siargao is on a motorbike.

Motorbike rentals in Siargao generally range from around 300 to 500 pesos a day. We paid 400 during a busy period. You might get lucky and negotiate it down to less than 300. We picked ours up from our guesthouse and appreciated the ease.

Many hotels or guesthouses will have their own motorbikes or know someone with a motorbike, so that should be your first point of contact for nabbing one. If you can’t seem to find a reputable motorbike seller walk into any business, and they should be able to help you out.

One last thing, please, for God’s love, wear a helmet! We know it’s not cool to wear but think about the hospitals on Siargao and their lack of an ER, operating room, or any type of brain injury expert. If you crash and seriously hurt your head, you’ll have to be rushed to another island for treatment. The ONLY time we took off our helmets was for a quick photo like the one below.

Where to Eat on Siargao Island?

It’s pretty tough to find a decent kitchen with your accommodation on Siargao so you’ll probably spend most of your time going out to eat. While the Philippines are rightfully not known for their cuisine, there are some great spots to eat on Siargao.

Miguel’s Tacos: This joint makes some delicious tacos and burritos for a cheap price of around 150 pesos ($3). A great way to fill that afternoon snack.

Kermit Surf Resort: Kermit is the spot on Siargao. They have a big open restaurant that’s tucked away in the resort with a full bar and Italian food for a decent price.

Harana Surf Resort: Located right at Tuason’s Point, we loved the vibe at Harana as it’s laid back with floor seating on bean bags and serves up some delicious food at a great surf spot.

Shaka Cafe: You must try at least one smoothie bowl at the Shaka Cafe and enjoy the tropical island vibes.

Mama’s Grill: This grill is a staple for visitors and gets super crowded when open. We tried to time it three days in a row only to find it closed. Finally, on the fourth day after we’d given up, we saw it open. Classic.

Sushi Nori: I was pretty skeptical about trying sushi or raw fish on the island. However, they make some great poke bowls worth a stop with fresh fish.

General Luna Market: You can pick up fresh fruit and fish near the pier at the General Luna market. Get there before noon for a fresh selection!

Where to Stay on Siargao Island

There is pretty much only one area to stay on Siargao as almost all of the hotels, guesthouses, resorts, and hostels are based around General Luna. General Luna is also where you’ll find all the restaurants, tour operators, bars, and coffee shops so you should opt for accommodation in the area.

Within General Luna, we really preferred the vibe just out of town up near the Cloud 9 surf break. The area is a little more laid back and less dusty, and you have access to a fantastic sunrise spot, a bonus if you’re looking to catch some waves. There are plenty of Airbnbs and hotels around the area to choose from. If it’s your first time using Airbnb, you can see our guide on how to score a good one here. Plus, there is a coupon code!

It’s also possible to find something near Pacifico if you are after a more quiet and lad back vibe, but this area has far fewer things to do.

Accessing Cash on Siargao

ATMs are limited on Siargao. There are only two in General Luna, and we found that neither of them accepts foreign Visa cards. It’s best to have a Mastercard Debit to pull money out. Otherwise, you’ll have to drive back and forth to Dapa town whenever you need cash.

We didn’t find anywhere on the island that accepted credit cards, so make sure to have enough cash on you for the entirety of your trip. Read more about how we access cash abroad here.

To be safe, I would budget at least $35-50 a day AFTER your accommodation expenses here.

WiFi on Siargao

We rarely found working WiFi on Siargao – even in our Airbnb that advertised it. We didn’t sweat though, because data is super cheap in the Philippines.

You can easily pick up a SIM card in General Luna for 50 Pesos. From there we paid about 100 Pesos for 2 GB of data and topped it up as we used it.

