Have you heard about the mystical island of Siquijor? If you’re still among those who are hesitant to visit the island because of being known for witchcraft and sorcery, this is the right time to think twice and don’t miss the chance of exploring an island full of magic and beautiful sceneries. We visited Siquijor during my last birthday week and it truly made my day even more special. The island’s mystique will captivate you – not because of black magic, but because of the spell cast to you of its mesmerizing places, warm people and experiences you’ll get once stepping your foot on the island. Scroll down, learn more about this island, and see yourself how magical this island is.
Knowing Siquijor
Siquijor is an island located in the Central Visayas region and the 3rd smallest province in the country. It was once called “Islas Del Fuego” or Island of Fire because, during the Spanish colonial period, the island seemed to be lit from afar due to the fireflies that inhabited the Molave trees on the island. It is just less than an hour boat ride from Dumaguete, the capital city of Negros Oriental, and becoming popular now among tourists slowly moving away from the stigma of eerie voodoo and black magic the island previously established.
How to Get to the Island?
The island has no airport and direct flights, so the gateway to reach Siquijor is through Dumaguete City. There are daily flights going to Dumaguete City from Manila or you may ride a bus if you’ll be just coming from the Negros Island.
We ride a morning flight from Manila to Dumaguete. Outside the Dumaguete airport, we chartered a tricycle that would take us directly to the Dumaguete port. From the Dumaguete port, you may either take a ferry ride, Oceanjet or RoRo. Fare and ride schedule varies so better check online to avoid mishaps and miss your ride. In our case, we took the 11:00 AM Oceanjet ride which cost us Php 385 each (booked online). The ferry ride only took about 40 minutes and upon reaching the Siquijor port, you can take another tricycle or rent a motorcycle (if you know how to ride one) to take you to your booked accommodation.
The island’s primary mode of transportation is a tricycle but it might get expensive over time due to its fare so if you know how to drive a motorcycle and want a cheaper transportation option, I suggest you rent one. We rented a fazzio for Php 450/day to easily go around. If you wish to rent one, I recommend to try renting through Pls Motor Bike Rental Siquijor. The owner and staff are accommodating, and kind and offer a lot of ride options at a very affordable price.
Where to Stay in Siquijor
I must say that the best area to stay on the island is in San Juan where a lot of beachfront resorts can be found depending on your budget. There are also a lot of famous restaurants to choose from, ATMs for your cash withdrawals and a vibrant weekend nightlife.
Places to Visit in Siquijor
Old Balete Tree
This enchanted old balete tree, located in Lazi, Siquijor is estimated to be more than 400 years old and considered to be the oldest and the biggest on the island. Its enchanting look draws tourists making it one of the must-visit spots in Lazi. Below the old tree lies a pond with fishes where you can dip your feet for a fish foot spa experience. Small (and big lol) fishes take gentle bites of your dead skins and treat your precious feet for a relaxing (or maybe ticklish?) foot experience.
Entrance fee: Php 20
Hapitanan
Since the island has been known to be a land of witchcraft and sorcery for many years now, this attraction stands by that reputation and allows visitors to experience a taste of it. Ride a broomstick, jump, and take those perfect shots. There are in-house photographers that will direct you on what to do and how to pose to make sure you’ve got to experience how to become a witch (even just for the photo).
Entrance fee: None (only donations if you wish to take photos)
Lazi Church and Convent
The Philippines has a rich religious heritage because of Spanish colonization, and many of its provinces have beautiful old churches. Lazi Church is definitely the most highlighted church on the island because of its stunning architecture and history. The church was made of coral stones and hardwood, and declared by the National Museum of the Philippines as a National Cultural Treasure.
Across the church, you can find its convent which is said to be one of the largest convents built during the Spanish colonial times. Today, it houses the Siquijor Heritage Museum, where religious artifacts and historic relics of the province are kept.
Entrance fee: None (Lazi Church) Php 30 (Lazi Convent)
Cambugahay Falls
This must be the most famous attraction on the island that probably no one dares to skip. It is a multi-leveled waterfall with pristine turquoise to blue waters. One of the most fascinating waterfalls I’ve seen so far. Since it is multi-leveled, you may choose where to swim and do all of that Tarzan swings. There are a lot of things you can do here aside from swimming. You can do unlimited jumps on Tarzan swings and you can also ride a balsa and have photos taken by the resident guides of Cambugahay. These guides, dubbed to be “human drones”, are doing an amazing job of taking video and photo shots to another level! They’ll ride the Tarzan swings with your phone to take those beautiful shots, a donation/tip is enough to keep them going. Prevent the crowd by going here early to enjoy as much as you can. Just before the entrance going down the Cambugahay Falls, don’t forget to try their famous charcoal ice cream for only Php 30.
Entrance fee: Php 50
Bolo-Bolo Cold Spring
If you want to visit a non-touristy spring, Bolo-Bolo would be the best place to go! It’s not touristy that even our hired tricycle driver is not even sure where it is lol It’s just about 1 km away from Cambugahay Falls so if you’re already in the area, you might want to just drop by. It’s just a small spring but the water is crystal clear blue, cold, and perfect for a dip. There were no tourists when we went there but we had the locals with us enjoying the cold spring.
