Getting to Siargao Island is getting easier and easier. Gone are the days when surfers would take an over night ferry just to get to that elusive surf break. Now there are direct flights coming from Manila, Clark, Cebu and Davao. Airlines which fly to Siargao include Philippines Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and Skyjet.
Getting from the airport to your accommodation in the General Luna area is also not to difficult. At the airport there will be a queue for the van shuttles. Just line up and you will be put on the next one. The price is 300 pesos. For accommodation in other areas we suggest you contact your accommodation provider.
For a faster, more efficient service you can pre-book your transport HERE. A Siargao Style concierge will be waiting for you with your name on a sign. He will help you with your bags and bring you to your transportation.
The easiest way to get around Siargao is by motorbike. The roads on the island are pretty good and traffic is not so bad. Motorbikes can be rented at various places on the island.
The price to rent a motorbike in Siargao is as follows:
1 day: 500 pesos per day
2 days: 400 pesos per day
3+ days: 350 pesos per day
Siargao weather consists of two seasons, wet and dry. The wet season generally runs from December to March and the dry season from June to September. Temperatures range from 21-30 C in the wet season and 23-32 C in the dry season.
Most beaches in the General Luna area are nice and clean white sand beaches. The only problem is they get pretty shallow at low tide. Here are a couple good access points to the beach:
Here turn off the main road at Villa Pagoda and you will see the beach access.
And Union Beach
There is only one ATM located in General Luna. It is here The machine is unreliable though, and sometimes runs out of cash. Currency exchange is available at two places, Palawan Pawn Shop and Western Union inside Cantilan Bank (same place as the ATM). The major banks are located in Dapa, 20 mins drive from General Luna. Most establishments accept only cash while a few also accept credit/debit cards (often with a processing fee).
As with the rest of the Philippines, internet on Siargao is not the most reliable connection you may have used. Many establishments have wifi. If you don’t already have a local SIM card you can buy them at almost any small shop or convenience store. They cost about 50 pesos. Then ask the person at the counter about load (credit) and internet packages. 4G is available in the General Luna area and you may be able to get 3G/2G in other areas. There are certainly large areas on Siargao with no cell coverage.
There are only small clinics in Siargao and hospitals are located in Surigao City quite a ways away. Be careful!
Electricity can also be a bit unreliable. Siargao Island suffers from random (and sometimes planned) power outages as well as voltage dips. The normal voltage in Siargao (and the rest of the Philippines) is 220V and the socket is the same as the US.