Travel in Asia

• 12 Amazing Waterfalls in Japan You Have to See to Believe
• 10 Reasons You Should Travel to Tohoku, Japan in 2020
• What Does a Trip to Japan Cost? Is it expensive?
• 25 Best Things to do in Kyoto, Japan • 2020 GUIDE
• 30 Facts about Japanese Culture That Will Blow Your Mind
• Where to Buy a Japan Rail Pass • All You Need to Know
• 36 Best Places to Visit in Hong Kong
• 19 Best Things to do in Langkawi, Malaysia
• The 30 Most Beautiful Cities in the World
• WHERE TO STAY IN LANGKAWI • The Five Best Hotels in Langkawi
• What to Wear in Bali • The Ultimate Bali Packing List!

Being prone to typhoons and bad weather, finding the best time to visit the Philippines can be tricky. That’s why we’ve provided you with this handy month-by-month guide! We’ve even run through some of the best festivals in the Philippines to help pinpoint the best time of year to visit the Philippines for you.

When is the Best Time to Visit the Philippines?

Technically, for great weather, the best time to travel to the Philippines is from December to April before the temperatures rise. It’s not the cheapest time to visit the Philippines, but the Philippines is far from an expensive destination, and you’ll still be able to find great travel deals.

We prefer to travel to destinations in the shoulder season. That would be May and October in the Philippines. The shoulder season means fewer crowds and lower prices, and it’s still not guaranteed wetness. In fact, we traveled to Siargao and Moalboal the first two weeks of May and had nothing but sunshine the whole time. Should it have rained occasionally, we knew it would only be quick rain showers that wouldn’t ruin our whole trip.

Quick Answers

• When is the Cheapest Time to visit the Philippines? June-September
• When is the Best Time to Visit the Philippines for Good Weather? December-February
• When is the Best Time to Visit the Philippines for Diving? October-May, however, diving is possible year-round in most destinations.
• When is the Best Time to Visit Palawan? April
• When is the Best Time to Visit Cebu? January
• When is the Best Time to Visit Boracay? April
• When is the Best Time to Visit Siargao? March-September

The Climate of the Philippines

Before we discuss the best time to go to the Philippines, there are varying weather patterns based on geographical location. The Philippines has five types of climates: tropical monsoon, tropical savanna, tropical rainforest, humid subtropical, and oceanic.

This means that while it may be the dry season in the north of the country, the other end of the country may be experiencing completely different weather patterns. So keep in mind the weather of the exact places in the Philippines you will be going and not focus on the country as a whole.

The Two distinct seasons

Month By Month Breakdown

January

January is pretty much high season across the whole of the Philippines. It’s a popular time of year and one of the best times to visit the Philippines regarding the weather. However, there are also the full prices of accommodation to consider, as well as the tourist crowds.

Manila has an average temperature of 25°C and highs of 30°C. But if you are going to high-altitude places, such as Baguio, temperatures are cooler, especially at night. In the south, on the other hand, it is warmer, with a limited amount of rainfall. Siargao, for instance, has an average temperature of 27°C. Palawan and Boracay can still be slightly rough from the monsoons so island hopping may be limited during January in the Philippines.

February

Another one of the best times to visit the Philippines is in February. The beautiful weather in February is similar to that of the previous months. It’s pleasant, so it’s still a pretty popular time of year to visit the Philippines. For the country as a whole, the average temperatures are around 30°C. There is minimal rainfall, and most days are dry and sunny.

It is a good time to visit the Cordillera region, as the temperatures are slightly cooler. The Banaue rice terraces are also cooler at this time of year. The capital region sees temperatures that hover around 30°C. In February, Baguio sees high heat and humidity with maximum daytime temperatures of 29°C.

March

March sees visitors pouring into the island country, with the high season still very much in full swing. It’s a good time of year to visit the Philippines, as temperatures are – though hot – still bearable. In Manila, for example, the average temperature has climbed to 32°C. It’s a very popular time to visit coastal areas such as El Nido, as the sea temperatures are warming up; here, they are around a very balmy 27°C.