Entrance fee: Free
Salagdoong Beach
Salagdoong Beach is a beach located in the municipality of Maria in the eastern part of the island. Aside from having pristine blue water, this privately owned resort is also famous for its cliff-diving spots. The resort houses concrete platforms where one can jump down to the sea. Just be mindful as there are times that jumping is not allowed depending on the height of the waters below. If jumping is not permitted, you may just take photos with the perfect view of its cliff. There are lifeguards all around the place making sure no one will jump unless allowed to do so. Aside from its cliff-diving spots, there are a lot of cottages and rooms here perfect for family outings and team-building activities.
Entrance fee: Php 50
Uela’s Three Mangrove Trees
I don’t think this has been part of a typical Siquijor trip. This is a group of three mangrove trees located on a public shore just along the Siquijor Circumferential Road in the northern east of the island just less than 300 meters from the famous Lilibeth’s Pan De Bisaya. A little attraction but it is just stunning as you stare at the three standing mangrove trees surrounded by fine sands when low tide or blue water when high tide. If you are making a trip around the island and you happen to pass by this road, a few minutes of stopping by is enough to appreciate this beauty.
Entrance fee: Free
Paliton Beach
Paliton Beach is located in San Juan, Siquijor famous for its beautiful sunset. You can feel the tropical vibe on this beach because, unlike other beaches on the island, it showcases palm trees along its shore with fine sands and bluish seawater. This is also where you can have the famous drone shot videos while riding a swing. In our case, we went here during the morning and just took photos. Since we were just staying in San Juan, we didn’t feel the need to watch the sunset from here since anywhere beachside in San Juan is a perfect spot to watch a sunset.
Entrance fee: Php 20
Pitogo Cliff
The most breathtaking cliff view I’ve ever seen on this trip and so far in my life! Just seeing how high the cliff is might make your knees shake but the stunning view you’ll get and see will completely wash away all those shaking. It was once considered as a hidden paradise on the island as it was only discovered or opened as a tourist attraction just a few years ago. The place was full of pointed rocks that I could compare the area to a huge seabed of corals. Just be mindful of your steps when taking photos as its view decks are kind of dangerous for me. Famous areas here for photos that people usually lined up to are the stairs going down the cliff and the cliff above where another “human drone” would take photos and videos of you. I am personally scared for these human drones in Pitogo since the area where they take drone photos and videos is too steep and dangerous that one single step could lead to an accident. Taking photos on the cliff would cost you Php 50 each but I think that wouldn’t be enough if any accident happens. I just hope that they could be provided safety measures to prevent anything bad to happen in the future.
Entrance fee: Php 30
Monkey Beach
If you want to visit a secluded beach, literally away from the crowd, Monkey Beach is the beach to go. Located also in Maria, Siquijor, this secluded beach remains unknown to many. The journey to get here is a bit of an adventure but if you’re looking for serenity, then it would definitely be worth the effort. Simply search the beach in Google Maps to locate it, as even Google Maps tagged the address as an “unnamed road.” If you’re traveling by tricycle or 4-wheel vehicle, unfortunately, you have to leave it at the roadside and do a few minutes of walking to reach the beach. However, if you’re on a motorbike, you can ride down the dirt road before reaching the main beach but mind you, the road is bumpy so better be careful. There’s a bit of trekking that you have to do as you descend going to the main beach. We were the only visitors when we went there but few fishermen were doing their daily catch. Overall, the beach is not the best but the peaceful atmosphere it gave was an added highlight of our trip.
Entrance fee: Free
Bucafe
Siquijor is also now known for cafés with breathtaking views, and one of these is Bucafe. Located along the roadside, this café/restaurant offers an overlooking view of Siquijor’s mountainside. It is a small traditional 2-storey bamboo cabin that offers a variety of snacks, meals and drinks. You have to take off your shoes upon entering giving you a homey feeling.
Entrance fee: Free (just order from their menu to dine in)
LA Canopee Bar and Restaurant
Just about 1.3 km away from Bucafe, you’ll find this hidden gem called LA Canopee Bar and Restaurant. This place is much bigger than Bucafe and I would say that it’s an upgraded version of the smaller Bucafe. I love the vibe here more – it gives you an even better overlooking view of the mountain’s lush greeneries and distant sea. I love how their cottages highlight deck hammocks where you could lie down and take photos with the stunning view at the back. While the menu prices are more expensive, staffs are friendly and accommodating. The place is ideal for relaxation, I can lie down here all day while enjoying the view that lies in front of me.
Entrance fee: Php 200 (consumable of food and drinks from their menu)
Runik Beach Club and Resort
My personal favorite part of our Siquijor trip was visiting Runik Beach Club and Resort, where I celebrated my birthday. This is a luxury beach club that offers a stunning sunset view, an infinity pool, a jacuzzi, a bar, and great music. To enjoy the experience, you have to avail their beach club access or premium seatings, depending on your preference. We opted to avail of the Ocean Cabana for Php 2,800 which Php 2,000 was consumable of their foods and drinks. Since the place has limited guests, it gives us the relaxation we ever needed. Probably, it was also a good thing that we went here during weekdays so there was no live band or DJ, we enjoyed the ambiance it gives with no loud band and parties. While it’s on the pricier side, I’d say you’re getting what you paid for; beach club access, stunning views, and appetizing food and drinks.
Entrance fee: For complete beach club access fees, check out their official Facebook page here.
Visiting Siquijor Island would truly make someone bewitched, not by sorcery and black magic, but because of the stunning attractions the island has to offer. Siquijor, you are mystical and you are loved by many now. Until we meet again!