It sees around eight hours of sunshine per day. You will also be unlikely to get many downpours during a trip to the Philippines in March, with only an average of three rainy days across the month. There’s no better time to lay out on the beach with nice coastal breezes! For a break from the heat, head to cooler Cordillera.

April

Often, when Easter falls, April is a very busy time of year to travel to the Philippines. As a result, the hotel rates can be at their most expensive, and there are many more crowds in Manila and beach areas. Temperatures are also rising, with the daytime temperature in Manila usually reaching around 34°C. There’s high humidity, too, dropping to 32°C at night.

Across the country, there are about nine hours of sunshine per day to enjoy and explore, plus the sea temperatures are heating up: they climb to around 29°C. A beach destination, much rather than a city, is needed during this time of heat. Boracay, for example, would be a good idea! However, it is likely to be busy!

May

Hot, hot, hot. May is one of the hottest months of the year. If you are not a fan of scorching temperatures and humidity, then May is not the best time to visit the Philippines. The rising temperatures mean the capital gets to around 36°C during the day, with high humidity. Night temperatures are not much better.

As the month goes on, the chance of rainfall increases as the rainy season begins to encroach on the country’s shores. At the moment, May only sees around 32mm of precipitation. However, the rains do help to break the humidity and make for a welcome relief from the intense heat of the sun. A good option at this time of year is to head to coastal regions like Boracay, Palawan, Moalboal, and Bohol.

June

June marks the beginning of the low season in the Philippines and is not the best month to visit Philippines. Accordingly, accommodation prices drop, and crowds begin to disperse, meaning this could be a good time of year to visit the Philippines – especially if you don’t mind the occasional rainy spell.

Heavy rainfall is expected in June. If you still want to get some time on the beach, head south to Siargao, Cebu, or Bohol. Bohol sees its famous “Chocolate” Mountains turn from brown to green, which isn’t as impressive; however, Banaue’s rice terraces are almost luminous green at the moment, so June is a great time to see them.

July

It’s now most definitely low season. While the eastern side of the country is relatively dry, the western side – and, to be honest, most of the country – gets substantial rain during this month. The average daily temperatures can fluctuate between 20°C and 32°C, with the rains bringing a cooler climate. The average level of rainfall in the Philippines during July is 253mm, with an average of 17 days experiencing rainfall.

Typhoons begin to affect the country, which can be completely devastating: large typhoons can cause flooding, destroy buildings, and keep whole cities on lockdown. Visiting the Philippines during July? Head to Bohol, Siargao, Cebu, and other southern islands; they get rain, but far less than other places.

August

August in the Philippines is pretty much the same picture as you get in July in the Philippines. There’s a lot of rain, typhoons can hit, and temperatures can vary from around 21°C to 32°C. It is rainier in August than in July, with an average of 24 days out the month receiving rainfall. Around 431mm of rain drenches the country during August.

It’s very unlikely that you won’t experience rain during your trip to the Philippines if you choose to go in August – especially in the Cordillera and Luzon regions. The southerly islands fare better but are still pretty likely to see rainfall. If you’re into surfing, however, one recommendation would be Siargao.

September

Again, a very wet month. September is still low season, and for a good reason: typhoons do hit during this month. Even though they’re not terrible, huge typhoons, they will cause torrential rain and probably some flooding. Typhoons can really affect your travel plans, so do pay attention to the weather before you fly if you plan on visiting in September. Temperatures in September throughout the Philippines hover around 25°C, but can still reach into the 30s.

The rainfall for the month, on average, is 421mm across 23 days. So, really, it is less rainy than August, but you should still prepare for downpours. Towards the end of the month, things may even dry up a little bit. It’s a good time to visit the Philippines if you want a good hotel deal, especially in places like Cebu (24-33°C), where the rainfall is consistently broken up by brilliant sunshine.

October

October in the Philippines means shoulder season. The country is coming out of the drenching of the rain-soaked low season and gradually heading into a better time of year for tourists to visit. The hotel prices are still good, before spiking once again in November.

The average rainfall is still fairly high, with an average 22 days receiving a total of 355mm for the month. The north of the country (Luzon, Cordillera) will be getting much of that, whereas places such as Bohol and Cebu are relatively free from too much rainfall. The average temperature for the country as a whole is 25 to 27°C. Towards the end of the month, it actually gets to be a great time to visit the Philippines – even though there can be a rogue typhoon or two occurring in the south.

November

Prices rise ahead of the high season next month. The weather is better, the rainy season has all but passed completely, though it still rains. November gets an average of 192mm across 19 days, while the temperatures, on average, sit between 24 and 32°C.

The clouds of the rainy season begin to disperse and have, on the whole, been replaced with sunny skies. Humidity lessens up, too. It’s a beautiful time of year to visit the Philippines, especially Boracay, El Nido, and Bohol.

December

It is high season across most of the country. December brings in cooler, more pleasant weather, enticing visitors who are looking for a beach break during the holiday season. Be warned; hotel prices at resorts triple around New Year, so maybe that’s not the best time to visit the Philippines if you’re on a budget. But the best time of year to visit Philippines if you love good weather.

Days are clear and sunny, with low levels of humidity and less chance of rain than in recent months. The Cordillera region, Manila, Boracay – pretty much anywhere is on the cards for December. That’s why it’s a popular time of year!

Festivals in the Philippines

Spring Festivals in the Philippines

One of the best festivals in the Philippines, April sees the Moriones Festival. Beginning in 1807, and taking place in Marinduque Province, this folk-religious event marks the start of Holy Week. It is dedicated to the half-blind Roman centurion St Longinus, who converted to Christianity after being the one who stabbed Jesus with a spear while he was on the cross.

Another April festival, the Crucifixion Ceremony is held every Good Friday. People are actually nailed (ok, well not nailed, but attached, at least) to crosses to re-enact the crucifixion of Jesus. In May, there’s Rodeo Masbateno, a weeklong cowboy rodeo complete with live music and bullrings. Another May offering is one of the best festivals in the Philippines – Pahiyas. Taking place on May 15, houses are decked out with colorful decorations and parades flood the streets of Lucban, Quezon.

Summer Festivals in the Philippines

For a colorful and cool summer festival in the Philippines, look no further than Hugyaw Silay Kansilay Festival. Spanning a week in June, it celebrates the founding of the city of Silay, Negros Province. Expect dancing, dance competitions, and, of course, parades.

The third week in August means the Kadayawan Sa Dabaw festival. This is a festival in Dabaw that showcases the city’s Muslim, Chinese, and tribal roots, with all sorts of parades and displays taking place. It’s a super vibrant one to hit up.

Fall Festivals in the Philippines

Christmas is a big deal in the Philippines. It’s not uncommon to see Christmas-themed lights and decorations decking the halls and malls as early as September and October. It’s pretty cool to see, especially if you’re a big fan of Christmas yourself!

Before the festive frenzy of December 25, there is MassKara. Masked men get worked up into a frenzy in Bacolod, around October 19. There’s also the Lanzones festival. Taking place on the island of Camiguin, northern Mindanao, it celebrates the lanzones (a small yellow fruit) themselves.

Todos Los Santos – or All Saints Day – takes place on November 1. This is a time when families take food to cemeteries to remember their relatives and ancestors. Rather than a somber affair, this is a lively, colorful event, and one of the most interesting festivals in the Philippines.

Winter Festivals in the Philippines

January 9 means the Feast of Black Nazarene. This is a huge religious event and one of the best festivals in the Philippines. Head to Quiapo in Manila to see thousands of devotees take part in a procession.

Taking place on the third Sunday of January on the island of Akan, Ati-Atihan celebrates the Santo Nino, with tribal dances, traditional parades, and costumes for a very colorful and energetic set of festivities.

Also on the third Sunday of January is the Sinulog Festival. Thousands of people throng the streets in towns, cities, and villages across the Philippines in celebration.